History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 30

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 30
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 30

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).

When it is considered for a moment that so late as 1850 nearly the entire site of the city was a dense, heavy forest, it is surprising to note what has already been done, and the prospect of seeing a clean, well-drained, and beautiful city in the near future is very gratifying.

The region comprising Ingham and Eaton Counties was surveyed into townships in 1824 and 1825, and the section- lines were run generally a year or two later. The township of Lansing was surveyed by Incius Lyon in 1825, and the interior lines were run by Musgrove Evans in 1827. The earliest entries of land in the township were made in the fall of 1835. Within the limits of what is now the city of Lansing, as will be seen by reference to plat on another page, the lands were entered in 1835 and 1836. The first entries were made on sections 9, 20, and 21, by William II. Townsend, in the latter part of September, 1835. Ou the 21st of May, 1836, Frederick Bushnell entered a large amount on sections 8, 9, and 17, and on the 7th day of July, in the same year, James Seymour also entered several hundred acres on sections 8, 10, 15, and 17.

" BIDDLE CITY."

Early in 1836, Jerry and William Ford entered that portion of section 21 which lies east and south of Grand River, and on the 11th day of April, in that year, laid out a village on the south half of the section, which they called " Biddle City."+ It included the whole of the southeast quarter and about 120 acres on the south side of the southwest quarter of the section, being a mile long on the south line, half a mile on the east line, and about 120 rods on the west line. It had forty-eight full blocks and seventeen fractional ones, and was provided with a " public square," a "church square," and an " academy square." It boasted of many high-sounding names to its principal streets, and was altogether a remarkable city,-on paper. Quite a number of lots were sold, but the plat was subse- quently vacated. Those curious to look up such matters will find the famous city plat on the first leaf of Liber 6, Deed Records, in the register's office at Mason.

This village site was afterwards sold for taxes. A part was purchased by Joab Page, who sold to C. P. Bush. (See farther on.)

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

JAMES SEYMOUR, one of the original proprietors of the town of Michigan, now the city of Lansing, was a consin of ex-Governor Horatio Seymour, of Utica, N. Y., and at the time he purchased lands around Lansing was presi- dent of a bank in Rochester, N. Y. It is probable that Horatio had a pecuniary interest in these purchases, and, according to the record at Mason, on the 10th of August, 1847, James Seymour deeded him au undivided half of the property. Subsequent to the death of Mr. Burchard James Seymour continued the improvement of the water- power at North Lansing, and erected mills and other buildings. He was never a permanent resident of Lansing.

He died at the house of his son-in-law, Rev. C. S. Arm- strong, in Lansing, in 1859. After his death his son Charles assumed his interests, and at a later period he and IIoratio Seymour made a partition of the Lansing property. The latter is still interested in the city to a small extent, mostly in unsold lots. The assessment for purposes of taxation for 1880 shows property of the value of $6900 belonging to Governor Seymour.

COL. JOHN W. BURCHARD.t-Beyond a peradventure

t Tho placo was said to have been named in honor of Maj. John Biddle, of the United States army in the war of 1812. Ho was also a delegate in Congress from the Territory of Michigan and a histori- cal writer of some prominence.

¿ Information concerning Col. Burchard has been obtained from many sources. The dato of his purchase of land at Lansing was obtained from the records. His former wife, now Mrs. Frances New-

* By Samuel W. Durant.

199

CITY OF LANSING.

123

the first person who erected a dwelling within the limits of the city of Lansing with the intention of making a per- manent stay was John Woolsey Burchard. Col. Burchard was born in Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1814. His father subsequently removed to the village of Moscow, Livingston Co., N. Y., where he carried on the trade of a harness- and saddle-maker, at which John W. also worked

sing is situated, was purchased from the government in 1835, and 1836 by William H. Townsend and Frederick Bushnell, the latter taking all except the portion of the northwest quarter, lying north of Grand River. James Seymour, of Rochester, N. Y., also purchased lands on sections 8, 10, 15, and 17, and it was understood that Scy- mour and Bushnell were in company in the purchasc. At

WILLIAM H.TOWNSEND 1835.

R.G.L.DE REYSTER H.H.COMSTOCK.

RICHMOND WHITEMARSH 1836.

FRED.BUSHNELL Muy 21.1836

1536

1836.

JAMES SEYMOUR July ?. 1836.

FRED. BUSHNELL

May 21. 1836.

FRED BUSHNELL

May 21 1936.

JAMES SEYMOUR. July? 1836.

LELAND GREEN

1536.

FRED.BUSHNELL May 21.183€.

JAMES SEYMOUR.

July 2.1836.

E.J PENNIMAN.

Feb. 15. 1837.

E.J.PENNIMAN. Fel. 15. 1637.

City Boundary

BUSHNELL & SEYMOUR

March 21.1836.

and July 2 1836.

SCHOOL LAND Laid outf Cspart of "MICHIGAN" By the Stute in 1847.

OLIVER JOHNSON. Apr.IS.1536.

THOMAS LAWRENCE May 26. 1836.

WM. H.TOWNSEND.

River

Sept. 23 1835.

RD.

H.MORGAN

March

210

WILLIAM H.7 OWNSEND.

Sept. 23 1835.

Grand

AND WM.

18364

BIDDLE CITY

Laid out Apr 11 HS3G.

H.H.COM STOCK.

1836.

H.MORGAN & J. ALLEN.

LEVYTYPE COR ANICA.

PLAT OF SECTIONS IN THE CITY OF LANSING, SHOWING ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.

in his younger days. The latter began the study of law about 1836, and, as his wife recollects, at Rochester, N. Y.

In 1839 he removed to Lenawee Co., Mich., where he was admitted to practice, and in the same year settled as an attorney in Mason, Ingham Co.

On the 7th of April, 1841, he married Miss Frances Haynes. He continued in practice at Mason until 1843, in August of which year he removed to Lansing.

As has been stated, section 9, now wholly included in the city, and on which the water-power at North Lan-

any rate, we find by the record that James Seymour, on the 13th day of October, 1841, sold to John W. Burchard 'the southeast fractional quarter of section 9, including the water-power, or a portion of it. This transaction shows either that Seymour and Bushnell were or had been in company in the purchase of these lands, or that Seymour had bought Bushnell's interest in this quarter section .*

In August, 1843, Col. Burchard took his family to Lan- sing and settled there in a log house which he had probably built a short time previously on the block where the " Sey- mour House" and " Grand River House" were afterwards

man, of the city of Jackson, has furnished considerable and of course reliable material, while Daniel L. Case, Samuel L. Kilbourne, James Turner, Mrs. Thomas Clark, and others have also supplied many facts. .

* Seymour gave Burchard a warranty deed, and the latter mort- gaged the property to Seymour to secure a portion of the purchase- money.

J. ALLEN. V5 1836.

JERRY

1836.

1 5

THOMAS LAWRENCE May 26.1536.

124

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.

(about 1847) erected. Immediately on the removal of his family he commenced the erection of a dam across Grand River where the present one stands. Mrs. Newman remem- bers well that the wolves were frequently heard howling in the night near their cabin. The country around was a dense wilderness. There were then two children in the family,-a son, John W., named for his father, now living in Leslie, and a daughter, who became the wife of Samuel L. Kilbourne, Esq., but since deceased. Col. Burchard was very sanguine of the future, and indulged in fond an- tieipations. The dam was completed in the fall of 1843, and in the winter or carly spring he went East and pro- cured assistance from his brother, Charles W. Burchard, now living in Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y., and Thomas Clark, to aid him in getting his mill-irons and equipment, which were purchased at Auburn, Cayuga Co.

With these he returned to Lansing and prepared to erect a saw-mill. The spring flood of 1844 had washed out a portion of the new dam on the west shore, and it became necessary to repair the break. On the 7th of April, in company with three hired hands,-William Pierce, Alonzo Baker, and a third, whose name is not remembered, but be- lieved to have been Coe G. Jones,-he ventured in a canoe below the dam to examine the break, and while so engaged the back-water carried the canoe under the sheet. The three men who accompanied him were saved, but he was drowned, and his body was recovered ten days later, being found on an island or bar at Ingersoll's (Delta), several miles below. At that time there was no public burial-ground at Lansing, and his remains were taken to Mason and interred. This sad bereavement occurred on the third anniversary of Col. Burchard's marriage.

The following obituary notice was published in a Michi- gan paper a few days after his death. It has been oblig- ingly furnished by Mrs. Frances Newman, formerly Mrs. J. W. Burchard :

"FATAL ACCIDENT .*

" It becomes our painful duty to announce the sadden and unex- pected death of our much esteemed citizen aod friend, Col. JOHN W. BracHARD.t On the morning of the 7th inst., while crossing Grand River, immediately below his mill-dam, the boat he was in capsized, and he was borne some distance from the spot by the fury of the ele- ment, when all sight of him was lost. Diligent search has been made to recover the body, but as yet withont effect.

" Col. Burchard has been taken from among us in the springtime of his usefulness and worth (being only about twenty-nine years of age), and his loss is deeply mourned by the citizens of the county.

" Among the first who settled in this place,; he was intrusted with many offices by the people, all of whieb he discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Of a quick and perceptive mind, he was foremost in projecting plans and devising measures to improve the facilities and extend the improvements and interests of this village; und county, and, although cut down in the midet of life and usefulucss, he lived to see the inhospitable wilder- ness dolted with fruitful and cultivated fields, and this very spot, shaded with the thick foliage of a dense forest,-the luir of the wolf and the deer,-converted into a populous village, the mart of business and wealth, and a county placed in n condition truly enviable.

" This account was probably published in a Mason paper, though we have not the means of identifying it.

t We have received no explanation of how he enme by his title of colonel.

+ Probably referring to Mason.

" Mr. Burchard was a member of the bar, and as such highly es- teemed. As a politician he was liberal and consistent, ever willing to award the meed of honor and merit to whom it was due, of what- ever political party or ereed.

" By the above decrase a wife is bereft of a fond and affectionate friend and bosom companion, and two interesting little children are deprived of a kind father's watchfulness and protection, all, too, in one sad and unexpected moment."¿

After Col. Burchard's death his widow removed from Lansing, and the property again fell into the hands of James Seymour, who continued the work of building mills and made other improvements.

As corroborating evidence bearing upon the early settle- ment of John W. Burchard at Lansing, the following facts were obtained from Samuel Tower, Esq., a resident of Greenville, Montcalm Co., where he is engaged in foundry and machine business.

In the autumn of 1843, Mr. Tower, who is a native of Springfield, Windsor Co., Vt., left Albany, N. Y., accom- panied by his wife and child, and also his wife's father, and came to Detroit, Mich., his destination being Grand Rapids, whither his father's family had removed from Vermont, in 1839. At Detroit he took the Michigan Central Railway and proceeded to Jackson, then the western terminus of the road. Arrived at that place he looked around for some mode of conveyance to Grand Rapids, and found the best he could do was to pay teamsters $100 to take his family and effects to that point. As he had only about eighty dollars, this plan was impracticable. Pursuing his inquiries, he found several persons busily engaged in building a couple of scow-boats, and, inquiring what they were going to do with them, was informed that two families, with their house- hold goods, were going down Grand River in them as far as Ionia, or farther. At that time Tower did not know that Jackson was on the head-waters of Grand River, and, asking where the river was, was informed that he was on its banks. A new train of ideas at once took possession of the immigrant. Ile inquired where they got their lumber, and was told that they procured it from a certain man, but had purchased all he had, and, they thought, all there was in the place. Looking around, he found a man who dis- covered in his loft three very nice pine planks, but which he said were not for sale, as he was going to work them up into sash. Tower says, "I am going to have them." " Well," the man says, " I guess not, because they are not for sale." " Ilow mueh will they be worth," says Tower, " when they are worked up ?" " About six dollars," says the man. " Here's your money," says Tower, and proeuring tools lie proceeded to cut them up and make a scow-boat, abont fifteen feet long and seven feet wide, which would carry about two tons' weight. Ile matched the lumber, and procuring a quart of tar spread it over the edges and drove it together, and after a few hours' soaking in the river the boat became perfectly water-tight. Ile built a eabio "amid- ships," and placing his household goods and family on board started on his voyage down the river. He had among his heavier goods a cook-stove and a large family bureau. He also bought a small box-stove to warm his cabin, as the weather was quite cold and there was some thin ice in the

¿ See for further notice the chapter on tho logal profession.

125

CITY OF LANSING.

river. Ile had made a long senlling-oar, but for the first thirty or forty miles, or until he had passed Eaton Rapids, he used a setting-pole. Between Jackson and Eaton Rapids, or near the latter place, he hauled up to the bank on account of rain, and taking a path leading from the river found a log house, and in it a man who afterwards became Governor of the State, with his family. This gentleman, who must have been Anstin Blair, sent down his men and helped the family np to his house, where they remained for two or three days before the storm subsided.

Starting out anew they pursned their way to Eaton Rapids, where there was a dam across the river and a bridge a little below the dam. There was a slide or chute in the dam, and the river being comparatively low nearly all the water ran over the slide. Tower walked out on the dam, which was nearly dry on each side of the apron, and deter- mined to run over it in his boat. The people living there thought it a foolhardy venture, but taking ont his bureau, and getting a bed-cord ready to fling to parties on the bridge so as to have them tow the craft ashore, he pushed on to the opening, and steering with much skill went through safe, though he dipped a little water as he dashed into the stream at the foot of the slide. Passing under the bridge he stood up and threw the line to those waiting for him, who towed him ashore, where he took in the family and burean once more and went on his way. He says there was only a small clearing at Eaton Rapids at that time.

About the 25th day of November, 1843, he swept around the bend in the south part of what is now the city of Lansing, and passing down the river under the shade of the stately forest-trees, which then overshadowed the stream, he soon bronght up at another dam, and this he found had no slide to facilitate the passage of his craft. Here was a small clearing, and to the right of the dam, abont thirty rods away, towards the northeast, was a solitary set- tler's log house, from which curled the smoke of a welcome fire. Here was living John Woolsey Burchard with his family, consisting of a wife and, Mr. Tower thinks, one child. There was also a man whom he remembers as being named Myers, and possibly one or two others, who were working for Burchard. Mr. Burchard had then cer- tainly been living there long enough to erect a substantial dam, from timber which was cut in the surrounding forest and the bowlder stones and clay and gravel taken from the bank.

Mr. Tower and family remained over-night with Burchard, all the party finding accommodations in the log cabin, which he describes as quite roomy and comfortable. Burchard and his help assisted in getting the boat around the dam, and the family ouce more resumed their voyage towards Lake Michigan. Snow had fallen during the preceding night to the depth of six inches, and there was considerable slosh ice in the river. Mr. Tower thinks that Burchard pro- cured his flour and supplies at " Ingersoll's," a few miles below Lansing, where there was another dam and mills. There were no mills at Lansing.

The two families before spoken of, who were building boats at Jackson, had passed down the river a few days earlier, and the men had been so independent and insulting to the few people along the way that they had received no

assistance in getting around the dams. They had told the settlers at Ingersoll's or Delta that there was a fellow com- ing whom they would help; and, sure enongh, when Tower reached Delta and brought his boat ashore all the people were awaiting him. They told him abont those who had preceded him and said they had heard of him, and if he wanted to procure supplies now was his time, for they had them. Leaving his boat and family he went to a small store some distance away, where he purchased flour or bread, meat, and a few groceries ; but when he offered money for them the proprietor would not take a cent. He said it was all right ; he had heard of him, and he was welcome to all he needed ; but the other fellows had been too sancy, and had to help themselves around the dam and pay for whatever they got. When Tower returned to the river to his surprise he found his boat, family, and goods awaiting him on the river below the dam. While he was away the men had taken everything around in good shape, and

"Sped the parting guest"

with many jolly " good-bys" and invocations for "good luck."

In due time the traveler arrived safely at Grand Rapids with his family, having made a voyage of 250 miles from near the head of Grand River to within forty miles of its month. His boat cost him about seven dollars, and he sold it at Grand Rapids for fourteen, and it went to Grand Haven. Mr. Tower passed the other families before reach- ing Grand Rapids, and was probably the first man who made the voyage with his family to the last-mentioned place. He vividly remembers the journey, the incidents connected with it, and the country through which he trav- eled.

THE PAGE FAMILY was among the very earliest to settle within the limits of what now constitutes the city of Lan- sing. Joab Page, the father, was born in Clarendon, Rnt- land Co., Vt., Feb. 16, 1788. On the 11th of May, 1811, he married Abigail Olds, who was born in Poultney, Rnt- land Co., April 3, 1787. Mr. Page was a carpenter and builder by trade, and a very excellent mechanic, well known in Vermont and New York in his younger days. His daughter, Mrs. W. Smith, of Mason, says he framed and raised in 1829-30 the first church building at Sheldon, Franklin Co., ever erected in Vermont without the use of liquor. Among his labors in the State of New York was the erection of the first iron-works at Peru, Clinton Co. In 1830 he removed from Vermont to Orleans Co., N. Y., where he remained until February, 1832, when he came to Jacksonburg (now Jackson), Mich., with his family. He had visited that place in 1831, and built the first saw-mill erected in the place. He was, in addition to his other trades, a millwright, and his services were in great demand in the new country. He purchased property two miles south of Leoni, in Jackson County, and erected a saw-mill on the ont-let of Grass Lake, which ran through his land, in the summer of 1832,

Ile afterwards sold this property and built and kept ą tavern on the old Territorial road, called the " Grass Lake Honse." This he also sold and erected another hotel building of brick, which he in turn sold and removed to

126

IIISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

the south part of Vevay township, Ingham Co., in the fall of 1840, purchasing a farm of 160 acres, probably on section 32. On this he built a log house, improved his land, and remained until his removal to the site of North Lansing, in the autumn of 1844.

Mr. Page had four children,-one son, Isaac Chauncey Page, and three daughters,-all of whom were married and accompanied him to Lansing. His daughter, Cornelia M., married Whitney Smith ; another daughter, Orselia, mar- ried George D. Pease; and a third married Alvin Rolfe. A dam had been built by John W. Burchard some time previous to this date, but, Mr. Burchard having been acci- dentally drowned near it in the spring of 1844, Mr. James Seymour went on with the work of building a saw-mill and improving the water-power, and to aid him in the enterprise he sent for Mr. Page and his sons on account of their being mechanics. Mr. Smith was regularly bred to the business of a millwright.

When they arrived at the spot where North Lansing now stands they found a single untenanted log cabin,* which stood south of where the Seymour Ilouse was afterwards built, on the same block and a little back from the road. Into this they moved, but it was so small that they imme- diately built an addition to it, and here they remained while constructing the saw-mill for Seymour .; One of his sons- in-law, Rolfe, remained only a few weeks, and returned to his farm, in Vevay township, where he is now living. The son, Isaac C. Page, was in poor health, and finally died in Lansing, Dec. 12, 1848.

When the family removed to Lansing it was not with the intentiou of settling permanently, but simply to work upon the mill for Seymour. But the town grew apace, and when in 1847 the State capital was removed to the place the settlement increased rapidly, and all eyes were turned to- wards the new capital in the wilderness. When the town of " Michigan" was laid out in the early summer of 1847, Mr. Page and Whitney Smith purchased a lot and erected a two-story frame house, which afterwards became the " Grand River House," and kept boarders, having at one time as many as sixty. Mr. Pease also bought a lot and built a house, which is still standing, on the corner of Adams and Centre Streets.

Within a year after building the " Grand River House," Messrs. Page and Smith sold the property and purchased six lots in another part of the village, where they erected a dwelling. This is now known as the Parmelee place. Here they remained until February, 1853, when they cx- changed the property for a farm, now partly included in the village of Mason, to which they removed. From the time of his removal to Mason, Mr. Page's health became im- paired and he never was in good health afterwards. Ile died April 28, 1863, on his farm.

During his residence in Jackson County, Mr. Page had served as a justice of the peace, and he was elected to the same office in Lansing in April, 1845, being the first resi- dent justice within the city limits, though not the first in

the township. Ile held the office during one term.t He was also elected to the office of supervisor in 1845, 1846, and 1847. Ilis son, Isaac C. Page, was regularly eleeted supervisor at the anuual town-meeting in April, 1845, but, removing on account of his health, his father was elected in his place at a special election in September of the same year. The son was also eleeted township clerk in 1847.

Whitney Smith was the principal millwright in this part of the country for a number of years, and did most of the work in his line about Lansing until the time of his death, which occurred at Mason, Sept. 7, 1866. George D. Pease also died at Mason, in the house now oeeupied by his widow and the widow of Whitney Smith, May 12, 1876.

Joab Page was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and held official positions for many years jo that body.

Among the prominent settlers in Lansing (then Michi- gan) in 1847 was JAMES TURNER. Mr. Turner was a native of Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., where he was born April 1, 1820. He came to Michigan and set- tled at Mason, where, in company with William Jack- son, of Leoni, Jackson Co., he engaged in the mercantile business. In the spring of 1847, Mr. Turner settled in Lansing, where he continued the same business. At Mason, and probably also at Lansing, their goods were exchanged for wheat, eorn, oats, grass-seed, flaxseed, pork, tallow, lard, beeswax, butter, cheese, furs, deer-skins, hides, ashes, black salts, etc. Mr. Turner built an ashery in Lan- sing, and manufactured pearl-ashes. Ile occupied for a store a portion of the Seymour Ilouse, the first hotel ereeted in the lower town, which was built the same year of Mr. Turner's arrival (1847).

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 30

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