USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25
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lery, studio, music-room, Beethoven Hall, and two society halls. Between Fine Arts Hall and College Hall is the ladies' dormitory, eighty feet front. It contains the college parlors, preceptress' office and rooms, study and sleeping rooms for fifty ladies, and the dining-hall, kitchen, etc. All the buildings are lighted by gas, and warmed and venti- lated in the most approved manner.
The college library contains nearly seven thousand vol- umes, and the reading-room is well supplied with American and foreign periodical literature. The museum of natural history is rapidly rising from the ashes of 1874, and is already a creditable collection, especially in geology and paleontology.
During the entire history of the college such arrange- ments have been made that students could attend at twenty- five to fifty per cent. less expense than would be necessary to support them at most similar institutions. During its entire history, too, one of the leading features and objects of the college has been the recognition and support of sound morality and Christian principle, and there is strong evidence to show that these efforts have been to a large extent successful.
CITY OF HILLSDALE.
AMONG the most attractive cities of its dimensions in the State is Hillsdale, situated just northwest of the geo- graphical centre of the county, and easily accessible from all its points. Having been early selected by its founders as the county-seat, it has steadily grown in importance and business enterprise until it fulfills all the promise indicated when it was first projected. It is regularly laid out with wide streets, many elegant and spacious residences, an un- dulating surface, which adds variety and beauty to the city, and the most luxuriant foliage, with a single exception, that is to be found in the State. The original hamlet had its first beginning in the year 1835. One Hiram Greenman, of Utica, N. Y., a gentleman of means, came to the then Territory of Michigan with a view to making investments in land. Being well pleased with the ground now covered by the city and immediate vicinity, he furnished money to Salem T. King and Alonson G. Budlong with which to make a purchase. Greenman was to hold the half-interest ; the other parties a quarter each.
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Previous to 1835 there was no county-seat, the business having been transacted and the records kept at the seat of Lenawee County. During the winter of that year Jones- ville became the headquarters of the county, and remained so until 1843. The ultimate object of the first settlers of Hillsdale was to establish it as the county-seat, its central position making it an eminently desirable point for the purpose.
The country for miles around was at that time little more than a wilderness, no marks of civilization being ap- parent other than the turnpike-road leading to Chicago, which was the only thoroughfare.
Adam Howder, whose name stands conspicuous as the first permanent resident, and whom the survivors of that period recall with satisfaction as their early host and the embodiment of all the social virtues of the period, was delegated by the owners of the land to look after their interests. In 1835, he built a log house in the new settle- ment, and occupied it. This does not appear, however, to have been the first house erected, as one Jeremiah Arnold, who was the first white settler, came as early as 1834, and erected a wood shanty for occupation during the winter. He located forty acres, and afterwards sold the tract to Greenman, Budlong, and King.
This tract was located on the present fair-ground, which was intended by the original projectors of the hamlet to be its centre, but a slight circumstance diverted it from the intended site, and ultimately placed it where it now stands. Budlong, in his contract with Greenman, stipulated to im- prove the property and lay it out in plats, which he failed to do. In consequence, the parties became involved in a
chancery suit, which made it impossible to give a perfect title to the land, and the present location was substituted.
In December, 1835, Greenman sold his interest to Rock- well Manning and George C. Gibbs, the latter gentleman, soon after, selling his portion to Chauncey W. Ferris and John P. Cook, who came early in 1836 and made Hillsdale their residence. Both of these gentlemen still survive, and have been largely instrumental in bringing the city to its present prosperous condition.
Charles Gregory and William E. Boardman also pur- chased interests at this time, and the owners of the prop- - erty were generally known as the Hillsdale Company, though no legal measures of incorporation were taken, their principal object being to make the young and growing town so inviting as to be able to contest the laurels with Jonesville and make it the depository of the county records.
Messrs. Cook and Ferris soon after their arrival, and during the same year, built a saw-mill and a frame house for the man in charge of the mill. The water-power had its source in Baw Beese Lake, which lies southeast of the city, and which was named after the chief of the wandering band of Pottawattamie Indians, who inhabited the surrounding forest. Old Baw Beese repeatedly laid claim to the owner- ship of the lake, and wished Mr. Cook to pay him one hun- dred dollars for the privilege of using the water. In the spring of 1837, Joel McCollom came from Lockport, N. Y., and in connection with Manning, Cook, and Ferris purchased lands lying north of the original plat, the present Bacon Street of the city being the south line of the purchase.
This purchase may be regarded as the initiatory step towards the laying out of the city of Hillsdale, the unfortu- nate chancery suit before mentioned having rendered the previous location impracticable.
The first plats of the city were recorded as follows : Alanson G. Budlong recorded a plat embracing the south- west quarter of section 26, June 27, 1835; also the south- east quarter of section 27, July 3, 1835. Henry S. Platt and John W. Miller recorded one covering the west half of the southeast quarter of section 26, July 22, 1835. Tunis B. Van Brunt recorded a plat embracing the west half of the northwest quarter of section 26, Oct. 14, 1835.
Samuel Mosher filed in the county clerk's office a plat embracing the east half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 26, Oct. 26, 1835. Centre Lamb recorded another comprising the west half of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 26, June 1, 1836. Henry S. Platt and John P. Miller recorded a plat covering the east half of the northeast quar- ter of section 27, July 3, 1835. Ambrose J. Nicholson recorded one embracing the southwest quarter of the north- east quarter of section 27, Aug. 18, 1835. Nathan B.
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HON. JOHN P. COOK.
Hon. John P. Cook was born in Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1812, and is the youngest son of Joseph and Lydia (Benson) Cook.
His parents, both of English descent, removed from New England at an early day, and settled in New York. When Mr. Cook was two years of age his father died, and two years later his mother married again. During his boyhood and youth he resided in Chenango, Oneida, and Cayuga Counties, engaged in teaching, farming, and carpentry. Compelled by limited means to labor during the greater part of the year, his education was such as he could obtain during the winter in the common schools of that day. Without the advantages of education and wealth, he early learned to rely on his own resources. In the spring of 1832, at the age of twenty, with the little capital accumulated, he started for the West, and July 1 arrived at Detroit, Mich. There, with others, he built a foundry, but after a few months disposed of his interest, and in the summer of 1834 removed to Jonesville. There, in connection with C. W. Ferris, he erected a store, and filled it with the first stock of goods ever brought into Hillsdale County.
In 1836, Mr. Cook, foreseeing the ultimate removal of the county-seat to the place where the city of Hillsdale now stands, purchased property in that lo- cality, although it was then covered with forest, and occu- pied by only two families. In the following year he changed his residence to Hillsdale, and, in company with Mr. Ferris, built a flour-mill, carrying it on in connection with a store they had erected about the same time. He continued this business till 1862. Meanwhile, the State had commenced the construction of the Michigan Southern Rail- road, and Mr. Cook became a large contractor in the work. In 1855 he engaged in banking with Messrs. Mitchell & Waldron, and remained with the firm until 1863. Since that time he has been interested in the hard- ware business, and since 1866 has engaged extensively in the lumber trade. He has also given considerable attention to farming, and at present owns between four and five thousand acres of land, three thousand of which, lying in Northern Michigan, is covered with valuable pines. In politics, Mr. Cook has always been a steadfast adherent to the principles of the Democratic party, and an unyielding advocate of honest and economical government.
For twenty years following the organization of the State government he took an active part in the political affairs of his State, and during this period was personally acquainted with the leading public men, many of whom were among his most esteemed friends. Mr. Cook was influential in the organization of Hillsdale County, and was elected its first county
treasurer. In 1838 he was appointed first postmaster of Hillsdale. In the fall of 1845 he was elected representative to the State Legislature, and was placed on the judiciary committee, being the only non-professional man on the committee; during this session of the Legislature the statutes of the State were revised. In 1846, Mr. Cook was elected to the State Senate. In the fall of 1848, as private business required his attention, he declined a renomination.
In 1850 he was elected to the Constitutional Convention which framed the present constitution of the State, and was chairman of one of the most important committees,-that on incorporations. In the spring of 1874, overcoming a large Republican majority, he was elected to a special session of the Senate, which convened to frame a new constitution for the State. Mr. Cook earnestly op- posed the change, and when in the fall it was submitted to the people it was defeated.
Roku Book
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During his long residence in Hillsdale, Mr. Cook has re- ceived many minor honors as tokens of his neighbors' esteem and appreciation. At the time of the civil war, Mr. Cook took great interest in every measure for sustaining the government, and was called upon to preside at every county meeting held for that purpose. One of these, which Zachariah Chandler and Lewis Cass addressed, was the occasion of the last public speech which General Cass ever delivered.
Mr. Cook has been a member of the board of education of Hillsdale for about fifteen years; a trustee of Hillsdale College for twenty years, and frequently chairman of its board. Since the founding of this institution he has contributed much money towards its support. He has also taken part in many other public enterprises, having been particularly active in securing the completion of the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad. He was married in 1837 to Miss Betsey Wolford, of Cayuga Co., N. Y. She died in the summer of 1850, leaving three children. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Cook married Miss Martha H. Wolford, a sister of his former wife. They have had nine children, seven of whom are still living. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Cook believes in strict morality, and has given liberally towards the establishment of the various religious denominations in the city.
Mr. Cook is eminently a self-made man. His success is the result of honesty, industry, and economy. During his life he has engaged with characteristic energy and uniform success in many pursuits. To-day he is possessed of an ample competency, and surrounded by his family and & large circle of friends. He is honored and respected by his political oppo- nents, as well as by the members of his own party.
95
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Kidder and William E. Sill recorded another embracing the southeast quarter of section 22, June 3, 1835. Gil- bert Reilay recorded a plat comprising the west half of the southwest quarter of section 23, March 21, 1836. Salem T. King filed in the office a plat embracing one quarter of the southeast quarter of section 26. Morgan Buchanan recorded a plat embracing the west half of the northeast quarter of section 22, June 22, 1835. Ransom Gardiner recorded a plat covering the east half of the northeast quarter of section 22, March 12, 1836.
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Adam Howder, who occupied a log house, finding its capacity insufficient to meet the demands upon his hospi- tality, erected in 1838 a new structure, and opened it as a public-house, entertaining all travelers who chanced to come to the settlement, or, passing through it, needed shelter. This building, which was of consequence in its day, was regarded as spacious in its dimensions, being twenty-eight by forty feet, and two stories high. Con- nected with it was a ball-room of considerable proportions, in which were assembled from time to time the youth and beauty of the county. The music on these festive occa- sions must have been of a primitive character, for we learn that it was not until the occasion of a celebration and ball on the 4th of July, 1840, that a violin made its appear- ance, Horatio Bates being the performer.
Messrs. Cook and Ferris having determined to cast their lot in Hillsdale, set about to develop the business of the place, and erected, in 1838, a flouring-mill, which absorbed most of the milling patronage of the country, and was re- garded as an important, element in the business develop- ment of the locality.
During the previous spring a railroad was projected from Adrian to Marshall, and the preliminary survey made with the intention of running it through Hillsdale, but the project failed. In the winter of 1837 the State projected its sys- tem of internal improvements. The commission appointed to carry out the various schemes made two surveys for a railroad from the city of Monroe, on Lake Erie, to the city of New Buffalo, on Lake Michigan. One survey was made from Monroe through Adrian, Hillsdale, and Branch, in Branch County, west to New Buffalo. The other was from Monroe to Tecumseh, and from there to Jonesville and Cold- water, and thence west to New Buffalo. The former route was adopted as far as Hillsdale, though Jonesville was after- wards brought into the line. Thus the success of the future city of Hillsdale, which for a brief season seemed trembling in the balance, was finally decreed.
The following year contracts for the construction of the new railroad were awarded, and the work began, but it was not until five years later that it was completed to Hillsdale. Henry Waldron came to the county at this time as a civil engineer, and was employed in the construction of the new road. Discerning the promise that was afterwards fulfilled in the village of Hillsdale, he made it his residence in 1838, and has since that time aided greatly in its prosperity and growth.
The same year the first store was opened in the place by Harvey & Co., contractors, and established for the purpose of furnishing supplies to the help employed by them.
Messrs. Cook & Ferris also had a contract for building
six miles of the road, which was called the Southern Rail- road, but when sold by the State its title was changed to that of the Michigan Southern Railroad. The settlement was now deemed of sufficient importance at the headquarters of government to justify the establishment of a post-office within its limits, and a commission duly signed and sealed was forwarded to John P. Cook, as postmaster. The office was at the residence of Mr. Ferris, who occupied the house adjoining the saw-mill, the postmaster residing with him. The fame of the young and growing village of Hillsdale had extended far and wide, and the impressions that were formed of its dimensions and importance were greatly exaggerated. Very few buildings had yet been erected, and most of the territory now embraced in the city was covered with thick brush, and was practically still a wilderness. Travelers would frequently stop and inquire from the postmaster how far it was to the village of Hillsdale.
In the year 1840 the growth of the place received a fresh impulse by the erection of several buildings. Among them John P. Cook built a residence, and Frederick and Henry Fowler a store. Adam Howder, finding his present location too far away from the centre of business, erected a new and commodious hotel in 1841, and christened it the Hillsdale House.
The first effort towards the establishment of the county- seat at Hillsdale was made in the year 1839. It met with much opposition from the north part of the county, the seat then being at Jonesville. A counter-effort was made through the efforts of some Jonesville parties, who suc- ceeded in obtaining an act of the Legislature, by which the county-seat was established at Osseo, March 31, 1840, with the provision that county buildings be'erected in that village. No steps having been taken to comply with this require- ment, the Legislature passed an act in January, 1843, per- manently removing the county-seat to Hillsdale. Measures were at once taken to fix a local habitation for the county officials, and a small building was erected where the present court-house now stands. Later in n the same year, there being no suitable building in which to hold the sessions of the court, an edifice was erected by certain individuals, with the purpose of making it a house of worship, and also a place for holding the courts. The village at this time presented a remarkable example of prosperity,-new buildings springing up at various points and business rapidly extending. In 1843, Messrs. Wing, Mitchell & Co. erected a large warehouse at the terminus of the railroad, and transacted a general forwarding and storage business. The storage of merchan- dise was not then, as now, done by the railroad, but alto- gether by private parties, and besides the warehouse already erected, there were others owned by Messrs. Cook & Wal- dron, Cross & McCollom, and P. McAdam. These were all burned in the year 1855, with the exception of the one owned by Messrs. Cook & Waldron, which was somewhat isolated, and greatly protected by the dense fog which filled the air and prevented the flames from spreading. This now forms a part of the present Hillsdale City Flour-Mills.
The fire department had not in those days arrived at the degree of efficiency which it now boasts, and the flames having obtained the mastery, made serious inroads upon
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
property. A curious incident is related of an earlier fire, which occurred in the warehouse of Mr. Charles T. Mitchell, and which was not discovered until the flames had made some progress. . The assistant employed in the build- ing became greatly terrified, and for a moment was speech- less, when, rushing into the office in a paroxysm of fright, he vainly attempted to give the alarm. The word " fire" had apparently been frightened from his memory. His tongue refused to utter the sound, when, pointing to the building from which the fire was escaping, he exclaimed, with a terrified look, " There's-a-screw-loose !"
After the railroad was extended to Chicago the company conducted its own storage, and the warehouses were not rebuilt. The same year (1855) Messrs. Mitchell, Waldron & Cook embarked in a private banking enterprise with a capital of seventeen thousand dollars, opening an office in Broad Street, and continuing business until 1864, when Messrs. Mitchell & Waldron purchased the whole interest. It was afterwards merged into the Second National Bank.
At this time (1864) the village became involved in liti- gation with Joel McCollom, of Lockport, N. Y., who laid claim to that portion between Howell and Broad Streets, now covered by the Waldron Block, and brought suit to establish his claim, arguing that the ground was private property, and not owned by the village. McCollom placed a building upon it and the authorities tore it down. He then began a suit in the United States Court, and the case is a memorable one from the interest it excited and the array of legal talent employed on both sides. By consent of parties a judgment was obtained, and Henry Waldron purchased the disputed ground, paying fifteen hundred dol- lars, and offering it to the city at the same price. The authorities having refused the offer, Mr. Waldron erected the present Waldron Block upon it.
On the 27th day of March, 1847, was posted the fol- lowing :
NOTICE
Is hereby given to the qualified Electors of the village of Hillsdale, that an Election will be held on the Second Monday of April next, at the Western House, kept by Benjamin Fisher, in said village of Hills- dale, for the purpose of Electing officers of said village : the polls will be opened at nine o'clock, A.M., and closed at four o'clock, P.M. of that day. The officers to be Elected are five Trustees, one Assessor, and a President, being qualified Electors, and residing in any part of said village, Dated Hillsdale, 27th March, 1847.
C. L. TRAVIS, Justice of the Peace.
Three inspectors of election, Walter Welsh, John Swegles, Jr., and Rockwell Manning, were appointed. In accordance with the published notice, the election was held on the twelfth day of April, two ballot-boxes being provided, one for the officers, the other for the " license or no license" ticket.
The following gentlemen were elected : President, Pat- rick McAdam; Assessor, Chauncey Stimson; Trustees, Harvey A. Anderson, Elijah Hatton, Henry L. Hewitt, Thomas Bolles, and Isaac Van Denbergh. The " License" ticket having received one hundred and three votes was declared elected. The first meeting of the newly-elected board of officers was held at the office of the president, on the 19th day of April, and in accordance with the act of incorporation, a treasurer, clerk, and street commissioner
were appointed. James M. Raymond was made street com- missioner, and also filled the office of marshal; Henry S. Mead was appointed clerk, and Andrew Weir treasurer.
We find by the records that the same year among licenses granted were the following upon payment of eleven dollars : To keep tavern, Charles W. Tuttle, Wm. M. Brace, S. & D. Topliff, Wm. S. Noble, R. Manning, Mr. Lowther ; to keep grocery, Morris Wilcox, Moses S. Call, Thomas Mckinney, Nathan M. Folsom; retailer, Lantz McIntire; common victualer, Isaac Van Denbergh ; grocer and victualer, Seth English.
In July of the same year a petition from many leading citizens was received by the president and trustees, asking to be organized into a fire-engine company. The petition having been favorably received, the petitioners organized themselves into a company known as the " Neptune Fire- Engine Company, No. 1, of the Village of Hillsdale," and limited to fifty members. C. W. Ferris, Daniel L. Pratt, C. Van Valer, C. T. Mitchell. and James W. King were appointed fire-wardens.
In 1849 the building erected for the county offices was burned and many of the records destroyed, the register's office alone escaping. The question of a new court-house was then agitated, and measures were adopted for its erec- tion by the county, which were carried into effect, and the structure was finally completed, the first occupant being F. M. Holloway, Register of Deeds, on the morning of Feb. 1, 1851. The following March term of the court was held in the new building, and presided over by Judge Warner Wing, then Circuit Judge.
At this period, the erection of extensive warehouses hav- ing given an additional impulse to the town, manufacturing interests assumed more importance, churches were built, and Hillsdale became a market for the produce of its own county and St. Joseph. Among the early merchants, aside from those already mentioned, were Messrs. Cook & Ferris, Henry and Frederick Fowler, Platt & Miller, James W. King, Samuel Chandler, the Hammonds, Dr. Underwood, Messrs. Hurd & Bostwick, and French & Falley. Dr. Joel French was the first practicing physician, though Dr. Theo- dore Manning, who resided in Jonesville, appears to have practiced in the vicinity previous to this time. Among the other practitioners were Dr. John W. Falley, Dr. McCarty, Dr. Frank French, and Dr. Griswold. The country was at this time very sickly, fever and ague prevailing to a great extent, as a result of the upturning of the land and decay- ing vegetation.
It was jocularly said of one of the early residents that he used to employ the afternoon in hunting watchers for the night. But the joke was too nearly true for comfort, not only in one but a large number of cases. In the summer of 1848 the smallpox made its appearance in the village and caused much aların among the inhabitants. The authorities took every possible measure to prevent the spread of the disease, instructing the marshal to place upon every house infected with the disease a placard labeled " Smallpox here," and directing Drs. Falley and Cressy to proceed to each house and vaccinate every person not already vaccinated. The disease was thus happily checked in its progress.
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