USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 84
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ceeded in building up a very fine business. When first locating here, he only possessed some blacksmith tools and a small four-horse portable engine. He now has an eight-horse engine. two lathes, one planer-the first in the county-and an upright drill-press, all valued at $3,000, all of which shows what results can be ac- complished if efforts are properly directed, for the fame of this little machine shop is extending every day, a molding department having been recently added.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
A colored preacher who proclaimed the Gospel in the house of Maxwell Zane was, according to all accounts, the first one who proclaimed the Gospel of " Peace on earth, good will to men," in Jefferson.
The First Christian Church of Jefferson was or- ganized at the house of R. B. Davis, November 20, 1847, by Elders Joseph Roberts and James Atkinson, with a membership of nine, as follows: Henry W. Smith, Sabrina Smith, Peter Smith, Sarah A. Smith, Edmond Thatcher, Phoebe Thatcher, Reuben B. Davis, Susanah Davis and Mary Cooper. It now has, ac- cording to the records, a membership of ninety-six. The first Deacon was Henry Smith ; first clerk, Peter Smith. In 1851, Rev. Jeremiah B. H. Kenaston came from Vermont and went to the schoolhouse, where services were then held, to preach, but found his congregation outside, one of the school officers, who shall be nameless, having locked it and refused them admission. Nothing daunted, Rev. Kenaston mounted a friendly stump and delivered a most powerful ser- mon, after which he baptized four persons. He was immediately employed as their pastor at a salary of $60 per annum, his contract calling for sermons one Saturday each month, every first and third Sunday of each month, and " generally a meeting in the after- noon and evening of same day," besides protracted meetings.
May 31, 1851, a resolution was passed to construct a frame church, 30x45, with twelve feet post, and the contract was awarded to L. Painter, for $550. The church was constructed this year, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Whitman. The deed for the land on which it now stands was obtained by Leonard Goodrich, in October, 1859. The present officers are : Deacons Oscar Bishop, Elias B. Lowman; Elder, Adam Miller ; Clerk, Levi Weaver.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
July 10, 1830, a meeting, called by Rev. Adam Miller, was held in the barn of John Reed, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Andrew Grubb was elected Moderator and Isaac Hulse Clerk, and after some preliminary work an adjournment was
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
made to August 7, when a " constitution" was adopted, and Adam Miller engaged as pastor for one year, the second Saturday and Sunday of each month being designated as the time for holding services. The first offices elected were: Andrew Grubb, Dea- con ; Adam Miller, Moderator; Isaac Hulse, Clerk and Treasurer.
The first house of worship was constructed of logs in Section 12, where their cemetery still remains. For a time no stove or fire-place was provided and a fire was built on the floorless ground, from which the smoke ascended heavenward through the " shakes," then used in lieu of shingles.
Church etiquette has undergone many changes and innovations since then, for what was at that time ad- missible would now be considered a grave offense, if not sacrilegious. It was not then considered a breach of decorum to smoke during services, and many availed themselves of the opportunity afforded, and, should occasion require, would repair to a stump out- side where a fire had been kindled-in warm weather -to obtain a light, and then resume their position among the worshipers. The gravity of the most se- date would surely be overcome to see these honest Christian people seated in long solemn rows, drawing in spiritual nourishment and knowledge, as they sedately puffed forth into the atmosphere clouds of fleecy smoke. The present church edifice was con- structed in 1844, at an expense of $1,500, and is a substantial building. The Rev. Mr. Stephenson, pas- tor of the Baptist Church at Cassopolis, supplies their pulpit at present. The present officers are : Jonathan Colyar, Deacon and Clerk ; Levi Reams, J. Colyar and R. B. Williams, Trustees.
About three years since, a Christian Church was organized at Dailey after a revival, and it has now about twenty-five members. Services are held every other week in the schoolhouse, the present pastor being Rev. Mr. Terwilliger. The officers are : Elder, Jo- seph Cook; Deacons, Horace Cooper and H. C. Westfall.
The following comprises the principal township offi- cers up to 1881 :
SUPERVISORS.
1833, Robert Painter; 1834-40, Pleasant Norton ; 1841, Maxwell Zane; 1842, Joseph Smith ; 1843, Marcus Peck ; 1844-45, Joseph Smith ; 1846, Bar- ton B. Dunning ; 1847, Joseph Sinith ; 1848-50, Pleasant Norton ; 1851, N. Aldrich ; 1852, Pleasant Norton ; 1853, Henry W. Smith ; 1854, Nathaniel Monroe ; 1855-56, J. N. Marshall ; 1857-58, Mar- cus Peck ; 1859-60, Joseph Hess; 1861, Hiram R. Schutt; 1862-63, Marcus Marsh; 1864, C. S. Swan ; 1865-66, G. W. Westfall; 1867, Andrew Wood ;
1868, Marcus Marsh ; 1869, S. C. Tharp; 1870-72, John S. Jacks; 1873, S. W. Breece; 1874-76, An- drew Wood; 1877-80, Harley R. Bement ; 1881, Heman B. Shurter.
TREASURERS.
1833-35, Levi Norton ; 1836-37, David Reams ; 1838-39, David Carmichael ; 1840, Lorenzo Painter : 1841, William B. Reams ; 1842-45, Pleasant Nor- ton ; 1846, P. F. Carmichael ; 1847-48, Henry Car- michael ; 1849, Samuel Patrick; 1850-52, Henry Carmichael ; 1853-56, L. Goodrich ; 1857, G. W. Westfall ; 1858, S. E. Davis ; 1859-60, Henry Car- michael; 1861, Corkin Hays; 1862, A. W. Zane; 1863, N. Hedger; 1864, H. C. Shurter; 1865, Samuel Hess ; 1866-67, H. R. Schutt ; 1868-70, A. Tietsort ; 1871-72, P. F. Carmichael; 1873-74, N. B. Farnsworth ; 1875, Samuel W. Breece ; 1876-77, Robert Snyder; 1878, Henry C. Westfall ; 1879- 80, Almanza Tietsort; 1881, John Condon.
CLERKS.
1833-34, William Zane; 1835, D. T. Nicholson; 1836-39, William Zane; 1840, William Bosley ; 1841, Marcus Sherrell ; 1842, William Bosley ; 1843, Mar- cus Peck; 1844-45, Marcus Sherrell; 1846, Robert Crawford; 1847, S. L. Higinbotham; 1848-50, Charles Amy ; 1851-53, A. C. Carmichael; 1854, N. C. Beach; 1855, A. C. Carmichael ; 1856-57, George Tichnor; 1858, Charles Sherrell; 1859, H. C. Holdin; 1860-64, J. C. Carmichael; 1865, Na- than Marr; 1866-68, C. L. Neff; 1869, S. W. Breece; 1870, N. B. Farnsworth; 1871-72, S. W. Breece; 1873-81, Nelson Hedger.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
S. C. THARP.
Nathan Tharp was a native of Virginia and moved with his father to Logan County, Ohio, in an early day, and here married Lucinda, daughter of Isaac Zane, who was born March, 1766. Mr. Zane was one of the heroes of the war of 1812, in which he participated as a soldier. He removed to Cass County in 1833, and settled in Jefferson Township, where he died, February 19, 1839, in his seventy-fourth year. S. C. Tharp, son of Nathan, was born in Logan County, Ohio, June 26, 1828, and came to Cass County, in 1830, with his parents, who had a family of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the other children, Hale is in California ; Helen, de- ceased ; Fanny, now Mrs. H. R. Cooper; Zane and S. C., both of whom are residents of this township.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Nathan Tharp died February 19, 1839, while his widow still survives, and although in her eighty-third year, in the full enjoyment of all her faculties, and is a fine representative of the brave pioneer women who have done their full share in the developing of this county. Having lost his father at the youthful age of eleven years, the necessities of the family were such that S. C. Tharp was obliged to add the results of his daily labor toward the maintenance of himself and the family, and he has nobly performed his part, and as a consequence is conversant with the methods and expedients adopted by pioneers to succeed under adverse circumstances. His opportunities for obtain- ing an education were confined to the common schools.
By industry and economy he has acquired a com- petency, and now possesses a farm of 126 acres, and is accounted among the successful farmers of his township.
Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been honored with nearly all the township offices, including Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, etc.
He has been for many years an honored member of the Masonic fraternity.
December 19, 1848, he was united in marriage to Christinia, daughter of Ephraim Maxon. Mrs. Tharp was born in Clark County, Ohio, September 17, 1827. Two children have blessed their union-Nathan P. and Mary A., now Mrs. J. D. Williams, all residents of Jefferson.
WILLIAM CONDON.
William Condon was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, October 17, 1815, and is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Sheeley) Condon. His father having deceased when he was a small boy, and his mother having married again, he, in company with a brother and sister, when fourteen years of age, accompanied an uncle and about twenty of his relatives to Quebec, Canada. He made Peterburg his home for about four years and then went to Buffalo, N. Y., and about three years later to Cleveland, Ohio. While residing here, the Patriot war broke out and he went to Canada to join the insurgents, but, becoming unfavor- ably impressed with the embryo army, he returned to Cleveland and engaged to drive two yoke of oxen to Elkhart, Ind., for an emigrant, and reached there March 18, 1838. Here he put in a crop of wheat, which was exchanged for ninety-one acres of wild land in La Grange, to which he made an additional purchase of forty acres, working by the month at the low wages then received to pay for it. He worked extremely hard in clearing this land, often chopping through the entire night, if moonlight, for he was a man of unusual powers of endurance. In 1840, he erected a log cabin, which, in a measure, com-
memorated his identification with the Whig party. While clearing his farm, he kept bachelor's hall until his marriage, June 16, 1844, to Rosana, daughter of, John Hain, a pioneer of La Grange, who was born June 22, 1827. By perseverance, economy and hard labor, Mr. Condon has succeeded in accumulating a handsome competency and is numbered among the successful farmers of Jefferson Township, for before bequeathing a portion to his son he possessed a farm of 440 acres.
He has been identified with the Democratic party since 1856, and, although elected to the office of Jus- tice of the Peace, never served, for, having an aversion for public or official life, he refused to qualify.
He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity many years, and as a Chapter member held the office of Treasurer for many years. Of his family of ten chil- dren, John, Mary, Joseph and Samuel are living, while David, Ellen, Nora, William, James and Thomas are deceased.
ISHMAEL LEE.
Ishmael Lee, who was born in Blount County, Tenn., May 22, 1815, moved to Wayne County, Ind., and from there, in 1834, to this county, where he lived for many years in Section 1, about one-half mile south of the Air Line depot of Cassopolis. In 1852, he removed to Iowa, where he died near Mitchellville, April 22, 1879. He was twice married, first to Miss Sallie East, daughter of William East, who died April 22, 1840; and then to Miss Marion Marmon, daughter of Peter Marmon.
We extract the following from the pioneer necrol- ogy regarding him : Mr. Lee was "one of the most faithful and successful conductors on the Underground Railroad, and many a wagon-load of fugitive slaves have been piloted by him through the woods of Michi- gan on their way to Canada and freedom. He was a prominent actor in the well-known Kentucky slave cases of 1848 (see general history), which occurred here in that year, and was one of those sued by the Kentuckians for the value of the escaped fugitives, and he paid a large sum of money to compromise the litigation.
NATHAN ROBINSON.
The subject of this sketch, Nathan Robinson, was born in the State of New York November 15, 1820. IIe commenced life as a farm hand, but soon developed an aptitude for speculation, for, after coming to Michi- gan, he purchased several farms, which were each disposed of on advantageous terms.
In 1852, he, in common with many others, went to California, where he remained for two years, and then
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
returned to his home in Cass County, well compen- sated for his journey.
. Some fifteen years since, he purchased the farm in the southern part of Jefferson Township, where his widow and son, Fremont, now reside, and where he died September 3, 1879.
He was eminently successful in his business, that of farming, and possessed some 690 acres of land at the time of his death.
He was a quiet, unostentatious man, and took no prominent part in political or other public affairs, but a man of upright character and sterling worth, who devoted himself exclusively to his own affairs.
He was married, March 27, 1845, to Margaret, daughter of John and Nancy (Salsbury) Hanson, and the fruits of their union have been three children, viz. : Myron, who is a farmer in Volinia ; James, a farmer in Calvin ; and Fremont, who, as before stated, is a farmer in Jefferson-all of whom are enterprising young farmers, and own farms bequeathed them by their father.
CHAPTER XXXVI. CALVIN.
Unexpected Results of Kindness-Abner Tharp and John Reed the First Settlers - Early Settlers - A Pioneer Cabin - The Shafter Family-The East Settlement-Land Entries- Negro Settlement -Saw Mill and Distillery - Sauk War Scare-Schools-Religions Organizations-Civil List-Biographical.
THE history of the settlement of Calvin presents a marked contrast when compared with the other townships of the county, and shows what small cir- cumstances sometimes tend to shape the entire destiny of a community.
Little did the pioneers of this township, who were endowed by nature with a love for the whole human race, suppose, when they extended a helping hand to the trembling fugitive slave fleeing from a heartless task-master, that hundreds of this race would event- ually become their neighbors and co-workers in sub- duing and cultivating the soil, and take an active part in township affairs. .
Many of these pioneers, in their integrity of char- acter, their kindness of heart, their contempt of dan- ger, and their cheerful endurance of toil. privations and hardships, in an isolated situation, and under the most discouraging circumstances, rank with the men who have assumed a national, if not a world-wide reputation.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
In the spring of 1829, long before Calvin had an existence, Abner Tharp, who had emigrated from Ohio in the fall of 1828, and spent the winter in Jefferson, moved into what now constitutes this town-
ship, erected a log cabin, plowed ten acres on the opening, which he planted to corn and potatoes, and to him belongs the credit of having struck the first blow and plowed the first furrow in behalf of civili- zation in this township. He was the sole occupant of the township until the fall of the year, and remained here until 1830, when Jefferson township presented attractions that allured him there, where he remained until removing to the far West, but love for the fa- miliar scenes and faces where he first started in Cal- vin proved so strong that he returned and settled in Brownsville, where his remaining days were passed .*
In 1827 or 1828, John Reed moved from Logan County, Ohio, to Young's Prairie, where he remained until disposing of his squatter's right to David McIntosh for $210 in the fall of 1829, when he re- moved to Calvin and settled on the farm now owned by Thomas Smith, where he remained for many years engaged in the arduous labor of carving out for him- self a farm, but subsequently moved to Indiana, but his love for frontier life led him to the then Territory of Iowa, where the remaining years of his life were passed.
Logan County, Ohio, paid generous tribute to this county by many persons who came to Cass in an early day, and some of them settled in Calvin. On October 16, 1830, could have been seen a load of emigrants starting from Logan County, Ohio, composed of William Grubb, his wife Elizabeth (McIllvain), and two children, G. Scott, his wife Mary, and one child, all drawn by two yoke of oxen attached to one wagon, into which was also packed all their worldly posses- sions, which were conspicuous only by reason of their meagerness.
This journey occupied until November 2, at which time the house of Andrew Grubb, father of William, who had only preceded them the spring before, was reached, it being the farm now owned by Finley Chess. Here they remained until a log cabin had been erected on a farm purchased close by. This cabin was destitute of windows, and when the weather was mild enough to admit, the rude door, ornament- ed with a latch and string, which served as a fasten- ing, was thrown open to admit the light which other- wise must come down the capacious chimney, unless, as was frequently the case, the clay "daubing" which filled the intertices of the logs was removed for the same purpose, but it was necessary to close even this small crevice in cold weather, so that the semi-dark room presented anything but a cheerful appearance, especially as the puncheon floor was destitute of a car- pet, and the rude home-made furniture void of paint
*The reader is referred to Jefferson township for further information concern- ing Mr. Tharp.
RESIDENCE OF T. T. HIGGINS, JEFFERSON, MICH.
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES C. RICKERT, CALVIN, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and ornamentation ; still the bedstead, constructed of tamarack poles, and the packing box, which answered for a table, served well their time, and were the pre- cursors of elegant furniture and better times, as the con- dition of the pioneers became improved. The elder Grubb raised an ample crop of buckwheat, which served as a substitute for flour for both families, the first winter, while with the flint-lock gun they pro- cured plenty of venison and turkeys, so that while the cuisine was limited, the supply was sufficient to satiate their hearty appetites. After a time, Mr. Grubb removed to Section 4, where his widow still re- sides, his death occurring in 1872.
David Shaffer was among those who came in 1830, and commenced the life of a pioneer on the farm now owned by B. F. Beeson, in Section 29. At this early period, almost the entire township was one wilderness, in which vast numbers of deer roamed at pleasure and being a disciple of Nimrod, ample scope was af- forded him to indulge in the pleasures of the chase to the fullest extent, and, while thus engaged, from two or three hundred deer were annually slain by him. In 1853, he removed to Hardin County, Iowa, where he deceased.
Harvey Reed, a citizen of Cassopolis since 1878, came to Cass County as early as 1828, from Logan County, Ohio, and stopped first on Young's Prairie for a short time, and then removed to the home of his uncle, John Reed, Sr., in Calvin, near Brownsville. He came to Michigan a very poor man, but soon suc- ceeded by industry and economy in gaining a suffi- cient sum of money to buy a small piece of land to which he afterward added from time to time until he had a large farm. His first purchase was in the northeast corner of Section 29. He married C. Bowen, whose widowed mother settled in Jefferson in 1844. Mr. Reed was a great trapper of fur-bearing animals, from which he derived quite an income.
By referring to the history of Jefferson, it will be seen that Nathan Norton came to that township in 1828, and accompanying him was his son, L. D. Nor- ton, and he, with Stephen Mormon, plowed the first furrow in Jefferson. He first purchased land in that township, but in 1838 purchased the farm in Sections 5 and 5, on which still resides his widow, his death occurring November 9, 1872. He suffered quite severely by loss of wild-cat money, as the money of that period was termed, and not inappropriately, as will be seen by referring to a chapter on this subject in the general history, for it was as uncertain, and as liable to injure the person who handled it, as one who vainly attempted to fondle the veritable wild cat from whom it was named. His farm, when purchased, contained a small log house and very small clearing,
and he is one of those men who helped subdue the wilderness, and to whose energy and toil the culti- vated fields and fruitful orchards now to be found are, to a large extent, due. His widow, Martha H. (Mc- Illvain) came from Champaign County, Ohio, with her brother-in-law, Pleasant Norton, and family, and Isaac Zane, in the fall of 1832, the journey with an ox team occupying over three weeks. Her home was with William Grubb until her marriage with Mr. Norton, some four years later. Five children blessed their marital life as follows-Mary Ann, now Mrs. Adamson ; Leonard, in Chicago; Elizabeth, Mrs. Shaw, at Cheboygan; Jane, Mrs. Baldwin, on the old homestead, and Samuel, who resides in Kansas.
Peter Shaffer was born in Rockingham County, Va., and when twenty years of age went to Clark County, Ohio, and one year subsequent assisted his father in moving there, where his father, Abraham, died. In 1828, having disposed of his farm, he came to the St. Joseph Valley, as this region was then denominated, accompanied by Jacob Wagner, a deaf and dumb person, and in company with Ezra Beards- ley, then a resident of Ontwa, rowed down the St. Joseph River to the lake, and critically examined a large scope of territory. Arriving on Young's Prairie, he purchased of John Reed his betterments on the farm, now owned by Daniel McIntosh, made a partial payment and then returned home, intending to remove his family, but owing to an accident which befell his son George T., who broke his limb, was detained until John Reed made him a visit and gladly released him from the obligation, as he had opportunity to sell the land for a larger amount. Mr. Shaffer then made several journeys to the West, at one time purchas- ing a tract of land near Elkhart, Ind., which was dis- posed of, and in the winter of 1831-32, he purchased the farm in southwestern portion of Calvin, now possessed by his son George T., and brought his family through in the spring of 1832, arriving on May 10. While en route in crossing the St. Mary's River, canoes were used to transport the family and household goods, while the stock was made to swim, the river being destitute of a bridge. The huge Pennsylvania wagon was pulled across by means of a rope, it being at times entirely submerged in the water. When near the shore, the rope broke and the wagon started down stream in the swift current, and would have been lost but for Mrs. Shaffer, who, knowing full well how indispensable it would be in their new home, boldly rushed into the foaming waters, shoulder deep, grasped the rope and valiantly held the wagon until relieved by the men ; such metal were the pio- necr mothers composed, who did their full share in redeeming this land from a state of wilderness. Cour-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
age, endurance and indomitable pluck marked their course, and they erected on the tablets of the memory of their postericy, a love and veneration that will not perish, but be in turn transmitted to their descend- ants.
When Mr. Shaffer settled on his farm, it was all cov- ered with a dense forest, except about thirty acres, which had evidently been cultivated by the pre-his- toric race who occupied this country previous to the Indians, for there were large " garden beds," so called, running north and south from ten to forty rods in length. In the general chapters of this history will be found a chapter on these famous relics of a once numerous race.
Peter Shaffer, who resided here until his death, July 13, 1880, while in his ninetieth year, early iden- tified himself with public affairs and served as Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and filled other impor- tant offices as will be seen elsewhere. During the war of 1812, he was member of a militia company that saw much active service, and was for five years Cap- tain of a militia company in Clark County, Ohio, having served a similar length of time as First Lieu- tenant.
His wife was Sarah (Thomas), deceased in Sep- tember, 1851, and they were the parents of seven children, as follows: Alcy, Mrs. Keen, in Calvin ; Mary, who died on November 23, 1834 ; Henry, who died in Colorado, April 24, 1854; Nancy, Mrs. William Reed, who died December 13, 1834; Sarah S., Mrs. John Keen, in Cassopolis; and Abraham, also in Cassopolis ; and George T., the fifth child, who resides on the old farm, and is the father of three children- Saralı S., Florence G. and William T. S.
Mr. Shaffer's wife, Alice G. (Carmichael), is a daughter of David and Susannah (Peck) Carmichael, who were native Virginians, who emigrated from Ohio in 1835 and settled in Jefferson on the farm now owned by Mr. Hess, and resided there until their deaths. Of their twelve children, but three reside in the county, aside from Mrs. Shaffer, viz .: Henry, in La Grange ; John, in Jefferson ; and Sarah A., now Mrs. Coleman, in Ontwa.
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