History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 101

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 101
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

404

HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

to the swamp on the advance of the enemy, and Owl Bayou will re- call signifieant memories to those who were there.

" Our loog residence at Manehae Pass was an era in our history which, it would seem, ought to have buried two-thirds of our number, but strange to say we were nearly or quite in ns good health as usual. From the 24th of March till the 19th of May, 1864, we were denizens of the swamp, with no camping-ground but a narrow rnilwny embank- ment, and no drinking water but that of the swamp or the tepid and shallow lake.

" We were delivered from this at last, however, and on the 21st of May we went on board the steamship ' Creule,' bouod for Port Hudson, disembarking at Springfield Landing the next day. On the 24th we closed in on the enemy's works, and from that time till its surrender, on the 7th of July, the fighting wns constant along some portions of the line.

" The 27th of My was a bloody dny for us, as nlt enn attest who were there. Company H furnished n large portion of the forlorn hope which led the eharge hended hy Cnpt. P. D. Montgomery. The storm of shot and shell against which we advanced was something terrific. Gen. Sherman, of Buena Vista fnme, acknowledged that he had never seen anything like it before. As it tore through our columns one could hear the crash as it stroek the men, and the fresh enrth thrown into the air by rieochetting shot was so deose that one could see but a short distance before him. It is needless to say that we were re- pulsed with severe loss.

" The 14th of June wns a similar scene, though thanks to the pru- dence and coolness of Cnpt. Cordon, many valuable lives were snved that else would have been sacrificed for nothing.

" The soldiers' truce, the sharp work in the rifle-pits, the eitadel, the seventeen-gun battery, the charge of which Sergt. Walker was the hero, and the mine, will awaken in your minds many and varied mem- ories. It is impossible to do anything like justiee to the scenes which transpired bere. They are sufficient for a volume.

" After the full of Port Hudson it beenme our home until the 10th of March, 1864, when we started for home on a veteran furlough. The dend of Company Il who were buried at Port Hudson are Bailey, Kimball, Bottomly, Perrine, Whitcomb, Dacon, and Kellogg, and while nt home on veteran furlough we lost by denth Blodgett and Snunders. They had passed the dangers of the battle-field and the pestilenee of Southern swamps only to meet death among friends and relatives.

" We returned to Port Iludson May 9th, and remained there until June 22d, when we went on bonrd the ' Universe,' from Morganza Bend. While at this point we learned of the death of Lieut. Brainerd, at the Hotel Dien, in New Orleans, and it was hard to realize that one, the gayest of the gay, young, active, and fearless, could be stricken down by disease after passing unsenthed through the dangers of the battle- field.

" From Morganza we went to Vieksburg, where we remnined till the 23d of July, when the company went on board the ill-fated 'Clara Bell,' bound for White River, Ark. The destruction of the bont by a rebel battery was a seene which I did not witness, but it was n repe- tition of our Grand Gulf experience greatly intensified. Company Il lost everything but their arms and the clothes that they wore. At Vieksburg the dend of Company II are represented by Vredingburg and Coleman.

" Returning from White River we went to New Orleans, and were sent immediately to Mobile Bay, to take part in the reduction of the forte.

" We arrived at Fort Gaines in time to witness the bombardment and

surrender of Fort Morgan. From this time to the following July, 1865, Fort Gaines became our very comfortable home, with the ex- ception of a short expedition to Pascagouln, and at no time in our four years of service did we enjoy better quarters or maintain a more efficient diseipline than on Dauphine Island, at the mouth of Mobile Bay. In the sands of Dauphine Island, Olmstead, Gillett, Sweazey, Shrum, Saunders, Roe, Myers, McDonald, Stowell, and Johnson found a last resting-place. Ilenry B. Dow died while at home on & furlough, and Flanders died on board the steamer 'Constitution' while en route for home. ITiram A. Dow and Levi Sprague died at home shortly after arriving there, and James Mann yielded up his life io Marshall, while trying to get home, the three having been dis- charged from the serviee.

" We were mustered out at Greenville, above New Orleans, jast four years to a day from the date of our muster in at Kalamazoo.

"I have been thus prolix in fornishing n sketch of our company his- tory, because I deemed it advisable to awaken in your minds, though but by a passing allusion, the many memories which cluster along its course, to recall the mentnl picture of events which have grown dim by the lapse of yenrs, and to furnish a thread which I trust you will amply adorn with your varied experiences in our parlor exereises of the afternoon.

" Occasions like this nre peculiarly sacred to memories of the past, and while I congratulate you on the happiness and prosperity of the present, I trust again and again we may he permitted to come together ns eomrndes,-brothers of the same military organization, who have a reeord to be proud of, and who, I trust, have sufficient self-respect and friendship in their hearts to keep all bright by many reunions like this."

The soldier who wrote and read the above has gone to meet the comrades who fell in the strife, and his bereaved family and friends mourn most sincerely his too early de- parture to the unknown realm. His deeds are told with pride, and his memory is fondly cherished, and this may be said of all who bore arms in defense of their country, and laid down their lives then or at a later day. The following is from an obituary notice* of Capt. Trask, who died of scarlet fever, June 11, 1880 :

" William S. Trask was born in the town of Italy, Wayne Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1837, and was therefore in his forty-third year. He came to Michigan with his parents about 1849 or '50, his father huying a farm and settling in Springport, Jackson Co. He first attended school at Lansing, then came to this place, where he was at the breaking out of the war. He was among the first to respond to the country's call, and was elected seeond lieutenant of Company 11, Sixth Michigan Infantry. In 1862 he was promoted to first lieutenant, and in 1864 to captain. Owing to the fact that the regiment was changed from infantry to henvy artillery promotion was not as rapid as it otherwise might have been. At the time of the Red River expedition he was topographienl engineer on Gen. Banks' staff, and made the drawings of the famous dam which was constructed to float off Porter's fleet, which, owing to the low water, was unable to move. ffe was highly esteemed by his men and fellow-soldiers. Ile was married Dec. 25, 1866, to Miss Luey J. Ilartson, of this eity, by whom he had two daughters, now nine and five yenrs of age."

* Published in the Charlotte Republican, June 18, 1880.

BELLEVUE.

NATURAL FEATURES.

GEOGRAPHIY, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

THE township of Bellevue, which originally comprised the whole of the county of Eaton, is now but one-sixteenth part thereof, and lies in the southwest corner, being bounded north by Kalauio, east by Walton, south by Cal- houn County, and west by Barry County. The township- lines were surveyed in 1825 by John Mullett, and the subdivisions in 1826 by Musgrove Evans. The name of the township was doubtless given for the fact that the vil- lage of the same name was situated in a locality which pre- sented a most " beautiful view" to the eye of the beholder. Its position is elsewhere described by one of the first set- tlers, who describes his admiration of it upon his first visit to the spot.

The surface of the township is considerably broken in places, while in others it is level. As a whole it is a fine agricultural region, and yields ample reward for the labors of the farmer. The soil is strong from the lime which it contains. The principal stream is the Battle Creek, which furnishes good power, utilized at the village, where a deep channel has been cut in its rocky bed.

LAND ENTRIES.

The following is a list of land entries in town 1 north, range 6 west, now constituting the township of Bellevue, with section and year of entry :

Section 1 .- 1836, A. Sessions, P. Dubois, P. S. Spaulding, R. Swift; 1837, W. Cummings ; 1838, A. Day.

Section 2 .- 1836, T. Seott, P. Dubois, J. Barker, W. Tillotson.

Section 3 .- 1836, W. Swift, P. F. Spaulding, II. Colton, A. M. Mills, D. Clark.

Section 4 .- 1836, Nehemiah Chase, A. W. Rogers, W. Swift, David Lueas.

Section 5 .- 1835, N. & H. Weed ; 1836, A. W. Rogers, S. Fordham, C. Cummings ; 1854, D. H. Pieree, J. Garms.

Section 6 .- 1836, D. Judson, A. Webster, E. H. Evans, S. Fordham ; 1837, D. Mason, E. II. Evans.

Section 7 .- 1836, C. Tilton, Clark & Daniels, S. Ilunsiker, C. Phelps, J. T. Hayt, J. B. Whito; 1837, C. Phelps.

Section 8 .- 1835, N. & H. Weed; 1836, J. P. Woodbury, John Chase, William Kindell, S. La Bar.

Section 9 .- 1835, T. R. Smith ; 1836, E. Follett, P. Hathaway ; 1837, II. Jarvis, S. Sedgewiek; 1839, J. Spaulding ; 1853, E. Follett; 1866, Conrad Freund, Henry L. Robinson.

Section 10 .- 1836, T. Haskell, J Shepard, J. N. Higgins; 1837, S. Stoddard, David Shetterley ; 1853, E. Follett, P. Mann ; 1854, R. O. Russell; 1858, Jacob M. Seitler ; 1864, R. O. Russell.

Section 11 .- 1835, J. Shepherd ; 1836, R. Battey, A. F. Fiteh, P. Do- bois, Joel Barker; 1837, M. Leaeh.

Section 12 .- 1836, R. Battey, A. Day, ''. S. Grinnell, C. A. Church, D. Clark, A. E. & L. L. Ives, C. H. Carroll; 1837, J. Ryan, A. S. Bogg.

Section 13 .- 1835, S. Hubbard, N. & H. Weed; 1836, P. Dibble, Wil- liam Duvall.

Section 14 .- 1835, G. R. Wilber : 1836, P. Dihble, William J. Del- avan, John Dodge and A. Fitch.

Section 15 .- 1835, E. K. & P. Howland; 1836, K. Haskell, T. Has- kell, W. Goss, I. Crary.

Section 16 .- 1850, E. Stiles; 1853, M. Mann, L. Peaslee, J. S. Spaulding; 1854, J. Crowell, William Crary, L. Peaslee, M. G. Stiles, J. S. Spaulding, S. Hunsiker ; 1864, J. K. Brooks.

Section 17 .- 1835, N. & II. Weed; 1836, J. P. Woodbury, R. Sey- mour, J. McAllister, and C. Moore.

Section 18 .- 1836, Clark & Daniels, J. P. Woodbury, C. Cuykendall, S. Collier, Z. Morehouse ; 1837, N. Morehouse.

Section 19 .- 1835, J. Reynolds ; 1836, J. P. Woodbury, John M. Gor- don, J. S. Blaisdell ; 1841-42, S. Darrow.

Section 20 .- 1835, R. Bell, B. Bosworth, J. Luseomb; 1836, S. Me- Camley, McCamley & Co., T. W. Hall.

Section 21 .- 1834, W. C. Funda; 1835, J. Eaton, T. Cassaday, A. Meach, S. A. Southwiek, P. Campbell, C. Allen.

Section 22 .- 1835, S. Hunsiker, L. L. Ives, A. E. Ives, L. Russell, R. Fitzgerald, T. Daniels, R. Slade, Jr., P. Campbell.

Section 23 .- 1835, G. K. Wilber, R. Fitzgerald, W. Goss ; 1836, R. Batty, J. T. Hayt, W. Goss.

Section 24,-1835, G. C. Gibbs, J. T. Ellis; 1836, C. H. Carroll.

Section 25 .- 1836, M. Clarke, A. Hannibal, R. Mott, Jr., D. Judson, C. H. Carroll; 1837, S. Sedgwick; 1854, G. G. Woodmansee; 1858, Newell Thurston, William Demsoth.

Section 26 .- 1835, II. Powers, C. Sprague; 1836, C. H. Carroll, S. Holland; 1837, N. S. Booth, E. Y. Morton ; 1854, N. S. Booth, J. Grosefant, Il. HIart.

Section 27 .- 1833, S. Hunsiker, Isaac E. Crary ; 1835, B. Rowley, C. Sprague, Hubbard & Co .; 1836, S. Hlousiker.

Section 28 .- 1832, Isaae E. Crary, Luther Lincoln; 1833, I. E. Crary, S. Hunsiker ; 1834, J. Tripp.

Section 29 .- 1833, S. Hansiker; 1834, B. Bader; 1835, S. Hunsiker, E. Convis, B. Bosworth.

Section 30 .- 1835, W. R. Shepard; 1836, S. Reynolds, S. M. Andros, S. Collins; 1848, A. Giles; 1850, II. Giles ; 1851, E. Giles, Rieb- ard Muir.

Section 31 .- 1836, S. MeCamley, E. Hussey, J. S. Blaisdell, S. Collier. Section 32 .- 1833, Sylvanus llunsiker ; 1835, II. C. Hughes, S. Convis,

Jr., C. H. Hunsiker, II. C. IInghes; 1836, Z. Oshorn; 1839, W. Spaulding.

Section 33 .- 1833, S. Ilunsiker ; 1835, B. Atheam ; 1836, 0. Morse, J. Dodge & A. Fitch, Aaron White, P. Ilaskell; 1837, L. Root; 1854, R. Fitzgerald.

Section 34 .- 1835, J. Beers ; 1836, L. Campbell, T. Haskell, E. Avery, J. R. Grosvenor; 1837, C. Parsons; 1838, E. Willis; 1854, J. Spieer; 1868, Edward M. Kinsbury.

Section 35 .- 1835, C. Sprague, Charles P. Chidester; 1836, L. Camp- bell, J. Beers; 1854, J. Dougherty.

Section 36 .- 1836, C. P. Ives, A. Ingraham, L. Pierpont, S. McAllis - ter, R. B. Way.

EARLY SETTLEMENT .*

The following facts and incidents are from a " History of Bellevue," written by John T. Hayt, and published in the Charlotte Republican in May, 1869 :

" The township of Bellevue is situated in the southwest corner of Eaton County, adjoining Barry County on the west, and Calhoun County on the south, eobtaining thirty-six seetions of land. Its des- ignation in the original U. S. survey is town I north, of range 6 west. The principal stream in said township is Battle Creek,-the Indian

# The history of the village and township ean hardly he separated in this article, especially as Mr. llayt has intermingled them to saeb . an extent.

405

406

HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

naine ' Mejanh Kercoppikisco," the English of which is ' stone pipe,' as they toht me. Before the white man ever visited the country they manufactured pipes out of the limestone found on its banks. All north of said creek was originally benvy timber land, consisting of whitewood, cherry, black-walnut, basswood, white- and binck-nsh, hard-maple, beech, ironwood, boxwood, chin, and oak ; on the south of snid creek generally onk-openings. One burr-onk plain, where the village of Bellevue is situated. contained about n half-section of land nnd, in its original state, it was to me the most beautiful spot I had ever scen. I visited it in June of 1834, before the white man had marred its benuty. The wild grass then was about a foot high, and interspersed with it were the most beautiful flowers that I had ever behell. . . . While gazing upon its beauty and inhaling its delicious fragrance, I formed a resolution that, Providence permitting, I would erect on it a dwelling. . . . At the time of this writing (1869) 1 have resided upon it thirty-five years, and have never regretted the resolution then made.

" The first location, I think, was made here by a Mr. Blashfield, in 1829 or 1830, on the northenst quarter of section 28.

" The soil north of Battle Creek is principally clay loam, with oc- casional spots of sandy loam and clay. It has, so far as enltivated, proved exceedingly fertile and well adapted to the culture of all the various cereals grown in the latitude. also for fruit, and very natural for grass culture. . . . On the south of Battle Creek were onk-open- ings, except the burr-oak plain on which the village of Bellevue is situated,-the northeast quarter of section 28. The soil is sandy aod sandy loam. The whole township is moderately undulating."

On portions of sections 27, 28, 33, and 34,-in all about one section of land,-

" Was found an inexbanstible bed of limestone, of superior quality, on which the cities of Marshall and Battle Creek, Charlotte and Lan- sing, and the villages of Ilastings, Olivet, and Albion, and the sur- roundling country depend for lime. The first line was made by piliog the limestone and wood alternately on the ground, in a large heap, and burning the wood, when a part of the stone would be turned into Time. The first lime-kiln that was built was situated on the bank of Battle Creek, at the little rapid north of the then residence of Syl- vanus Ilunsiker. I excavated the first shovelful of dirt from the same. Daniel Mason-then engaged in the saw-mill-and I entered into n contrnet to engage in the 1.me business. As he was employed in the saw-mill for a time, it devolved upon me to attend to the erce- tion of the kiln. It was necessary to excavate a hole thirty feet in cireninference and twelve feet deep, and, it being difficult to get belp at that time, I commenced the work alone, and dug several days. Not being accustomed to such Inbor, my hands heenme sore and hlis- tered, my back lane, and I was about sick. Fortunately, a Mr. Baker had found his way to the settlement, prospecting for a future home, and, being an able-bodied man and used to labor, we engaged him to excavate the earth for the kiln. I commenced prying up ' hard-heads' to stone the kiln. Mr. Baker dug four or five days, and the bank caved in on the unfortunate man and killed him. He was buried on the bank of Battle Creek, on the spot now set apart and occupied as the township burial ground, und was the first white man buried in the township. As Mr. Mason was still employed in the saw-mill, and no help could be got to assist me, I commenced the digging again, and after grent hardship succeeded in getting out the dirt, and stoned up the kiln with ' hard-heads' laid in mortar made of earth. i drew in the kiln at the top until it was bot seven fect across. How I sue- ceeded in so difficult a mason-work, being entirely unacquainted with such business, has ever been an enigma to me; and how I escaped the calamity of poor Baker has often brought a shudder over me when I have thought of it. Soon after the kiln was completed, I succeeded in getting assistance in excavating the limestone to burn. I built the first arch, and piled and burned the first lime-kiln. Hlad a poor buru, yet succeeded in getting nhout 400 bushels of salable lime, for which we received about $100. We horned one more kiln, but succeeded no better than at first, and I gave up the business in .i-gu t. Soon ; fter the k In enved in, and at this day no remains of the first mesen-work at Bellevue exist, perhaps to the great mixfor- Die of the art. Soon after, more scientific men commence ] the section of kilns, extensively and successfully prosecuted the baxi- news, and large quantities have been burned from that day to this, supplying a large country with that valuable article.

" The village at that time (1835) was inhabited by the following

persons : Reuben Fitzgerald, Sylvanns Hunsiker, Daniel Mason, Cal- vin Phelps, Asn Phelps, Lawrence Campbell, John Ilayt, James Kim- herly, James Hutchinson, with their wives ; John B. Crary, Benjamin Bador, Warren Streeter, Noble F. Blossom, Russell Slatle, and James Tripp, single men. Mr. Blashfield having sold his interest in the land and water-power to the Rev. John D. Pierce and Isune E. Crary, of Marshall, they put the saw-mill in good repair for business, sur- veyell the site of the village, made a neat plat of the same, and com- meneed tho sale of village lots, the price being from five to twenty dollars n lot, necording to situation. The village then contained the following buildings: Reuben Fitzgeraldl had erected a new house opposite the present residence of Martin S. Brackett; Sylvanus Hunsiker, on the site where his son Sylvanus now resides; n log cabin on the corner of the lot now owned by Mr. Ford, for mecting- and school house; a log house on the site of the house erected by Parley Robinson ; John T. Hayt's, on the site now occupied by the Methodist parsonage; Calvin Phelps, on David McNamee's present site ; a small frame house where Mr. Bowden's store now stands ; James Kimberly's shanty, near the present burying-ground; and the saw-mill. These constituted the whole village of Bellevue.

"The original inhabitants of Bellevue were mostly Methodists : there were Sylvanus Hunsikor and wife, James Kimberly and wife, Asn Phelps and wife, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Budor. Reuben Fitzgerald at that time was not a member, but his influence was in that connection. A few of the first settlers were Presbyterians: Calvin Phelps and wife, John T. Hayt and wife. The Presbyterians assembled with the Methodists for meetings for several years, the desk being supplied hy Asn Phelps, a Methodist local preacher.

" In 1836 Lawrence Campbell built the first hotel in the village, situated directly opposite the then residence of John T. Hayt, on the northwest corner of the lot now occupied by Mr. Albert Avery. Mr. Campbell kept the house a couple of years, to the satisfaction of the traveling public, and sold out his tavern to Ebenezer Avery, who sneceeded him as the host of the Village Inn, as the hotel was then called. He kept a good, comfortable bar, as well as the other ercature comforts that characterize a good tavern. This was the first place that sold liquor as a beverage. The house was patronized to its ntmost capacity for some years, Mr. Avery doing a good business. Unfortunately for him and the village, it was burned with all its contents. Soon after Mr. Avery commenced the erection of the Union House, opposite Messrs. Gage & Hughes' store, which bouse has been occupied as a hotel to this day . . . and is now considered the number one hotel of the village.

" The township being organized, the people felt the need of a post- office, as they were dependent upon the post-office nt Marshall, some fifteen miles distant from Bellevue, for mail facilities. A meeting was held to designate the person whom they would like appointed. John T. Hayt was selected, and a petition was drawn np accordingly and sent to Washington, to establish a post-office at the village of Bellevue. On the 2d day of May, A.D. 1835, John T. Hayt received his appointment, executed by Amos Kendall, then Postmaster-Gen- eral of the United States. On the 4th day of August, 1835, his com- tuission was received at the office in Bellevue, fully executed. The post-office was established, with the understanding that the mail should be carried from Bellevue to Marshall once a week, withont charge to the government. Capt. Reuben Fitzgerald volunteered to carry the mail for four years for fifteen dollars ($15) a quarter, or for what the office collected a quarter until that sum was collected. The receipts of the first quarter were $2.25. Nearly one year after the quarterly returns showed (March 30th to June 30th) $16.90 ; from June 30th to September 30th, $17.44; from September 30th to De- cember 31st, $33.29; from Dec. 31 to March 30, 1837, $55.71; from March 30th to June 30th, $58.62. The last quarter I held the office, from Jan. I to March 30, 1838, the returns showed $82.05; and from & balanec-sheet sent me by the Department at Washington, which closed the whole business of the post-office up to May, 1838, the net revenue due the Department was $175.29; at that time I re- signed in favor of Caleb Woodbury, Esq., who was appointed my successor. lle remained postmaster for several years, and his sue- cessors [to 1860] were John F. Hinman, J. P. Woodbury, Henry Hickok, William M. Grant, Edward M. Kingsbury, Dr. Fero, and Granger Anson.ª During the time I was postmaster the postage on

" Mr. Anson still eentinnes in the position (1880).

407

BELLEVUE.

a single letter was twenty-five eents ; on newspapers, one eent. While I had the office I lest twenty-five dollars hy trusting postage.

"In the spring of 1835 there was no bridge aeross Battle Creek at Bellevue, and there was no road on the north side of the ereek. The whale country north as far as Ionia was one vast wilderness, and it was impossible for a team to penetrate more than a few rods north of the ercek. The citizens, feeling the importance of opening a road frem Bellevue te Ionia, met to decide upon some plan that would en- able them to eat out a road to Ionia and open the country to settlers. At that meeting Juhn T. Ilayt was appointed to solicit subscriptions from the citizens of Bellevue and Marshall for that purpose. The following shows the original subscriptions :

Daniel Mason. $6.00

Marvin Preston $1.00

Sylvanus Ilunsiker. 20.00

William R. Macall .50

Ahel Colister 6.00

H. C. Goodrich 1.00

James Tripp. 5.00

I. E. Crary

Josiah C. Clark 1.00

Ilenry Kipp ... 3.00

1.00

Asa Phelps.

3.00

J. D. Pierce. 7.00

Calvin Phelps.

2.00

Peter Chesam. 2.00

John T. Hayt. 5.00

Lansing Kingsbury

2.00

George Keteham. 5.00

James P. Greaves

3.50

Stephen Kimble ... 2.00

G. W. Fish

4.00

C. C. Vandenburg 2.00

W. M. Pearl

5,00

Joba B. Crary

7.00

E. S. Bruek way

2,00

E. Barnett .26

Abner Curtis

1.00

John Ilutehisun. 2.00

.75

Benjamin Baden

2.00

L. W. Ilart.

1.00

L. Campbell.

4.24

Daniel Hana

1.37

Orders.

5.00

Charles F. Smith.

3.00

Mr. llavers ... 1.00

Making a total of $155.62. This sum opened the road to the Thora- apple River, and there the work stopped antil the Vermont Colony settled Vermontville; they then opened it through to Ionia.

" The people in Bellevue, in 1835, were few and isolated from eiv- ilization, in an Indian country, but had not forgotten the many cele- brations of the great national day, the 4th of July. They ealled a meeting to take into consideration the propriety of celebrating the day in Bellevue. It was unanimously resolved that the coming 4th of July should be celebrated, and a committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. The committee reported that on that day the citizens should assemble at the corn- and wagen-house of Reuben Fitzgerald, and listen to the reading of the Declaration of Independence, after which a procession would be formed and marehed to the door-yard of John T. Ilayt, where a table would be spread with such viands as each family in the village should feel disposed to fur- nish. The day was celebrated according to the order of the com- mittee. Rev. Asa Phelps read the Declaration of Independence, a good dinner was provided by the citizens, and all enjoyed this the first celebration in the county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 101

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772