History of Cass county, Michigan, Part 58

Author: Waterman, Watkins & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & co.
Number of Pages: 670

USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 58

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In 1833, he was chosen as Indiana's delegate to the World's Anti-slavery Convention, which was held in London, England, and started to attend the con- vention, but was forced to return home on account of poor health. Let honor be accorded to whom honor is due, and no more fitting tribute can be paid his memory than that paid by William Lloyd Garrison, who, on meeting in Cleveland in 1847, a friend of Osborn's who mentioned his name, said: " Charles Osborn is the father of all us Abolitionists."

From 1842 to 1847, Charles Osborn was a resident of Penn, owning a farm opposite James E. Bonine's. His death occurred in Indiana, to which place he re- moved at the latter date. He was twice married, having by his first wife, nee Neuman, seven children, only one of whom, Elijalı, in Calvin, is still living. Jefferson, of Calvin, and Dr. Leander Osborn, of Vandalia, both sons of Josiah Osborn, are his grand-

children. By his second wife, nee Hannah Swain, he had nine children, five of whom are still living; two in this county-Jordan P., who is a resident of Cassopolis, and Mrs. James B. Bonine, of Penn, at whose residence her mother died, some three years since.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ONTWA.

Early Historic Interest-Edwardsburg, the Embryo City-The Country as seen by Ezra Beardsley, the First Settler-Advent of the Meach- ams, et al .- Beginning of Emigration-Monroe Land Sales, Inci- dents at the Same-Pleasures of Pioneering-July 4th Celebration in 1829-Early Double Wedding-A Queer Character-Philanthropy of an Early Settler-Pen Pictures of Ontwa in 1831-Adamsport- Original Land Entries-Tavern License-Edwardsburg, its Demise and Resurrection, including Early Merchants, Territorial Road, Stage Coachı, etc .- Churches-Schools-Organization-Civil List- Biographical.

"THE written history of the American continent dates back scarcely four centuries, yet within that comparatively short period its pages have garnered from her hills and mountains, from her grand rivers and mighty inland seas, valuable additions to the world's stock of knowledge.

Every State and every county has its historic points, its neuclei around which cluster the memories of initial events, attending its settlement and the settlement of adjacent territory, greater or less in extent. In the early settlement of this county, Edwardsburg was the point from which the settlers radiated into the adjacent towns. Here it was that they centered for information regarding desirable locations, and the impetus thus given caused many to look upon it as an embryo city, which, in the near future, would be the seat of a teeming populace, actively engaged in trade and manufacture ; but fate ordained it otherwise.

We have only to take a retrospective glance, em- bracing a period of fifty-six years, and there could have been seen an individual accompanied by his sons passing in at the eastern portion of the township, who was slowly making his way toward the West, ever and anon stopping to admire this and that attractive point, as with the eye of a connoisseur he noted the productive soil lying at his feet in all its virgin purity. Arriving near the western boundary, the attractions became irresistible, for here, spread out before him, was a beautiful sheet of water, while the broad prairie, covered with luxuriant herbage, invited cultivation ; consequently, Ezra Beardsley unloaded his few simple household utensils, and commenced the life of a pioncer, and, like Selkirk's hero of the Pacific island, was " monarch of all he surveyed."

Here it was that with that primitive agricultural implement, the wooden mold-board plow, that he

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

turned over the first furrow, while the dusky Indian maiden looked on in wonder and admiration, evidently contemplating the immense labor saved her white sisters by this wonderful invention.

Having sown the first crop of wheat and erected a rude cabin for the reception of his family, Ezra Beardsley returned to his home in Butler County, Ohio, and in the spring of 1826 removed his family to their new home and commenced in earnest the life of a pioneer, all alone in the midst of a vast, unculti- vated region, uninhabited except by the wild Indians and their still wilder companions, the denizens of the forest. He remained the sole white inhabitant of this beautiful country until the spring of 1827, when George and Sylvester Meacham, George Crawford and Chester Sage arrived April 11, on the prairie, now designated Beardsley's Prairie out of respect to the man who first made it his abode. This company erected their log cabin on the south bank of Pleasant Lake, near where the residence of Dr. John B. Sweet- land now stands.

They left Ann Arbor in the eastern part of the State with an outfit which consisted of three yoke of cattle, a heavy lumber wagon, a good supply of pro- visions, camp equipage, ammunition and a plow, intend- ing to traffic with the Indians, in the meantime raising sufficient grain for their sustenance.

Not long after their arrival, the tide of emigration which had already taken its way to this and other points in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, which was then on the outer verge of civilization, became so ex- tensive that they were obliged to abandon their first plans and commenced in earnest to cultivate the soil and make their squatters' claim, and in 1829, as soon as opportunity offered itself, they entered land in Section 17. George and Sylvester Meacham, ac- cording to previous agreement, taking the land they were entitled to, and George Meacham remained here until 1836, when, disposing of his property, he removed to Porter, where he still resides. In 1830, George Crawford, who married Ann Beardsley, daugh- ter of Ezra, removed to Elkhart, Ind., where he, in company with Mr. Sage, built a log grist-mill, at which place they afterward built a hotel.

It was during this year, 1829, that the famous land sales occurred, at Monroe, where certificates were given for a large portion of the land in the township although no patents were issued by the Government until November, 1831. At these sales the rights of squatters, or pre-emptors, were respected, no settler bidding on another's claim, but occasionally an Eastern man, unaccustomed to the ways in the West, essayed to bid on the home 'of a settler, but soon deemed it pru- dent to desist, as was the case with one young man at

the sales at White Pigeon, which were held subsequent to the Monroe sales, who insisted on the right to bid on any land offered for sale, but only made one bid, when he was suddenly felled to the floor, which instantly inspired him with respect for settlers' claims, and oth- ers, similarly inclined, profited by this example. About this time Ezra Beardsley commenced keeping a tavern, which was the first in the county, to accommodate the large number of emigrants and land-lookers passing through the country, but was unable to accommodate them all, even with a bed spread upon the floor, and they repaired to " Bachelor's Hall," as the Meacham cabin was denominated, where they were given a hearty welcome and always found sufficient food, and that which was palatable, although served in a very primitive fashion. We have yet to learn of the individual who suffered for lack of food in the early settlement of this township, which possessed many salient features not to be found in others less favored:

The broad prairie yielded ample returns to the hus- bandman, and afforded facilities for obtaining a living not to be found in heavily-timbered countries. The early settlers were proverbial for their hospitality, and cases of sickness, or distress, received the immediate attention of a philanthropic community, who regarded each new-comer in the light of a friend, who by their mutual improvements would render valuable their new habitations ; therefore, the tales of trials, privations, hardships and even suffering related by settlers in some sections are wanting here. It is nonncommon thing to hear old veterans wish to live the old times over again, claiming that life was much more enjoyable then than now, although deprived of many of its luxu- ries. They loved the freedom from conventionalities, the kindly courtesy, and deep interest each neighbor evinced in the other's welfare, which is now wanting, because less dependent upon each other than for- merly.

John Bogart, who was a native of New York State, moved to Richland County, Ohio, and, after remain- ing there eleven years, in 1828 moved to Edwardsburg and settled on Beardsley's Prairie, one-half mile dis- tant. He assisted in the organization of the township and performed many of the initial events of its history. In 1833, he went to Ohio on a visit, where he deceased, his wife's death not occurring until 1863. His immediate descendants reside in Mason.

Joel Knapp settled in an early day on the farm now owned by George T. Howard, and by hard labor and close economy amassed a competency, at the same time assisting in maintaining the Baptist Church of which he was Deacon. He returned to New York, where he died in 1873. In 1828, Thomas H. Edwards, from whom Edwardsburg was named, com-

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

menced selling goods in this place, in a pole shanty on Lake street, and was the first merchant in the county. While his stock was not large, his enterprise in disposing of his goods was commendable, and in 1829 he employed Joseph L. Jacks to peddle goods , from a wagon over the country, and to collect accounts. He continued in business until the fall of 1831, when he disposed of his stock and village lots to Jacob and Abiel Silver, left the country, and is now supposed to reside in Wisconsin. In 1828, John Silsbee came from Chautauqua County, N. Y., and purchased Othni Beardsley's betterments and grain, on the farm now owned by C. D. Hadden, and then returned East in the fall, for his family, who came back with him the following spring, 1829, arriving in the month of April. The latter part of this month he went to Detroit to meet his son-in-law, Joseph L. Jacks, who married his daughter Susanah the year previous. He waited patiently for their arrival for nearly two weeks, and then took boat for Erie, Penn., where Mr. Jacks had been patiently waiting for a boat, and finally procured passage on one, passing Mr. Silsbee on the lake, but they finally got together in Detroit and made the journey to Edwardsburg, reach- ing there July 4, in the afternoon, but still in time to join in the celebration then in progress, which was being enjoyed by nearly all the early settlers, who joined together in a picnic, patriotism being one of their marked characteristics. To an American citizen, the celebration of July 4, would be a tame affair with- out the stars and stripes-that grand insignia of in- dependence and freedom, floated o'er him in the breeze-but they, unfortunately, did not possess a flag. July 2, Wilson Blackmar arrived with his family at the settlement, and Mrs. Blackmar, who was present and participating in the festivities, volunteered to make one, and, being very expert, in one hour's time manufactured one out of a sheet and two red and one blue bandanna handkerchiefs. It was then fastened to a pole. and William Bogart volunteered to climb a large tree on the south bank of Pleasant Lake and lash the flag-pole to the center limb, which he pro- ceeded at once to do, and when accomplished, three rousing cheers were given by the proud settlers.

John Silsbee subsequently sold out and removed to Jackson County, Iowa, where he deceased in 1879. A biographical sketch of Joseph L. Jacks, who was a very prominent settler, appears elsewhere.

Sylvester Meacham came to this State from Jeffer- son County, N. Y., in 1825, and packed for a sur- veyor near Pontiac, and then worked for Maynard & Mills, in Ann Arbor, until coming to this county in 1827. In 1864 or 1865, he ,removed to Grinnell, Iowa, where he died.

The marriage bells, had there been any, would have first rung in this township in the winter of 1828-29, to celebrate a double wedding, the high contracting parties being Thomas H. Edwards, who married Lovica, daughter of Ezra Beardsley, and Sylvester Meacham, who married Hannah Neblick, Mrs. Beardsley's daughter by a former husband. There was a little rivalry between the girls as regards personal adorn- ment, and Hannah quietly made arrangements with the wife of Sterling Adams for her silk dress, and appeared before the assembled company in garments that surprised them all, and Mr. Meacham often recalled the incident in a laughing manner.

F. Garver, a native Virginian. who moved his family into this township in 1827 or 1828, was possessed of many of the superstitious and idiosyncrasies possessed by our forefathers. He lived in his log cabin for nearly a month without any roof, subject to the rain and inclemencies of the weather, waiting for the moon to be in the right position in the zodiac before shin- gling his cabin, so that the shakes would not warp up. In 1834, he disposed of his farm of nine eighty-acre lots, to Cyrus Bacon, for $6,000, and moved to the thick wood in Indiana, miles away from any habitation, for he loved solitude, and the numer- ous neighbors in this township, coupled with the fact that a road was surveyed past his dwelling, was so distasteful to him that he sold out. One house within five miles, and that a tavern, where whisky could be obtained, constituted his idea of a paradise. Cyrus Bacon became quite a prominent man, and was, at one time, Associate Judge, as will be seen elsewhere.

Charles Haney, who was born in Baden, Germany, came to Philadelphia, Penn., in 1831, and engaged in peddling eloeks until coming to this county, in 1833, when he, one year later, purchased his present farm, which he has improved, it containing at that time but an old log cabin. Mrs. Haney is daughter of the well- known pioneer, Jacob Smith, who deceased in 1849, who came into the county from Pennsylvania, in 1829, when she was but twelve years of age, and purchased J. White's betterments. At this time, the houses of S. Meacham and F. Garver were the only ones this side of Edwardsburg, and they were pioneers in the full acceptation of this term. Mrs. Haney and Mrs. Williams are the only descendants of the Smith family now in the county. Mr. Haney built two frame barns in 1835, which were among the first in the township. He is the father of five children.

In 1834, Abner Van Namee came from Saratoga County, N. Y., and lived for a time on Beardsley's Prairie, and then moved to Indiana. His daughter, Elizabeth M., became the wife of .W. H. Bacon, and after his decease, married Samuel Starr. She now

JOSEPH L. JACKS.

AUSTIN C . MARSH.

Lionse Referea

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

resides in Section 17. The attractions of this country were such as to induce Daniel Folmer to come on a prospecting tour in 1834, and he became so favorably impressed with the country that he purchased a farm in Section 13, Milton Township, and the year follow- ing returned to his former home in Columbia County, Penn., and was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Anderson. He was withal shrewd at a bargain, and long before his death in 1864, accumulated a handsome competency. His widow, who now resides near Edwardsburg, contrasts her elegant home with the humble structure which greeted her after a long and laborious journey performed forty-six years ago.

The pioneers were not confined to those of any nationality, the land being, by liberal provision of our Government, opened for settlement at the mini- mum price formerly asked, and among those of foreign birth was James L. Brady, who was born in Ulster, county of Cavan, Ireland, March 1,. 1802. At the early age of sixteen, he, in company with a sister. came to the " New World," and landed in Quebec, Canada, and shortly thereafter removed to Wayne County, N. Y., where, in December 3, 1828, at Wolcott, he was united in wedlock to Marian, and seven years later moved here and was one of the successful agriculturists of the town- ship, being the arbiter of his own fortune. In Octo- ber, 1870, he removed to Elkhart, Ind., where he died in April, 1881, and where his widow still resides. They were the parents of seven children, of whom John M. resides on a portion of the old farm; N. S. also occupies a portion of the old homestead, where he is now engaged in agriculture, having spent from 1859 to 1868 in California ; Marian E., now Mrs. A. J. Moody, in Mason ; Ophilia J., Mrs. Knick- erbocker, in Indiana ; while William J., Thomas L., and Mary Jane are deceased.

Ezra Miller is one of those quiet, unostentatious men who perform their allotted part in life in courted quiet. In 1834, he moved to Detroit from Erie County, N. Y., and dates his residence in this county from May, 1835, in which month he visited Cassopo- lis and was charged sixpence by the landlord who gave him a drink ef water, which forever turned him against that place. Forty-eight dollars comprised his worldly wealth at this time, but he entered eighty acres of land in Section 4, which he still retains, although a resident of Edwardsburg.

In the fall of 1835, William Hanson came from Montgomery County, N. Y., with his parents, and settled in Jefferson Township. He now possesses 560 acres of land in this township, and is one of the prosperous farmers, which is due entirely to his own exertions. Two of his five children, Henry and

Charles, reside on his farms, he having retired to Edwardsburg.

In 1835, Reuben Allen and his wife, Gamarias (Cloys), started for the West from Rutland County, Vt., with their household effects carefully packed away in the capacious wagon. A journey of one month brought them to Adamsville, where a rough frame building which had been used as a " corn- cracker" mill was occupied by them as a home until something better could be provided. He purchased eighty acres of land of the Government in Section 18, Mason Township, and continued to farm it until his death in 1863. His widow now resides with her daughter, Mrs. J. Fred Emerson, in Ontwa. When the surveyors laid through the road near his place, he hitched up his horses and followed close behind, so as to be the first one that traversed that portion of the road in his vicinity. J. Fred Emerson is a son of M. H. Emerson, also a native Vermonter, who came to Ontwa in 1839, and purchased the farm in Section 13, on which his son resides, his death occurring in 1877. His widow, Alzina R., was a daughter of Reuben Allen, the old pioneer. And thus does the historian find these old families sadly dismembered, death having severed the ranks so that but few now re- main of the noble men and women whose memories we revere, who underwent many privations and labored diligently under many discouraging circumstances that their descendants might reap the benefit of their labors. From 1833 to 1838, there was a very large emigration to this township, and there remained, after 1838, but very little land subject to entry. Among those who came to this county in 1836, was Joseph W. Lee, from the historic State of New Hampshire, with his family, consisting of his wife, Maria (Hast- ings), and three children, the journey occupying six weeks, the only method of conveyance then being by wagons, and it was in one of these white covered vehicles, at that period so common, drawn by two horses, that the journey was accomplished. Mr. Lee was a fine model of the active, energetic, wide-awake, versatile Yankee, and could readily adapt himself to the circumstances with which he found himself sur- rounded, and having purchased 160 acres of land in Section 8, removed on it the block-house built by Ezra Beardsley, which had done duty as court house and hotel. Having successfully engaged in farming on the comparatively sterile soil of New Hampshire, as compared with the rich alluvial soil of his new home, his success became assured, and long before his death, which occurred August 24, 1874, he had accu- mulated a competancy, which was enjoyed by himself and family, his wife's death not occurring until Feb- ruary 3, 1875. His influence was given on the side 1

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of right and justice. As a Methodist, he zealously advocated and supported his religious belief. He was the father of five children, viz .: Samuel H., who re- sides on the old homestead; Ednah S., now Mrs. Edminston, in California ; Mary E., now Mrs. J. M. Edminston, in Nebraska ; Abiel S., deceased, while Moses H., the second son, resides in Edwardsburg, and holds the responsible position of Postmaster, and is therefore an active, energetic Republican. He has been identified with its interests since reaching his majority, believing it to be the exponent of good gov- ernment and liberal ideas, and therefore takes a work- ing interest in the party, having many times repre- sented it in county conventions. Having come in the county when a boy, and first attended the schools of early times, and subsequently taught them after they had made very material progress, he quite natur- ally takes a deep interest in educational affairs, and has filled the office of School Inspector and been a member of the School Board ; has been Notary Public for twelve years, and in addition has represented the township as Supervisor four terms. Mr. Lee's filial love and veneration of the early settlers causes him to take a great interest in perpetuating the memory of the pioneers, and the historian is indebted to him for many courtesies extended and facts garnered from his address delivered July 4, 1876, at a celebration held at Edwardsburg, to commemorate the 100th anniver- sary of our national existence. He and his wife, Mary L. (Van Antwerp), are the parents of five chil- dren, viz .: Linnie M., Russell H., Harley H., Jay W., Ernie, of whom Linnie M. is a teacher in the Ed- wardsburg Graded School.

When Eliakim Roberts reached this county in the winter of 1836, after a long journey through Canada from New York, he was in very destitute circum- stances. Even the rickety old wagon that brought him through, like the Deacon's chaise, went into a thousand pieces. Not having the advantages of an early education, he was unabled to read or write; but he found a good friend and counselor in George Red- field, who not only extended many practical favors, but advanced the money and entered 120 acres of land for him in Mason, and allowed Roberts to pay for it at the original purchase price, after he earned the money to do so with, which is an act of philan- thropy seldom equaled, and caused J. E. Roberts, the youngest of his family of six children, and who now resides in Ontwa, to revere the memory of him who assisted his father, who died in 1854, in his time of extreme need.

The journey from Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1836, especially if performed with an ox team, was as great an undertaking as a trip to Mexico to-day ; but

the many favorable accounts Samuel C. Olmsted and his wife Eunice M. (Jackson) heard respecting this region, caused them to perform the journey, accom- panied by his father and mother, Sylvester and Sally Olmsted, the former of whom deceased February 3, 1861, and the latter September 22, 1854. Mr. Olmsted made a trip into Wayne Township, but the heavy timber and swamp he encountered caused him to return and purchase, in 1837, at $8 per acre, twenty- eight acres of land of John Vradenburg, the same he to-day possesses. The influx of emigrants at this time, and great demand for land, caused much speculation ; and several years later the same property could have been purchased at a less figure. The country was, even then, in a comparatively unde- veloped state-no fences extending along the terri- torial road, which then ran over the spot now occupied by his house. No doors or windows sheltered them from the chilling cold of the fall, when first moving into their house, but such inconveniences were con- sidered but trifles, and were soon forgotten amid. the busy cares attending their settlement, and are only now recollected as among the novel experiences of pioneer life, and related for the diversion of inquiring friends. J. S. and Lucy M., who came through with their parents, deceased in 1854 and 1851, respectively, while J. C., another son who also accompanied them, resides on the old homestead, coming back from Illinois in 1870, to take care of the family, his mother's death occurring in 1854. This family have been prominently connected with the Presbyterian Church of Edwardsburg, and, taking the right side of every moral cause, have exerted a salutary influence on the community.

Elijah Kingsley emigrated from Franklin County, Mass., in 1838, located in Mason, and thirty years since purchased his present farm, now conducted by his son C. R., the old gentleman being eighty-six years of age, and his aged partner seventy-nine, and are, therefore, representatives of a former generation.

As will be seen in various portions of this history, part of the Silver family came to Cass County at a very early day and were prominently identified with many of its initial industries. On the 19th day of October, 1835, Orrin Silver, accompanied by his wife and son, George, reached Edwardsburg from New Hampshire, and for six or seven years kept tavern in this place, and subsequently moved on his farm, now supplied with fine buildings, which indicate the successful farmer. His father, John, Jr., followed his son, coming in 1844. Had it not have been for the pressing claims Mrs. Silver, who was ill, he could doubtless have furnished the historian with many interesting facts concerning the Silver family.

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History of Cass county, Michigan, Part 58

Author: Waterman, Watkins & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & co. Number of Pages: 670

Author: Waterman, Watkins & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & co.
Number of Pages: 670