USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 65
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Nicholasville, which contains a population of about one hundred, possessed two stores, a drug and general store, the latter being owned by Mr. J. M. Goodspeed, a blacksmith, wagon-shop and a grist-mill. The first store was conducted by Mr. Goodspeed, and the hotel by Jonathan Nichols, who came from New York State, and the place took its name from the Nichols Bros. Volinia contains one grist-mill, general store, black- smith-shop, etc., and has a population of about fifty.
REMINISCENCES.
In an early day, two trees growing close together were utilized by Mr. George Newton as a cheese press, by boring a hole through one into the other, into which was inserted a kingbolt, which also passed through the lever between the trees. The trees now measure six and one-half feet in circumference. Mr. George Newton made his wife's first clothes-line of a long slim pole, by supporting one end in a crotched tree, while the other end was supported by twisting together two saplings, growing side by side, and the remarkable part of it is that they grew together and now appear to be but one tree, branching out about seven feet up into two, as they frequently do, while the body of the two trees thus formed, although two feet in circumference, plainly indicates, by its spiral, auger- like appearance, where they were twisted together.
In the Spring of 1832, the first marriages in the township took place, the contracting parties being
David Curry and Alexander Fulton, to Sarah and Elizabeth, daughters of Josephus Gard, both couples being married by the same ceremony.
In 1832, the Sauk war frightened people terribly, as rumors of terrible atrocities perpetrated by the wily savages reached their ears. Twenty-six men were drafted from this township and were commanded by John Curry as Captain and Elijah Goble as First Lieutenant. They were drilled by Hon. George New- ton, who possessed considerable knowledge of military tactics. They never went farther than Niles, and only four of the twenty-six are now alive. The women around Charleston, being alone, became ter- ribly frightened, and, in their vivid imagination, could almost feel their scalp-locks raising, and they con- cluded to fortify. They accordingly made a rail fort and covered it with straw and, as implements of war, took inside several axes, hoes, shovels, etc., and a churn, with which to blockade the entrance. They never occupied it, however, for Rev. Petty and Sam- uel Morris, Sr., appeared on the scene of imaginary active hostilities and allayed their fears.
In 1835, Hon. George Newton was appointed by Sheriff Henry H. Fowler as census taker, and his duties took him over the whole of Van Buren County, which was then attached to Volinia, and for which labor he never received any compensation.
The following copy of a tax receipt shows that taxes were not very high at that date: "Volinia, Cass Co., Mich. T.,-Rec'd of Samuel Morris, $1.75 in full for state, co., and town tax, for 1832 .- E. J. Jacobs, Collector M. T."
VOLINIA FARMERS' CLUB.
It is a lamentable fact that there has been, and still is, a great lack of uniformity of action on the part of farmers and the general diffusion of practical knowl- edge which can be obtained in no other way than meeting together and discussing every subject relating to their business interests ; for many are possessed of valuable information which would be imparted in no other manner. The Grange has, in a measure, met this desideratum ; still farmers' clubs, if properly con- ducted, are much more desirable. Great credit has been accorded Volinia, because of her Farmers' Club, which has been one of the means of placing her among the foremost townships in the county and State, and the great good accomplished by this organization can never be fully determined. The history of this town- ship would be incomplete without an extended notice of this organization.
The " Volinia Farmers' Club " was organized in 1865, its object being, as stated in the constitution, " to increase the knowledge in agriculture and horti-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
culture " of its members. It was officered as follows : B. G. Buell, President ; A. B. Copley and John Stru- ble, Vice Presidents ; F. E. Warner, Treasurer ; and H. S. Rogers, Secretary. Several meetings were held this year, and in January of the succeeding year a system of laying out the year's business, and announc- ing the topics to be discussed, and promulgating them by means of programs, was adopted, which has been adhered to ever since.
In 1867, the Club held its first fair, which has been held annually ever since, except two years, the rain ef- fectively preventing an exhibition last year. Although charging no admission fee and awarding no money premiumns, the fair has been a grand success, at times rivaling the county fair, there being immense crowds in attendance and fine exhibits in agricultural prod- ucts, stock and machinery. The only award secured by the successful competitor was a ribbon, which he seemed to prize more highly than money ; the names of those receiving premiums being published in the county papers was another incentive that drew exhib- itors together. The expenses which were kept down to the minimum, were met by the annual dues of mem- bers-fifty cents per annum-and the rental of booths. No restrictions as to locality was placed upon exhibit- ors, consequently the fame of this Farmers' Club Fair has extended farther than the borders of this State. The conducting of a fair in this manner is without precedent, and its success demonstrates the wisdom of its bold projectors. Members of the club have, under its direction, made many experiments, which have ac- crued to its advantage, being a practical demonstra- tion of the truth or falsity of theories advanced. Impliment trials have been participated in by large Eastern manufacturers, and the value of their inven- tions determined. The sheep-shearing festivals have been productive of much good, while the annual wheat meeting, where this important cereal is discussed in all its bearings, draws people from many surrounding counties to derive the benefit of its deliberations. The club has been instrumental in exposing and disgrac- ing grain purchasers, who were swindling its mem- bers by a system of short weights, and thus at least checking this evil. Commencing without experience, not a member having belonged to a similar organiza- tion, the club has steadily improved and increased in importance until now it has a State reputation. and the great good that it has accomplished by the diffusion of practical knowledge, the expansion of ideas and the benefits socially and financially, can never be even approximated, and the members of this club, the township, county, and even State, are deep- ly indebted to those who have been the prime movers and supporters of it since its organization.
In 1874, the $25 premium offered by the Michi- gan State Agricultural Society for the most success- ful township farmers' club in the State was awarded this club, the history of the same being prepared by H. S. Rogers, its Secretary, and it now antedates any similar organization in the State. The present offi- cers are : N. B. Goodenough, President ; G. G. Wood- mansee, M. B. Welsher, John Kirby, Vice Presidents ; H. S. Rogers, Secretary.
ANTI-HORSE-THIEF SOCIETY ..
Protection of person and property is one of nature's first laws, and the necessity of protecting their equine property called into being the above-named society which was organized in 1852 with eleven members, the officers being as follows : Isaac Waldron, Chairman ; George Newton, Secretary ; Jonathan Gard, Treas- urer. Each member presented his horses to a fore- man, George Newton being the first, who records a description of them, so that when stolen they can readily be described, and also to estimate their worth which will be paid to the owner unless recovered. There are in the organization what are termed "in- riders" and "out-riders," twelve of each, the latter being provided with pistols, who can be called out at a moment's notice to pursue a horse-thief, and they are so thoroughly organized, having grips, tokens and pass-words, that no thief has yet escaped detection, and they have even procured horses for parties outside their organization, charging therefor. The horses of widows, whose husbands died in full membership, are protected. The organization became so popular that its jurisdiction was extended as to include Wayne Township. The present officers are: M. J. Gard, Chairman; G. W. Gard, Treasurer; John Huff, Sec- retary; L. H. Warner, Foreman.
MASONIC.
Volinia Lodge, No. 227, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered January 9, 1868. The first officers were John Struble, W. M .; Milton J. Gard, S. W .: B. F. Gard, J. W .; Amos Green, Treasurer pro tem. ; L. H. Warner, Secretary pro tem. ; William R. Kirby, S. D., pro tem .; C. G. Harford, J. D. pro tem., and, including George Newton, the charter mem- bers. The lodge owns the room in which they con- vene, and for which they paid $600. Friendship, brotherly love and zeal in the good cause must be prominent traits in the members of this lodge, who, with a membership of only twenty-eight, have not only purchased their room, but have it well fur- nished, possess a fine regalia, and have money in their treasury. Regular communications are held on the first Thursday on or before the full of the moon.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Its officers now are: William F. Kirby, W. M .; M. B. Welcher, S. W .; F. M. Thompson, J. W .; G. W. Gard, Secretary ; James M. Wright, Treasurer; Abram Cary, S. D .; M. D. Wethrell, J. D .; Jasper Coleman, Tiler.
VOLINIA CORNET BAND.
Volinia Cornet Band was organized November 13, 1877, and the following officers elected on the 24th : William W. Patrick, President; Edward Goodenough, Vice President; Edgar C. Everett, Secretary ; Milton J. Gard, Treasurer. They commenced practicing very faithfully, and were soon able to produce music in which they and their friends took a justifiable pride. They possess a good set of instruments. The present officers are M. B. Welcher, President ; Charles Warner, Vice President; E. C. Everett, Secre. tary; E. J. Gard, Treasurer; the other members of the band being G. W. Gard, E. Thompson, A. C. Kirby, A. Hathaway, William Wright, William Hart, L. P. Gard, Clark Finch and Abram Cary, who is the leader.
The Volinia Neat Stock Improvement Company was organized some four years since for purposes pat- ent in its name. It has not a large membership, and its operations are small, still they are directed in the right direction and will inure to the benefit of its members, who have as officers : M. J. Gard, Purchas- ing Agent and Herdsman; M. B. Welcher, Presi- dent ; D. D. Judie, Treasurer; William R. Kirby, Secretary.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The first Regular Baptist Church of Wayne and Volinia was constituted January 9, 1858, as a branch of the Dowagiac Baptist Church, consisting of eight members, viz .: James Churchill and his wife Lorisa, Levi and Margaret Churchill, Isaac and Harriet. Cross, Josiah and Emily Bond ; the same day six more members were received. Under the ministra- tions of Rev. S. H. D. Vaughn, their numbers were increased to forty-six in the space of three weeks, and on the 22d of April, 1858, they were organized into an independent body, and recognized by a council convened at the Methodist Chapel in the township of Wayne from the churches of Edwardsburg, Liberty, Dowagiac, Niles and Paw Paw. Rev. S. H. D. Vaughn continued as pastor for three years, succeeded by Rev. G. W. Miner one year. Rev. John Kirby was its pastor for twelve years, with intervals, and during those intervals Rev. R. S. Dean presided as pastor one year; William Reed, one year, and C. D. Gregory eight months. The church, which has a membership of forty-six, is now without a pastor, and has, as Deacons, J. W. Churchill and G. Ilammond. Preparations are being made to erect a fifteen hun-
dred dollar church edifice on the northwest corner of Section 28, in the spring of 1882, school and private houses having been used until this date. According to a resolution unanimously passed April 16, 1881, the church will hereafter be designated as the Baptist Church of Christ of Volinia.
Volinia Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (Col- ored) was erected in Section 36 in 1872, at an expense of about $500. It was organized in 1871, with R. Jeffers, William Walden and Henry Lucas as trust- ees. It has about thirty-two members.
Newton Grove Church which was so named by the Dunkards, because the ground on which the neat church building was erected in 1877 was leased them, free, by Hon. George Newton, as long as used for church pur- poses, was only formally set aside, as at present in 1881. They employ no salaried pastor, and have a membership of about sixty. The Deacons are A. Clark, James E. Gould and Andrew and Jacob She- line.
SUPERVISORS.
1833-36, James Newton; 1837, David Hopkins ; 1838, Hubbell Warner ; 1839, Amos Huff ; 1842-44, Hubbell Warner; 1845, Joseph Warner ; 1846-48, David Hopkins ; 1849-50, James Fulton; 1851-52, George Newton; 1853-54, Hubbell Warner ; 1855, Emmos Buell; 1856-58, Alexander B. Copley ; 1859-60, Milton J. Gard; 1861-63, W. L. Dixon ; 1864, A. B. Copley ; 1865-66, Milton J. Gard ; 1867, A. B. Copley ; 1868-70, John Huff; 1871, John Struble; 1872, A. B. Copley; 1873, John Struble; 1874-77, John Kirby; 1878-81, John Huff.
TREASURERS.
1837-38, James Huff; 1839, Hubbell Warner ; 1842, Joseph Goodspeed ; 1843, Hubbell Warner ; 1844-50, Joseph Goodspeed ; 1851-55, Peter Sturr ; 1856-60, W. L. Dixon ; 1861-63, W. L. Goodspeed ; 1864-67, John Huff; 1868-73, L. H. Warner : 1874-77, E. C. Goodspeed; 1878-79, William R. Kirby ; 1880-81, Manly B. Welcher.
CLERKS.
1833-34, David Crane; 1835-43, Daniel C. Squire ; 1844-53, R. J. Huyck ; 1854-56, M. J. Gard ; 1857, Joseph Warner; 1858, R. J. Huyck ; 1859, P. W. Southworth; 1860, H. T. Wing : 1861-62, P. W. Southworth; 1863, E. S. Parker ; 1864-65, P. W. Southworth ; 1866, R. J. Huyck ; 1867-68, J. M. Goodspeed; 1869, C. E. Good- enough ; 1870, I. N. Gard; 1871, J. N. Root ; 1872, G. W. Gard; 1873, J. N. Root; 1874-76, S. L. George ; 1877-80, Abram Cary ; 1881, William R. Kirby.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AMOS HUFF.
Prominent among the pioneers of Volinia was Amos Huff, the eldest son of James and Sarah Huff, who was born in the State of New Jersey January 30,1799. His death occurred July 4, 1881, on the farm on which he settled forty-seven years previous, and which he had redeemed from a state of nature. He moved with his father to Northumberland County, Penn., while quite young, and from there to Clark County, Ohio. His father's family consisted of seven children-one daughter and six sons-two of whom survive, James, of Maroa, Ill., and Wesley, of Wayne Township, Cass County, Mich.
He came to this county in 1833, on a prospecting tour, and located land in Volinia, to which he re- moved his family the year following, at which time Michigan was a Territory, and Cass County in a com- paratively undeveloped state, and, during his residence here of forty-seven years, he did his full share in fit- ting the county for the habitation of man. He was an industrious, hard-working man, and as a mechanic stood at the head of his profession, in his day and time, and many evidences of his handiwork can now be found in this and adjoining townships. He was an honest, straightforward man, and bore the respect and esteem of the people with whom he had lived so many years, for he was kind-hearted, honest and gen- erous. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, of which he became a member many years before his death. In politics, he was a Republican. He was the father of nine children, as follows: Will- iam, deceased ; James, in California; John, a prom- inent farmer in Volinia; Newton, also in Volinia ; Sarah, now Mrs. Dine; Margaret, Jay and Clark, all residents of Volinia, and Nancy, deceased.
April 13, 1829, Mr. Huff was married to Mar- garet, daughter of John and Nancy Case, who was born in Northumberland County, Penn., March 1, 1804. Her death occurred April 19, 1881, but a few months previous to her husband's. Mrs. Huff is numbered among the noble band of pioneer mothers who did well their part in the settlement of this Western country. She was an affectionate wife and mother, kind and charitable to all, and is now reap- ing the reward of the just.
JOHN HUFF.
John Huff, son of Amos and Margaret Huff, was born in Clark County, Ohio, August 3, 1833, and when but one year old, removed, with his parents, to Volinia, Cass County, Mich., which place has since been his home.
Mr. Huff grew to youth and manhood in this new country, and has not only witnessed its transition from a wild state to one fitted for intelligent cultivation, but has also assisted in performing his share of the hard labor, for pioneer farmers' sons were required to perform manual labor as soon as their strength would permit ; and many a log heap and brush pile have vanished into thin smoke through his industry. His opportunities for scholastic attainments were confined to the primary schools of his district, but were so well improved and supplemented with study and close application out of school, that he soon assumed the role of school-teacher, and in the district where he re- ceived instruction as a scholar.
Having been reared to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Huff is well versed in his chosen occupation, farming, and ranks among the most intelligent and enterpris- ing farmers of the county, he now having a farm of 180 acres.
Recognizing in him one eminently well qualified for the position, he has been elected, by his people, to the office of School Inspector for ten years, and in 1864 was elected to the office of Township Treasurer, which office he held for four successive years, until elected to the office of Supervisor in 1868; the following year he was chosen Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, for he held this office for three years in succession, when he declined a renomination. Although not an aspir- ant for the office, preferring to attend to his private business, he was, in 1878, again chosen as Supervisor, which office he has held for the past four years, and again, the last year, was elected as Chairman of the Board, an honor most worthily conferred.
The chief characteristics of Mr. Huff are hon- esty and integrity, which, coupled with much na- tive ability, have won him an enviable reputation among those who know him best. In politics, he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in all town- ship affairs that will accrue to the general weal, al- ways giving his influence on the side of right.
May 12, 1872, he married Miss Eliza Wright, of Volinia, oldest daughter of James and Sarah Wright, who was born January 24, 1847, and Mr. Huff has found in her a most worthy companion. They are the parents of two children-Amy, born May 18, 1873, and Otis, born August 1, 1875.
We present the readers of this work the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Huff; also the portraits of his father and mother, which he inserts as a tribute of love and respect to his deceased parents.
ALEXANDER COPLEY.
Alexander Copley was born November 22, 1790, at Granby, Hartford County, Conn., being the youngest
AMOS HUFF.
MRS. AMOS HUFF.
JOHN HUFF.
MRS. JOHN HUFF.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of seven children ; he was of English descent, his grandfather emigrated from England in the early part of the eighteenth century, and settled in Suffield, Conn. His mother was left a widow with five sons and two daughters, the eldest eighteen, the youngest six years of age, but bravely managed to keep the family together till able to care for themselves, with the meager assistance afforded by thirty acres of rocky, sterile soil, one-fourth of a small grist-mill and one- half of a saw-mill, where there was but little to saw and less to grind. The writer of this has heard the brothers speak of saving the tolls of wheat till Thanksgiving Day, so that they could have a short-cake of wheat flour, rye and corn being the principal bread- stuff. In April, 1805, the older brothers sold the property in Connecticut and removed the family to Worcester, Otsego County, N. Y., a newly settled country at that time, with but limited school privileges. Whatever of education young Copley acquired was in the primary schools of Connecticut, attending only the winter terms, his school days ending with his fif- teenth year; not so with his education, as he studied at home when not at work, as a well-worn copy of 'Love's Art of Surveying," mastered in his sixteenth winter, attests. In 1809, he was apprenticed to his brother William to learn the carpenter's trade in Jefferson County, N. Y., and from 1811 to 1814 worked with his brother as a journeyman. In 1814, September 25, he was married to Esther Nott, at the village of Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y., where he resided, working at his trade until June, 1822, with varied success, as during the depression existing after the close of the war of 1812 there were hard times for him as well as many others, so much so that in the summer of 1817 he made a trip through Western New York, and as far as Cleveland, Ohio, looking for work, spending part of the summer at Fredonia, N. Y., at work, but without materially bettering his condition.
Leaving Champion in 1822, he removed to New Hartford, Oneida County, where his brother William had preceded him, and in the manufacturing villages near Utica ; the next two years were spent in the man- ufacture of cotton machinery for the various compa- nies therein located. Leaving New York Mills in 1824, he removed with his brother to Walden, twelve miles west of Newburgh, on the Hudson, where the next two years were spent in the manufacture of spinning and weaving machinery on their own account. In 1826, he went to Matteawan, a village opposite Newburgh, tak- ing a position as Superintendent of the machine shops of the company at that place, which he held for three years, leaving September 12, 1829, for the West, going up the Hudson in a sloop to Albany, thence to Buffalo by the Erie Canal and steamboat on Lake
Erie, designing to settle in the Wabash County, Ind .; a cross steamboat Captain changed his mind, and in- stead of Sandusky, he landed at Cleveland, going by canal to Massillon, its terminus, thence coming by wagons to Wellsville on the Ohio River, and down by steamboat to Cincinnati, and to Dayton by canal, where he arrived November 18, 1829.
Here he prospected the country some, worked in the machine-shop, putting in operation the machinery for the first cotton-mill of that place-previously made at the Matteawan Company's works-experimenting on the culture of silk, buying a small place of fifteen acres of timbered land near the village, now in the city, being engaged in these various occupations till the autumn of 1832, when he came to Mich- igan, locating the land on the present site of Nichols- ville, Volinia Township. Returning, he spent the winter making preparations for removal, which, being completed, he left Dayton June 9, 1833, with two wagons, three yoke of oxen, one span of horses, four cows, and several other head of neat cattle, poultry,
etc. The horses were soon disabled in the swamps of the St. Mary's, and were replaced by the purchase of an additional yoke of oxen, arriving at Little Prairie Ronde July 1, 1833, after a tedious trip of twenty-one days, a distance of 234 miles, averaging eleven miles a day-some days only three, however. He had three young men to help him on the trip besides his oldest son of sixteen. In many places, all the teams would be attached to one wagon, which would be taken through bad places, and then return for the other. Part of the goods were unloaded and taken up the Maumee to Fort Wayne, then reloaded. The family camped out during the trip, except one night spent in a deserted cabin on Sugar IIill, in the Elkhart bot- toms. Mr. Copley built the saw-inill at Nicholsville, being the first in the township, starting December 20, 1835, at a cost of $449.07. He subsequently had a turning shop attached, where materials for chairs, bed- steads, tables, etc., were prepared and sent off for fin- ishing elsewhere. He was always enthusiastic in regard to new enterprises and improvements. When leaving New York, he contemplated silk manufacturing and grape culture; for two seasons, at Dayton, he raised silk-worms, made ingenious machinery for reel- ing the silk-experimented with morus multicallis. From Ohio, he brought to Michigan two choice Dur- hams, the castings for three sizes of Wood's plow (the first introduced in Western Michigan, if not in the Territory), Isabella grape vines, pie plant (one root of which was brought from New York); experimented with new varieties of crops and modes of culture. Among other things, he built a revolving hay rake from a description furnished by a land looker, long before they
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