History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 102

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761

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The first union concerts were started some fifteen years ago, and have been held once a month in one or the other of the churches alternately until of late. What has be- come of them ?

The numbers from time to time that have been added to the church from the Sabbath school have been consider- able. The most of the additions to the church have been from this school. Until within six or eight years we have had a valuable and interesting library. The school for thirty-five years has not been discontinued. We believe the school attained its highest number in Deacon Randall's superintendency, -- reaching then 186. "Tis said by Deacon Randall that at one of the school concerts there were re- cited 1000 verses of Scripture, several pupils reciting 100 apiece.

The present church membership is 170; the Sabbath- school superintendent, Rev. C. O. Brown ; the number of pupils in the school is 240.

The Advent Christian Church .- In the summer of 1876, Mr. A. M. Smith, of Prairieville, Barry Co., Mich., held Advent meetings in the residence of J. P. Bristol, in Gales- burg. Mr. Smith preached to these little gatherings Sab- bath after Sabbath during that summer, or at such times as he could be spared from his labors at home. Sometimes another minister of their faith would preach to them. The result of these meetings was the organization of the Advent Christian Church, January, 1877, by the aid of A. M. Smith, of Prairieville. The officers were J. P. Bristol, Elder ; L. J. Wilson, Deacon ; William R. Rogers, Secre- tary. The number of members was 7: Levi J. Wilson and wife, J. P. Bristol and wife, William R. Rogers, and Miss Julia Knapp, and a young lady whose name we could

not get. A room in the Towsley block was secured and fitted for church purposes, where the little band have since worshiped. Their first minister was C. D. Berry, who re- mained with them as pastor some year and a half, when he was succeeded by their present pastor, T. C. Grundy. A Sabbath-school was started in the summer of 1878, and in the fall of 1879 they commenced the building of a church edifice. This is a frame structure. The present member- ship is 41 ; the Sabbath-school numbers nearly the same. T. C. Grundy is the superintendent.

This church is composed of a band of earnest, zealous, Christian workers, who have done and are doing much good for the cause of our Heavenly Master in Galesburg and the region about it.

For history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, see his- tory of Climax in this volume.

BURIAL-PLACES.

INDIAN BURIAL-GROUND.

" Beneath those rugged elms, that oak-tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,

Each in his rarrow bed forever laid, The rude forefathers of the forest sleep."#

Hard by the water's edge, on the banks of the Kalama- zoo River, lying side by side, are some 30 Indian graves. This burial-place of the children of the forest is on section 27, on the farm of the late T. C. Ford. When first dis- covered by the settlers there were not only the graves, but in a small log inclosure was an Indian sitting, wrapped in his blanket, just as he was placed at his death. This was one mode of Indian burial. Mr. H. D. Streator lately opened some of these graves, and found silver and copper brooches, and " rings and things of fine array," with which the stalwart brave and the dusky maiden decked them- selves. A tin or copper pail was found in nearly every grave opened. Some of the trinkets had the word " Mon- treal" engraved on them, indicating that they had traded with Canadians. Among the graves was one of an old French trapper, at the head of which was a rude wooden cross.

On the banks of the river, about a mile east of the graves, on the farm of Jesse Earl, can still be seen what is supposed to have been the foundation of an old trading- house. The outlines of this foundation are some 18 feet wide by 40 long. In the rear of this are the outlines of the foundation of another building, 14 feet square. This may have been a fur station, earlier in use than the one at Kalamazoo, which was controlled by Rix Robinson, and others. The grave of the old French trapper down the stream, and the remains of this log building so near it, have set speculation busy in connecting the trapper as the trader managing the affairs of this post. There are oak- trees over a foot in diameter growing on the site of this old building, showing its great age.

Other Burial-Places .- There are but two cemeteries in Comstock that are under the care of the township. One of these is in Galesburg, the other is in the village of Comstock.

The oldest burial-ground in the east part of the township, where sleep some of the dead of the early settlement, is in

# Gray, with alterations.

WARANS

Photo. by H. A. Brown, Galesburg.

JESSE EARL.

MRS. JESSE EARL.

JESSE EARL.

Among the pioneers, who by their industry and perseverance laid the foundation for the present prosperity of Comstock township, none is more worthy a prominent. place in its history than Jesse Earl.

The Earl family was originally from Connecticut. Daniel Earl, grandfather of the subject of this biography, was a near neighbor and friend of Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary memory ; but little is now known of his history, except that he removed to Pennsylvania and settled on the Susquehanna River, where he remained for seven or eight years, when he re- moved to Ontario Co., N. Y., where he died at an advanced age. He was a farmer by occupation, and reared a family of ten children.

William Earl, father of Jesse, was born in Pennsylvania in 1782. Subsequently he removed to Yates Co., N. Y., where Jesse was born, on the 8th of May, 1813. He afterwards re- moved to Niagara Co., N. Y. In 1829 he came to the State of Michigan on a tour of observation, and was much pleased with the region now constituting Kalamazoo County.

In 1831 he purchased the farm where Jesse Earl now resides. Returning to New York, he came again to Kalamazoo County in the following spring, accompanied by his two sons,-Jesse and Lyman,-whom he left to construct a dwelling, and make the necessary preparations for establishing a permanent home, while he returned to Niagara County once more, where he re- mained until the autumn of 1832, when he came to the new home in the wilderness, bringing his family with him.

William Earl was the first supervisor of the township of Comstock, at which time it included within its limits the ter- ritory of the present townships of Charleston and Climax. He was three times elected to this office; was a prominent and influential man in the early days of the settlement, and him- self and family contributed greatly to the development and

prosperity of the township. He died January 10, 1851. His faithful and devoted wife died on the 5th of December, 1858.

The pioneer life of Jesse Earl was beset with the hardships incident to a new country. He remained with his father until he was twenty-three years of age, when he embarked in busi- ness for himself as a farm hand, working by the month. In 1838, when twenty-five years of age, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Rufus Clapp. She was born in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y.

The Clapp family is one of the old and reputable New Eng- land families, tracing its descent from Capt. Joseph Clapp, who settled in Dorchester, Mass., in 1630, and was a prominent character in colonial history. Many of his descendants have likewise been men of note.

The grandfather of Mrs. Earl, Capt. Rufus Clapp, served with distinction in the Revolutionary army.

Mrs. Earl received a common-school education, which she has made practically useful to herself and others as a teacher. She is a refined and cultured lady, a thrifty housewife, an ex- cellent mother, and a fine type of the pioneer woman.

Mr. Earl has been prominently identified with the history of Comstock. His sterling common sense, excellent judg- ment, and integrity have been understood and appreciated by the people, who have often called him to serve them in re- sponsible and honorable positions. He was the first collector of the township ; has officiated as treasurer several terms, and represented the township in the board of supervisors.

Politically he was formerly a Whig, but since the formation of the Republican party he has acted with that organization. Socially he is a courtly and genial gentleman, and devotedly attached to his family and friends; a man of ability and prominence, worthy to stand with the foremost men of the county.

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TOWNSHIP OF COMSTOCK.

the southeast corner of section 24, on the north bank of the Kalamazoo River. The first buried here were three chil- dren of Mr. Aldrich's, in 1833 or 1834. Miss Ann Sum- ner was buried here in 1835. She was the daughter of Mathias Sumner, and died while teaching school at Comstock. This burial-place was after a few years abandoned, and most of the dead were removed to the new ground, selected on the north side of the village, which is known as the " Galesburg Burying-Ground." The land was given to the township for this purpose by J. W. Cothren. This has been used till within a few years as the general place of burial for the village and surrounding country. The oldest grave-yard in the township is in the village of Comstock. Among the first buried here was the wife of Dr. Jason Winslow. Many of those who came early to this township repose there.

Another place where many of the old settlers are buried is in the southeast corner of sction 26, on the land of Am- brose Brown. The first buried here was Elvira Tubbs, niece of Lyman Tubbs. And the old pioneer Lyman Tubbs and his good wife repose there. On a gentle rise of ground that slopes to the south, on section 30, is another of the old burial-places. On the south side of section 34 is a cemetery for that part of the township. Besides these, there are burial-places that belong to families, and are on the premises of the individuals owning them. There is one of these on Lyman Qua's farm, on section 13. Here most of those who died among the Alphadelphians are buried, and the members of the Shafter family. Another is on the Luttenten farm, where the old pioneer of 1835, Jared Lut- tenten, sleeps. And another of the family burial-places is on the farm of Edmund Chase, on section 33.

The only burial-ground in Comstock owned by an organ- ized company is The Galesburg Oak Grove Cemetery As- sociation. This organization, composed of the following officers, was established in 1874: President, William G. Kirby ; Secretary, M. J. Mallock ; Treasurer, J. W. Kirby. It has the same officers at present, except secretary, Wm. Schroder filling that office now. The first burial was that of A. J. Beckwith, son of Ezra Beckwith, of Galesburg, May 22, 1875.

The grounds chosen include 20 acres in area, on section 13, on the east border of the township. The site is a beau- tiful one : on the brow of the uplands overlooking the vil- lage of Galesburg, that lies below spread out to the south- west. The grounds seemed naturally suited for the pur- pose designed by their diversity of surface,-knolls and graceful undulations, with little vales that wind in pleasant paths between them. These have been graded in walks and carriage-ways, that are bordered with evergreens and shrubs; while here and there ornamental trees add beauty to the place where the dead repose.

THE VILLAGE OF GALESBURG.

The village was surveyed and platted, January 9, 1837, by F. J. Littlejohn, of Allegan, and placed on record in the register's office at Kalamazoo, January 12, 1837. The proprietors were William Harris, James Reynolds, George L. Gale, Nathaniel Cothren, Gideon Mathews, Alonzo A. Mathews.

The village included in its area all of sections 13 and 24. Ralph Tuttle's log cabin was the first building erected on land now included in the corporation of Galesburg. This was early in the spring of 1830, and was on the site now occupied by A. H. Carr's residence. Nathaniel E. Mathews built next on the spot where Henry D. Roger's residence now stands. The next was also a log structure, erected by Alonzo Mathews on the ground where Dr. O. F. Burroughs' fine dwelling-house now is.

The first building in Galesburg above the log-house order of architecture was the frame structure erected by Philip Gray, in 1835 or 1836, for a store, which stood on the ground now occupied by the store and residence of Schroder & Olin. This house, being afterwards enlarged, was long known as "Gray's Castle;" and, being the only frame building in the embryo hamlet, there seemed a great desire among the settlers to occupy it. At one time three families lived in it, and besides this Isaac H. Gray had a store in part of it, Deacon W. Mills a tailor-shop, and Deacon Joseph Cory a shoe-shop. Then, again, part of it was used for a church on Sunday, another part for a parsonage ; while it had its educational moods and gave room for school- teaching ; and some time in 1836 it took a revival turn, and Rev. Rufus Bement held a two weeks' protracted meet- ing in this most benevolent and hospitable of buildings. Isaac H. Gray sold the first goods in Galesburg in this building. Philip Gray also built the first hotel in this village in the spring of 1837. He was the first landlord. Ezra Stetson was the first doctor in the village. Deacon Willard Mills, in 1838, built the first church building in Galesburg. It was a frame structure 18 by 26 feet, and cost $150. The builders were Isaac Cory and Charles Whitcomb. This building was afterwards sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church for a parsonage, and is now the front part of Henry Kent's residence. The first min- ister located in Galesburg was Veron D. Taylor, a Congre- gationalist, although Rev. T. W. Merrill, Indian missionary, and Rev. Mason Knappen preached here before Mr. Taylor came.

The first blacksmiths were Samuel Wilkinson, Robert G. Ward, and Guy C. Merrill. The first carpenters were Jesse and Martin Turner and Charles Whitcomb ; Joseph Cory and Isaac Springstead the first shoemakers, and C. L. Keith the first wagon-maker. Ebenezer Flanders probably taught the first school in the village corporation.

When the village was organized, and its charter obtained, in 1861, we have the following as its boundaries :

" All that tract of country situated in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, and designated as follows, viz. : commencing at a point where the half-quarter line on the west half of section twenty- four, in township two south, of range ten west, in said county, inter- sects the Kalamazoo River at the north bank of said river; running thence north to the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section thirteen, in said township; thence east to the north and south quarter line of section eighteen, of township two south, of range nine west, in said county ; thence along said quarter line to the Kalamazoo River ; thence along the edge of the river to the place of beginning. The same is hereby constituted a village corporate under the name of the village of Galesburg."

The village now has 800 inhabitants; it lies on the Michigan Central Railroad, nine miles east of Kalamazoo, four from Comstock, and five miles west of Augusta. It has

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

a fine depot, a large and commodious freight-house, afford- ing every convenience for storing or shipping grain and every other commodity of trade or transportation. Few villages on the Michigan Central Railroad have better surroundings. A productive agricultural region lies about it on every side, where an intelligent and thrifty class of farmers not only raise the best of farm products, but give much attention to fruit- and stock-raising.

The following are the officers of the village of Galesburg, organized A.D. 1861 :

PRESIDENTS.

1861, Roswell Ransom ; 1862-63, David Afflick; 1864, Orrin F. Bur- roughs ; 1865, Ralph S. Van Vleet; 1866, Anthony L. Mason ; 1867, Melancthon W. Alfred; 1868, William Blass; 1869, William A. Blake; 1870, Moses J. Malloch ; 1871, William A. Blake; 1872, William Blass ; 1873, Ralph S. Van Vleet; 1874, Moses J. Malloch ; 1875-76, Amos H. Rogers ; 1877, Benjamin A. Wing; 1878-79, William A. Blake.

MARSHALS.

1861, Daniel A. Frink ; 1862, Abel Hoag; 1863, Ezra P. Oatman ; 1864, Abel Hoag ; 1865, Hugh M. Shafter ; 1866, Daniel A. Frink ; 1867, George S. Hodges ; 1868, George H. Brown; 1869-70, Ho- ratio A. Bestor; 1871, Stephen M. Daken; 1872, Horatio A. Bestor; 1873, Ezra P. Oatman; 1874, Burban Jacobs; 1875-76, William B. Cartwright; 1877-78, Jacob Fancher; 1879, John Freer.

RECORDERS.

1861-63, William A. Blake; 1864-65, Nelson W. Mills ; 1866-67, Rus- sell G. Smith; 1868-69, Ralph S. Van Vleet; 1870, Russell G. Smith ; 1871, Alonzo D. Beckwith; 1872, John M. Lay; 1873, Anson D. P. Van Buren ; 1874-77, Frank P. Muhlenberg; 1878, Martin B. Olmsted; 1879, Ira B. Rogers.

TREASURERS.

1861, Orrin F. Burroughs ; 1862-63, Peter S. Carmer; 1864, William 0. Towsley ; 1865, Russell B. Mason ; 1866-68, George R. Jen- kins ; 1869-70, William A. Burdick ; 1871-72, Henry Labbitt; 1873, Ezra C. Rowland; 1874-78, Augustus B. Osgood; 1879, Ezra C. Rowland.

TRUSTEES.

1861, John Flint, John Seeley, Abram Pelham, Julius F. Warren, Isaac Covey, Peter Johnson ; 1862, James L. Lynch, Ezra Mans- field, David K. Rogers, Lanckford Burdick, Blackman E. Law- rence, Timothy Mills; 1863, Chester W. Cole, Myron B. Rawson, Peter Jenkins, Erastus Stewart, Henry L. Bennett, Andrew J. Burdick; 1864, Russell F. Johnson, Charles L. Keith, Charles Whitcomb, Horatio A. Bestor, Benjamin A. Wing, William H. King; 1865, James L. Lynch, Peter Jenkins, Horatio A. Bestor, George A. Signor, Abel Hoag, Ezra Beckwith; 1866, Peter S. Carmer, Peter Johnson, David K. Rogers, Benjamin A. Wing, Frederick P. Hawver, Lewis J. Burber; 1867, Isaac Cory, An- drew Blass, William Butt, John Schroder, Richard H. Burber, Ju- lius F. Warren ; 1868, John Schroder, Andrew Blass, William A. Blake, John Evers, James L. Lynch, David K. Rogers; 1869, Henry Labbitt, William Blass, John Schroder, Erastus Stewart, Peter S. Carmer, Isaac Cory ; 1870, Henry Patts, David K. Rogers, William Blass, D. D. Brockway, Isaac Cory, Peter S. Carmer; 1871, William Blass, Isaac Cory, David K. Rogers, Wil- liam Towsley, Peter Johnson, A. M. Phelps; 1872, William O. Towsley, Peter Johnson, Herman B. Brownell, Milo B. Bostwick, Henry D. Rogers, George H. Brown; 1873, Milo B. Bostwick, Benjamin A. Wing, George Forbush, John P. McNaughton, Al- bert H. Hubbard, Henry D. Rogers ; 1874, William A. Blake, Al- bert H. Hubbard, William Schroder, Leonard Evans, John P. McNaughton, 'B. A. Wing; 1875, Milo Adams, William Scott, Leonard Evans, William A. Blake, Henry Labbitt, William Schroder; 1876, Milo Adams, Leonard Evans, Moses J. Malloch, Henry Labbitt, William Schroder, William Scott; 1877, Leonard Evans, Andrew Green, Moses J. Malloch, William Schroder, Wil- liam Scott, Henry E. Storms; 1878, Edwin B. Ford, Abram R. Brown, Lyman H. Chesebrough, William Scott, Milo Adams,

Henry E. Storms ; 1879, Milo Adams, Edwin B. Ford, George Forbush, Abram R. Brown, Lyman H. Chesebrough, George E. Blake.

GEORGE L. GALE, THE FOUNDER OF GALESBURG.

George L. Gale was born, about 1806 or 1807, in Lenox, Berkshire Co., Mass. His father was at one time quite wealthy. The son received most of his education at Lenox Academy. After leaving the academy he studied medicine awhile at Pittsfield, but disliking it he turned his attention to law, and practiced awhile in that profession in Easton, Pa. In the fall of 1835 he married Miss Martha Merrick, of Wilbraham, Mass., and the next fall came to Michigan. He lived some time in Marshall, prospected at Verona, and late in the same season came to Galesburg, where he re- mained a number of years; then removed to Kalamazoo, lived many years at Paw Paw and vicinity ; then went to California, where he died. His wife did not go with him to California. He gave her a share of his property before he left, and she went back to Massachusetts. She is also dead. He was a man who, whatever his talents, faults, or. merits may have been, has written his name on the pages of Kalamazoo County's history. His name and deeds have been chronicled; for the word Galesburg as naturally refers the etymologist or historian to George L. Gale for its origin as the word Rome refers them to Ro- mulus for its origin. In gathering material for the biog- raphy of pioneer worthies, I find few of the survivors who can give anything more than a very imperfect sketch of life or character. Some recollect physique, color of hair or eyes ; some remember moral traits or religious bias ; others the political views or social habits, while others merely the eccentricities or faults of the man. Among all the de- tached and diverse opinions of the friends of George L. Gale concerning him, I find it difficult to select those which should be given in a faithful portraiture of his char- acter. There is enough ability, both natural and acquired, conceded him by all to have made a leading man in public affairs, -a man of commanding influence at the bar, the hustings, or in legislative halls. But, often with Mr. Gale, much of his talent and influence was squandered, or when used, it was at so great a discount that he really passed for less than he was worth, because his indiscretion and un- bridled impulse weakened his power and standing as a man. Then, again, he was the reverse of this, although the very Harry Percy who could

" Pluck bright honor from the pale-faced moon."

Yet he would carry the people and a project through, where a man with four times his ability would have failed. It was a power he could use in his sphere, which, at times, like

" The little Mincio, dribbling to the Po, Shames all the epics of the Hoang-ho."

While the earlier settlers, who had previously located in or near the new settlement, were, in the fall of 1836, busily at work felling trees, making betterments, erecting houses, and enlarging their clearings, they were startled one day by the arrival of a shrewd, wide-awake, talkative stranger from the East.

The founder of the future village had come. This was evident from his first appearance among them. For on the

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TOWNSHIP OF COMSTOCK.

street he began to talk about those things which are indis- pensable in founding a town,-water-power, a mill-race, mills, and kindred subjects. And having taken a thorough view of the new settlement and made the acquaintance of the settlers, he decided to pitch his tent among them. While Mr. Gale was naturally endowed with the practical discernment to see the thing necessary to be done, and had the ability and energy to undertake an enterprise, his im- agination was very apt to take him from the regions of practical sense and ability into the realms of Eldorado mag- nificence. He had a mind full of projects and the courage and audacity to start them, even where others could not see the way to make the first move. And every- thing must go with a vim that he started. And if he failed to carry out schemes to completion, many a valuable undertaking and measure would not have been begun had it not been for him. A man who talks about and agitates a hundred different projects in which the community are to be benefited ought to have the credit of suggesting them, if he does not complete them.

It may have been through his endeavors that they finally obtained them. But, as a general rule, the person who " beats about the bush and starts up the game" seldom gets the credit for the good resulting from his labors.

"It appears from the plat on record in the register's office, bearing date Jan. 9, 1837, that the original pro- prietors of Galesburg were George L. Gale, Wm. Harris, Nathan Cothren, Gideon Matthews, James Reynolds, and Alonzo Matthews. F. J. Littlejohn, Surveyor." This village plat, as that sturdy old pioneer, Esquire Shafter, remarked, " is truly characteristic of Gale; he always did things with a rush, and on the grand scale. He included in his village plat an area sufficient for a city of 40,000 in- habitants." Nobody knew how much money Gale had when he came here. He bought some land and erected a house for his family. But he had some money and a rich stock of assurance ; with these as capital, he commenced business, and " the wealth of the Ind" could not have started the project of digging the mill-race and erecting the mills quicker than Gale did with pledges from his " bank of assurance." The men were set to digging the race, with a foreman by the name of Burden. Among these men were two round-faced, flaxen-haired Welshmen, who worked on this job all summer. Gale, like an able general, kept his forces in the field as long as he could furnish "the sinews of war,"-money. But when he had paid out all the " wild-cat" he had, when the last dollar on " Sandstone" was gone, when the last stiver on " Sinkapore" was counted out, when not even a "shin-plaster" could be raised, the great project of his life failed. Yet when the sun-browned Welshmen came to him in this extremity, courageous and plucky to the last, he replied, " D-n it; I am pretty short just now. Work away ; I'll have some money soon; you must work till I can 'operate.'" But the Welshmen would not wait till he "operated." They had been told that Mr. Gale's money was gone, and they stubbornly re- fused to work any longer. This was the beginning of the " run" on his treasury. Gale's failure was brought about by the failure of the wild-cat banks. 'Tis said that one month more of time would have tided him over all diffi-

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 102

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott Number of Pages: 761

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761