USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 79
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Lorenzo and Bingham D. Abbott, two brothers, the first
from Vernon, Conn., and the last from Cayuga Co., N. Y., after living a short time at Maumee, Ohio, settled here in the fall of 1838, on section 27. Of Lorenzo's family three sons, Sylvester, Arthur, and Remus, and one daughter, Mrs. Amelia Bartholomew, are living in town. Of Bingham D.'s family one daughter, Louisa, and two sons, John and Oscar, live in Reading, and two sons, Webster and Hascall, live in Texas. Both of these pioneers are still living, the former an honored and respected citizen and successful farmer of this town, and the latter has very recently removed to Texas.
Of Stephen Webster we may say that he came from Seneca township, in Ontario Co., N. Y., and settled on the farm he now occupies. He has taken an active part in the conducting of town affairs, and has served as supervisor five years, and also has held other offices in the town.
Thomas Berry was one of the earliest hotel-keepers in Reading, and was the first tax collector after the town of Camden was set off, holding that office three years. He was the proprietor of the northwest quarter of Reading village, and is still living on a part of the farm he first took up.
Of Ralph Bailey it may be said that he was a man of energetic character, strict integrity, and good business ca- pacity. A carpenter by trade, he became a successful far- mer, and accumulated a fine property. His worth was speedily recognized by his neighbors, and at the next town- meeting he was elected supervisor, and, with the exception of the year 1872, continued in that office during the next seven years. He was a native of Massachusetts, and lived for a time in St. Lawrence and Wayne Counties, N. Y., and Lenawee Co., Mich., before settling here. He died about ten years after his arrival. Two sons, Harrison and Wash- ington, are still living and rank among the substantial citi- zens of the town.
Almon Nichols settled in the town of Fayette in 1834, and removed here in 1838. He was quite a hunter, and during his pioneer life killed many wolves. One day he heard his dog barking furiously in the woods near his house, and running to the spot, found him engaged in battle with a large wolf that had taken refuge in a large hollow log. Encouraged by his presence the dog renewed the battle and " carried the war into Africa" by plunging into the log, where he got his jaws locked in those of the wolf, and was unable to either advance or retreat. Imitating the illus -- trious example of the famous Putnam, Nichols crawled into the log and pulled out the wolf, making the dog act the part of the rope, and soon put an end to the wolf's existence by a few strokes of the ever-ready axe. He is now living in the western part of the town, and has the name of having been the best chopper that ever lived in town.
There are many others of those who settled here within the first five years of the town's existence, who have filled honorable positions and discharged responsible trusts con- nected with the administration of township affairs, or are still active participants in the daily affairs of life, whom we would gladly mention did space permit and had we the necessary facts to do so. Still we may safely say that, as a class, the settlers of this town would rank well with any in the State in point of intelligence, virtue, industry, thrift,
CHARLES KANE
MRS.CHARLES KANE
PHOTOS. BY CARSON & GRAHAM.
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES KANE, READING, MICHIGAN.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and public spirit. " By their fruits ye shall know them," and we will let the thriving township and beautiful, enter- prising village they have built up by their efforts speak with eloquent tongue and forcible words of their public and private virtues.
The first town-meeting met at the house of Judge John Mickle, on the 3d of April, 1837, in accordance with the provision of the act creating the town, and was adjourned to Sylvester Whaling's. The meeting organized by choosing William Berry, Moderator ; James Fowle, Clerk ; and John Mickle, Inspector of Election. The following officers were then elected, viz. : Supervisor, James Fowle ; Town Clerk, William Berry ; Collector, Eleazer Gleason ; Justices of the Peace, John Mickle, James Fowle, Samuel S. Curtiss, William Berry ; Assessors, Samuel S. Curtiss, Eleazer Gleason, John Mickle, Wright Redding; Highway Com- missioners, Charles Powell, John Mickle, James Fowle ; Poor-Masters, William Berry, Samuel Seamans; School Inspectors, Charles Powell, John Mickle, Timothy Larra- bee ; School Commissioners, Frederick Perring, Eason T. Chester, Rensselaer Sutliff; Constables, Eleazer Gleason, Oliver R. Cole, George Halstead. Several of these officers lived in what is now the town of Camden. Without fol- lowing closely the political history of the town, we may briefly state that from its first organization it was uniformly Democratic for many years, until the political principles of the Whig party, expounded and exemplified by such men as Judge Mickle and Ephraim Wiltsie, who were, for a time, the only members of that party living in the town, grew upon the minds of the people and at last triumphed over their opposers. For many years the political balance was very evenly adjusted, a half-dozen votes often sufficing to change the result in favor of either party. Upon the organization of the Republican party its principles of equal and exact justice to all, and of opposition to the greatest blot upon our civilization,-American slavery,-won for it a warm and hearty reception, and gave it the political control of the town which it maintained undisputed until the elec- tion in the spring of 1878, when the National Greenback party elected their ticket by a good majority. At the fall election, however, Nov. 5, 1878, the Republican ticket re- ceived a plurality of about 25.
At the first fall election, that of 1837, the full vote polled in this town was 41, and nearly half of those voters lived in what is now another town. So rapid has been the growth, that at the last election above mentioned, 581 votes were cast, showing an average increase of over 2400 per cent.
The population has increased from about 127 in 1837, to upwards for 2000 in 1878.
The assessed valuation has increased from $137,678, in 1837, to $428,700, in 1878.
We here present a list of the names of the principal town officers from the organization of the town to the present time, which we have carefully compiled from the records.
CIVIL LIST OF THE TOWN OF READING.
SUPERVISORS.
1837. James Fowle.
1838. Charles Powell.
1839-41. Ralph Bailey.
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1846. Lewis A. Keith.
1847. John Hughes.
1862. George Campbell.
1848. Frederick Fowler. .
1863-64. Daniel Murray.
1849. Daniel Kinne.
1850. Lewis A. Keith.
1869-71. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1851. Daniel Kinne.
1872. Stephen Webster.
1852. George Fitzsimmons.
1873. Morton Meigs.
1853. Daniel Kinne.
1874. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1854. Levi Barber.
1875. Zebedee Culver.
1855. Daniel Kinne.
1876. A. M. R. Fitzsimmons.
1856-58. Daniel Murray.
1877. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1859- 60. Lucien Meigs.
1878. George Young.
TOWN CLERKS.
1837. Wm. Berry.
1857. Harris B. Mead.
1838. Chas. T. Grosvenor.
1858-60. Wm. H. Benedict.
1839. Win. Berry.
1861. Samuel Whaley.
1840-41. Lewis A. Keith.
1862. James R. Abbott.
1842-45. George Campbell.
1863-65. Horatio P. Parmelee.
1846-47. Eleazer Ray.
1866. Henry K. Abbott.
1848. George Campbell.
1849. Lucien Meigs.
1850. Wm. H. Barnes.
1851. Henry H. Ferris.
1852. Daniel Kinne.
1872-74. Henry F. Doty.
1853. Henry I. Reese.
1875. George F. Murray.
1854. Lucien Meigs.
1876. F. G. Carroll.
1855. Daniel Murray.
1877. Isaac H. Kellogg.
1856. Wm. F. Turner.
1878. H. Wayne Russell.
TOWN TREASURERS.
1839-40. George Fitzsimmons.
1858. Joseph Warburton.
1841-42. Lorenzo Abbott.
1859. J. J. Gould.
1843-44. Lewis A. Keith.
1860. Bingham D. Abbott.
1845. Daniel Murray.
1846-47. A. H. Bartholomew.
1862. Stephen Webster.
1848. Lewis H. Mallory.
1849. John Fritts.
1864. Stephen Webster.
1865. James R. Abbott.
1851-53. Justin H. Ransom.
1866. Richard Berry.
1854. Cornelius B. Reynolds.
1867. Isaac H. Kellogg.
1855. Richard Berry.
1868-77. George Young.
1856. Lucien Meigs.
1878. John Q. Mickle.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1837. John Mickle (4 years).
James Fowle (3 years). Samuel S. Curtiss (2 years). William Berry (1 year).
1838. William Berry.
1839. Daniel Kinne (f. t.). Ammi R. Carpenter (v.).
1840. George Fitzsimmons.
1841. John Mickle.
1842. Aaron Thompson.
1843. Daniel Kinne.
1844. Jonas P. Gates.
1845. Augustus F. Vaun.
1846. Heman Howes.
1847. Frederick Fowler.
1848. Randolph Densmore.
1849. Lewis Vaun (f. t.). John Hughes (v.).
1850. Lucien Meigs.
1851. George Fitzsimmons.
1852. Sheridan H. Turner.
1853. James A. Galloway.
1854. Lewis A. Keith.
1855. George Fitzsimmons (f. t.). Lucas Terpening.
1856. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1857. Asahel M. Rising.
1858. David Young.
1859. George Fitzsimmons (f. t.).
Egbert Carpenter (v.).
1860. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1861. A. M. R. Fitzsimmons.
1862. Isaac H. Kellogg.
1863. Hiram Shafer.
1864. Ebenezer L. Kelly.
1865. Samuel Whaley.
1866. John B. Hendricks.
1867. Zalmon B. Stittson (f. t.). John Mickle (v.).
1868. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1869. Aaron Abbott. 1870. Samuel Whaley.
1871. Grove S. Bartholomew.
1872. Moses C. Cortright.
1873. Isaac H. Kellogg.
1874. William Schermerhorn.
1875. W. P. Carroll (f. t.). G. S. Bartholomew (v.).
1876. M. C. Cortright,
1877. Isaac H. Kellogg (f. t.). Ebenezer L. Kelly (v.).
1878. Samuel Whaley (f. t.).
D. Ellis Russell.
1867. Oswald A. Sutton.
1868. Lewis H. Mallory.
1869. Lucius E. Judson.
1870-71. Edward P. Wadsworth.
1861. George Campbell.
1863. Morton Meigs.
1850. Benjamin Smith.
1857. W. H. H. Crocker.
1842. Daniel Kinne. 1843-45. Ralph Bailey.
1861. Daniel Murray.
1865-68. Stephen Webster.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS.
1837. Charles Powell.
John Mickle.
James Fowle.
1838. James Holcomb. Samuel Seamans.
Stephen C. Perrin.
1852. Justin H. Ransom.
1839. Lorenzo Abbott.
Daniel Kinne. William Mickle.
1853. John Fritts. 1854. William C. Perry. 1855. Elias Hakes.
1840. Daniel Kinne.
1856. Stephen Webster.
Jefferson Kellogg.
1857. Amasa Potter. 1858. Jefferson Kellogg.
1841. Ralph Bailey.
1859. A. H. Bartholomew.
1860. John C. Warner.
Daniel Kinne. Ephraim P. Purdy.
1861. Jefferson R. Kellogg.
1862. Charles A. Hughes.
1863. John C. Warner.
1864. John Hendricks.
1843. Daniel Murray.
1865. Washington Bailey.
1866. Charles Hakes.
Jefferson Kellogg. Garner Archer.
1867. Philander Lawrence.
1844. Washington Bailey.
Daniel Murray.
1868. Washington Bailey (f. t.). Almon Lindsley (v.).
1869. Asahel B. Northrop (f. t.). Moses C. Cortright.
1870. Philander Lawrence.
1871. Alexander P. McConnel.
1872. William H. Murray.
1873. Chester E. Morey (f. t.). Zebedee Culver (v.).
1874-76. Leander H. McClave.
1877-78. Daniel W. Mickle. Henry C. Mickle (ap- pointed vice Daniel W. Mickle, resigned).
COLLECTORS.
1837. Eleazer Gleason.
-
1839-41. Thomas Berry.
ASSESSORS.
1837. Samuel S. Curtiss.
Eleazer Gleason. John Mickle.
1840. Jarvis Mason.
Wright Redding.
Aaron Thompson.
1838. Eleazer Gleason.
Wright Redding.
Timothy Larrabee.
1841. Jarvis Mason.
Ammi R. Carpenter.
Eleazer Gleason.
1839. John Mickle.
William Van Horn.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1873-76. Henry H. Ferris.
1878. Washington Bailey. 1877. Lucien Meigs.
The settlers of this town came mostly from Western and Central New York, or from the New England States, and brought with them the ideas, beliefs, and practices of their fathers. They believed strongly in the doctrine of free education, and also in a liberal expenditure of labor and means in carrying on public improvements. In the work of building school-houses, opening highways, and building bridges they were energetic, and as this work naturally made taxes somewhat high, many non-resident owners of land were thereby forced to dispose of their land to actual settlers, and this assisted in the rapid development of the town. Up to the year 1840 but few roads had been laid out and improved. There was one principal road,-that opened by the first settlers,-leading from Jonesville, the county-seat, by way of Sand Creek, and entering Reading
on the west line of section 2, from whence it followed the section line, with one or two changes of direction, to the Ohio line. From this main road others branched off each way, leading to the different settlements. There was con- siderable agitation about this time of the question of re- moving the county-seat from Jonesville to Hillsdale, or some other point nearer the centre of the county, and the citizens of Hillsdale and Reading made an effort to secure the building of a road from Hillsdale through Reading to the Indiana line. The Legislature passed an act authoriz- ing the laying of a State road on the route proposed, and appointed Ralph Bailey, George Fitzsimmons, and Barron B. Willetts as commissioners to carry the act into effect. The road was partially opened by those living along the line, and was the means of opening a new market and point of trade to the people of this region, who had previously been confined to one market, that of Jonesville. The nearest mills were found at Jonesville to the north, Cold- water to the west, or Adrian to the east ; and frequently, in times of scarcity, the settlers were compelled to go as far west as White Pigeon, or as far east as Tecumseh, to get supplies of flour and meal. Trade with the Indians enabled them to get supplies of meat and maple-sugar of a some- what doubtful character. These Indians were peculiar in their dealings, taking nothing but silver in exchange for their goods. Neither gold nor bank-notes would suit their requirements.
At that time the census showed that the population of the town had risen to 331, and the people began to ask for mail facilities, the need of which they had felt for a long time. Quite a general move was made to have a post-route established, and to have John Mickle, the first settler in town, a prominent man, and one politically in harmony with the national administration, appointed as postmaster. Those having the matter in charge did not move as promptly as they might have done, and some other citizens, like the " enemy" who " sowed tares while the husbandman slept," took advantage of their moderation, slipped a petition, numerously signed by citizens of Adrian and vicinity, into the hands of the department, and had the route established, the contract for carrying the mail let, Ralph Bailey appointed as postmaster, and Daniel Kinne as deputy, before the other party got an inkling of the course affairs were taking. This result was partially brought about by a rivalry that existed between two neighborhoods, the one located on the Jones- ville road in the north part of the town, and the other on the State road in the south part of the town, and a little nearer the geographical centre. It was also charged that this was the work of a ring of which Ralph Bailey, George Fitzsimmons, and Daniel Kinne were prominent members, a fact which they did not deny and which they would not willingly have had disproved. The route thus established led from Hillsdale to Reading, and George Fitzsimmons carried the mail for $26 a year, making one trip each week. The route was afterwards extended to Willow Prairie (now Fremont), in Indiana.
In 1847 the State apportioned to Hillsdale County a share of the lands granted for internal improvements in the State, and the county devoted it to the work of completing the Hillsdale and Indiana turnpike. Solomon Sharpe, Esq.,
Ammi R. Carpenter.
1845. Washington Bailey. Ammi R. Carpenter. Israel Slauson.
1846. Melvin Bailey.
Albert Benjamin. Justin H. Ransom.
1847. Levi Barber (3 years). Stephen Webster (2 years). Augustus F. Vaun (1 year).
1848. Daniel Murray.
1849. John Fitzsimmons (f. t.). Justin H. Ransom (1. v.). Cornelius Reynolds (s. v.).
1850. Asahel M. Rising.
1851. Sheridan H. Turner.
Jonas P. Gates.
1842. Justin H. Ransom. Garner Archer. Horace B. Avery.
1838. Oliver R. Cole.
1839. Eleazer Gleason. Jarvis Mason.
317
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
was appointed commissioner ; the work was done by people alone the line, and the lands were taken in payment there- for.
Up to and including the year 1850, the population of the town was wholly rural and engaged in agriculture. There was not a store, grocery, or hotel in the town, and scarcely a mechanic. Looking back from that time we see that many had settled quietly, grown into positions of prominence, and become influential citizens of the town, and were ready to enter upon any effort to develop its resources and in- crease its prosperity and growth. They began to feel the need of a common business centre, of better church facilities, of more convenient places to trade, and of a development of the manufacturing interests. Of course, the first move was to determine upon a site for the proposed village. Common consent seemed to point unmistakably to the locality known as " Basswood Corners," which derived its name from the fact that about 10 feet southwest of the corner of sections 22, 23, 26, and 27, stood a clump of 7 basswood-trees, each about 20 inches in diameter, and all growing from one stump. A short distance east of the corner, a blacksmith-shop, one of those inevitable precursors of a village, had been built by Horace Billings, on land bought of George Young, in 1846, on the present site of the " McConnel House." In the sum- mer of the same year, Morris Inglesby had erected a shop for the manufacture of grain-cradles, on the site where the " Reading House" now stands, and a year later, Dr. William Hullinger erected the first frame dwelling in the future village, just north of the cradle-factory. Dr. Hullinger was the first practicing physician in the town. As this place was the junction of the State and the Jonesville roads, it was thereby rendered the most convenient point for a village. Already a charter had been obtained for a company known as the " Hillsdale and Reading Plank-road Company," with the intention of laying a plank-road on the State road be- tween this place and Hillsdale. The stock was largely taken by citizens of this town and others living along the line or in Hillsdale. It depended, however, for its success, upon the energy and perseverance of citizens of Reading, among the most prominent and active of whom were Col. Frederick Fowler, Daniel Kinne, George and John Fitz- simmons, Nelson M. and William F. Turner, and others. This enterprise was completed in 1855, and after running a couple of years proved unsatisfactory and was abandoned. In view of the benefits anticipated as the result of the com- pletion of this work, David D. Prouty and Thomas Fuller, who owned the lands on sections 26 and 27 coming to the corner, had platted a village on their lands, had it surveyed into lots and streets, and placed on record in the register's office. In the summer of 1852, William F. Turner and George Young built the first steam saw-mill in the town, on the site now occupied by Col. F. Fowler's carriage-shop. This mill was removed to Allen some thirteen years after- ward. In 1853, Dr. Hullinger purchased the cradle-fac- tory, moved it back from the street, and on the same site erected a hotel, which was, with the exception of a small tavern kept on section 30 by Henry Holdridge, the first in the town. This hotel, together with his residence, was burned before it was fully completed, but was rebuilt the following year as the Reading House, and has continued
one of the principal hotels of the place, in the hands of different proprietors, down to the present time.
About the same time that the hotel was first started, Nelson M. Turner erected a building, still standing, on the northeast corner of Main and Michigan Streets, and filled it with a stock of goods, such as is usually kept in country stores. This was the first building in Reading that was used solely for mercantile business, and is properly credited with being the first store in town. About this time James and John Orr, of New York, opened a pretty good stock in a building on the southeast corner of Main and Michigan Streets.
In 1856, the second era in the commercial existence of the village was ushered in by the arrival in town of Messrs. L. S. Parmelee & Co. and Messrs. Cone & Keiser with large stocks of well-assorted goods, which they opened to the public ; and by the building of a steam grist-mill by N. M. and Wm. F. Turner and Alvin Griffith. Before this mill was completed, Mr. Griffith purchased Messrs. Tur- ners' interest, and completed and operated it himself for some time. . It was the first, and still remains the only grist-mill in the town, and after passing through the hands of several persons, is now owned and operated by Sanford Stiles.
Jasper A. Waterman in that same year started a shop for the manufacture of pumps, it being a fine point for that business, because of the abundance of excellent timber for that purpose. He some years later added the making of cheese-boxes to his business, and quite recently has invented a new and novel mode of manufacturing barrels and kegs. His improvement, which is covered by letters patent, con- sists in cutting from the circumference of the log a con- tinuous sheet or scroll in the form of a finished stave. This is afterwards cut into staves of a width to form a barrel from two of them, and then finished by being hooped in the ordinary manner. This method saves a large percent- age both in labor and in material, and is of great value. The shop now furnishes employment to from 6 to 10 per- sons, and turns off from $5000 to $15,000 worth of manu- factures each year.
From this small beginning Reading has grown to its present rank. Its growth from that time was quite rapid for several years. There were constant new arrivals, and new enterprises sprang up on every hand. Mechanics came in, and manufactories were called for to supply the demands of the people of the village and the surrounding country.
The necessity for better church privileges resulted in the erection of the Methodist church in 185-, and this was followed in 1858 by the Free Baptist church.
As the village increased in size, it became evident that to promote its growth and development, a closer and more rapid communication with the commercial world was neces- sary, as without it the activity and enterprise of the place would be circumscribed and limited, and the village be a tributary to Hillsdale, which was even then a thriving and important railroad town and the county-seat. The project of building a railroad from Jackson, in this State, to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, to run through Fort Wayne, was at this time being agitated, and to it the same minds that had conceived
318
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the building up of the village turned their attention, with a view to secure the building of the road on a route running through this place. The preliminary survey demonstrated that the route from Jonesville to Reading necessitated a heavy grade, and that a much easier grade could be found by keeping farther east and following the valley of the Little St. Joseph, passing through Hillsdale and Cambria Mills, and thus reaching the headwaters of Elk River, in De Kalb Co., Ind. But opposed to the easy grade was the necessity of reaching such important points as Reading and Angola, and Waterloo, in Indiana. A further induce- ment was the material aid offered by these places. This town bonded in aid of the railroad to the amount of $15,000, and its citizens subscribed for $60,000 worth of its stock, thus securing the road, which was built through the town in 1868-69. The first regular train running from Jackson arrived in Reading on the 9th of November of the latter year.
Among the most active promoters of this undertaking we find George, John, and A. M. R. Fitzsimmons, Col. F. Fowler, Daniel Kinne, H. B. Chapman, G. G. Cone, L. S. and H. P. Parmelee, John Fritts, J. A. Waterman, Thomas Berry, and others. The wisdom of this undertaking was made at once apparent by the fresh impetus it gave to bus- iness, and the additional inducements it furnished for me- chanics and business men to locate here. The farmers were at once benefitted by the opening of a market at their very doors, and the saving to themselves of the heavy cost of marketing their surplus produce that had heretofore proved so onerous a burden. At once, too, there was a demand for better buildings to accommodate the business men of the town, and in response to it, Mr. H. B. Chapman, Mr. L. S. Parmelee, and Mr. S. C. Dodge united to build the first brick business block, which was speedily completed and oc- cupied. This marked the third era in the business life of the town, and the increased prosperity induced the erection of other fine, substantial brick blocks, of which there are now seven in town, accommodating fourteen firms, engaged in various branches of trade. The business of the village is believed to have been quadrupled by the building of the railroad, and the population more than doubled. The resi- dences of the citizens both in village and town have un- dergone a great change, and in beauty and worth will rank well with any village or town in the State of similar ad- vantages in point of wealth and population. This result is due largely to the taste and liberality of her energetic and public-spirited business men. Among others we may mention Mr. H. B. Chapman, who, being the proprietor of one of the additions to the village, has contributed largely by the erection of good business blocks and convenient and tasty dwellings. It was his choice to dot his plat with nu- merous fine dwellings before offering the lots for sale. There are, at present, five very respectable churches in the town, the four in the village having been erected in the following order : Methodist, Free Baptist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. The schools of the town are twelve in number, and are well sustained by the people. The graded union school of the village is especially worthy of commendation. This was changed from a common to a graded school in 1870. In 1872, steps were taken toward the erection of a new school-
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