USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
Jonathan Gard was a fine type of the pioneers who settled up this Western country ; being generous, his home was sought by the settlers as they made their way into the country, and they were always given a hearty welcome, and the needy assisted. As no worthy applicant for assistance was ever turned from his door without aid, he became noted for his generosity and neighborly kindness. IIe died in 1854, leaving a record of which his descendants may well be proud, for he was manifestly honorable, upright, prudent and kind. His widow still survives him, and is passing the eventide of her declining days in peaceful quiet with her daughter, Mrs. A. Welcher, in this township.
When he came to this township in 1829, with his parents, Milton J. Gard was but six years of age, and as it has been his home ever since he is thoroughly
conversant with the sum total of pioneer life. Being reared in this new county, his opportunities for obtain- ing an education were very meager, but were fully improved, and a system of self education entered upon, which resulted in his becoming much interested in the cause of education. and aside from teaching distriet school he established a grammar school, which was taught for four years ; arithmetic and other branches were added, and this school was eventually merged into a debating society, which formed the germ for the justly celebrated farmers' club of this township, in the establishing and maintaining of which Mr. Gard has formed a very important factor.
He has been prominently identified with every in- terest of Volinia sinee attaining his majority, particu- larly in contributing to its intellectual advancement, and has filled every office in the gift of the people of his township, with one minor exception ; was one of the charter members of the Masonie Lodge, and has presided as W. M., and as a member of the Anti- Horse Thief Society has been its chief officer. He has also officiated as President of the Cass County Agricultural Society, and served for six years as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and is a successful and progressive farmer, residing on the old homestead. He is one of those men whose identifica- tion with any township or organization is always pro- ductive of good. He was married March 4, 1847, to Olive Green, daughter of Jesse Green, who died January 4, 1852, leaving one son, George.
February 23, 1854, he was united in marriage to Susan Forand, and they have been blessed with seven children, as follows : Josephene, deceased ; Ezra C.,. Ida E., Lincoln P., Jemima L., Nellie and Bertha.
289
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN
he adopted John M. Roach, and did for him all that a father could; he graduated at Albion College, and is now engaged in teaching in Arkansas. Some nine years ago, Mr. Stennett cut down a black walnut tree in which was found imbedded a bullet, outside of which were rings showing that one hundred and sixty- five years had elapsed since it had been deposited there. The curious can speculate as regards this, but it was doubtless sped there from the musket of some adventurous Frenchman, hundreds of whom penetrated these woods cotemporaneous with and subsequent to the time La Salle coursed up and down the Lake Michigan, and crossed this section, if not this county, while en route to Detroit. The reader is referred to the general history for a record of this important epoch, and any other topic of interest pertaining to the history of this township, not treated of here.
D. D. Judie, who came from St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 1867. has so changed the appearance of his farm that one could not recognize it as once cov- ered with girdled trees, and a log cabin with shanty barn. He is Treasurer of the Volinia Farmers' Club, and a progressive farmer.
The present Township Clerk is W. R. Kirby, son of John Kirby, former pastor of Baptist Church. Al- though comparatively a young man, he interests him- self in public affairs, and it is such men who eventu- ally come to the front, and upon whom the people can depend to further local and more important interests. Myron Robinson, son of Nathan Robinson, one of the pioneers in Jefferson, is a resident of Volinia.
Mr. H. S. Rogers, who perhaps is as well known in Cass County, because of his History of the same, which was issued in 1875, as any other person, his been a resident of this township since 1852. In 1866 or 1867, he erected a store at Volinia, and followed merchandising for nearly twelve years, and it was while thus engaged that he first conceived the project of writing the history of the county. Mr. Rogers is thoroughly alive to agricultural interests, he being now engaged in that avocation, and has performed the laborious duties of Secretary of the Volinia Farmers' Club, with the exception of one or two years, since its organization, and has assisted very materially in its success.
Abram Cary, who officiated as Town Clerk for sev- eral years, made a most efficient officer, and is num- bered among the rising young men of this town- ship.
J. M. Gebhard, a native Bavarian, lives in the southern tier of sections; there is, however, but little foreign element in this township, but quite a settlement of negroes in the middle eastern portion of it.
We here append a list of
ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES,
thus showing all of those who entered land in the early history of the township :
SECTION 1. ACRES.
Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich, Oct. 15, 1830 160
Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 63
Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 14, 1832. 40 Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 24, 1833 40
Stephen Bunker, Cass County, Mich., June 27, 1833 80
John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 23, 1833. 40
Samuel Morris, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835. 59
James Morria, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 28, 1835 80
Chapman Howard, Windham County, Vt., April 24, 1837. 40
SECTION 2.
John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1830. 80
Samuel Morris, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Aug. 14, 1831 160
John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, Sept. 1, 1832. 80
Daniela & Bull, St. Joseph County, Mich., Sept. 1, 1832, 226
Albert E. Bull, St. Joseph County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832. 65
SECTION 3.
Jacob Charlea, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1830, 160
Elijah Goble, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 160
John B. Goble, Cass County, Mich .. June 22, 1831 146
Jacob Charlea, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 80
Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 8, 1831. 67
SECTION 4.
Christian Charles, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 183] 80
Christian Grant, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1831 80)
Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., July, 5, 1834. 40 Jacob Charles, Casa County, Mich., March 3, 1836 68
Jacob Gant, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1836. 40
Thomas A. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 25, 1835. 40
Thomas T. Lewis. Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1836. 120
Benoni Young, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836. 40 Whitcomb & Howard, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1836. 68
Samuel Rich, Kalamazoo County, Feb. 4, 1837. 40
SECTION 5.
Benoni Yrung, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 12, 1836. 40
Aaa C. Briggs, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 12, 1836. 40
Walter V. Wheaton, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1837 379
Thomas Kearnea, Cass County, Mich., July 4. 1848 40
SECTION 6.
Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1836. 136
Mary Cuddy, Washington D. ('., Dec. 10, 1836. 280
W. V. Wheaton, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1837 160
SECTION 7.
William Griffis, Cass t'ounty, Mich., Oct. 3, 1832. 40
William Griffis, Cass t'ounly, Mich., March 11, 1834 40
William Squier, Cass C'ounty, Mich., March 26. 1833. 80
Levi Hall, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1834 96
Levi Hall, Caas County, Mich., March 1, 1834 40
Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 21. 1836. 136 Epaphroditus Ransom, Kalamazoo County, May 26, 1836. 160
290
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
SECTION 8.
ACRES.
Daniel Goodman, Madison County, N. Y., July 13, 1836 160
Samuel Black well, New York City, July 13, 1836 160
Deforest Manice, New York City, July 13, 1836. 320
SECTION 9.
Josephus Gard, C'ass County, Mich., Oct. 10, 1830. 160
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832. 160
John B. Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 2, 1835. 40
Samuel Rich, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16, 1830 .. 160
Enoch Buck, Casa County, Mich., April 25, 1836. 40
Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1836 80
SECTION 10.
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, 1830. 160
Samuel Fulton, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, 1830 160
Abby Fulton, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832. 80
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832 80
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 4, 1832. 80
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1836 80
SECTION 11.
John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1830. 80
John Shaw, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 160
John Cuny, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831. 155
Alexander Copley, Cass County, Mich., July 11, 1831.
90
Aurelius C. Howard, Windham County, Vt., Dec. 31, 1835. 50
SECTION 12.
Lawrence & Crane, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1831. 154
Levi Lawrence, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 7, 1832 .. 66
Levi Lawrence, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 17, 1835. 66
Levi lawrence, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836 51
Alexander Copley, Montgomery County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832 .. 80
John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 27, 1832. 53
John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836.
72
SECTION 13.
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1836. 160 Everett Holly, Addison County, Vt .. May 3, 1836. 120
John Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 1836. 80
John N. Copley, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836. 40
Aurelius Howard, lonia County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836 40
Ebenezer Copley, Cass County Mich., Dec. 16, 1836. 80
Dayton Thorp, Casa County, Mich., June 15, 1838 40
SECTION 14.
Henry Stevens, Kalamazoo County, Nov. 30, 1835. 35 Aurelius Howard, Dec. 1, 1835 104
Leicester Olds, Cayuga l'ounty, N. Y., March 2, 1836. 318
Josephus Gard, Casa County, Mich., April 27, 1836. 160
SECTION 15.
John Huff, Casa County, Mich , Aug. 27, 1835. 40
A. &. D. Fulton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1835. 80
Aurelius C. Howard, Windham County. Vt., Dec. 1, 1835. 80
William Law, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 80
Jesse Buck, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836. 120
Edward Legg. l'ass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1836. 80
Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Feb. 1, 1837 160
SECTION 16.
School Lands
SECTION 17.
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1881. 80
Jonathan Gard, l'ass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 1832. 40
John P Gard, C'ass County, Mich., June 28, 1833. 40
ACRES.
David Crane, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1831 160
Joel C. Wright, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1833. 40
Elijah W. Wright, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1833 40
Amoa Huff, Clark County, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1833. 80
William F. Huyck, Lenawee County, May, 3, 1836 40
Theo. P. Sheldon, Kalamazoo County, May 24, 1836 40
Catharine Myers, Cass County, Mich, Dec. 12, 1836. 40
SECTION 18.
Daniel C. Squier, Butler County, Ohio. Oct. 15, 1831. 160 William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1831 80 William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., March 14, 1834 56 Levi Hall, Butler County, Ohio., Nov. 7, 1831 136
William Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 27, 1832 .. 40
Daniel C. Squier,.Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1833. 80
Joseph Miller, Kalamazoo County, July, 5, 1836. 40
SECTION 19.
Peter Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1834. 40
John Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1834 40 William Case, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836. 40
Charles Morris, Cass County, Mich., March 18, 1836
50
Jay R. Monroe, Van Buren County, May 24, 1836. 96
H. N. Monroe, Van Buren County, Jan. 12, 1837 40
Epaphro Ransom, Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 24, 1836 .. 160 Theo P. Sheldon, Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 24, 1×36 ... 120
SECTION 20.
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, 1830. 160
Jonathan Gard, Cass County. Mich., June 22, 1831. 80
James Newton, Cass County, Mich., March 23, 1832 160 Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 23, 1833 40
David Crane, Cass County Mich., Jan. 7, 1836 40
John Buck, Van Buren County, May 14, 1836, 40
Thomas J. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1836. 40 John Buck, Cass County. Mich .. Jan. 28, 1837. 40
Thomas Statler. Niagara County, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1837 40
SECTION 21.
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 80
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1836. 80
David Hopkins, Berrien County, May 14, 1836 .. 40
Thomas T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836 240
Epaphro Ransom. Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 24, 1835. 160
Hubbard, Homer and Patrick, Hampshire Couuty, Mass., July 5, 1836. 40
SECTION 22.
Thomas T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., May 14. 1836. 40
Lawrence, Imlay and B., May 28. 1836 .. 240
Kelsey & Saunders, Genesee County, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1836. 80 Jesse Buck, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837. 40 Josephus Gard, Jan. 28, 1837. 160
Isaac N. James, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837. 80
SECTION 23.
Leicester Olds, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 2, 1836. 160
Joseph S. Wiseman, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836. 160
Joseph S. Wiseman, Dec. 14, 1836. 80 William Mulford, Wayne County, Dec. 14, 1836, 80
Edward Legg, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1836. 160
SECTION 24.
Henry Newberry, Wayne County, Dec. 10, 1836 120
Thomas N. Copley, Cass ('ounty, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836 40
William Mulford, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1837 74
291
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ACRES.
John (). Ladd, Oneida County, May 27, 1836 .. 80
Edward Carroll, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1847. 40
SECTION 25.
Chapin Howard, Windham County, Vt., April 24, 1837 149
William Mulford, Wayne County, Mich , Dec. 9, 1843 104
John F. Goff, Cass County, Mich., Sept 10, 1844. 50
Billingham & Co .. Dec. 13, 1847 76.
Calvin Goodrich, Jefferson County, N. Y., April 22, 1852 40
John F. Goff, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1853. 40
SECTION 26.
Walter V. Wheaton, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1837 160
William M. Mccutcheon, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 154
Hugh Mccutcheon, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837. 160
Ormand S. Howard, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1837 160
SECTION 27.
George W. Morell Wayne County, Dec. 10, 1836 ... 160
Elias Whitcomb, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1836
160
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1839 80
David T. Harris, New York City, Jan. 28, 1839. 80
Samuel W. Goodrich, New York City, Jan. 28, 1839. 160
SECTION 28.
David Hopkins, Berrien County, May 14, 1836. 200
Horace Butler. Oneida County, May 20, 1836. 40 George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1836. 80
Lawrence, Imlay & Co., Onondaga County, N. Y., May 28,
1836 160
William A. Burtis, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837. 80
SECTION 29.
.James Newton, Cass County, Mich., March 23, 1832 ... 160
Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich., June 6 1833. 80
Philip Myers, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836 .. 40
Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836. 80
George Newion, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1836. 160
Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1836. 120
SECTION 30.
James Newton, Cass County, Mich , March 23, 1832 80
William Tietsort, Cas. County, Mich., Aug. 15, 1832.
217
Isaac Huff, Butler County, Ohio, March 26, 1833 137
Peter Huff, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1833. 40 Cornelius Huff, Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1834 40
Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., April 26,
18:16 80
SECTION 31.
Henry P. Voorhees, April 26, 1836 80
Gideon H. Horton, Cayuga County, N. Y., May 14, 1836 176 Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 14, 1836. 298
John Huff, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 25, 1836 40
SECTION 32.
Gideon H. Horton, May 14, 1836. 80 Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 28, 1836. 400 Robert H. Maclay, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 160
SECTION 38.
John M. Labatut, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837, entire 640
SECTION 34.
Levi Higgins, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 .. 40
Edward Richardson, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837. 80
Henry Clossey, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837. 160
Fidelia D. Cushing, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1837 .. 80 Henry H. Gale, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1837 80 Isaiah Goodrich, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1837 195
SECTION 35.
Thomas Williams, Outario County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836 .. 155 Braddock Bailey, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1836 ... 198
Isaac A. Briggs, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837. 7 George C. Germond, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 80 William Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 1836. 85
SECTION 36.
Robert Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 1836. 40
Thomas Williams, Ontario County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836 129
Reuben Hinshaw, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836 160 William Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 1836 80
William Duncan, ('ass County, Mich., May 27, 1848. 80
Levi Garwood, t'ass County, Mich., June 2, 1849, 40
Josephus Gard, having a predilection for a province in Poland, named Volhynia, called this township by the same name, but the orthography was subsequently changed until it is now spelled Volinia, which conforms to the modern idea of things. This township was formed by an act of the Territorial Government, approved March 29, 1833, the text of which is as follows: ".That all that part of the county of Cass known and distinguished as Township 5 south, in Range 13 and 14 west, of the principal meridian, compose a township by the name of Volinia and that the first township meeting be held at the house of Josephus Gard in said township." It was further enacted "that the county of Van Buren shall be attached to the township of Volinia, in the county of Cass, for all purposes whatsoever," and thus con- tinued until March 26, 1835, when it was detached. Town 5 south, 14 west, was detached March 9, 1843, and erected in a township called Marcellus.
The boundaries to Volinia were surveyed by William Brookfield, who completed them March 20, 1827, and the subdivisions by John Mullett, D. S., who completed them April 24, 1830, as per contract with William Lytle, Surveyor General of the United States.
Within its boundaries can be found six small lakes and the Christiana Creek, so that it is very well watered.
Embraced within a strip of country extending northeast and southwest can be found the best portion of the township, as it includes Gard's Prairie and Little Prairie Ronde. The other portions can only be called fair agricultural land, and are in some instances quite rolling. We have only to take a retrospective view of a trifle over half a century to find this township in a state of nature, undisturbed by the woodman's ax or the farmer's plow, the Indians and wild animals contending with each other for the
ACRES.
292
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
rights of possession. What a wonderful transforma- tion does the country now exhibit ? On every hand are seen the civilizing hands of the white man, the Indians and the wild denizens of the forests have entirely disappeared from the land; fine houses grace the place where stood the wigwam, from whence arose to heaven's blue vault the curling smoke ; fertile fields and productive orchards vie with each other in contributing to the comfort and happiness of a teeming, industrious people, who may well feel proud of the noble heritage left them by their self- denying progenitors, nearly all of whom have passed away.
All honor is due those brave people who left their homes in the far East and the comforts of civilization, and with their white-winged wagons, without even an Indian trail to guide them, started for the unbroken wilderness, preceding canals, steamboats, grist-mills, and all the necessary adjuncts of a civilized commu- nity, hardly waiting for an extinguishment of the Indian title, exchanging a life of comfort for one of weary privations, where indefatigable labor was nec- essary to secure even a bare existence. They are the ones who laid the basis for the present wealth and prosperity we now enjoy, and their memories should not only be revered, but inscribed on the ever endur- ing tablets of history. One can hardly realize the inconveniences to which early settlers were subject and the length of time consumed in marketing their crops at St. Joseph, which was then headquar- ters for the people of this township. The actual trip from Little Prairie Ronde, in the northern portion of the township, occupied seven days as late as 1834, as follows : First day to Paw Paw, where Mr. D. O. Dodge had just put up a small house for a tavern ; second to Emerson's or Freeman's, Christie's Lake ; third half way from there to St. Joseph ; fourth reached river and crossed ; fifth sold load and back ten miles to John B. Rulo's, a Frenchman, at that time the only inhabitant between Paw Paw and St. Joseph ; sixth, back to Paw Paw and seventh home.
Volinia has 19,637 acres in farms, 13,384 of which are improved, and in 1879 produced from 4,325 acres 82,388 bushels of wheat; 124,961 bushels of ears of corn from 2,619 acres ; 26,078 bushels of oats from 804 acres ; 763 bushels of clover seed; 11,939 bushels of potatoes; 1,625 tons of hay; in 1880 possessed 589 head of horses; 571 head of cattle ; 2,307 hogs ; 3,832 head of sheep, that produced 20,394 pounds of wool; 411 acres in orchards, from which was sold in 1879, 9,975 bushels of apples, while small fruits and vegetables were produced in great quantity and variety.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse was constructed of logs in 1832 or 1833, on the land owned by David Crane, in Section 17, and was taught by Michael V. V. Crane. There being no public school money, each scholar paid a tuition varying in price. In 1833, Miss Charlotte Copley, daughter of Alexander Copley, taught school in her father's house, receiving as compensation $2 per scholar for a term of three months. In 1834, a log schoolhouse was erected, and the first school in it was taught by Edw. T. Jacobs. Since then the school interest has very materially increased, keeping pace with the increase in wealth and population, until now the township is divided into eight districts, each sup- plied with a comfortable schoolhouse, seven of which are frame and one brick, having a total valuation of $5,900. There are 390 school children, and there was paid for their instruction, in one year (1880), $1,288. The township library contains 993 volumes, the districts possessing no libraries.
EARLY ROADS.
It has been said that a nation's wealth and prosper- ity can be determined by the number and magnificence of her highways, and it certainly can be so ascertained with a certain degree of accuracy in an agricultural district. The first Highway Commissioners in 1833, were: David Crane, Josephus Gard and William Moreland ; and the first road was surveyed by Samuel Marrs and John Woolman, and commenced on the west line.of Section 19, and run northeast where the schoolhouse was; and thence east one mile, and then north between Sections 16 and 17. In December, same year, a road was surveyed from Charleston to connect with the first one which led to Pokagon. In 1834, when Van Buren County was attached to Volinia for township purposes, the settlers were required to work out their road tax on the swamp where Lawton now stands. Although the distance some were obliged to travel was considerable, all were required to put in eight hours' work for a day.
In 1836, Charleston, on Little Prairie Ronde, was laid out by Jacob Morelan, Jacob Charles, Alexander and Samuel Fulton, comprising thirty-two lots. The first house was built by James Huff. At one time it promised to be a place of considerable importance. A daily line of stages passed from Kalamazoo to Niles, but, on the completion of the Michigan Central Rail- road, its business began to wane until now only a few houses remain to mark the spot. It was here that the veteran pioneer and landlord, Elijah Goble, first flung to the breeze, in 1837, the cheering sign of the " Brown Eagle," which greeted the weary traveler and which swung to and fro in the breeze for thirty years.
DANIEL C. SQUIER.
MRS. DANIEL C. SQUIER.
OLIVER HIGH.
293
' HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Hardly had the house been completed before he agreed to furnish a dinner for the settlers to the num- ber of twenty or thirty, and he fortunately made im- mense preparations, for they came from far and near, and seventy-five people sat down to the well-filled board. A more jolly and happy set of people it would have been difficult to find, for sociability was a marked characteristic of the early pioneer, and their sociabil ity was increased by frequent libations of whisky, which was set out free, where every one could help themselves, such a thing.as a temperance society being then un- known to them ; and thus was celebrated the first pio- neer picnic in Cass County, forty-five years ago. A wandering "fiddler," who had lost his way, strayed upon the happy company, and he was immediately engaged by the young people, who, to the number of twenty-two couples, tripped the light fantastic toe, the young men in coarse boots, and the rosy-cheeked lasses in bright calico dresses, and one and all were as happy as if clad in the finest raiment. Elijah Goble and his wife-who now live in Decatur, Van Buren County-are the only surviving couple of the older pioneers. Mrs. Goble's maiden name was Eliza Tittle, and they had journeyed together in a matrimonial state forty-eight years, the 28th of last September.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.