USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 66
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
were generally introduced. In political matters, Mr. C. had neither taste nor ambition, yet served his town- ship as Road Commissioner and Asssessor, and his school district occasionally, building the first school- house in his district at his own expense, which was subsequently burned while so occupied, and the school transferred to the log cabin he first built for his family. In connection with Dr. Thomas and A. E. Bull, he acted as Commissioner in laying out a State road from Schoolcraft to St. Joseph Village, in May, 1837. At the age of twenty-two, he joined the Free- masons, and, during his early manhood, was zealously attached to their principles ; later, he became an en- thusiastic believer in the doctrines of the New Church as taught by Emanuel Swedenborg, and endeavored to conform his life in accordance therewith. For the last three years of his life he was in ill health, consumption having developed itself beyond the control of medical, aid, terminating in his death January 6, 1842, leav- ing nine children, six daughters and three sons (four children having previously died) and his widow, who joined him May 12, 1852.
HON. ALEXANDER B. COPLEY.
This gentleman, for many years prominently identi- fied with the history of Volinia Township, is of En- glish descent and was born in Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y., March 11, 1822. After various changes of location, the family emigrated from Day- ton, Ohio, to Volinia in 1833, where the elder Copley purchased a farm and where he resided until his de. cease, which occurred in 1842. Alexander B. was at
this time twenty years of age, with a widowed mother and one brother and five sisters younger than himself to care for. The responsibilities thus thrust upon him were such as to discourage most young men, but he proved himself equal to the task, and for many years was the head of the family and the director of its af- fairs. He received such advantages as were afforded by the ordinary district school of that day, but com- pleted his education in that other school in which the teachers are observation and experience. Mr. Copley has always been a practical farmer and has taken a deep interest in all agricultural experiments and im- provements, and his Volinia farm is one of the finest in Cass County.
In 1874, he moved to the village of Decatur. He was one of the original stockholders of the First Na- tional Bank of Decatur, of which he is President.
Although not a politician in the ordinary acceptation of the term, he has always taken a deep interest in political affairs and has occupied many positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfac- tion of his constituency.
For six years he represented Volinia upon the Board of Supervisors. In 1865, he was elected to the representative branch of Legislature from the northern district of Cass County, and re-elected for the session of 1871-72. In 1875, he represented the eastern district of Van Buren County, and was re-elected in 1881.
Mr. Copley's attention has not been wholly engrossed by business and political matters ; he has devoted much time to public improvements, prominent among which is the magnificent road across the swamp southeast of Decatur, which was constructed and brought into successful operation largely through his individual efforts ; he is now actively interested in the furtherance of a project for draining the Dowagiac swamp.
In 1850, Mr. Copley was married to Miss Jane H., sister of B. Hathaway, of Volinia ; his family con- sists of his wife and two sons; the elder is married and manages the old farm.
SAMUEL MORRIS.
The Morris family trace their ancestry back to Scotland, from which country the progenitor of the American branch emigrated many years ago. Samuel, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, participated in the Revolutionary war. His son, Samuel, was a resident of Loudoun County, Va., and it was here, August 16, 1798, that his son, Dolphin Morris, was born. As noted in the township history, Dolphin and his wife, Nancy (Beaver) Morris, came to
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Cass County in 1828. They came from Ross County, Ohio, when their son Samuel was born, August 17, 1824, and who accompanied his parents to this coun- try at the time indicated.
The following biography of Samuel is from the Berrien and Van Buren County history : " His education was obtained at the district school in the vicinity of his father's, on the north side of Little Prairie Ronde, with the exception of four months at a select school at Paw Paw, taught by Prof. Jesse Vose, now deceased. He being the oldest child of his father's family, was, at an early age, taught to assist in all the different departments on the farm as occasion seemed to demand. One of his duties was to watch his father's sheep during the day-time to prevent the wolves from killing and devouring the young lambs ; but despite his efforts, sometimes the
hungry beasts would ignore his presence, seize upon a lamb and run off with it. On one occasion, seven wolves made their appearance at the same time, but, owing to his courage and skill, were prevented from doing serious damage.
Indians were frequently his play-fellows, with whom he often joined in their sports. So familiar did he become with them that he learned to speak their lan- guage, and often joined them in target-shooting with bow and arrow, with which he became an expert, many times vanquishing his opponents, to their great cha- grin. Indeed, so great was his skill that he could shoot a bird at a distance of fifteen rods with great precision. He also became skilled in the use of the rifle, with which he took delight in hunting deer and other game. In fact he furnished the family with meat a greater portion of the time. He married,
October 3, 1852, Harriet C., daughter of Thomas Simpson, of Cass County, Mich., and immediately commenced housekeeping on his farm on Little Prairie Ronde, Cass County. He has always been engaged in farming, in which he has been very suc- cessful. He has also been a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Decatur since its organization, and for a period of ten years a director of the same. He is a living witness of the growth and prosperity of Western Michigan, having shared in many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. In politics, he is a National Greenbacker. He bore one- half the expense of inserting the portraits of his father and mother, his deceased brother, Charles H., and his wife, with a view of their residence, in the Berrien and Van Buren County history, in which volume the whole credit is erroneously given another brother.
OLIVER HIGH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Carlisle, Penn., May 28, 1810, and is the son of Abraham and Hettie Ann (Whistler). When an infant, he moved with his parents to Cumberland County of that State, and when ten years of age removed to Wayne County, Ohio. When about twenty-one years of age, he moved to Medina County, the same State, and there worked at the blacksmith trade four years, and here married Electa Parmeter, by whom he had seven children, only two of whom, David and Henry, sur- vive. Mrs. High's death occurred in February, 1843, and May + of this year he married Maria M. Little, they have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom survive, as follows : Hettie A., James A., Daniel W., Nelson A., Martha O., Phœbe M., Ezekiel M. Mr. High moved to Ashland County, where he purchased thirty acres of land, which he disposed of, and in 1854 moved on to his present farm, when in a state of nature, in conformity to a dream, as will be seen elsewhere in the his- tory of Volinia. Mr. High has not only cleared up his first purchase, 80 acres, but added to it until he now possesses 120 acres of valuable land, all of which is the result of hard labor and economy, he having to depend upon his own exertions to further his financial interests. Mr. Iligh is a good citizen and neighbor, and has lived a quiet, uneventful life, and is now enjoying the fruits of his industry.
DANIEL CONKLIN SQUIER.
Daniel C. Squier, one of the early pioneers of Volinia, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., March 23, 1800. He was the son of William and Sarah Squier, who were natives of New Jersey. When
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Daniel was three years of age, the family moved to Ohio, where Mrs. Squier died in April of 1823. The elder Squier was a farmer, and Daniel C. was reared to the same avocation. He received a good common school education, which he made practically useful to himself and others by teaching. In the autumn of 1831, he started with his family for Michigan with an ox team, the journey occupying twenty-three days, and without anything occurring out of the usual experi- ences of those who came at that time. The winter was passed at Cassopolis, during which time he assisted in the survey and platting of the town. In March, 1832, he moved to the farm which he had located on Section 18, in the township of Volinia, which was in a state of nature ; this farm he improved and it was his home until his decease, which occurred July 28, 1873, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. March 30, 1828, he was married in Butler County, Ohio, to Miss Eliz- abeth Case, who was born in Pennsylvania, from whence her father removed when she was a child to Butler County, Ohio. From Butler County they emi- grated to Cass County, settling in Volina, where they passed the remainder of their lives ; they were exem- plary people and died in Volinia at an advanced age, " full of days and honor." Mr. and Mrs. Squier had nine children born to them-John, the eldest, was a native of Ohio, and is now one of the valued citizens of the township of Volinia ; William resides on the old homestead ; Charlotte, Elizabeth, Sarah and Dan- iel F., died in childhood of that terrible disease, scarlet fever ; David A. lives in Decatur ; Susannah (Mrs. Jacob J. Morlan), resides in Volinia ; Mary (Mrs. W. D. Rich), died May 6, 1863.
Mr. Squier was a man of strict integrity, and highly thought of by those who knew him best ; he filled several political positions in township matters, notably among the number that of Township Treas- urer, which office he filled with credit for nine con- secutive years. During the Black Hawk war, he held a Lieutenant's commission, and for his services received a land warrant of 160 acres of land. He was a man possessed of a generous sympathetic nature ; he had a heart full of kindness, and while he was not a mem- ber of any church, he believed in a God of love and justice, who, having " made man in his own image and in his own likeness," would not consign him to eternal perdition. His hospitality was only equaled by his generosity, and he was in every way worthy of the posi- tion he held in the community in which he resided.
CHAPTER XXX.
PORTER.
Evidences of a Pre-Historic Race-Early Settlements, Including the Indians' Assault upon John Baldwin-A Wolf and Wild Cat Story -Panther Scare-Pioneer Samaritanism-Land Entries-Reminis- cences - Organization of Township - Early Taverns - Coal Oil Speculation-Religious Organizations-Schools - Products - Civil List-Biographical.
F TROM the ancient days in the dim and shadowy past, when the human race first arrived at a state of intelligence sufficient to enable them to transmit a traditionary or written account of them- selves, all along down the turning ages, our progeni- tors have left in various ways and by different means, information more or less mythical of the age and generation in which they played their ephemeral part on the world's ever-changing theater of action.
By some, the world is accounted a drama in which individuals, communities, tribes and nations play their part, and then disappear from the scene of action, soon to be lost entirely from view, and the history of this State, and even this township, would seem to prove this true, for there are ample evidences of its having been inhabited by a race of people whose very name has long since been forgotten, and whose only remembrance is insignificant heaps of earth to be found scattered promiscuously around.
Superior intelligence enables us, however, to trans- mit to posterity written evidences of our existence, and in the history of Cass County, Porter Township bears no unimportant part. Geographically, it is larger in extent than any township in the county, and in point of progress, dating from its settlement, com- pares in no unfavorable light with its sister townships.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In the settlement of every township there are cer- tain ones who act as the avant-couriers to those who follow. They are quick to discern favorable localities and do not hesitate to avail themselves of their choice of locations, and then to dilate upon the fertility of the land and its peculiar adaptability for farming, as regards location, productiveness, etc., to all desirable emigrants, so that they seldom long remain in an en- tirely isolated condition, for neighbors become quite plentiful in a few years. This was the case re- garding John Baldwin, a Southerner, who came into the township from Indiana, in 1828, and settled on land now owned by George Meacham. Mr. Baldwin was a characteristic pioneer of the frontier type, natu rally averse to hard labor ; he never made many im- provements, relying, in a great measure, on the income from his tavern and his genius for traffic and dicker for a livelihood. A series of misfortunes seemed to a wait his arrival, for hardly had he made a settlement
Geon Meacham.
HON. GEORGE MEACHAM.
The history of Cass County would be incomplete without a sketch of the life of Hon. George Meacham, who has been inti- mately identified with it ever since and even before it had its present political existence Simeon, father of George, was born August 28, 1776, and died August 26, 1836.
George Meacham was born in Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 18, 1799, from which place he removed with his parents to Jeffer- son County, of that State. At the age of nearly four years, he met with that irreparable loss, the death of his mother, by which event he was obliged to face the stern realities of life and to per- form labor far in advance of his years. In his tenth year, he went to live with a man by the name of Merrill, with whom he remained four years. His advantages for education were meager indeed, and when seventeen, at which time his school days ended, he had received but twelve months' schooling. But despite the obstacles which beset his path, he has risen superior to adverse circumstances and has conquered success in every department of life. At the age of nineteen, his father gave him " his time," and he commenced life for himself, working as a farm-hand and in lumber camps. In 1826, he disposed of his property and started for Michigan, arriving in Detroit on the 26th of September of that year; the winter was spent in Ann Arbor, where he found employment in a grist-mill. Early in the spring of 1827, in company with his brother Sylvester, George Crawford and Ches- ter Sage, he started West with an outfit which consisted of three yoke of cattle, attached to a heavy lumber-wagon, camp equipage, a stock of provisions and ammunition, and a plow. On the 11th of April they reached Beardsley's Prairie, where they erected a log cabin, which soon became known as " Bachelor's Hall," and to which hunters, trappers, land-lookers, any one and every one, were always welcome. It was the original intention of the com- pany to select a location where they could raise grain sufficient for their own consumption and traffic with the Indians. As soon as the location had been decided upon, George Crawford started for Olio for goods, but learning that " Bachelor's Hall " had been broken up, returned without them, and, as there was every rea- son to believe that the country would soon be occupied with actual settlers, the original project was abandoned, and the Meachams turned their attention to agricultural pursuits. George commencing on land now owned by George Howard, in Ontwa Township, which he purchased when offered for sale by the Gov- ernment. Mr. Meacham remained here until 1836, when he removed to Porter, having purchased the John Baldwin farm, and to which he has added from time to time until he now
possesses 420 acres of fine fertile land, and has always been ac- counted among the foremost, most successful and progressive farmers in the township.
He had constructed for his use the first threshing machine used in this section of the country, which was known as an open cylinder, it being destitue of a straw-carrier. He devoted much attention to the propagation of superior stock, and the value of his example and influence in this direction, on the township, it would be difficult to estimate.
In 1830, he was appointed the first Sheriff in the county, by Gov. Cass, which office he filled for six consecutive years. The judicial circuit at this time embraced all the territory north and west of St. Joseph County, and in summoning a jury of twenty- four he took all but five of the legally qualified jurors in this scope of territory, the payment of a tax of 50 cents being one of the qualifications, which excluded a large number.
Mr. Meacham, although not a politician, has always given proper consideration to matters of public interest, and although not an aspirant for office has occupied the highest positions in the gift of the citizens of the county. In 1839, he was elected to the Representative branch of the Legislature and in 1859 and 1860, occupied a seat in the State Senate. The duties of both positions were discharged with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of his constituents. Industry and perseverance are per- haps the most prominent points in Mr. Meacham's composition, the possession of which despite the unfavorable surroundings of his former days, have given him an enviable position among the lead- ing agriculturists of the county.
He has not only been successful in the aocummulation of a valuable property but in the builling-up of an unspotted reputa- tion. October 6, 1829, he was united in marriage to Miss Cathe- rine Rinehart, who has shared his joys and sorrows and the trials and adversities of a long and eventful life. They have been blessed with eight children-Elizabeth E., wife of J. Richardson, of Porter ; Cyrus ; Hiram, one of the prominent farmers of the township, and for many years its representative on the Board of Supervisors ; Mary, now Mrs. T. A. Hitchcox ; Harriet E. and Julia A., wives of T. T. Sheldon and E. Rinehart, respectively ; Marilla A. and Oliver G.
Mr. Meacham is in his eighty-third year, and for forty-seven years has been a resident of the county. And while the length- ened shadows proclaim an advancing old age, he lives in quiet and serenity, surrounded by the comforts of life, the products of his untiring industry and enjoying the respect and esteem of the people with whom he has been associated for one-half a century.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
before he lost, by death, his wife, who was interred on his farm, and was the first white person who died in the township, it being in 1828. The following year, he had a very narrow escape from death, caused by incurring the displeasure of the Indians, who were quite numerous in this section at this time. It ap- pears that Mr. Baldwin had been trafficking with the Indians, and, in payment, had given them a quantity of fire-water, and they being unable to get drunk enough on it to suit their savage nature, for it had been treated to several water baths, or, as the Indians expressed it, it contained "heap too much bish " (water). It was doubtless while under the exhilerat- ing influence of this same whisky that they one night repaired to his cabin, and, arming themselves with shakes pulled from the door, forced an entrance, and, pulling him out of bed, proceeded to beat him about the head and shoulders in a most merciless manner, for they were bound to be revenged. Joel, son of Mr. Baldwin, then a young man, was powerless to re- sist them, being unarmed, and jumping out of the window, went to the wood-pile for the ax, but was un- able to find it, for the Indians had evidently taken the precaution to hide it. Nothing daunted, however, he armed himself with a billet of wood, and proceeded to make an onslaught on the enemy, when they sud- denly left, and, doubtless, under the impression that the life of their victim was extinct, for he lay on the floor weltering in his blood in an insensible condition, with a portion of his scalp beaten loose and hanging to his head, while the rude furniture and walls were spattered with his blood, and presented a ghastly sight -their revenge was terrible.
Joel placed his father on the bed, and started for White Pigeon, twelve miles distant, to procure Dr. Loomis, the nearest physician, not knowing but what the Indians might return and complete their work of destruction by burning the cabin. It was a long time before Mr. Baldwin was enabled to proceed with his business; and this event was the subject of much comment among the settlers for many years. No ar- rests were made, but the Pottowatomie tride paid dearly for this assault, for Mr. Baldwin filed a bill with the Territorial government, claiming and receiv- ing over $1,000 damages, which was retained from their annuities.
Mr. Baldwin purchased and sold quite a number of farms, but finally disposed of his property, and removed to Indiana about 1836 to 1838.
In 1829, quite a number of settlers found their way into this immediate neighborhood, including William Tibbetts, who settled in Section 8, also Daniel Shellhammer.
In 1828, Caleb Calkins came from Monroe County,
N. Y., on a prospecting tour, and, being pleased with the country, returned after his family, reaching Bald- win's Prairie with them in January, 1829. He pur- chased land now owned by Mr. J. Richardson, in Section 5. Being a carpenter and joiner by trade, he went to Pigeon Prairie and built the first frame house and barn in that section in order to fill his depleted exchequer. The family, in common with others, suffered much from sickness, and, in the spring of 1829 buried a two-year old daughter named Florilla, and this was probably the second death in the township. Their daughter, Catharine, is now the wife of O. P. Bronson, who resides in Section 32. Mr. Bronson is a pioneer of St. Joseph County, com- ing in there with his parents in 1830, and has been a resident of this township since 1852, when he returned from a trip to California.
The heaviest real estate owner in Porter is Samuel King, who, in the fall of 1829, when a boy fourteen years of age, accompanied his mother and step-father, George P. Schultz, from Crawford County, Ohio, to this then wild portion of Michigan. Mr. Schultz had been out the spring previous and put in some spring crops above Mottville, in St. Joseph County, but in coming through sold out to Mr. Rickert and selected land on heavily timbered land in this township, which was then considered vastly superior in point of fertility to openings or prairie. Thirty dollars per annum appears like small compensation for one year's labor, but this was what Mr. King received; it however formed the nucleus for his present large farm of 784 acres. His first wife, Sarah, having deceased, by whom he had two children, he married Barbara Hartman, and they have been blessed with eight chil- dren.
Nathan G. O'Dell and his wife Sarah (Drake) came to Porter Township in 1829 and settled in Sec- tion 1, Town 8, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Rickert. In common with other pioneers, they com- menced life in the typical log cabin, but death claim- ing Mrs. O'Dell the family soon scattered. Their son, James S. O'Dell, who was born January 10, 1830, was probably the first white child born in the township. Thomas, another son, now a prominent farmer in Town 7 (who married Lovina Traverse, daughter of the pioneers Robert and Lovica Traverse, who settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Holloway, in 1834 or 1835,) commenced on his farm when in a state of nature, and is therefore conversant with almost everything pertaining to pioneer life. Another son, John, whose farin lies opposite his brother's, is also a prosperous farmer, and his wife, Jane, is daughter of Philo Smith, who came in at an early day. Another son, David, is deceased, while their daughter,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
Margaret, is the wife of H. J. Brown, also a resident of Porter.
Jacob Charles was one of the pioneers who came in the county in 1829 or 1830, and settled on land now owned by Mrs. Fidelia Nutting. He deceased about 1835, and his son Rufus conducted the farm until about fifteen years since, and then moved away.
The products of the country at this time were not sufficient to meet the demands of emigrants, and those residing at Constantine and other places asked and received from $2 to $3 per bushel for oats and wheat, they making no distinction regarding the kind of grain. In 1832. just before emigrants began to pour through the country in such immense numbers, the settlers reversed the order of things, and raised more grain than was consumed. and prices fell so low that farmers obtained almost nothing for their labor. George Meacham, as Sheriff of the county, called a meeting of the farmers at Cassopolis to take into con- sideration the devising of some means for disposing of their grain, either by building a warehouse at the mouth of St. Joseph River, or otherwise. At a second meet- ing held, Abiel Silver addressed the farmers, and stated that it was their province to raise grain, and not to act in the capacity of shippers, and, as he agreed to purchase their surplus, the matter was dropped. and soon emigrants came into the country in such numbers that remunerative prices were obtained.
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