USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 117
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 117
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" In the summer of 1842 our village took its first important stride to greatness. During this year the dam was built across Grand River, and the race dug connecting and consolidating the river and Spring Brook into one power, and an addition built on the north side of the grist-mill. I think there were added, also, two runs of hohr-stones, and a set of merchant bolts.
" The two churches, Methodist and Congregational, were erected, although not finished inside until 1855. This year also, I think, Ham- lin's Hotel, now called the Mitchell House, on Main Street, was en- larged to its present proportions. The north addition to the village was Inid out, and I think that year the cabinet-shop was erected at the head of the saw-mill raee hy Alanson Oshorn, who carried on a very im- portant business there while he lived, and it continued to be of great benefit to the place until it was hurued down in 1868. During these years we had two or three asheries, which did a large business in black salts, pot and pearl ashes, and sometimes in saleratus. This wns a very important interest to the farmers at that time, as almost every one hnd ashes to sell after burning off a fallow ; and, although they would not often bring money, they would always exchange for groceries and other necessaries.
" In 1844 the carding-shop was erected by the mill company, and fully equipped with all the necessary machinery for wool-enrding and eloth-dressing. In the spring of 1845 my brother Willinm rented it for one year, and in the spring of 1846 he and brother John purchased it, paying $2000 for it.# In the summer of 1846 the foundry was started hy Geo. W. Spencer and Benjamin O. Davis, they using power from the carding-shop to drive it for about two years.
" In the spring of 1847, finding my health failing rapidly aod knowing that the flouring business did not agree with me, I hegan to study the question of health in occupation, and came to the conclu-
sion that there was none better suited to my constitution than a foundry, and I immediately hought out G. W. Spedeer. I, however, could not easily get released from my position in the mill until one year later, and rented my share of the shop to B. O. Davis for one year, during which time we put up a second building and put in a water-wheel.
" Those three shops were the first and only ones of the kind in the county for several years, and were of great importance in giving character and business to the place. But now how chaoged ! Any manufacturing interest of less than $100,000 capital and a dozen traveling canvassers is not worthy of notice.
" The fall of 1847 was a season of peculiar and fatal sickness in our place; the disease was geuerally called brain fever. It carried off some six or seven of our most robust and sahstaotial citizens, nmong whom were brother John nod Alanson Oshorn. I have always felt that our physicians did not understand the disease; however, that had great influenee in giving us the character of a sickly place.
"The Ist of June, 1868, I returned and took charge of the foundry, without any experience in the business ; sinee which time, however, I have learned considerable.t
"JAMES GALLERY."
In the valley of the Sauquoit Creek, in Oneida Co., N. Y., is a well-known manufactory of cotton fabrics, known as the " New York Mills," Walcott & Campbell proprietors. Around the mills have sprung up thriving villages, bearing the names of " Upper" and " Lower" New York Mills. A venerable minister, who lives at the Upper Mills, has resided there for fifty-three years, and during most of the time has been an employee of the factory. This is Rev. John Har- vey, whose daughter is the wife of David Stirling, of Eaton Rapids. Mr. Stirling is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and after coming to America learned the trade of a machinist in the shops of the Sauquoit Valley. In July, 1839, Mr. Stirling visited Eaton Rapids, being then twenty-one years of age. The place was then of very small proportions. The frame of the old " Eaton Rapids Hotel" was built that season, on the site now occupied by the " Morgan House," by Horace Hamlin. It was afterwards removed from the spot, and was destroyed in a heavy fire which oc- curred in 1864. Amos Spicer was also probably interested in its erection. The present " Morgan House" was built about 1841-42, by Horace Hamlin, and first called the " Hamlin House." It was afterwards known as the " Eaton Rapids Hotel," " Mitchell House," "Mineral Spring House," and finally as the " Morgan House." Its present proprie- tor is Joseph Morgan.
Mr. Stirling visited the place again in 1847, the year the State capital was removed to Lansing, and in 1849. located here, entering the mercantile business in company with Mr. Seelye. The firm had erected a large frame store in 1848, on the site of the present "Union Block." It was burned in March, 1879, and the block named was built the same year by Brainerd & Carr, who now occupy it.
The first store in the place was built by Benjamin Knight, where the Anderson House now stands. He had first opened his goods at his house. Mr. Stirling recollects that, when he was here visiting in 1839, C. C. Darling had a small grocery in a shanty, near the present location of the Congregational church. He sold whisky, but was very cautious about disposing of it to the Indians, who
# The original building occupied as a woolen-fnetory was destroyed by fire, and the present one was huilt at a comparatively recent date by Samuel Horner.
+ Mr. Gallery is now the proprietor of the foundry, a sash-, door-, and hlind-factory, and a plow-shop.
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IIISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
were at that time eneamped where James E. Smith now lives.
Mrs. G. T. Rand, of Charlotte, is a sister of Mr. David Stirling, though much younger. She lived with Mr. Stirling in 1849, being then a young girl, and some time in that year she counted all the shingle-roofed buildings in ยท the village, in order to send a description of the place to friends in the East. The total number of all descriptions was thirty-six. Dr. G. T. Rand, the husband of the lady mentioned, was an early merchant at Eaton Rapids, subse- quently entering the medical profession, and now residing at Charlotte.
VILLAGE PLAT AND ADDITIONS.
The original plat of the village of Eaton Rapids was laid out July 19, 1838, on section 3, in town 1 north, range 3 west, and section 34, in town 2 north, range 3 west, by Amos Spicer, Pierpont E. Spicer, Christopher Darling, and Samuel Hamlin. On the 28th of July, 1845, and the 6th of February, 1846, the same parties laid out the North Addition, and the following additions have since been platted :
Ilammond's Addition, June 1, 1846.
McIntosh & Frost's Addition, Aug. 3, 1855, by Lucius W. McIntosh, Eunice G. McIntosh (by C. C. Chatfield, their attorney), Issachar Frost, Polly Frost, James I. Frost, Lodema Frost (by Lysander Morse, their attorney). East Addition, by Issachar Frost, Aug. 10, 1857.
Mrs. Waldron's Addition, Nov. 20, 1865, by Wm. M. Tompkins and Alathea Waldron.
Thomas S. Havens' Addition, April 2, 1866.
Dutton & Leonard's Addition, June 18, 1866, by Allen C. Dutton and Philip Leonard.
Leisenring's Addition, Nov. 19, 1866, by Peter C. Leisen- ring, Augustus Hoppas, Elbert L. Jopp, Homer M. Benja- min, Catharine Worden.
Stowell & Wilder's Addition, Dec. 9,' 1868, by Victor R. and Mary S. Stewart, and George W. and Melissa S. Wilder.
West Addition, May 2, 1870, by Philip Leonard, Mor- gan Vaughan, Oscar M. Frost, Eunice Tompkins.
Isaac N. Reynolds' Addition, May 2, 1870. .
R. B. Montgomery's Addition, March 8, 1871.
Tompkins' Addition, March 27, 1871, by Eunice Holmes (formerly Tompkins).
Vaughan's Addition, May 23, 1871, by G. Y. Cowan, M. Vaughan, Catherine L. Blake.
Frost & Marvin's Addition, Aug. 7, 1871, by O. M. Frost, 11. B. Marvin, et al.
Riverside Addition, Aug. 10, 1871, by I. H. Corbin et ul.
Leonard & Crane's Addition, May 13, 1872.
Harris & Sawyer's Addition, Dec. 24, 1873.
VILLAGE INCORPORATION .- LIST OF OFFICERS.
The board of supervisors of Eaton County, on the 14th of October, 1859, upon receipt of a petition for village incorporation from eighteen legal voters of Eaton Rapids, pursuant to an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 17, 1857, entitled " An Act for the Incorporation of Villages,"
granted the prayer of the petitioners and issued the follow- ing order :
" It is hereby ordered, That the following-described territory, viz., the northwest three-fourths of the north half and the north half of the southwest quarter of seetion three (3), and the east half of the northeast quarter of section four (4), in town one (1) north, of range three (3) west; also, the east half of the southeast quarter of see- tion thirty-three (33), and the west three-fourths of the south half aud the south half of the northwest quarter of seetien thirty-four (34), in town two (2) north, of range three (3) west, he, and the same is hereby, incorporated under the name and style of 'The Village of Enten Rapids ;' and the following persons, viz., James Gallery, Daniel - Ilesler, nad Alnosen Harwood, are hereby appointed the three io- speetors of election of the first election to be held in said incorporated village.
" And it is hereby ordered, That the first election in said ineer- perated village shall he held ou the Inst Monday of November, eighteen hundred nad fifty-nine, between the hours of nine o'clock A.M. and four o'clock P.M., of said day, at the usual place of holding township-meetings heretofore held in the township of Eaton Rapids."
The village was incorporated by the Legislature, April 15, 1871, to inelude seetion 34 and the cast half of seetion 33, in town 2 north, and the north three-fourths of section 3, and the north three-fourths of the east half of section 4, in town 1 north, all in range 3 west. The village charter was amended March 12, 1873, and April 29, 1875.
The first eleetion records of the village were not found upon search for them, and it is therefore only possible to give a partial list of officers. In 1861, James Gallery was president, and J. Phillips clerk. In 1871, P. Leonard was president, W. D. Brainerd clerk, and A. Brainerd treasurer.
1872 .- President, IJeary A. Shaw ; Trustees (two years), II. M. Ham- ilton, James Sterling, Isaac N. Reynolds ; (one year), D. B. Hosler, P. C. Leisenring, George La Fever; Clerk, H. H. Hamilton ; Treasurer, Elbert L. Jopp; Assessor, Wesley Vaughan; Marshal, G. B. Ilamlio.
1873 .- President, Philip Leonard; Trustees (two years), J. C. Shaw, J. Slayton, Charles E. Merritt; (one year), O. M. Frest ; Clerk, W. F. Sterling ; Treasurer, Alansou Osborn ; Marshal, J. K. Morgan ; Assessor, John II. Hamlin.
1874 .- President, L. A. Giddings ; Trustees (two years), Frank Reg- ers, James E. Smith, James Stirling ; Clerk, W. F. Stirling ; Trensurer, Alansen Osboro.
1875 .- President, W. D. Brainerd; Trustees (two years), II. B. Mar- vin, Il. C. Whittum, T. W. Daniels; Clerk, W. F. Stirling ; Treasurer, II. Z. Williams.
1876 .- President, Philip Leonard ; Trustees (two years), C. A. Brown, G. T. Sprague, Joseph Carr ; Clerk, John HI. York ; Treas- urer, L. A. Bentley.
1877 .- President, S. M. Wilkins; Trustees (two years), P. Leonard, T. W. Daniels, W. D. Brainerd; Clerk, W. F. Stirling ; Treasurer, II. HI. Hamilton.
1878 .- President, Il. II. Hamilton ; Trustees (two years), C. A. Brown, J. R. Ilyde, J. F. Koapp; Clerk, K. C. Wright ; Treasurer, F. Z. Hamilton.
1879 .- President, W. D. Brainerd; Trustees (two years), F. II. De Golia, C. S. Dunbar, C. F. Phillips; Clerk, K. C. Wright; Treasurer, W. S. Henderson.
1880 .- President, C. A. Brown ; Trustees (two years), S. M. Wilkins, J. R. Ilyde, I. P. Roberts ; Clerk, K. C. Wright ; Treasurer, L. A. Bentley. Officers appointed by heard : Marshal, George B. Hlamlin ; Night Watch, James Humeston ; En- gineer, F. M. Brainerd ; Overseer of llighways, Birney E. Shaw ; llealth Officer, A. C. Duttoo. M.D.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Eaton Rapids Fire Department was organized in November, 1874, principally through the instrumentality
.
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EATON RAPIDS.
of L. A. Bentley and Frank C. Culley, the latter being chosen its first chief engineer. Mr. Culley is now pub- lishing the Defiance Express at Defiance, Ohio. A No. 4 Silsby steam fire-engine was purchased in the fall of 1874, after a heavy fire, and cost, with hose-cart and all appurtenances, $5250. Hand fire-extinguishers had been previously in use. July 13, 1875, the village board ordained that the fire department should consist of a chief engineer, an assistant engineer, one fire warden in each ward, and so many fire-engines, hook-and-ladder, hosc-and-bucket com- panies as the board of trustees should from time to time direct. The present department is composed of three com- panies, as follows :
Eaton Rapids Engine Company, No. 1, ten men .- Thomas J. Bromeling, Foreman.
Eaton Rapids Hose Company, No. 2, fifteen men .- John Wortz, Foreman.
" Bessie K" Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 3, fifteen men .- H. S. Maynard, Foreman ; Michael Kinney, As- sistant Foreman.
Another hose company is soon to be organized. L. A. Bentley, who has "been a fireman all his life," is the present chief engineer of the department, and C. A. Brown is assistant.
Eaton Rapids has suffered from numerons disastrous fires, the heaviest occurring in 1864, when nearly all the business establishments in the place were destroyed and the prospects for the future of the village appeared dis- couraging. But, notwithstanding it has received like checks since, it has continued steadily to grow, and it is hoped that the sites now covered with ruins may soon be made more pleasing to the eye by the erection thereon of new buildings, to be occupied by enterprising and active business men, as those of the place are in general.
POST-OFFICE.
The post-office at Eaton Rapids was established about 1837-38, with Benjamin Knight as postmaster. The office is thought to have been called Eaton at that time,- being subsequently changed to Eaton Rapids. Those who have held the office since Mr. Knight are Amos Hamlin, William M. Tompkins, Henry Jackson, J. B. Ten Eyck, and the present incumbent, Horace N. Hamilton, appointed in 1868.
NEWSPAPERS.
From an old record it is learned that John H. Childs was a printer at Eaton Rapids in 1843. A recently pub- lished historical account states that the first newspaper at Eaton Rapids, called the Eaton Democrat, was established in 1847, and published by L. W. Mckinney, of Lansing, the main object being to secure the publication of the tax sales. The paper afterwards became the property of Jndge Ezra D. Burr, who conducted it in the interests of the American, or Know-Nothing party, until the fall of 1854, when it was sold to the founders of the Euton Republican, and the material removed to Charlotte. Soon afterwards a Mr. Sanford revived the Democrat at Eaton Rapids, pro- curing a press and printing-material at Detroit. He soon sold to C. C. Chatfield, who changed its name to the Eaton County Argus, and placed it for a short time in the bands
of a man named Burrell as editor and publisher. Dr. Ezra D. Burr purchased it shortly afterwards, and conducted it as a Democratic sheet. In the summer of 1860 it passed into the hands of the Thornton Brothers, and was removed to Charlotte, with F. W. Iligby as editor. It is now known as The Charlotte Leader.
In 1866, J. B. Ten Eyck established the Eaton Rapids Journal, publishing it until the spring of 1869, when he sold to Frank C. Culley, who in 1874 changed its name to the Saturday Journal. In September, 1876, Mr. Culley sold to E. O'Brien, who continued the publication of the paper until the 1st of January, 1879, when he sold to K. Kittredge, the present publisher. Mr. Kittredge has given the paper its original name,-the Eaton Rapids Journal,- and issues it in the form of a six-column quarto. It is printed on a cylinder hand- press, made in Indianapolis, and has a circulation of 950; is independent Republican in politics.
BANK.
The First National Bank of Eaton Rapids was organized in the beginning of July, 1877, at the private bank of Bowne, Combs & Co., with the following officers : A. J. Bowne, President ; F. H. De Golia, Cashier ; H. Z. Wil- liams, Teller; A. J. Bowne, Daniel Striker, George E. Goodyear, F. H. De Golia, A. C. Dutton, P. Leonard, Allen Crawford, Directors. The capital of this bank is $50,000. Its present (1880) officers are : A. J. Bowne, President ; F. H. De Golia, Cashier ; A. J. Bowne, P. Leonard, John M. Corbin, Allen Crawford, George E. Goodyear, Daniel Striker, F. H. De Golia, Directors.
BAND.
A band was organized in the village about 1858-60, which had a limited existence. The present one was or- ganized in the summer of 1879, and numbers about twenty pieces. The director and leader is H. S. Maynard, who was chosen in June, 1880. W. F. Stirling was his predecessor. The remaining officers of the band organization are : W. F. Stirling, Secretary ; W. L. Clark, Treasurer. The band is neatly uniformed, and is a creditable organization. At the annual State Band Tournament, held at Flint, June 9 and 10, 1880, it took the first prize in the contest among bands of the third class, and thus established a claim to distinction among the bands of the State.
MASONIC.
Eaton Rapids Lodge, No. 63, F. and A. M., was or- ganized under dispensation in January, 1853, and chartered Jan. 13, 1854. Its charter members were Amos Hamlin, W. M .; Ezra D. Burr, S. W .; Leonard W. Mckinney, J. W .; and James I. Rogers. Two visiting members were present,-C. C. Darling and Benjamin E. Rich. The membership of the lodge in July, 1880, was seventy-eight, and its officers were : C. A. Brown, Worshipful Master ; Leonard Hicks, Senior Warden ; H. H. Hamilton, Junior Warden; Philip Leonard, Treas .; L. A. Bentley, Sec. ; E. D. Spears, Tiler; Birney E. Shaw, Senior Deacon ; Richard Blodgett, Junior Deacon.
Euton Rapids Chapter, No. 24, R. A. M., was chartered Jan. 7, 1860, with the following officers : Ezra D. Burr,
470
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
High Priest ; Thomas S. S. Havens, King; Amos Hamlin, Seribe. After organizing, the chapter chose E. D. Burr, High Priest ; L. B. Willis, King; Amos Hamlin, Scribe ; G. Hutchings, Captain of the Host ; M. Carpenter, Prin- cipal Sojourner ; J. R. Stevens, Royal Arch Captain ; J. I. Rogers, Sec .; A. Moore, Treas. Its officers for 1880 are as follows : Isaac N. Reynolds, High Priest ; C. A. Brown, King ; G. B. Hamlin, Scribe; B. E. Shaw, Captain of the Ilost; John H. Hamlin, Principal Sojourner; H. H. Ham- ilton, Royal Arch Captain; L. A. Bentley, Sec. ; Philip Leonard, Treas. ; W. S. Mest, Grand Master 3d Veil; C. S. Dunbar, Grand Master 2d Veil; G. L. Booth, Grand Master Ist Veil; E. D. Speers, Sentinel.
ODD-FELLOWS.
Eaton Rapids Lodge, No. 114; was instituted Feb. 15, 1866, with eight members. Charles Dean was its first Noble Grand. In July, 1880, the lodge had a member- ship of eighty-three, and was officered as follows : C. L. Powers, Noble Grand ; Orrin Rose, Vice-Grand; II. H. Spencer, Rec. See .; A. E. North, Per. Sec ; C. S. Dunbar, Treas.
Eaton Rapids Encampment, No. 34, was instituted in 1868, with eleven members, its first Chief Patriarch being H. H. Spencer. Its present membership (July, 1880) is eighteen, and its officers the following,-viz. : James Van Osdell, Chief Patriarch ; C. S. Dunbar, High Priest ; Cor- nelius Seager, Senior Warden ; Milo Thompson, Junior Warden ; T. J. Milburn, Scribe; S. R. Fuller, Treas.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.
Okemos Tribe, No. 8, was organized in 1874, and had ten charter members. Its first Sachem was Ilenry A. Shaw. The membership in July, 1880, was thirty, and the officers as follows : Charles Dunbar, Sachem ; J. Z. Brainerd, C. S .; S. R. Ferris, J. S .; Sol. Middleton, K. W .; B. E. Shaw, C. of R .; C. McCarty, P .; F. M. Brainerd, District Deputy Sachem.
OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS.
This body is an outgrowth from the old Grand Army of the Republic. Political matters are not allowed to enter into its business nor be discussed in its branches. It is in a measure a secret organization. Soldiers of the late war (1861-65) who were honorably discharged, and their sons, are eligible to membership. The National Encampment has its headquarters at Chicago, where the order has a strong membership, and has in a great measure taken the place of the Grand Army posts.
Mintey Encampment, No. 31, was organized at Eaton Rapids about the Ist of May, 1880, with twenty members. After very little work more than the labor of organizing, its membership had increased in July to about forty. Its principal officers are: N. A. Merritt, Commander ; W. Reaves, Lieutenant - Commander; A. Black, Adjutant ; William Spicer, Quartermaster.
TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
Eaton Rapids Lodge, No. 840, I. O. G. T., is the third lodge of the kind which has been formed in the place, and
was organized about 1873. The original lodge grew to such proportions that a second one was formed, which finally absorbed the parent lodge, and the third one was organized under a new charter. The latter has a present membership of about forty-five, and the following officers,- viz. : H. A. Swift, Worthy Chief Templar ; Nellie Tonkin, Viec-Templar ; J. Stirling, Lodge Deputy ; E. P. Rose, Sec .; P. W. Conley, Treas.
The Eaton Rapids Temperance Reform Club was organ- ized March 21, 1877, and incorporated in December of the same year, with about thirty members .* The total number of members on the rolls of the club at present is over 1600, although of these many have moved away and others have again wandered from the paths of temperance. In point of general results the work of the club has been well and faithfully performed. The officers are : Isaac N. Reynolds, President ; George B. Hamlin, First Vice- President; James Stirling, Second Vice-President ; E. Cowles, Third Vice- President ; A. P. Ball, Fin. Sec .; Jennie Frost, Sec. ; L. T. White, Treas. In December, 1877, the elub began the erection of a hall, which was opened Jan. 13, 1879. It is built of white brick, made at Lansing, is fifty by ninety feet in dimensions, and the auditorium is twenty-seven feet high. A fine stage has been constructed, twenty-four feet wide at the opening and twenty-three feet deep. The hall is provided with 528 chairs, but will comfortably seat 700 persons. The first entertainment in the building was a lecture by Hon. Schuyler Colfax, upon his favorite sub- ject,-" Lincoln." Before the roof was completed a polit- ical discussion was held in the hall between "Sam" Cary and " Billy" Williams (of Iudiana). The hall is a decided credit to the village, adding one to its many attractions, and is a worthy testimonial to the earnestness of the laborers in the temperanee cause in Eaton Rapids and vicinity, where " the good work goes bravely on."
MINERAL SPRINGS AND WATER-CURES.
Within a period of ten years Eaton Rapids has become famous on account of her mineral wells and the wonderful cures which their waters have wrought, and, to judge from the testimonials volunteered, some of them were indeed wonderful. Some account of the discovery of these waters is necessary in this connection.
The north part of the present " Frost Ilouse" was built quite carly for a hotel by E. B. Frost. The south part of the same building was erected in 1852 and occupied by Frost & Daniels, dry-goods merchants. In 1869 a well was sunk for greater convenience in obtaining a water sup- ply, and in a short time it was discovered that the water from this well was both magnetic and possessed of me- dicinal virtues, several being benefited by its use. This at once created an excitement and appeared to open a way to the future prosperity of the proprietor. Mr. Dan- iels retired from the firm, and in 1870 the entire building was opened as a hotel and bathing establishment. In 1875 Dr. Morris Hale came to the village, and after running the Anderson House one year took the Frost House, of which
* This number includes the incorporators only. The entire mem- bership was much greater.
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EATON RAPIDS.
he is still the proprietor. Ile has established a water-cure, the first in the place, and won such a reputation for his treat- ment that his patients now number about 300 annually, com- ing from Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, and all parts of the country. Dr. Hale was a graduate from the University of Michigan in 1864, having studied with Dr. J. S. Love, of Philadelphia. Ile was born in Colum- biana Co., Ohio, in 1838. After leaving the university he entered the army, and served as assistant surgeon at Rock Island Prison Barracks, Illinois. In 1870 he was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia.
The well sunk by Mr. Frost was 160} feet in depth. As soon as its curative properties became known a second was sunk at the Eaton Rapids House by James Mosher, followed in the same summer (1869) by another, sunk by Hon. Henry A. Shaw on the corner west of the Frost well ; the latter was 162 feet deep. In 1870 a fourth well was sunk by David Stirling to the depth of 184 feet. The fifth was at the Central House, by S. W. Bordine, the sixth by Mr. Smith, the seventh by Mr. Slayton, the eighth by Mr. Bentley, and the ninth by Mr. Mest, all flowing strong The only hotels when the first well was sunk streams.
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