USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 35
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Maj. Smith labored lustily to educate his fellow. citizens in the mysteries of military evolutions, but failed signally in the accomplishment of his object.
He had, perhaps, the rawest raw material which ever vexed a martial commander, and his failure could not be considered as casting any reproach upon his ability as an officer The militia, privates and subaltern officers, were attired in all imaginable fashions, and their equipment was as varied as their clothing. Somne carried rifles, some shotguns, others rake handles, sticks or clubs, and not a few of them bore those terribly effective bucolic weapons, the common employ- ment of which earned for the amateur soldiery of forty years ago the characteristic title of the "Cornstalk Militia."
The day was very disagreeable, the air being filled with mingled snow and rain, and the earth saturated with water. The men, after tramping about in the mud and becoming wet and cold, lost what little desire for a military education they might have had at the outset, and became thoroughly demoralized. The officers could not evolve order from the chaos which ensued, and confusion was soon worse confounded by reason of indulgence in liquor; "whisky, that great leveler of modern times," was here. The brave militia men did not literally follow the example of Tom Corwin's militia, and drink it from the shells of water- melons, in imitation of the Scandinavian heroes, who quaffed wine from the skulls of those whom they had slain in battle, but used tin cups to convey the fiery spirit to their lips. Judging from the effect produced, there were not many slips, on this occasion, between the cup and lip. A large quantity of the liquor was consumed. Barrels of it were rolled out upon the public square, and each Captain secured a pail, which being filled with whisky, was carried up and down the lines until all of the men in each company were liberally served. Afterward many helped themselves from the barrels. Innocent hilarity, moderate banter and friendly trials of strength were among the first results of their potations, but it was not long before bad blood was aroused, and angry altercations took the place of harmless wrestling matches. Several disgraceful scenes followed. All idea of continuing the training was abandoned. The crowd gave itself up completely to revelry, and it was continued until nightfall. The debauch was general. There are a considerable number of individuals in Cass County, each one of whom claims to have been the only sober man in Cassopolis upon the day of the great militia muster. As a matter of fact, the labor of taking the census of unintoxicated persons present upon that oc- casion would be very trivial.
THE REMARKABLE TEMPERANCE AGITATION OF 1845.
Only a few ripples of the temperance tide of 1840, the Washingtonian movement, reached Cassopolis, but
ASA KINGSBURY.
The subject of this sketch, probably the most suc- cessful of the business men of Cass County, was born at Newton Heights, near Boston, Mass., May 28, 1806. In 1830, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was engaged for a period of about three years in the manufacture of glue. In 1833, he was given an opportunity to go farther West, which he embraced, after short reflection, and as his remark- able success has demonstrated, very fortunately. A business man of Cleveland desired him to take his son, a wild, reckless young man, and in return for his trouble, volunteered to furnish him with whatever capital he might need for the enterprise in which he might en- gage. Mr. Kingsbury chartered a schooner, and loading her with about $3,000 worth of miscellaneous goods, started up the lakes, bound for any port where he could advantageously dispose of his cargo, or find an opening for trade. While passing up the St. Clair River, Mr. Kingsbury was relieved from the care of his protege, the young man deserting the vessel. Mr. Kingsbury went to Green Bay, but not liking the location, sailed up the lake to St. Joseph, where, after being long delayed from landing by rough weather, and narrowly escaping shipwreck, he finally disembarked and had his goods unloaded. In pros- pecting for a good location for opening business, he visited Bertrand, which was then enjoying its palmiest days. Liking the appearance of the place, he had his goods brought up the river and went into business. In 1834, it became apparent to Mr. Kingsbury that the village, which had only the year before seemed se prosperous, had begun to retrograde. Hence, he re- moved to Cassopolis, which was a promising hamlet. His first venture was the management of a distillery and store, which he purchased of John M. Barbour.
From that time on, Asa Kingsbury has been inti- mately and extensively identified with the business interests of Cassopolis. In 1837, his brother Charles came to the village, and a general mercantile business was opened by the firm of Asa & Charles Kingsbury, which was carried on for a period of twenty years, or until 1857. They also dealt extensively in real estate. In June, 1855, Asa Kingsbury opened a private banking office, in which he did business until the First National Bank was established in 1871. Of this institution, Mr. Kingsbury may be properly termed the founder. He has been its President from the time of its organization to the present. In politics, Mr. Kingsbury has been a Democrat. While taking a citizen's interest in political affairs, he has not been an active office-seeker. He was once a candidate for the position of State Senator, and in 1842 was elected County Treasurer. Mr. Kingsbury has been very successful in business, and accumulated a large property, of which he has been a worthy steward. His benevo- lence, never ostentatiously displayed, has been in pro- portion to his ample means, and could be attested by hundreds of worthy and needy men. His character and ability are well known to the people among whom he has dwelt.
Mr. Kingsbury has been three times married. His first wife was Adaline M. Fisk, of Massachusetts. The children by this marriage were Charles H. and Amanda (Mrs. J. K. Ritter). Mr. Kingsbury's second wife was Emily, daughter of Allen Monroc. After her decease he married Mary Jane Monroe. The offspring of this marriage were Nancy E. (Ifull), now of Jackson, Mich., Asa, Allen M., Ruth T. (wife of James Ilayden), HIattie J. (wife of Dr. Holland, of Edwardsburg), George, Cyrus, Georgianna, David, Emmeline, Blanche, Verna D. and Winnie May.
161
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in 1845, the village had a revival of peculiar character, which was all its own-an agitation which in some respects has had few if any parallels in Southwestern Michigan. Its originator and conductor was Augus- tns Littlejohn (a brother of the late Judge Flavius J. Littlejohn). He was an independent, peripatetic, re- ligious exhorter, a man of very good education and of fair native ability. He is sometimes described as a man in whom there was a strong vein of eccentricity, but, to change the figure of speech, he seems rather to have been entirely woven of eccentricities-the whole warp and woof of his nature made up of curious strands of some very strange materials.
Littlejohn had been speaking in various localities in the southern part of the county upon the subject of temperance, and a number of the citizens of Cassopo- lis thinking that he might accomplish some good in the seat of justice, prevailed upon him to visit the place in February, 1845 No church had been built in Cassopolis up to that time, and the temperance re- former was granted the use of the court house.
His first audience was one of fair size, and the meet- ing of perhaps more than ordinary interest. The speaker exhibited earnestness and eccentricity in about equal proportions, and the impression produced was such as to encourage the friends of temperance that a successful revival could be carried on. Upon the second night the audience was larger than upon the first. The third was still greater, and the interest seemed to increase in arithmetical, or perhaps geomet- rical progression with the members of the meeting.
Littlejohn grew more fervid and vehement in his style of oratory from night to night, and produced a marked effect upon his audiences. Many were in duced to sign the pledge of total abstinence. After the lecturer had spoken nightly for about two weeks, such a furor was aroused that the court house was crowded to its utmost capacity. Reports of the great revival. and of the eccentricity of the conductor, spread through the country, and the farmning population from that time onward formed a large element in the nightly gatherings. As evening approached, the streets were filled with teains and the village bore very much the appearance that it now does upon fair days or when great political meetings are held. Some attended through friendship for the temperance cause and some CORPORATE HISTORY. from mere curiosity. The manner and methods of , Cassopolis was incorporated in 1863, under the authority of the Board of Supervisors of Cass County, and in accordance with the provisions of a general " Act to provide for the incorporation of villages" approved Feb. 17. 1857. The following petition, signed by a number of citizens, accompanied by a re- port of a special census of Cassopolis, showing the the lecturer were certainly such as to cause a sensa- tion. He usually spoke for a time from the platform, ‹delivering a more or less argumentative address and gradually working himself into a fervent heat he re- sorted to the style of the religious exhorter, better, however, a generation ago than at present. He was a very small, spare mau, and it seemed at times as if population to be 475 (exceeding the requirement), was
he must be literally riven asunder by the force of his own passion. As regards the physical man, this catas- trophe, as a matter of fact, never took place, but the demonstrations of the revivalist indicated at least a mental explosion. Leaving the platform, he would walk down the aisle, wildly gesticulating and shouting a frantic appeal to his auditors to sign the pledge. Oc- casionally he would suddenly cease from speaking and begin the singing of a hymn or of a temperance song. The people were provided with pamphlets containing these songs, and from their sale Mr. Littlejohn de- rived the only revenue which rewarded his labors. The singing was conducted with much enthusiasm and some eccentricity. Prayers were offered at the beginning and close of each meeting and at intervals during the evening. Mr. Littlejohn's prayers were not less peculiar than his style of oratory and his singing. He was earnest even to vehemence, and had a way of introducing personal allusions which was often anything but agreeable to the people whom he mentioned.
With all of his peculiarities the temperance lecturer had an honest desire to do good, to improve the con- «lition of his fellow-men, and he labored to that end with a zeal which is seldo n paralleled and with much ability.
The series of meetings held at Cassopolis continued for forty-two nights, and the interest of the people showed little abatement, even toward the close. The excitement was intense. Several hundred people signed the pledge and many of them faithfully kept it. There was of course an clement which could not be held, but the " back-sliders" were, perhaps, no more numerous in proportion to the number of signers than in other similarily conducted temperance revivals. Back- sliding was certainly not so near a universal thing as it was in the case of a certain religious revival carried on by the same Mr. Littlejolin once upon a time in Newberg. A few months after the close of the gen- tleman's season of labors in that locality, on being asked how those people " held out" who had made a confession of faith and resolved to lead better lives, he said, ". O, they are all going back. We'll have to convert every blamed one of 'em over again next fall."
162
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
submitted to the board at its meeting of October 14 :
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Cass County, Michigan :
Your applicants and petitinners. residents in and legal voters of the territory hereinafter described, would respectfully petition that the following described territory, of not more than one square mile, he incorporated aty a village, to be known as the village of Cassopolis, according to the provisions of Chapter 72 of the com- piled Laws of Michigan and the acts amendatory thereto. Said territory to be so incorpor ited being known and described as fol- laws, to wit : The southwest quarter of Section twenty-five (25). the southeast quarter of Section twenty. wix (26). the northeast quarter of Section thirty-five (35) ind the porthwest quarter of Section thirty-six (36) all in Township six (6) sou h, of Range fifteen (15) west, in the county of Caus. etc.
Your petitioners would respectfully represent that they have caused to be taken an accurate census of t' e revi·lent populat on of said territory, above and herein' efore de-cribed and duly verified by the affidavit of Charles W. ' li bee, thereto annexed, which said census contains and exhibits the name of every head of a family residing within said territory on the fourth day of Sep- tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three and the number of persons then belonging to such family therein named placed opposite to the respective family head. and which said censos, so taken as aforesaid, in accord- ance with the provisions of Section 2,100 of the Compi ed Laws of Michigan, so verified as aforesand, is here to annexed. and respectfully submitted, your petitioners having cu-ed the same cen-us to be taken as aforesaid, by Chirle. W Clishee.
An l your petitioners would further represen' of persons resul- ing in such territory beretofore describe I according to such cen- sus is the number of four huntrel and seventy-five persoos. atul to which your petitioners would respectfully refer.
And your peritioners will ever prav, etc.
Dated CassoPOLIS, Cass County, Michigan, September 4, 1863.
Joseph Smith,
Jacub Silver,
O. S. Custard,
I-ainh Inman,
J. Tietsort,
John Mc Manus.
M. Graham,
Ethan Ke ly.
M. B. Custard,
David lliste .
J. P. Osborn,
Joseph llarper.
A. Smith,
Thomas Stapleton,
John Il. Powers.
L. Il. Glover.
D. L. French.
Bar holomew Weaver,
Isaac Brown,
Lewis Cli-hee.
I . C. Allison,
Ira Brownell.
Burak Meni,
Hemy Wal on,
11. K. McManus.
1. V. >herman,
VI. Bildwin,
t'harles Hartfelter,
M. J. Baldwin,
11. 1 .. King.
Byron Brulley.
A. K. I'leveland.
S. S Chapman.
Charle. W. Brown.
E B. Sherwood,
Hiramı Br .wD.
Charles W. Clishee.
Jefferson Brown.
Sanford Ashcroft,
Peter Sturr.
J. K. Riter,
D. Blackman.
A Garwood.
W. K. Pilmer.
S. T. Read,
G. A Ely,
George W. Van Antwerp.
Daniel B Smith.
L. R. Read,
R. W. Wilson,
James Nurton.
S. I'l-yford,
D. S. Jones.
i .. D Tompkins.
ltenry Shaffer.
Joseph Graham,
J. B. Chapman, James Boyd.
Charles A. Hill.
The Board granted the petition. ordered that an
election of officers should be held at the court house on the second Monday of November (the 9th), and appointed Joseph Smith, Henry Walton and Charles W. Chisbee as Inspectors.
Following are the officers chosen on this occasion :
President, Joseph Smith; Trustees, Henry Wal- ton, Peter Sturr, Barak Mead. Charles W. Clisbee, Alonzo Garwood, Charles G. Banks ; Treasurer, Charles H. Kingsbury ; Clerk. Joseph Harper ; Assessors, John H. Powers, John Tietsort ; Street Commissioners, David Histed, Sylvador T. Read, Isaac Brown; Marshal, William K. Palmer ; Fire Wardens, Murray Baldwin, Joseph Graham, Lafa- vette R. Read, Henry Shaffer, Arthur Smith.
Below are given the officers who have served in each of the subsequent years from 1864 to 1881 inclusive :
1864-President, Joseph Smith ; Trustees, Daniel Blackman, Peter Sturr, Barak Mead, Charles G. Banks, Charles W. Clisbee, Alonzo Garwood ;* Treas- urer. Charles H. Kingsbury ; Clerk, L. HI. Glover ; Assessor, Henry Walton ; Street Commissioner, David Histed : Marshal, James Boyd ; Fire Wardens, Charles W. Brown. Lafayette R. Read.
1865-President, Hiram Brown; Trustees, Daniel Blackman, Barak Mead, William W. Peck, Peter Sturr, Isaac Brown, S. T. Read; Treasurer, Charles H. Kingsbury ; Clerk, L. HI. Glover ; Assessor, IIenry Walton ; Street Commissioners, John Tietsort, Joseph Graham ; Marshal, Byron Bradley ; Fire Wardens, Byron Bradley, Joseph Graham.
1866-President. Isaac Brown : Trustees, Daniel Blackman, Sylvador T. Read, William W. Peck, Ira Brownell, Darius L. French ; Clerk, L. H. Glover ; Treasurer, Charles H. Kingsbury ; Assessor, Daniel S Jones ; Street Commissioners, Sylvador T. Read, William W. Peck ; Marshal, James L. Norton ; Fire Wardens, Ira Brownell, Alonzo B. Morley.
1867-President, Isaac Brown; Trustees, Daniel Blackman, Sylvador T. Read, William W. Peck, Elias B. Sherman, Charles H. Kingsbury, Darius L. French; Clerk, L. Il. Glover; Treasurer, Jeremiah B. Chapman ; Assessor, llenry Tietsort ; Street Com- missioners, James Boyd, Charles G. Banks ; Mar- shal, Daniel B. Smitht; Fire Wardens, Eber Reyn- olds, Henry Shaffer.
1868-President. Josepł. Harper ; Trustees, Will- im W. Peck, Andrew J. Smith, Elias B. Sherman, Christopher C. Allison, Sylvador T. Read, Louis D. Smith ; Clerk, L H. Glover: Treasurer, Jeremiah B. Chapman ; Assessor, William L. Jakways ; Marshal,
* Garwood resigned and William W Peck was appointed Trustee to fill the vacancy.
+ Daniel B. Smith resigned the office of Marshal. and L. H. Glover was ap- piuted to fill the vacancy.
163
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
John Shaw ; Street Commissioners, Charles W. Chis- bee, Isaac Brown ; Fire Wardens, Charles G. Banks, Darius L. French.
1869-President, Joseph Harper ; Trustees, C. C. Allison, John Tietsort, Jordan P. Osborn, Daniel Blackman, Morris B. Custard, C. C. Nelson ; Clerk, L. HI. Glover ; Treasurer, Barak Mead; Assessor, Alonzo Garwood ; Marshal. Jacob McIntosh ; Street Commissioners, David Histed. Charles Berry ; Fire Wardens, Wilson Kingman, Darius L. French.
1870-President, William P. Bennett; Trustees, John Tietsort, Morris B. Custard, Andrew Woods, C. C. Nelson, Henry J. Webb, Alonzo B. Morley : Clerk. Ellery C. Deyo; Assessor, Andrew Woods ; Marshal, Jacob McIntosh ; Treasurer, Albert Magin- nis ; Street Commissioners, Morris B. Custard. James A. Fuller ; Fire Wardens, Wilson Kingman, Darius L. French.
1871-President, William P. Bennett ; Trustees, C. C. Nelson, Joel Cowgill, John A. Talbot. Zacheus Aldrich, Matthew T. Garvey ; Clerk. Ellery C. Deyo; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis; Assessor, Mor- ris B. Custard ; Marshal, Daniel H. Rugar ; Street Commissioners, Orson Rudd, John Shaw ; Fire Wardens, Jordan P. Osborn, Henry C. French.
1872-President, L. H. Glover *; Trustees, W. W. McIlvain, Jordan P. Osborn, Henry Shaffer, Abijah Pegg, John R. Carr, William P. Bennett ; Clerk, Eber Reynolds; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis ; Assessor, L. H. Glover ; Marshal, Owen L. Allen ; Street Commissioners, Hiram Norton, Henry Blood- good ; Fire Wardens, Daniel B. Smith, Henry C. French.
1873-President, Jolin Tietsort ; Trustees, Morris B. Custard. William D. Reames, Marshall L. Ilowell, W. W. McIlvain, Jordan P. Osborn ; Clerk, Eber Reynolds ; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis; Assessor, Charles G. Banks; Marshal, Owen L. Allen ; Street Commissioners, Owen L. Allen, Zacheus Aldrich ; Fire Wardens, Jordan P. Osborn, William W. Peck.
1874-President, John Tietsort; Trustees, Orson Rudd, Andrew J. Smith. Jeremiah B. Chapinan, Morris B. Custard, William I) Reames, Marshall L. Howell ; Treasurer, William W. Peck : Clerk, Wil- liam Jones ; Assessor, Joel Cowgill ; Marshal, Owen L. Allen ; Street Commissioners, Jolin Reynolds, Owen L. Allen; Fire Wardens, Jordan P. Osborn, Samuel C. Van Matre.
1875-President, Jordan P. Osborn ; Trustees. William D. Reames. W. W. McIlvain, William P. Bennett, Orson Rudd, Andrew J. Smith, Jeremiah B. Chapman ; Clerk, William Jones ; Assessor, D.
B. Ferris ; Treasurer, William W. Peck ; Marshal, A. B. Morley ; Street Commissioners, Charles G. Banks, John Tietsort; Fire Wardens, S. C. Van Matre. A. B. Morley.
Upon the 23d of April of this year, a special charter was obtained from the Legislature, which is now in force, and under which the administration of copora- tion affairs has been considerably changed and largely improved. The corporation limits were extended, so that they now include all of the southwest quarter and the south half of the north west quarter of Section 25 ; the southeast quarter and south half of the north- east quarter of Section 26 ; the northeast quarter and north half of the southeast quarter of Section 35, and the northwest quarter and north half of the south- west quarter of Section 36.
The officials elected in the spring of 1875, under the old corporation regulations, had only short terms of service, being superseded by a new corps, chosen at a special election, held May 4. Following are the names of the men elected :
President, Jordan P. Osborn ; Trustees, W. W: Mellvain, Eber Reynolds, William D. Reames, Stephen Jones, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd; Clerk, William Jones ; Treasurer, James H. Farnum ; Marshal, Alonzo B. Morley ; Overseer of Streets and Highways, Charles G. Banks ; Fire Wardens, Alonzo B. Morley, Henry C. French ; Attorney, L. H. Glover ; Deputy Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich.
1876-President, Jordan P. Osborn ; Trustees, Samuel Graham, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd, W. W. McIlvain, Eber Reynolds, William D. Reames ; Clerk. William Jones : Marshal, Avery S. Root ; Treasurer, James H. Farnum ; Assessor, Daniel B. Ferris ; Overseer of Streets, Charles G. Banks ; Fire Wardens, Alonzo B. Morley, W. W. Peck ; Attorney, L. II. Glover ; Deputy Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich.
1877-President. Henry C. French ; Trustees, Alonzo B. Morley, Abijah Pegg. W. W. Peck, Samuel Graham, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd ; Clerk, William Jones ; Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich : Treasurer, Romi W. Goucher; Assessor, Daniel S. Jones; Overseer of Streets Charles G Banks ; Fire Wardens, L. D. Tompkins, S. B. Thomas ; Attorney, L. II. Glover ; Deputy Marshal, Ira J. Putnam.
1878-President, S. S. Chapman ; Trustees. Sam- uel Graham, James Townsend, Joseph K. Ritter, Alonzo B. Morley, Abijah Pegg, W. W. Peek ; Clerk, Thomas W. Smith ; Marshal, John T. Enos ; Treas. urer, Stephen L. George ; Assessor, Daniel S. Jones ; Overseer of Streets, Charles G. Banks ; Fire Ward- ens, S. B Thomas. L. D. Tompkins ; Attorney. L. II. Glover; Deputy Marshals, William Emmons. John HI. King,
" L. H. Glover resigned the office of President August 12, and S. S. Chapm in Was appointed to fill the vacancy.
164
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
1879-President, H. S. Hadsell; Trustees, S. S. Chapman, W. G. Watts, Henry Shaffer, Samuel Graham, James Townsend, Joseph K. Ritter; Clerk, William Jones; Treasurer, S. L. George ; Assessor, Daniel S. Jones ; Marchal, John H. Kcene ; Over- seer of Streets, John H. Keenc; Fire Wardens, L. B. Tompkins, S B. Thompson; Deputy Marshal, Henry McCay.
1880-President, Hiram S. Hadsell ; Trustees, William Davis, Thomas Stapleton. Isaac H. Wolf, S. S. Chapman, William G. Watts,* Henry Shaffer ; Clerk, William Jones : Assessor. Daniel S. Jones ; Treasurer, Stephen L. George; Marshal. John H. Keene; Overseer of Streets. Jolin HI. Keene; Fire Wardens, John Tietsort and J. P. Osborn.
1881-President, Henry J. Webb ; Trustces, ITiram S. Hadsell, Darius L. French, William G. Watts, William Davis, Thomas Stapleton, Isaac H. Wolf: Clerk, William Jones; Treasurer, Stephen L. George; Assessor, C. C. Nelson : Marshal. John H. Keene; Overseer of Streets, John H Keene; Fire Wardens, John Tietsort and J. P. Osborn ; Health Officer. Dr. W. J. Kelsey.
It may interest some persons to know that nearly all of the earliest ordinances for the government of the corporation were drawn by Charles W. Clisbee, Esq., and the larger number of the latter ones by L. H. Glover, Esq.
THE PUBLIC SQUARE OF CASSOPOLIS.
There is a somewhat remarkable chapter in a certain history of Ireland which is entitled " The Snakes of Ireland." and the chapter consists simply and solely of the declaration, " there are no snakes in Ireland."
Under the caption of the Public Square of Cassopo. lis. it may be statel. There is no public square in Cassopolis. There was one once, however, and it seems proper to show how it has come about that there is none now.
When the village was platted in 1831, the proprie- tors donated a consulerable number of lots to the county, to be disposed of by their agent, and also a square designated as the " Cassopolis Public Square," and declared to be "designed for buildings for public use." This square, the center of which was at the intersection of Broadway and State street, measured twenty-six by twenty rods. the greater distance being that from north to south. The square was for many years an open common. but eventually those portions which were not occupied by publie buildings were taken possession of by individuals. These persons the Board of Supervisors of Cass County endeavored
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