History of Cass county, Michigan, Part 79

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 79

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CHAPTER XXX.

SILVER CREEK.

Survey-Topography-McDaniel the First Settler-Arrival of Barney . Suits, Treat and their Families-Organization-First Township Meeting-First Officers-Pioneer Wedding-Pokagon and His Band-Erection of the First Church-First Road-Assessment Roll of 1858-Land Entries-Uncle Tommy-Indian Sugar-Making -First School-Later Settlers-Churches-Civil List.

T HE exterior lines of this township designated in the field-notes, of the original survey as Town- ship No. 5 south, Range 16 west, was surveyed by William Brookfield, Deputy Surveyor, March 17, 1827.

Its subdivisions, however, were not run out until April 24, 1830.

It has the following surroundings : Keeler Town- ship, Van Buren County on the north, Wayne on the east, Pokagon on the south and the township of Pipestone, Van Buren County, forms its western boundary.

Originally the larger portion of the township was heavily timbered, especially the southern and central portions. Upon the east and north, however, were tracts of "oak openings ;" a farm could be con- structed from this class of land with much less difficulty than from that denominated timbered land, and this may account in part for the first settlements being made in the northeast corner of the township.

WILLIAM BILDERBACK.

MRS. WILLIAM BILDERBACK.

WILLIAM BILDERBACK.

William Bilderback, one of the prominent farmers and pioneers of Silver Creek, was born in Salem, Salem County, N. J., February 11, 1816. He was the eldest in the family of Thomas and Mary (Hill) Bilderback, which consisted of seven. The elder Bilderback was a farmer by occupation, a staid and industrious man, but in limited circumstances, and unable to give his children the advantages of education. In 1820, lie removed with bis family to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, then a new country, where he resided until his decease. At the age of ten years William was thrown upon his own resources and from that time cared for himself. Early in life he learned that the road to success was no royal one, but that a competency was obtainable only through long years of persistent effort. The lesson thus early received was productive of results, and may account in part for the enviable position he now holds, both social- ly and in business. In 1839, he was married to Miss Sarah Nye, of Lebanon. Ohio, where she was born May 22. 1818. Six years after their marriage they decided to remove to Michigan, and in the spring of 1845, came to Berrien County, settling in the town- ship of Niles, where they resided until the spring of 1850, when they came to Silver Creek, where he had purchased a new farm of eighty acres, for which he paid $250, running in debt for the larger portion.

He commenced the development of his farm under very adverse circumstances, but with that energy that has characterized his subsequent efforts, and to the original purchase he has made repeated additions un- til he now has an estate of 467 acres under good im- provement. He attributes a large portion of his suc- cess to the efforts of his worthy wife, who has shared his trials and adversities, and who has been to him a " helpmeet," in all that the name implies. Six children have been born to them, Peter J., John, William W., Mary, Martha, and Sarah R. The three sons were among that noble band who did their country service in the war of the rebellion. Peter and William gave up their lives, not in the excitement of battle, but from discase contracted from exposure while in active service. John returned to his friends and his home, and resides near the old place ; he is a prosperous farmer. Mary is now Mrs. D. W. Sam- mons ; Martha married James Momany ; Sarah R., Elias Smith, all are residents of the County. In his religious and political affiliations, Mr. Bilderback is a Methodist and a Republican. Mrs. Bilderback is a worthy member of the Disciples' Church. The life of Mr. Bilderback has been comparatively un- eventful, but made up of acts of every day life humble in themselves, but making up a grand aggre- gate. He is emphatically the "architect of his own fortune," and his carcer is one worthy of emulation.

355

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

In the vicinity of Indian Lake there was originally a magnificent growth of sugar maple. Here the Pot- towatomies assembled every spring for the purpose making sugar. They had several camps in this portion of the township, the principal one being on the farm now owned by William Gilbert.

There are several lakes in the township, the larger and more important ones being Magician Lake, in the north central part, Dewey's Lake, named in honor of one of the original settlers in that portion of the town- ship in which it is located, and Indian Lake in the extreme southwest corner.

Magician Lake is the source of Silver Creek, so called from the silvery appearance of its waters, caused by a light coating of marl at the bottom ; from this stream the township derived its name. It flows in an easterly and southerly course, and empties into the North Branch of Dowagiac Creek, which traverses the southwest quarter of the township, through Sections 24, 26, 27 and 34. These two streams drain the east- ern portion of the township. Silver Creek has an extended area of fertile and productive lands, and can boast of many beautiful and valuable farms, the soil for the most part is a fine loam, which produces abundant crops of all kinds ; its farmers are progres- , march, and removed to Arkansas. sive and successful, and although its early settlers were beset with many difficulties not experienced by the pioneers of adjoining townships, it has earned and oc- cupies a foremost position among the important town- ships of the county.

THE PIONEERS AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

To those now residing in a region in which he was the first to explore, and where he was the first to en- dure the perils and privations of that almost savage condition, a pioneer life, the earliest settler is an object of especial interest. Many of these pioneers, in their integrity of character, their kindness heart, their hospitality, their contempt of danger, and their cheer- ful endurance of toil and privation, have claims upon the historian, other than the fact that they were the first to settle here.

Scarcely a more striking and inspiring figure can be presented than one of these hardy and athletic frontiersmen with only his family about him, estab- lishing his home in the remote solitary wilderness.

".His strong righ' hand the rifle grasps, His axe the left with equal vigor clasps, With equal nerve prepared the foe to meet, Or lay the forest prostrate at his feet."

The first entry of land in Silver Creek was made in Section 12, by James McDaniel, on the 16th of December, 1834. The following spring, the exact time is not known, he made a permanent settlement;

like most of the early settlers, he had a large family, none of whom are now living in the county. But little is known of his antecedents farther than that he was a native of North Carolina, from whence he removed to Ohio ; he was a man of powerful physique and a fine type of the frontiersman-one of those advent- urous individuals, who form the advance guard of civ- ilization. McDaniels built his cabin on the site now occupied by the residence of E. B. Godfrey, and to him belongs the honor of erecting the first house and plowing the first furrow, aside from connecting his name with many of the initial events in the history of the township in which he was the first settler.

Evidently, he was a man possessed of energy and enterprise, for soon after the completion of his cabin he commenced the erection of a saw-mill on Silver Creek, subsequently known as the Barney Mill. For lack of funds or other reasons, he failed to carry his project to a successful termination, and, about 1838, he sold his property, including the mill, to Henry Barney. He disposed of the portion on which the mill was located, to his son John G. A., who, in com- pany with his father, completed it. After the dispo- sition of his property, he again took up the line of

October 19, 1835, John Barney, afterward familiarly known as Judge Barney, entered 160 acres of land on Section 2. He was also from Ohio, and was the second permanent resident of the township. The precise date of his arrival is also uncertain, but it was some time in the spring of 1836. With him came his family, consisting of his wife and six children-four sons and two daughters. Mr. Barney was an ener- getic, ambitious man, and possessed of a good deal of natural shrewdness and business acumen. He imme- diately took a prominent part in the affairs of the township, and soon became one of its leading spirits, and identified himself rather prominently with its pioneer history.

In 1843, he erected a furniture manufactory on the creek, and many articles of houschold furniture were manufactured, including the old-fashioned spinning- wheel, then an article of every-day use.

Prominent among the names of the early pioneers is that of Jacob A. Suits, whose settlement dates back to September 1, 1836. Mr. Suits, who came from Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., found on his arrival that his was the fifth family, the others being McDaniels, John Barney, Daniel Van Horn and Philander B. Dunning. The family of Mr. Suits con- sisted of his wife and six children, three sons and three daughters-Adam, Joseph, Jacob, Lucinda, Phebe and Delia M. He built the fifth house in the township, on the farm now owned by his son Adam, who is un-

356

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

doubtedly the " oldest resident." He died in Silver Creek in 1844, in the forty-sixth of his age.

At the time of Mr. Suits' settlement in the town- ship, there were but three families between his farm and Paw Paw, and as showing the proximity of their neighbors, Mr. Adam Suits relates the following inci- dent which occurred soon after their arrival : The family being out of butter, Mrs. Suits desired her husband to ascertain where some could be purchased. Meeting Mr. Barney, he solicited the desired informa- tion, and was informed that their nearest neighbor on the south, Mr. Thomas Burk, of Pokagon, had butter to sell; on inquiring the distance, Mr. Barney in- formed him that it was only eleven miles. Adam was detailed to make the purchase and bring home the butter, which he did.

In September, 1837, Timothy Treat with his family, consisting of his wife and eight children-Fidelia, Al- mira. Ruby, James B., Louisa, Ira, Willard and Wal- lace-left their home in Aurora, Erie County, N. Y., in a lumber wagon, in which were stored their household goods, for Cass County, which was at that time considered to be on the extreme verge of civiliz- ation. Their departure was quite an event in the neighborhood, and their neighbors and friends assem- bled early to bid them good-bye, and wish them God- speed. The journey was devoid of any incident worthy of record, and they arrived at the residence of James Griffis, an old friend, who had settled near Ed- wardsburg, about October 1. After a residence of two years in the town of Ontwa, he removed to Silver Creek and settled on lands purchased of John Bar- ney. They came into the township from the south, and at Indian Lake they found a track running in a northeasterly direction, winding around fallen trees and swamps. At the southeast corner of Section 16 the road forked, one branch leading to Dewey's Lake, the other to their future home. Some disconsolate emigrant had preceded them, and evidently was not favorably impressed with the country to which they were going, and with evident good intention he had erected a primitive guide-post by removing the bark from a tree on which he had written with red chalk the ominous inscription : " Turn to the left and go to the Devil." In 1837, a decided impetus was given to the development of the township by several arrivals. Among the number was John Woolman, the first resi- dent surveyor, who took up land on Section 29, on which he built a cabin. He returned to Ohio, from which State he emigrated the following year, as his name is found on the records of 1838. Henry Dewey, one of the early settlers of Pokagon, entered land on Sec. 8 in 1835. The date of his settlement is not known. Daniel Blish is positive that it was not until 1841. It

may have been shortly before this time. Dewey was a man of energy and remarkable industry, and was an important accession. At the time of his settlement in Silver Creek, he owned a tract of land in Pokagon on which he had made substantial improvements, but the land in the vicinity of the lake which bears his name possessed many attractions, among others its proximity to the lake, which at the time was alive with fish. This fact is given as the principal reason for his change of location.

Among other arrivals in this year were James Allen. Joseph and William Van Horn, Benjamin B. Dunning, Eli W. Veach, Patrick Hamilton, Harwood Sellick, James McOmber, Jabes Cady, Israel Sallee, George McCreary, James Hall, William Brooks and others.

1837 was an eventful year for Silver Creek. In March of this year, the township was organized in ac- cordance with an act of the Legislature, approved March 20, 1837, which reads as follows : " That all that part of the county of Cass, designated by the United States survey as Township 5 south, Range 16 west, be set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Silver Creek, and the first town meeting therein shall be held at the house of James McDaniel in said township." Previous to this time, it was a part of Pokagon, which also embraced, aside from its present territory, the north half of the township of Howard. The citizens were evidently in a hurry to assume the management of their own affairs, for the second Monday in April found them convened at the place appointed, for the purpose of electing township officials. Timothy Treat was elected Super- visor ; Benjamin Dunning, Treasurer ; and James Allen, Township Clerk. No record is extant of the balance of the ticket.

In the same month, an event is recorded that was of far more importance to the parties directly interested than the organization of the township, viz., the mar- riage of John McDaniel, son of James McDaniel, the first settler, to Miss Delilah Mendenhall, daughter of one of the prominent citizens of the township; the facilities afforded for matrimonial speculation at this time were rather meager ; no minister had as yet taken up his residence in the township, and they were obliged to repair on horseback to the county seat where they were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, April 21, 1837, by Squire Joseph Harper. After the ceremony was performed, the usual congratu- lations followed, and it is said that the happy groom returned in an exihilarated condition, whether caused by the successful termination of his matrimonial vent- ure or from other causes is not stated. This was the first marriage.

THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY."

357

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.

In accordance with the stipulations of the treaty at the Carey Mission in 1828, the Pottawatomie chief, Pokagon, and his band, were exempted from removal beyond the Mississippi with the other Indians of Southwestern Michigan, and in 1836 they pur- chased from Government 914 acres of land in this township. In 1837, they took possession of the pur- chase, and, although the title was vested in Pokagon, many of his tribe had furnished funds, and to these were allotted tracts of a few acres each in proportion to the amount invested. On the advent of Pokagon's eldest son Pete, who succeeded the old chief, they were indiscriminately ousted. Through this high-handed treachery, and from other causes, the original number, 300, has dwindled down to a few families. Pokagon, the elder, was a devout Roman Catholic, and in 1838 built the first church in the township. Its erection caused him much trouble, as a great deal of prejudice existed among the whites against this denomination, and they declined to render any assistance in raising the structure, the Indians not possessing sufficient ingenuity to do the work unaided. In this dilemma, Pokagon went to John G. A. Barney, to whom he related his troubles. Mr. Barney kindly offered his assistance and told him to get his logs together and that he would help him out of his difficulty. This pleased the old chief, and the material was soon in readiness, and Mr. Barney, accompanied by his three hired men, fulfilled his promise. For a complete his- tory of this church and Pokagon's identification with it, we refer the reader to the history of the church on another page.

The first road constructed was surveyed by John Woolman, Sr., under the direction of John Barney. The northern part was a continuation of a road run- ning south from the Territorial road, in Keeler Town- ship, and entered Silver Creek at a point about 160 rods east of Magician Lake, and running south through Section 2, thence east about three-quarters of a mile. From this point it took a southeasterly course, leaving the township on the northeast corner of Section 24, and from thence east, intersecting the Niles and Kalamazoo road at Twin Lakes in the town- ship of Wayne. The road was built by the State, and the survey was made in 1837 or 1838. The next road of which we have been able to obtain any definite knowledge was called the Pokagon road, Niles being the southern terminal point. It is probable that it was surveyed in 1839, and that work upon it was commenced in that year or the year following. This was an important road, as it opened communication with Niles on the south and the Territorial road on the north; it followed an Indian trail for its general direction. Among the township records the following

agreement can be found which throws some light upon the date of its construction, and which is here given verbatim :

For value received of the Commissioners of Highways of Silver Creek Township, I promise to clear out eighty rods in length and four rods in width, commencing where I left off last summer in the Pokagon road, which I promise to do by the Ist of June next.

JAMES ALLEN.

SILVER CREEK, March 17, 1841.

The attention of settlers was not wholly taken up by the building of roads and the improvement of their farms, and, although newspapers were not known, and their time, from early morn until late at night, was devoted to work, still they paid due attention to political matters, and from the records of the first election succeeding the first township meeting, we find that the Whig element largely predominated. The following is the poll list :

First day-E. Shaw, W. W. Barney, Joseph Spen- cer, John McDaniel, Henry Dewey, John Barney, John Woolman, A. Barney, Samuel Stockwell.

Second day-Jacob Suits, P. B. Dunning, William Brooks, James Allen, Timothy Treat, James Hall.

In the November election of the next year, 1839, a slight accession was made to the voting population, and the following is the recorded list : Sullivan Treat, Elihu Shaw, William Brooks, William Earl, Henry Barney, John Woolman, Sr., John Woolman, Jr., Orin Hungerford, W. W. Barney, Samuel Adams, O. C. Smith, William Mendenhall, John G. A. Bar- ney, James Allen, James Hall, Jonathan W. Robin- son, Jacob Suits, Alanson Parks.

The following list embraces the names of all those who were assessed as resident taxpayers in the year 1838, and the valuation of their lands, and shows the progress made up to this time.

With the exception of Patrick Hamilton, James McOmber and a few others, it seems that no settle- ments had been made in the south half of the town- ship :

William Brooks. $452

Jacob Suits . 905

George McCreary 240

John Barney 1179

James McDaniel. 672

Simon Van Horn. 622

William Mendenhall

1252

l'hilander B. Dunning.

509

Timothy Treaf

395

James Hall.

730

Israel Sallee.

285

Benj. B. Dunning. 492

Sullivan Treat. 240

Jabes Cady 240

Henry Dewey 1571

John Woolman. 947

James MoOmber.

528

Patrick Hamilton 1690

Abagail Shumway

480

358

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

W. W. Barney. 175

Neapen Pokagen 2602

James Allen .. 590

Jason Heward. 880

James Raymond.

480

A. Middlebrook.

720

Lyman A. Spaulding. 1407

William McKay 121

The following is a list of the original land entries in Silver Creek, showing each section, number of acres, date of each entry and residence of the parties :

SECTION 1.

ACRES.

James Raymond, Berrien County, Mich., Oct. 9, 1835. 160 Joseph Vanhorn, Marion County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835. 160 William Mendenhall, Casa County Mich., July 21, 1836 324

SECTION 2.

Abram Middlebrook, Saratoga County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1835 ... 160 John Barney, Crawford County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835. 160 Lyman A. Spaulding, Niagara County, N. Y., Nev. 16, 1835 ... 160

Benjamin B. Dunning. Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1837. 164

SECTION 3.

William McKay, Steuben County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1835. 4 Lyman A. Spaulding, Oct. 28, 1835 .. 309

Richard J. Wells, New York City, Feb. 23, 1836. 173

SECTION 4.

Gardner Scott, Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1835. 29 Harriet Dresser, Livingaton County, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1835. 82 Luther Guiteau, Jr., Oneida County, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1836. 101 Guiteau & Keeler, Oneida County, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1835 10

Richard J. Wells, New York City, Feb. 23, 1836. 118

SECTION 5.

Amoa Dew, Casa County, Mich., Nev. 9, 1835 65 William B. Wade, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1836. 80 Samuel Pletcher, Livingston County, N. Y., July 9, 1836 128

William B. Fowler, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 3, 1845 .. 38

SECTION 6.

Davidson Gardner, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836. 68

Davidson Gardner, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1836. 65 Bradford Wood, Albany County, N. Y., April 30, 1836 137 Samuel Merton, April 29, 1836. 123

John R. Connine, Jan. 3, 1849, 148

SECTION 7.

Erastus Corning, Albany, N. Y., April 19, 1836. 289

Randolph Brant, New York City, April 20, 1836 320

SECTION 8.

Henry Dewey, Caas County, Mich., Oct. 31 and Nov. 9, 1835, 160 Ames Dew, Cass County, Mich., Nev. 9, 1835. 167 Zadek Jarvia, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836. 80

Charles C. Glever, Kinga County, N. Y., July 18, 1836. 160

SECTION 9.

James Hall, Casa County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1835 80

Zadok Jarvis, Caas County, Mich., Jan, 12, 1836. 80

Israel Sallee, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 6, 1836. 80

Richard J. Wella, Feb. 23, 1836. 160

Bradford R. Wood, April 30, 1836 80

John Stark, Caas County, Mich., May 4, 1852 63 John Cullinane, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 12, 1853. 14

ACRES.

SECTION 10.

James Hall, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1835 80

Philander B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 1836. 80 Richard J. Wells, New York City, Feb. 23, 1836. 160 Jason Harwood, Rutland County, Vt., April 20, 1836. 80

James Allen, Casa County, Mich., April 23, 1836 80 William Brooks, Casa County, Mich., July 20, 1836. 120

William W. Barney, Cass County, Mich., April 12, 1837. 40

SECTION 11.

John B. Riddek, Berrien County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1835. 40

Isaac S. Stone, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1835 160 Pokagon, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 29, 1836. 80 Jacob A. Suits, Van Buren County, Nov. 30, 1836. 80 Pokagon, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 7, 1830. 216

George McCreary, Wayne, Jan. 1, 1838. 40

SECTION 12.

James McDaniels, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1834 80

John B. Riddok, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 29, 1835. 40 James McDaniel, Casa County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1835. 80

John McDaniel, Cass County, Mich., Sept 3, 1835. 80

William St. Clair, Crawford County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835. 280

Henry Harwood, Monroe County, Oct. 19, 1835. 40

Sullivan Treat, Cass County, Mich., May 17, 1836.

SECTION 13.

Bernard McConnell, Rutland County, Vt., April 20, 1836. 80

Eleazer H. Keeler, Van Buren County. April 20, 1836. 160 Henry D. Bostwick, Van Buren County, Nov. 28, 1836 80

Freeman M. Spencer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 22, 1846. 40

Daniel Spencer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1846 .. 40 Ames Thompson, Cass County, Mich., June 16, 1848 40

Horatio Rider, Cass County, Mich., June 29, 1849 160

SECTION 14.

Baldwin Jenkina, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 .. 160

Jason Harweed, Rutland County, Vt., April 20, 1836 80 Po-ka-gon, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 29, 1836. 218

Po-ka-gen, Berrien, Van Buren County, May 30, 1838. 40 Joetah Nesten (Indian), Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1848 ... 40

Jeaeph Wish-ahaw-wess (Indian), and Leis Ta-ga (Pty. In-

dian), Cass County, Mich .. Jan, 3, 1849 40

SECTION 15.

John Barney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1835. 40

James Allen, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1835 80

Jason Harweed, April 20, 1836. 80

Andrew E. Jackson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837.

James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., March 4, 1837 160

Joseph Gardner, Cass County, Mich., March 7, 1837. 80

Timothy Meshier, Cass County, Mich., March 7, 1837 40

Themae Easton, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 4, 1851 40

SECTION 16.

School Lands.

SECTION 17.

Zadek Jarvis, Caas County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836. 40

Randolph Brant, New York City, April 20, 1836. 320

Bradford R. Woed, Albany County, N. Y., April 30, 1836 160

George Kimmel, Berrien County, July 18, 1836.

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History of Cass county, Michigan, Part 79

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