History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 23

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).

Of the township officers the most onerous duties fell upon the road commissioners, as the territorial road was the only laid out and surveyed road in the township. All the work heretofore done

926

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

had been voluntary, and generally only such as to prevent the worst places from becoming impassable.

Mr. John T. Durand surveyed a road which was. laid out leading from Jackson to Spring Arbor, and this was the first road estab- lished by the township authorities. The services of Mr. Durand, who was a practical surveyor, were now in frequent requisition, and under his supervision the following roads were laid out and estab- lished: Blackman's, Russ, Durand, Austin, Woodworth, Vallen- tine's, Washtenaw, and 10 miles, 52.40 chains of the Jacksonburgh and Clinton road.

In 1831 W. R. Thompson and I. W. Bennett divided their real estate, Bennett taking the east and Thompson part of the village property. This gave Bennett the saw-mill and water-power, one- half of which he sold to Jeremiah Marvin in February, 1832, and soon after the other half was sold to Rodney House.

Mr. Marvin came to Jacksonburgh in the fall of 1831 with two yoke of cattle, wagon, bed and eross-cut saw. He came from Mon- roe, and had to eut a road for his wagon through the Saline woods. His trip from the "mouth of the Raisin" to Jacksonburgh was a most tedious and laborious one. Mr. Marvin commeneed running the saw-mill soon after his arrival here, and "Jerry Marvin's mill," being the only one west of Mill ereek in Washtenaw county, became widely and favorably known in all the adjacent settlements.

In the summer of 1832 Mr. Marvin bought of Mr. Honse his interest in the property, and continued sole owner and manager until 1835, when he sold his mill and water-power to William and Jerry Ford. Since this time Mr. Marvin has been engaged in farming. A portion of his tarm is within the city limits, and he is now living on it, working with the same energy and untiring in- dustry as 47 years ago when turning out lumber for the first settlers in the county to make themselves homes. There was also a saw-mill built by Mr. Ketchum in 1832, on the east side of the river, nearly opposite Marvin's mill.

SCHOOLS, ETC.

The first school taught in Jackson was a private one, kept in the house of Lemuel Blaekman, taught in the summer of 1831 by his daughter, Miss Silence D. Blackman, principally for the instruction of her brothers, but open, as a matter of course, after the generous fashion of those days, to all the children in the settlement. Be- sides her brothers Levi, Francis and George Blaekman, there were Harvey and Emma Thompson, children of William R. Thompson, Sarah Thompson, daughter of Hiram Thompson, Mary Ann Semantha De Land, daughter of Wm. R. De Land, and a son of Josephus Case.

The teaching of Miss Blaekman gave universal satisfaction, and it was a source of mueh congratulation that the infant settlement should so soon have a good school. Miss Blackman was persuaded to continue her school the next year, when she had an additional

227

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

number of scholars, the school being kept in the house of Mr. E. B. Chapman, and afterward in a building that had been occupied as a store. There were about 30 scholars in attendance at the close of the third term of her school. This was the pioneer school for Jackson city and county.

Lemuel Woolsey, a chair-maker and turner, settled here in 1831, established himself in that business, and about the same time Samuel Kline made a welcome addition to the business of the settle- ment by opening a cabinet shop. This business was afterward conducted by John Penson, who had become a resident, but was more permanently established by Myron Collamer in 1834, who extended the business quite largely, and continued in it for over 35 years. A wagon and general repairing shop was opened by Mr. Hiram Godfrey in 1831. The first public school was estab- lished in the fall of 1832, on lot 11, block 1 south, range 1 east, on Main street. A boot and shoe store was established here in 1831 by William D. Thompson.

In the spring of 1831, William D. Thompson, a lad of 12 years of age, son of William R. Thompson, was killed by being struck with a limb of a tree which was chopped down on the grounds near the Blackman House. This was the first death, and that fact, coupled with the manner of it, and the narrow escape of several others who were standing near him, caused it to cast a more than ordinary gloom over the little settlement.

There being then no minister of the gospel in the county, the funeral services were conducted by Mr. Samuel Roberts, an exhorter and a member of the Methodist Church, living in Sand- stone, some four miles west of Jackson.

PIONEERS.

James Valentine was one of the earliest settlers in Jacksonburgh. He was chosen a school inspector at an election held April 4, 1831, and was the first judge of probate elected in the county, serving from 1833 to 1836.

William D. Thompson came to Jackson in 1831. In the fall of 1831 he opened a boot and shoe store, the first of the kind in Jacksonburgh. In 1834 he built and occupied a store on the south side of Main street, just east of the public square. In 1838 he sold his stock in trade to Walter Fish, and entered into partner- ship with George B. Cooper, who was doing a general mercantile business. He was elected county clerk, and served for the years 1836-17. He was one of the School Board in 1837.

In 1841, upon the completion of the Michigan Central railroad to Jackson, Mr. Thompson was appointed freight agent, and con- tinued on the road for a period of ten years.

In 1851 he became a partner of George B. Cooper in the bank- ing business, and as a member of the firm of Cooper & Thompson, and Cooper, Thompson & Co., and as president of the Jackson City Bank; he has, up to the present time, been the leading banker

228

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY,

in Jackson. Mr. Thompson is now understood to be the sole pro- prietor of the Jackson City Bank. He is also treasurer of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad, and has acted in that ca- pacity since the organization of the company.

In 1831 Amasa B. Gibson, Esq., settled in that part of the town- ship of Jacksonburgh now in Spring Arbor. In 1834 Mr. Gibson removed with his family to the village of Jacksonburgh, and asso- ciated himself with Daniel Coleman and George B. Cooper in the mercantile business, which at that time meant a general stock of goods, comprising groceries. dry-goods, hardware, crockery, all kinds of country produce, and every other conceivable article which an Indian or inhabitant of either village or county would be expected to call for. There was at this time but one other store in the village, that of Messrs. Dwight, which was of the same gen- eral character.

From this time to the day of his death Mr. Gibson was one of the most active and most highly esteemed citizens of Jackson, fill- ing many offices of public trust, and always with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was sheriff of the county from 1835 to 1838, and in 1837 was also superintend- ent, having charge of the building of the court-house and clerk's office, the construction of which was commenced this year. In 1838, Mr. Gibson was cashier of the Detroit & St. Joseph Railroad Bank, which was located on the east side of the river. After Jack- son had attained sufficient importance to have a city organization. Mr. Gibson was three times elected mayor, and is the only person who has been so honored in our twenty years' existence as a city.

MAILS.

In 1831, a Government contract was let for carrying the mails for three years west from Jackson to Marshall, Gull Prairie, Prairie Ronde and White Pigeon, there to connect with the Western mail on what was then known as the Chicago road. This mail was to be carried once a week, on foot or on horseback, as the state of the streams and want of roads made it most convenient for the con- tractor. The size of the mail at first was not such as to prevent him from carrying it in his hat or pockets, and it was nsnal for the mail-carrier to deliver letters to settlers on the route when they were at a distance from the postoffice, without subjeet- ing them to the delay and loss of time which would have followed had they been passed through that intermediary.

Our hardy pioneers were more wedded to the substance than the form, and made even the laws, rules and regulations of the postoffice department (ordinarly so inexorable), lose somewhat of their inflexibility for their necessities.

This mail was carried by Mr. Darling, who lived on Neal's prairie, in Calhoun county.

In 1832 this route had attained sufficient importance to require that the mail should be carried in a covered wagon. Mr. Darling

229

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

was succeeded by Mr. Lewis Barnes, of Gull Prairie, and the route was made to include Kalamazoo, where a postoffice was established on the 14th of July, 1832. This was the first conveyance for pas- sengers from Jackson west, and was a very primitive affair. Strength being an element of much greater importance than beauty, to the passenger as well as to the contractor, the state of the roads, or rather the want of roads, and particularly of bridges, and the spareness of settlements being such as to make it of the last importance that there should be no break-down-for such was the distance in many places from house to house, that had any such unlucky accident have happened, the chances were that the unhappy traveler would have to walk some miles before he could find a house to shelter him, if he did not have to pass a night under a tree, or the more comfortable shelter of his wagon-bed.

COURT-HOUSE.

In 1836 the Legislature of the now State of Michigan passed an act authorizing the county to borrow $10,000 for the purpose of erecting a court-house and county clerk's office. The court-house was on the public square, on the south side of Main street and on the west side of Jackson street; the clerk's office was on the north side of Main street, and opposite the court-house. Both buildings were of stone, and were supposed to be erected for all time. Mr. A. B. Gibson, the then sheriff, was superintendent, having charge of the work. David Porter had the contract for doing the mason work, and Lemnel House for the carpenter work. Both were built in the year 1837.

EAST SIDE OF THE CITY.

In 1836 Messrs. Ganson, Clark and Monroe built the furnace and machine shop between the raee and the river, and commenced the manufacture of plows, and the making of such other castings as the business of the country required. This building is still standing and occupied for like purposes.

The first frame building ereeted on the east side of the river was the store built by Mr. William Ford, in which a stock of goods was placed by Ford & Budington. Two other frame build- ings, both of which are still standing, were built on Main street, on the east side, in 1836. The Grand River House, on the corner of Main and Milwaukee streets, was also built this year by Mr. An- drew Shaver, who had just decided to make this place his home, and who joined Mr. Fifield in building this house for the accom- modation of boarders, they being principally those employed by the Messrs. Ford in building the flouring mill, the store and mak- ing other improvements. This house was opened as a hotel in 1838, is still standing, and though not as prominent as of yore, has up to this time always been kept as a publie house.

The east side was making such rapid and satisfactory progress in 1836 that the denizens of that locality determined to celebrate

230

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the 4th of July in that part of the village and proceeded to erect a "liberty pole," in front of the Grand River House. They care- lessly placed the butt of their pole in a hollow stump. After the pole was raised the halyards became fast at the top; Daniel Cha- pin climbed the pole to adjust the halyards, when the stump. which proved to be rotton, gave way, and precipitated the pole to the ground. Mr. Chapin was in the act of adjusting the rope when the pole fell, and was so seriously injured that he soon after died. This sad accident turned into a day of grief and mourning what had promised to be one of enjoyment, and cast a deep gloom over the village, but particularly over the energetic little settle- ment on the east side of the river.

MORE PIONEERS.

Thomas McGee came into Michigan in 1832; settled in Concord. was always a prominent citizen of the county and was elected judge of probate, serving from 1856 to 1860. With him eame his son Melville, who became a resident of Jackson as a student at law in 1851. He has since continued the practice of his profession. and has been elected judge of probate for three successive terms. serving from 1864 to 1876.

Cornelius Sammons settled in the township of Jacksonburgh, now Blackman, in 1832. His son, Jacob F. Sammons, who came with him, is now a resident of the city, actively engaged in bnsi- ness. He has served four years as justice of the peace.

James MeKee came to Michigan in 1832; settled in Jackson- burgh, and is now a resident of the eity.

John McConnell became a resident of the township of Jackson- burgh in 1833. His son, Oscar H. McConnell, came with him. He has for many years been engaged in the hardware business in the city. and is highly respected as an active, industrious and honest man.

John N. Dwight came to Jackson in 1833. His brother, Daniel Dwight, had bought of Mr. Hogan his small stoek of goods and kept store on the north side of the public square. Mr. John N. Dwight bought out his brother, and soon after associated himself with his consin, David F. Dwight. Mr. Dwight was in the mer- eantile business in company with his cousin, without a partner, and as one of the firm of Loomis & Dwight, for a period covering nearly twenty years. While in company with Mr. Loomis they purchased the Kennedy Steam Flouring Mills. Mr. Dwight subse- quently sold his interest to Mr. Loomis. Mr. Dwight was elected justice of the peace in April, 1836. He was candidate for register of deeds in November, 1836, and was elected county treasurer in 1839, and re-elected in 1840. He continued to reside in Jaekson to the time of his death. There was among the pioneers of Jack- son no more pleasant, genial gentleman than John N. Dwight.

Daniel B. Hibbard came to Jackson in 1835. He became interested almost immediately in the stage lines and mail routes

231

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

diverging from Jackson, and was for many years the principal mail contractor and stage proprietor for the Grand River valley. In 1838 Mr. Hibbard and Paul B. Ring were proprietors of a line of stages running from Jackson to Adrian. After the capital was located at Lansing. "Ilibbard's stage line" was the main reliance for getting to that point from all places in the two southern tiers of counties, including Detroit, until the completion of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad in 1866. Mr. Hibbard has always been, as he still is, one of the most active business men of Jackson. There are but few enterprises of im- portance in or to the city that have been carried to success in which he has not been interested. He was one of the first to engage in the building of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad, and, was for several years one of its directors. He was one of the projectors of the Jackson Foundry and Machine Shops on Mechanic street, and has always been largely interested in them. and is now one of the principal proprietors. He was also largely interested in the Jackson Rolling Mills, which is one of the very few enterprises in which he has engaged which did not prove remunerative.

The "Ilibbard House," which was for many years the leading hotel in the city, and still ranks among the first in the State, was built by Mr. Ilibbard and owned by him until sold to II. A. Hayden in 1877. It stands an enduring monument of his enter- prise and public spirit. Mr. Hibbard has always manifested great interest in the improvement of the stock of horses in Central Michigan, and has been the owner of some of the best stoek and carriage horses in the State. He has always dealt largely in horses, and during the war was perhaps the largest contractor in the State for supplying horses to the Government. Mr. Ilibbard is a member of the Horse-breeders' Association, one of the most successful, if not the only successful, association for trotting horses in the State. He was elected mayor of the city in 1865. He was one of the principal stock-holders in the organization of the People's National Bank, was vice-president, and still retains his interest. Mr. Hibbard has been very successful in the accum- ulation of property, and is one of the largest holders of real estate in the city.

Joshua Palmer came to Jacksonburgh in 1835, and engaged in business as a blacksmith. He was a very skillful workman. He worked many years at his trade, and acquired a competence by his industry and frugality. Mr. Palmer has always stood high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens as an honest and upright man. In 1837 his brother, Dan R. Palmer, became his partner. His son, William H. Palmer, is now a practicing physician in the city.

Henry H. Vandercook came in the same year, and was for many years proprietor and manager of the "Jackson Furnace," near Ford's mill. He also built the flouring mill south of Jack- son, still known as Vandercook's mill.

23:

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Erastus Chaplain, John Rodger and Wesley Jenkins became residents of Jacksonburgh in 1836, and worked in and on Ford's mill.

Hiram 1I. Smith settled in Jackson county in 1835, but removed to Ingham county, and resided at Mason and Lansing until 1864, when he removed to the city of Jackson, where he has since resided. While in Ingham county he was elected treasurer, county clerk, member of the Legislature, and mayor of Lansing. Mr. Smith was engaged in the mercantile business, both in Mason and Lansing. At Lansing he built the first flouring mill, and . carried on successfully both the milling and mercantile business. He built, in 1851 and 1852, the plank road from Lansing to Howell. In 1863 Mr. Smith engaged in railroad enterprises, and was successfully connected with the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw, the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw, the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan, and the Detroit & Bay City railroads. In the construction of all these roads he rendered the most efficient and valuable aid. Mr. Smith was vice-president and managing director of the first, and president of the second and third named roads. The last named he built in 1872. Mr. Smith is a man of great energy of character, and highly respected by all with whom he associates, either in business or socially.

Paul B. Ring came to Jackson in 1835, kept hotel in 1836, was president of the Jackson County Bank in 1837, and for many years a prominent stage proprietor and mail contractor. Joseph C. Bailey became a resident of Jackson in 1835. In 1836 he was elected register of deeds for Jackson county. He was also elected justice of the peace and continued for several years an active and useful member of community. Lewis Bascomb came here in 1835, built and kept for many years "Bascomb's Hotel." Mr. Bascomb always occupied a high place in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He served for three years as one of the inspectors of the State's prison, and died in 1869. In 1831 Lewis D. Welling and S. S. Welling settled in Tecumseh. In 1837 they removed to and are still living in Jackson. L. D. Welling was elected sheriff in 1846 and 1848, and has served for many years as justice of the peace. Marvin Dorrill, David Markham and Frank Standish came to Michigan in 1835, and are still among our most active and useful citizens.

Dr. Backus came to Jackson in September, 1836. He at once decided to make it his home, brought his family and commenced the practice of his profession. Dr. Backus brought with him a high reputation as an allopathic physician; he continued in prac- tice up to his final sickness, and it is not too much to say that he stood in the front rank of his profession, not only in Jackson, but also in the State. The standing of Dr. Backus as a citizen was equal to his reputation as a physician, and of this he received many proofs. He was a member and officer of St. Paul's (Episco- pal) Church from the date of its organization to the day of his death. He served for three years as an inspector of the State's

233

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

prison, and one term (1859) in the Senate of the State. Dr. Backus died in 1865.

B. F. Eggleston came to Jacksonburg July 7, 1836, and at once commenced working at his trade as a tailor. In 1849 he formed a copartnership with Win. Aldrich and opened a merchant tailoring establishment. He has continued in that business to the present time. In 1854 he purchased the store in which he then was and now occupies. Mr. Eggleston has always maintained an honorable position as a business man, and has uniformly been one of the most active of our citizens in all works of charity or benevo- lence, as well as in all measures tending to forward the growth of the town.

Silas W. Stowell was another acquisition to the business men of Jackson in 1836, he at that time moving here with his family, and opening a grocery store on the south side of the public square. In 1837 he was one of the firm of Stowell & Collier, in the same branch of business. In 1838 he took the contract to build the west wing of the State's prison and the keeper's house. In order to be nearer his work Mr. Stowell built a store in the then entirely new part of the town, near the prison, into which he moved his stock of groceries. For the first two years after convicts were re- ceived their rations were furnished under contracts by Mr. Stowell.

In company with Stephen Monroe, in 1840, Mr. Stowell built a furnace and machine shop on the south side of Main street, on the lot next east from the Methodist Church, where they continued in business for two years, when they sold the property to Alonzo Bennett and Geo. B. Cooper. From this time for several years he was actively employed in the interests of the Jackson County Mutual Insurance Company, then doing a large and successful business in Illinois and Michigan. Mr. Stowell was engaged in the mercantile business from 1854 to 1863. He has always been an active, energetic business man, and has done all in his power to promote the prosperity of Jackson. He has built quite exten- sively in all parts of the town, both stores and honses. Mr. Stowell, though some years past the three score years and ten al- loted to man, is still as hale and hearty and active as most men when they have attained to half a century. His genial and pleas- ant countenance is seen daily upon our streets.

Chester Yale came to Jackson in 1836 and commenced business by opening a tin-shop, the first in the place. Mr. Yale continued the business for several years, and was a man highly respected for his upright character and habits of industry.

Mr. Alonzo Bennett came to Jackson in 1836. In 1837 he formed a copartnership with his brother, Allen Bennett, who came here that year, and they commenced business as merchants, having bought out Geo. B. Cooper & Co. They continued in business for two years.

In 1840 Mr. Bennett and Mr. Geo. B. Cooper entered into co- partnership and built an iron foundry. On the completion of the

234

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Central railroad in 1842 Mr. Bennett, in company with Mr. Sacket, commenced the storage and warehouse business in a building which Mr. Bennett had erected on the side-track near the depot. He bought the furnace of Monroe & Stowell, and was very successful in business in company with Mr. Oliver C. Mosher, un- til the latter was killed by being caught in the machinery, after which the business was conducted by Mr. Bennett until disposed of by him to his son. Mr. Bennett has always been one of the active business men of Jackson, and has at various times built both stores and houses in different parts of the city. He is quite a large holder of real estate, and is now president of the First National Bank.

Allen Bennett, Sr., came to Jackson in 1837, and engaged in the mercantile business, but soon sold out to his sons, Alonzo and Allen. Mr. Bennett continued to reside in Jackson until his deatlı.

Mr. Allen Bennett came to Jackson in May, 1837, and en- gaged with his brother in the mercantile business until 1839, when they dissolved, Allen taking the stock and moving to a store on the north side of Main street, afterward so long occupied by Patton Morrison's grocery, and yet known as his place. In 1842 John Sumner bought an interest in his business, and they re- moved to the stone block built by Joseph G. R. Blackwell in 1839 on the north side of the public square, where they continued until 1851. when Mr. Sumner died. Mr. Bennett then moved into what is now known as the Bennett block, which he had purchased that year of M. B. and J. W. Medbury, by whom it was built, and here Mr. Bennett continued the mercantile business until 1859. In 1857 Mr. Bennett engaged with Mr. Hubbell in the cabinet busi- ness in a shop built by him on Luther street. In 1860 he took the business into his own hands, but soon after sold out to Mr. Henry Gilbert, of Kalamazoo, who had taken a contract at the State's prison for the manufacture of furniture. Mr. Bennett now com- menced the manufacture of doors, blinds and sash, in connection with a lumber yard, and built a large factory on the northeast corner of Jackson and Van Buren streets. The sash factory was operated by Mr. Silas Hyser until 1857, and since then has been in the hands of Mr. Bennett's son Charles. The lumber yard has been conducted by Mr. De Witt Woods, a partner of Mr. Bennett, and the business is still continued. Mr. Bennett is one of the firm of Bennett, Knickerbocker & Co., the proprietors of the " City Steam Flouring mills," one of the best arranged and most ex- tensive mills in the State, built in 1866. He, with the same company, own and operate the stone mills at Albion. He is also engaged in manufacturing extensively the "Robbin's cultivator," in which business he has associated with him his son George. Mr. Bennett has been one of the most active and successful busi- ness men in Jackson. He has been for several years engaged in banking, and is now viec-president of the First National Bank, and owns some of the most valuable real estate in the city.

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 Jackson County, Michigan, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166