USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 86
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Among the colored men can be mentioned Isaac P. Stewart, who came from Gallia County, Ohio, in 1854, and purchased eighty acres of land which he has in- creased to 240, and on which can be found fine farm buildings. In this connection can also be mentioned Samuel Hawks, who emigrated from the same county five years later. His buildings on his farm of 156 acres are a credit to the township.
William Lawson, who came in the county in 1853, in addition to conducting his farm of 120 acres, is en- gaged in merchandising, he keeping the only store at Calvin Center, where a post office is established. A colored lady named Lucinda Stewart, whose husband died in the army, carries on a farm of 150 acres, while C. W. Bunn owns and runs a saw-mill on Section 22, thus taking their part in all the enterprises of the township.
As before stated, they hold a number of township offices, one representative being Cornelius Lawson, who fills the office of Justice of the Peace, while Bishop E. Curtis acts in the capacity of Township Clerk.
During the rebellion they responded nobly to the
In 1831, Daniel McIntosh and Samuel Crossen built the first saw-mill in 1832, in Section 19, on the Christiana Creek. It passed into the hands of Mc- Intosh, who disposed of it to two brothers, John and Joseph Smith, and their father, who came from Ohio with their father, who soon returned as did John, Icav- ing Joseph to conduct the business alone. In 1833, he erected a distillery and conducted it for several years. He manufactured pure whisky, which was sold at 25 cents per gallon. One of the amusements among some of the settlers was horse-racing on the farm now owned by Harvey Reed and Mr. Robison, no heavy stakes changing hands, whisky at the dis- tillery often being the only prize raced for. The dis- tillery passed into the hands of Jacob Long in 1835, but long since ceased to exist.
Peter Shaffer built a saw-mill near this location, which he ran for many years, sawing the lumber for the court house at Cassopolis. In 1831, Pleasant Grubb built a grist-mill where Brownsville now stand, which supplied a long-felt want ; the capacity of the O'Dell mill in Penn being entirely inadequate to meet the demands of the settlers upon it. At this time mill-stones were difficult to obtain, and accord- ingly some hard-heads dug from the ground near the McIntosh saw-mill were made to do duty in this ca- I pacity, the men of this time being fertile in expedi- ents, or substitutes to meet the exigencies of the case.
After a time the mill passed into the possession of David and William Brown, brothers, and native Scotchmen, from whom Brownsville derived its name. With the advent of the Browns, business took a new impetus and several minor enterprises started up, but it never assumed much importance as a business cen- ter, and the records fail to show that it was platted. At one time, Tillman Longfellow conducted a tannery here. It now contains a population of eighty-nine, and contains one grist-mill, one general store, two blacksmith shops, a cooper and a shoe shop, millinery store, pump factory, harness shop, two carpenters and two physicians.
SAUK WAR SCARE.
In 1832, at the time of the Sauk war, the men started for the scene of action on a few hours' notice, leaving their families in terrible suspense. Rumors of carnage to follow filled the air, and sleep was hardly known in the community of which Brownsville was the center. A tailor, named William Brice, who
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
had remained at home went from house to house in the dead hour of night, aroused the women and chil- dren and warned them to flee to his house for a place of safety, as he was fortifying against the bloodthirsty savages. Soon his house was filled with frightened women and children, who momentarily expected to hear the war-whoop of their dusky enemy, aud fear was depicted on every countenance, but they were resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. They were armed with billets of wood, case-knives and pitchforks, the men having taken their guns with them to the front. At last morning broke upon the scene, and during the day information was received which allayed their fears-the enemy being west of Chicago.
In 1865, a woolen factory was erected in Section 3 by Isaac and Vincent Wright. The machinery was removed several years since, and it is now used as a heading factory and planing mill.
Elihu Osborn was the first one interred in the Friends' Cemetery, the year being 1836, the next one was Mrs. Bonine, grandmother of James E. Bonine.
Elenor J. Keen, daughter of Leonard and Elsie Keen, was born in May, 1832, and was probably the first white child born in the township. She married Samuel H. Bellnow, and died July 31, 1873, Leon- ard Keen's death occurring May 24, 1879.
ORGANIZATION.
Calvin was organized by an act of the Territorial Government, approved March 17, 1835, which reads as follows: "All that part of the county of Cass, com- prised in surveyed Township 7 south, Range 14 west, be a township by the name of Calvin, and the first township meeting shall be held at the dwelling- house of John Reed in said township."
The soil of this township is very productive, and while it is sandy in sinall portions a clayey loam pre- dominates. A chain of seven lakes extend through the center of the township, east and west, and the land near them is quite rolling.
There is in the township 237 farms, embracing 16,- 640 acres, 10,686 of which are improved. In 1879, 3,775 acres sown to wheat produced 64,745 bushels, being an average of 17.15 bushels per acre; 2,919 acres planted to corn yielded 107,145 bushels of ears, and from 875 acres sown to oats, 27,352 bushels were threshed .. There were also produced 343 bushels of clover seed, 10,346 bushels of potatoes, and 1,383 tons of hay. From 1,467 sheep were sheared 6,879 pounds of wool, while there are possessed in the town- ship 621 horses, 773 head of cattle, and 2,288 hogs, being a greated number of hogs and horses than any
other township in the county. Apples and small fruits are raised in great abundance, and to the frugal and industrious, ample returns are made from the productive soil.
The township has two bands, one known as Hen- derson's Cornet Band, with A. T. Henderson as leader, and the Clipper Band, of which Green Allen is leader.
SCHOOLS.
The opportunities for obtaining an education were, in the early history of the township, very meager as compared with the present time. In 1834, John V. Whinnery taught school in the log house occupied by Leonard Keen, on the farm of his father-in-law. Peter Shaffer. During school hours, Mrs. Keen went to her father's, so as not to disturb the school while perform- ing her household duties. In 1835, he taught school in Peter Shaffer's kitchen, and it was distinctly stipu- lated that he should not be required to teach anything but reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, as far as the rule of three, which embraced his qualifications for the position, and when the rule of three was reached, the scholars were turned back to the front of the arithmetic, no matter how well versed they might be in it, and again traversed the ground up to the rule of three, only to again repeat the operation. Schools were taught by subscription, the teacher receiving from $10 to $15 per month, which was divided up among the scholars according to the number of days of at- tendance. Greased paper was sometimes used in lieu of window glass, glass being an expensive and difficult commodity to obtain.
The township is now divided into nine school districts, of which No. 6 is fractional. District No. 1 has a schoolhouse valued at $1,500, seating capacity, 100; No. 2, value $700, seating capacity : 70; No. 3, valuc $1,200, seating capacity : 75; No. 4, value $2,000, seating capacity : 120; No. 5, value $900, seating capacity : 48 ; No. 6, value $800, seat- ing capacity : 65; No. 7, value $1,200, seating capacity : 60; No. 8, value $500, seating capacity : 70; No. 9, value $600, seating capacity : 50. There are 615 school children between the ages of five and twenty years. For the fiscal year ending August 31, 1881, there was paid $464 for female and $1,356 for male teachers in the township.
FRIENDS' MEETING.
A Friends' Meeting was organized, in 1836, with Nathan Lee, Nathan Williams, William East, Stephen Bogue, Joel East, James East, as trustees, and pre- vious to the erection of a log house of worship in 1837, meetings were held at the house of William East. The log meeting-house has long since been super-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
seded by a suitable frame structure. For many years the Friends of Penn worshiped in this house, but they now have a church building in their township. The present membership is about thirty-five.
BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH.
The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1856, and is on what is known as the Brownsville Circuit of Cass County. They erected a church edifice in 1870, now valued at $800. The present membership is sixty-four. A flourishing Sunday school, with forty scholars, who draw books from a library of 103 volumes, is attached to the church. The trustees are: Peter Day, Alexander Mathews and George Scott. Stewards, Peter Day, Gilbert Brown, Solomon Griffon.
THE CHAIN LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH
(Colored) was organized by Elder David Lett, Jan- uary 4, 1848, with eight members, and Harrison Ash and Turner Byrd elected as officers. About two years subsequent to their organization, they erected a log church, and this, in 1860, gave place to a substan- tial frame building, costing $1,200. The church bas flourished finely, and now has a membership of 150 and an interesting Sunday school of sixty scholars, who have access to a library of 100 volumes. Pres- ent officers: M. D. and William Ash, Milton Calla- way, Green Allen, E. Keith, Samuel Hawks and W. Madry.
MOUNT ZION M. E. CHURCH.
Mount Zion M. E. Cburch (Colored) was organized in 1849, by Mathew T. Newson, which was only one year subsequent to the first emigration of colored peo- ple, of any considerable numbers, to this township. They first held meetings in private houses, but before one year had elapsed purchased one and a half acres of land of Hardy Wade for building purposes and for a cemetery, and erected thereon a log church, which is still standing, which, with the land, cost $200. The society increased rapidly in numbers, and after a time they abandoned their log house for a neat frame build- ing, 30x40. The first trustees were Richard Woods, Benjamin Hawley, L. Archer, Lawson Howell, Will- iam Scott, Joseph Allen. The present officers are IIenry Cannady, Peter Day, Joseph Allen, William Allen, James Monroe, Joseph Scott. This is called the mother church of the county, as one at Calvin Center and one in Volinia sprang from it, and they now have a total membership of 200, with property valued at 3,000, including a parsonage at Calvin Center.
1
SUPERVISORS.
1835-36, Pleasant Grubb; 1837-38, William T.
Reed ; 1841, Joel East; 1842-43, John V. Whin- nery ; 1844, Peter Shaffer; 1845, Elijah Osborn ; 1846-47, Jesse Hutchinson ; 1848, S. T. Reed ; 1849, Johnson Patrick; 1850, Leander Osborn; 1851-54, Jefferson Osborn; 1855, Daniel W. Gray ; 1856, Johnson Patrick ; 1857, Elijah Osborn ; 1858-59, Beniah Tharp; 1860-61, James Oren: 1862-66, B. A. Tharp; 1867-70, Levi J. Reynolds ; 1871- 72, B. A. Tharp ; 1873-75, Leroy Osborn; 1876-77, B. F. Beeson ; 1878-79, Levi J. Reynolds ; 1880, Levi J. Reynolds; 1881, B. F. Beeson.
TREASURERS.
1835, William T. Reed ; 1836, Andrew White ; 1837, Andrew Grubb ; 1838, Thomas O'Dell; 1839, Alexander White; 1840-41, Charles Dennison ; 1842-45, L. D. Norton ; 1846-48, Finley Chess ; 1849, William H. Jones ; 1850, Jefferson Osborn ; 1851-53, Jesse Hutchinson ; 1854-55, B. F. Har- rison ; 1856-58, Levi J. Reynolds ; 1859-60, Moses Brown; 1861-62, William Clark ; 1863, J. F. Lemon; 1864-65, T. J. Osborn ; 1866-68, S. S. Davis ; 1869, James Rivers ; 1870-74, James H. Gregg; 1875-77, John Allen ; 1878-79, L. S. Tharp ; 1880-81, Jacob Horn.
CLERKS.
1835, W. T. Reed; 1837-37, J. V. Whinnery ; 1838-39, William Brown; 1840-41, J. V. Whin- nery ; 1842, William Brown ; 1843, A. Northup ; 1844, William Brown; 1845, J. C. Blair ; 1846, S. T. Reed ; 1847, Henry Shaffer ; 1848-54, A. E. Peck ; 1855-57, B. A. Tharp; 1858-59, James Oren ; 1860-61, Lewis Cowgill ; 1862, John Lee ; 1863-64, J. N. Osborn ; 1865, John Lee ; 1866-69, James Rivers ; 1870, Leroy Osborn; 1871, S. K. G. Wright ; 1872, A. K. Wright; 1873-78, James Rivers ; 1879, James H. Gregg; 1880-81, Bishop E. Curtis.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LEVI D. NORTON.
Among the early settlers of Champaign County, Ohio, was Nathan Norton, the father of the imme- diate subject of this biography. Ile came from Vir- ginia, which was the place of his nativity. He resid- ed in Ohio until 1828, when with his family, which consisted of his wife and five children - Mahala, Pleasant, Jane, Levi D. and Richard. He started for that El Dorado of the pioneers, Cass County. They arrived safely after a journey devoid of particular in- cident, and settled in township of Jefferson, where they were the first settlers in the section of the town
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
in which they located. Here the elder Norton resided until his decease. Levi D. resided in Jefferson until 1839, when he removed to Calvin ; his name is stamped on many of the initial events in Jefferson's history. He plowed the first furrow ever turned in the town- ship, and assisted in the production of the first crop.
In Calvin, be was also a pioneer, and in addition to the many privations and hardships that he was called upon to pass through, he was crippled by the loss of a considerable amount of the irredeemable currency of that day, but his energy and industry overcame all obstacles, and he not only regained what he had lost, but ultimately became one of the most successful and prosperous farmers of the township. His death oc- curred November 7, 1872, at his home in Calvin. He identified himself closely with the township, and his name is frequently found in the civil list. He dis- charged his duties concientiously and faithfully, and he endeared himself to the community in which he lived by generosity and liberality. He was married, in Sep- tember, 1814, to Miss Martha, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth McIlvain. Mrs. Norton was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1812, and came to Cass in 1832. She was the counterpart of her husband in many things, and is now living on the old homestead with her daughter Jane, now Mrs. C. L. Baldwin. Their other children are: Mary A. (now Mrs Adamson); Leonard, who is in Chicago; Elizabeth, (now Mrs. Shaw), in Cheboygan; and Samuel, who resides in Kansas.
ISAAC HULL.
Isaac Hull, son of Elijah and Sarah Hull, was born in Pennsylvania July 3, 1807. He removed to Ohio with his parents when a small child, and re- mained there until mature manhood. He was mar- ried, February 21, 1828, to Miss Mariah Grubb, and six children were born to them in Ohio. In 1835, Mr. Hull made a trip to Cass County, purchased land in Calvin, near Brownsville, and in the fall of 1837, the family located upon it, moving into a log house. The family passed through the usual expe- rience of the pioneers, and in time had a pleasant home. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hull after they came to Michigan, making in all eleven, all of whom arrived at the age of maturity. Five have since died, viz .: Isaiah, Pleasant G., John F., Ama- ziah G. and Mary A. The only surviving son, F. McK. Hull, is doing an extensive wholesale and re- tail grocery business in Jackson, where his sister Libbie A. also lives. Minerva J., resides in Calhoun County, Iowa. Martha E., Sarah J. and Olive M. are living upon the old homestead.
The subject of this sketch led an upright, admirable
life, and although beginning his career in poverty, by his industry accumulated a large property. He died upon the 19th of December, 1873, after an illness of but three days, and the funeral was largely attended upon the following Sunday. A friend, writing of Isaac Hull, says : " With no advantages of early edu- cation, and with none of the adventitious aids to ad- vancement that many of his compeers enjoyed in their youth, he achieved both fortune and reputation by his own inherent force of character, untiring industry, indomitable energy and frugality. An intellect quick to apprehend and a judgment remarkably acute to apply the knowledge he acquired in his intercourse with men, were the elements that combined to make his life in a worldly point of view a success. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his sudden death. The results of his provident care surround them, and their sorrow is alleviated by the confident assurance that he who was so fondly devoted to them has entered upon the rewards of a well-spent life. Though we lament his death, we cannot be unconscious that our loss is his gain. *
* The peculiar and prominent characteristics of the deceased were his simplicity, sincerity and earnestness. His convictions were clear and strong, because he adhered to his convictions and those who supported them ; but he was an honest and generous partisan. With the best opportunities to judge during the most exciting period of our recent political history, I never observed in him the slightest tinge of malignity. of selfishness, or envy. There is no character of the heated period of which I speak that I recall with more unmixed satisfaction or higher respect. He was ever ready to give ' honor to whom honor was due.'"
Mrs. Hull is still living and in the seventy-fifth year of her age. She was born October 13, 1806, in Loudoun County, Va., and removed with her par- ents, Andrew and Martha Grubb, to Clark County, Ohio, when she was seven years old, and from there to Bellefontaine, Logan County, of the same State, where she remained until after her marriage.
CHARLES C. RICKERT.
Abraham Rickert was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1782, and married Mary M. Engle in 1810. They became the parents of seven children, viz. : Leonard, who was born in 1811; Catharine, Abra- ham, Mary, Samuel and Jacob. The two latter chil- dren were born near Wooster, Ohio, to which State the family removed in 1823. Having disposed of a farm purchased near Wooster, they, in the spring of 1829, purchased three yoke of oxen and as many wagons, and, in company with a family named McIntaffer, came to Michigan. While en route they
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
overtook a family named Bowers and they then pur- sued their journey together. They came by the way of the Maumee or Black Swamp, which was so nearly impassable that sometimes not more than two or three miles progress would be made in a day, and at night huge logs were cut and rolled together and brush piled on them, on which the beds were placed to keep them out of the water. This same year, Mr. Rickert pur- chased land opposite Mottville, in the counties of Cass and St. Joseph, where their son Abner was born in 1829. In the winter of 1829-30, they subsisted on beans, hominy and corn meal. The hominy was manufactured by pounding with the poll of an ax corn placed in a hole burned in the top of a stump. A Mr. Cutler possessed a hand-mill with which two men could grind one bushel per hour and here a portion of their meal was ground. Before leaving Ohio, Mr. Rickert shipped a quantity of flour around the lakes and up the St. Joseph River to Mottville; but it was so delayed that it did not reach its destination until the summer of 1830, for it became frozen up in the lake, which caused the family great inconvenience.
In 1841, Leonard Rickert purchased land in Cal- vin Township, on which he moved with his wife, Margaret A. (Crawford), to whom he was married December 15, 1842. His death occurred May 10, 1854, and his widow and family of six children named Mary E., Charles C., George A., Olive L., Ambrose R. and Celestie L., lived on the farm until her death, which occurred May 31, 1877. Mrs. Rickert came with her parents from Lake County, Ohio, in 1836, and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Hanson.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rickert were honored mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and were highly esteemed by the community with whom they spent so many years.
Charles C. Rickert, who was born January, 1846, now owns and farms it on the old homestead in Cal- vin, and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married May 24, 1877, to Susanah, daughter of Nathan Shaw, who was born October 29, 1845. They have but one child, Ellen Sophronia, who was born June 3, 1878. George Rickert lives on a farm adjoining the paternal estate. Ambrose and Celestie are deceased, while Mary E. and Olive L. still re- side on the old homestead.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MARCELLUS.
A Retrospectlon-View of the Township -- " Ye Olden " and Present Time Contrasted-Early Settlements-Unexecuted Threats of Tah - Wah, an Indian-Land Entries-Civil Organization-Post Offices- Early Events-Marcellus Village-Village of Wakelee-Religious- Secret Societies -- Schools-Civil List-Biographical.
A RETROSPECTION of little more than two_ score years carries us back to the time of the first settlement of what now constitutes the township of Marcellus. Fifty-two years, with their momentous events and changing vicissitudes, have passed into the silent night of eternity since the first white settler made his permanent location within the borders of the township. Consequently, in the preparation of a brief historical sketch of Marcellus, our labors only require a record of events transpiring in and subsequent to the year 1836.
Happily there are a few living yet whose memories antedate the time of the settlement of the township by several years, and there are a few whose memories extend back to the time when not a semblance of the present progress and development existed. Notwith- standing the recent settlement of this portion of the county, it being the last township organized in Cass County, the early settlers had to endure many of the trials and privations of those who first erected the standard of civilization in these Western wilds. Yet blended with the recollections of their troubles and adventures are memories of the broad hospitality, the Christian fortitude, the kindness and cheerfulness which those who have been reared in the land of plenty know nothing of.
" Though we charge lo-day with fleetness, Though we dread to-morrow's sky, There's a melancholy sweetness In the name of day's gone by."
Geographically, Marcellus is located in the extreme northeast corner of the county, and its surroundings are Porter Township, of Van Buren County, on the north ; Flowerfield Township, of St. Joseph County, on the east, and the townships of Newberg and Volinia, on the south and west respectively. Its bounderies were surveyed by William Brookfield, and its subdivis- ions by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyors, as per con- tract with William Lytle, Surveyor General of the United States.
The only marks in this region that gave any evi- dence that the foot of civilized man had trod the soil of this unbroken wilderness previous to the year 1836 were the blazed trees that denoted an indefinite pathway made by the land speculator. The actual settler had avoided it because of its dense forests and heavy timber, its marshes and malaria, and in its stead had sought out the inviting prairies or the oak open-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ings of the county. The prairie portion of the coun- ty was settled first. All that was required to bring it under subjection was to have a good strong team and a plow. The farmer could commence operations here with almost the same facility that he could had he been in an old settled country. The openings pre- sented the appearance of an immense plain. The practice of the Indians was to burn the land over every fall, which had the effect of keeping not only the annual vegetation burned off, but the grubs also. After breaking, it was comparatively a light matter to bring the land under cultivation.
But not so with the timbered land. The labor of clearing up the primeval forests was immense, the timber requiring to be felled, cut up, logged and burned-a job much easier said than executed. And then the stumps and roots continued to be a perpetual annoyance for many years after. These obstacles, and the great distance to market, were some of the cogent reasons why Marcellus was the last-settled township in the county. The possession of large tracts by speculators, who refused to dispose of the land except at extravagant prices, tended still more to retard its settlement and improvement.
The surface of Marcellus in the north western quar- ter of the township, is quite broken in many places ; especially is this so in the region of Saddle Bag and Fish Lakes. To the westward of Fish Lake, the sur- face is more regular and the soil fertile. In the northwestern quarter, the surface is level, and much of it low and marshy. But at the present time there are beautiful farms in this section, even where once were marshes. The farmer points with pride to many acres which were, when he first came in, covered with several feet of water a greater portion of the year, but now afford abundant pasturage and even produce many of the cereals. Ditching, clearing off the for- est, and removing the flood-wood from the streams, was all that was necessary to make the lowlands the best of farms. Right well has this been done. The southeastern quarter of the township is gently undu- lating, or somewhat hilly. It is well watered by what the citizens call Big Creek, but the stream is marked Little Rocky River on the map of Cass County. The southeastern quarter is, perhaps, the most uneven por- tion of the county, but is not bluffy. The hill slopes are tillable, and although the surface soil contains a large proportion of sand and gravel, there is a suffi- cient amount of limestone in it to make it arable. The township is dotted over with numerous small lakes, some of which abound in fish, and the pisca- torian with his rod and bait is a frequent visitor of these sequestered spots. The lakes of the northwest part of the township give rise to the south branch of
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