History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 106

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

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From the first, Comstock's highest ambition was to make the little village he had founded the county-seat. And although he soon learned that it had been established at Kalamazoo, yet he directed his best efforts and much of his ample means to have that decision changed, and Comstock made the favored location. He believed he was able to ac- complish this. Here, on the banks of the Kalamazoo, his little protégé should become widely known as the seat where the courts would be held, and the county institutions lo- cated ; this would be the centre of trade for the surrounding region. And the beautiful river seemed to murmur of boats and barges dropping down its current, laden with pro- duce, and returning freighted with merchandise from the East. And he pushed forward his work. Soon a landing was stretched along the river's bank, opposite the town, and up sprang a commodious warehouse hard by it; a hotel and flouring-mill were built at Otsego, while down at the mouth of the Kalamazoo arose a large storehouse for use

in receiving goods shipped to and from the busy marts of the new city. Alas! for the ambitious and munificent founder of a village which he strove to make a county-seat. All his efforts failed; his bold scheme was but the pride and wonder of an hour. Yet there was a time when Kal- amazoo had in the young village of Comstock a dangerous rival for the county-seat. Roswell Ransom and Cyrus Lovell were here in 1831, and bought the betterments of Isaac Toland, on the prairie bearing his name. When Mr. Ransom returned to his home in Vermont, so confident were the settlers here then that the county-seat would be at Comstock, that he told his friends in Vermont he had bought lands some three or four miles from where the county-seat was to be located. In 1832 a meeting, com- posed of settlers from Prairie Ronde, Gull, Comstock, and other settlements in the county, met at Kalamazoo to dis- cuss this matter, and to decide where the county-seat should be located. Kalamazoo received the most votes for such location. Hiram Moore and Gen. Comstock had visited Detroit to confer with the authorities there and press their claim. But the vote given at the Kalamazoo meeting of settlers had much to do with depriving the village of Comstock of this great prize. It was well that the better counsel prevailed, and Kalamazoo became the county-seat .*

Mr. Comstock, before he came here to live, had been en- gaged in the Detroit and Chicago trade, Indian, traders', and military supplies, etc. He was the first senator elected from this county to the first Legislature. This was held in Detroit in 1835. He was re-elected in 1837, and again in 1838. In 1849 he was elected to the House of Rep- resentatives from Otsego. He was supervisor for the town- ship of Comstock for four terms, beginning in 1840. In 1844 he removed to Kalamazoo, where he bought the Col. Edwards residence. He had purchased in 1837, of Justus Burdick, one-quarter interest in the property cov- ered by the plat of the village of Kalamazoo, for which he paid $17,000 .; Mrs. Comstock died in February, 1846. This was a great loss to Mr. Comstock. His best friend, one whose influence not only gave him a standing, but had a salutary influence on his conduct, was gone. Some time after he removed to Otsego, married again, and went to New York City, where he disappears from the scenes of our history, and where, many years ago, he saw the last of earth, far away from the field of his Western ambition, his hopes, and his projects. He left three children. Sabina, the oldest (residence unknown). Fannie is now Mrs. William Giddings, and is living in Kansas. Willie, the youngest and pride of his mother, we are informed, was killed by the Indians on the Plains.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Leland Lane and E. A. Jackson came from Chester, Windsor Co., Vt., either in the fall of 1830 or the spring of 1831. Mr. Jackson was a worthy man, and aided the little colony at Comstock in various ways, which have been noticed in another place. He died in 1835 or 1836, at

# Kalamazoo (then Bronson) was selected as the county-seat by commissioners appointed by Governor Cass, in January, 1831 .- ED. t We do not find this statement corroborated, but it may be correct. -ED.

391

TOWNSHIP OF COMSTOCK.

Comstock. Mr. Lane was an excellent man and most effi- cient township officer, and to him and E. M. Clapp, who were the town clerks, much credit is due for the clear and satisfactory account we get of the early township proceed- ings. Mr. Lane was a man esteemed highly by all who knew him. He died many years ago.

N. H. Burlingham, another of the early township offi- cers, and an efficient one, now lives in Kalamazoo.

The Loveland brothers-Seymour, Lyman, Josiah, Stephen B., and Hiram D .- came from Niagara Co., N. Y., and settled at or near Comstock village, in 1834 or 1835. Seymour settled on the lands now owned by M. B. Weston. Lyman stayed but a short time; Josiah settled at Comstock, where he now resides. Stephen B., who came as a cooper, finally located on the land entered by Leland Lane, southwest of the village, and which he made into a good farm. He died in 1877.

Hiram D. came in the spring of 1835, and worked eleven years at shoemaking in Kalamazoo. He in 1853 bought an interest in the flouring-mill at Comstock, and became a partner with Guyon Fisher, in which business he is at the present time.

David Hale and his brother Samuel, from Orleans Co., N. Y., came to Comstock in 1835. Samuel D. Wells and Warren B. Spaulding came from the same place about the same time, the one settling on lands which his wife's uncle, S. Percival, gave him, and now owned by A. L. Ranney. Mr. Spaulding, who had married the niece of Samuel Per- cival, was a long time assistant in Mr. Percival's mill. He afterwards took charge of the Percival farm in Galesburg. He and his excellent wife now live in Fentonville, Genesee Co., Mich. Mrs. Spaulding furnished the facts in the his- tory of the Congregational Church at Galesburg.

Montgomery Percival came with his family from Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1835, and settled at Comstock, where he began as a farmer. We have spoken of his erecting a full- ing-mill and grist-mill at Comstock. He was a worthy pioneer and citizen, and dying a few years ago, left a good memory. Mrs. Betsey Jeffers and Mrs. Enoch S. Knapp are his daughters. They live, the one at Comstock, the other on her fine farm northwest of the village.

SCHOOLS.

District No. 1, Comstock and Kalamazoo .- It is gener- ally conceded that Dr. John Webb taught the first school in the village of Comstock. The date of his teaching is uncertain. The first school-house that I can get any clue to was a rude structure, built of slabs for a shoe shop, by a shoemaker by the name of Lathrop. After he left it Miss Ann Sumner, in the spring of 1836, taught school in it. She died at Comstock during her school term. Miss Betsey Percival taught the next summer school. Ira Sum- ner, of Marshall, taught the winter school of 1836. A better school-house was erected in the village, near where the present new school-house now stands. George G. Lov- ell had charge of the Comstock school in the winter of 1837. Some of the early teachers, besides those named, were Elder H. Munger, R. S. Clapp, P. H. Whitford, Ezra Beckwith, and, later, L. M. Gates. The young ladies who have taught this school are Miss Lucy Kingsley, two summers, Miss

Pamelia Joy and Amelia Anderson, two summers. The names of other early teachers we have been unable to get.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Comstock was under the care of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo till September, 1879, when it united with the church at Galesburg, during the pastorate of Rev. H. P. Henderson.

The Protestant Methodist Church .- This society was or- ganized in Comstock by the Rev. Mr. Atkinson in 1864. It shortly afterwards erected its present church edifice. Its present pastor is Rev. Mr. Pope.

Horace H. Comstock was the first postmaster in this vil- lage. The next was George W. Peacock, then Joseph Hall, E. S. Kellogg, and David Crowell, a short time. Its present postmaster is Josiah Loveland, who has held the office for over thirty years.

The merchants have been H. H. Comstock, Henry Shel- don, Harry King, and others. W. W. Baldwin, in 1867, engaged in trade here. He soon after bought the entire property known as the " old hotel" property, which he rebuilt or converted into a store and dwelling-house, where he has since been engaged in trade. The Novelty Works of Perry A. Peer are located at Comstock village. Mr. Peer began business here in 1872. The articles manufactured are fine gray-iron castings. He keeps a force of some 15 men at work.

We are indebted for aid in writing the history of Com- stock to J. R. Comings, E. M. Clapp, Jesse Earl, Charles Whitcomb, A. R. Brown, J. M. Lay, and other old pioneers in this vicinity, and to J. C. and William A. Blake for aid in various ways.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ANSON DE PEUY VAN. BUREN.

The cis-Atlantic record of the Van Buren family can be fully given. Peter Martin Van Buren, the founder of the family in this country, was among the first of those immi- grants who came from Holland in the beginning of the eighteenth century and settled in that part of Columbia Co., N. Y., now known as Kinderhook. The manorial system, then first adopted, held for many years. Large estates passed from father to son. On the death of Peter Martin Van Buren, his son Tobias succeeded to the family estate, and he was followed by his son Richard, and he by his son Ephraim, whose son Tobias succeeded him. The latter left a portion of the estate to his son Ephraim, who was the father of the subject of this sketch.

The grandfather of Mr. Van Buren-Tobias -- held the rank of major in the war of the Revolution, and served in the Saratoga campaign. A man of great force of character, he was thoroughly educated in Dutch and English, and well known throughout the country. He lived upon the estate of his ancestors, surrounded by his slaves. He was a kind master, and when New York, in 1799, freed her bond- men, he generously provided for his faithful servants by securing good homes for them. He married his cousin,

392

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Mary Van Buren, an estimable woman, and sister of Abram Van Buren, the father of ex-President Martin Van Buren. His son, Ephraim Van Buren, was a man of strong consti- tution and clear, vigorous intellect, endowed with an excel- lent memory, and was of the stoutest of evangelical Chris- tians. He remembered hearing his great - grandfather, Richard, relate many incidents of the " old French war," and of the sufferings of the colonists from the Indians and Tories during the Revolution. He at that time " kept

WHHAMS

tavern" in Kinderhook village. Among those who lodged ' with him were Gen. Washington, Gen. Montgomery and wife, and other distinguished military men. Gen. Benedict Arnold remained with him while his leg was healing, after the battle of Saratoga.

On the maternal side, Mr. Van Buren traces his ancestry to the Jays, who were of Huguenot stock. His mother, Olive Jay, was the daughter of Stephen Jay, whose father was an officer in the British army during the Revolution. Governor John Jay, of New York, was a 'relative. Her mother was Mary De Peuy, a French lady then living in New York. Mrs. Van Buren combined the strong sense of her Saxon origin with the vivacity of her French ancestry. With courage, cheerfulness, and all the qualities of a good housewife and mother, she made her home and family happy and her life beautiful. She died in 1842, and her husband in 1866.

Mr. Van Buren's parents came into possession of part of the Tobias Van Buren estate. They reared nine children, -five daughters and four sons,-all born in Kinderhook. Mary, the oldest daughter, married L. D. Spencer, and is now a widow, living with her children in California ; Sarah, the second daughter, who married Edwin Dickinson, is also a widow, and lives with her daughter in Missouri; Atlanta (Mrs. George N. Spencer) is a widow, living in Three Rivers, Mich .; Eliza (Mrs. B. M. King) lives in the same place; Martin, the oldest son, lives in Cass Co., Mich .; Har- riet (Mrs. Isaac Smith) lives in Charleston, Kalamazoo Co.,

Mich. ; Ephraim lives on the old homestead in Battle Creek township, Mich .; Abner J. lives in California.

Anson De Peuy, the youngest of the family, was born on the 21st of April, 1822. The family left Kinderhook in 1826, and settled at New York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y., where Anson received the benefit of most excellent village schools until 1836, when the parents, with four of the chil- dren, removed to Michigan, settling in the township of Battle Creek, Calhoun Co. The father had in 1835 lo- cated the lands to which the family removed.

Anson, a youth of fourteen, began pioneer life by helping his father cut the first tree on the new lands, and performing the kind of labor that usually falls to a lad of his age.

Among the goods temporarily left in Detroit, and de- stroyed by fire, were all the family books, but fortunately Anson had brought his school-books with him. For the first few years on the new farm he had no school advan- tages. So he made the chimney-corner in the log house his school-room, and the Elementary Spelling-Book, the old English Reader, Olney's Geography, Daboll's Arith- metic, and Kirkham's Grammar his teachers. It was an evening school, kept mostly in the winter season, and all the light he had was that which the hickory bark, thrown on the fire, afforded him. By this light he studied and re- viewed the school-books above named, and made himself so proficient in them that in the winter of 1838 he received a certificate to teach the Goguac Prairie school. The four succeeding summers were given to teaching in the same township. The winters of 1839 and 1840 he attended select school in Battle Creek, and during the winter of 1842 had charge of a large school in South Battle Creek. In the spring of 1843 he entered the " Branch University" at Kalamazoo, then under the charge of Dr. J. A. B. Stone, where he pursued his studies for the next three years, with the view of entering the sophomore class in the University of Ann Arbor. He spent the winter of 1845 teaching in Antwerp, Van Buren Co. He entered the Michigan Uni- versity in the summer of 1847, and left at the beginning of winter, to teach school in Athens, Calhoun Co. He did not return to the university, but continued teaching dis- trict schools till the spring of 1849, when he took charge of the Battle Creek high school, and remained at its head till the spring of 1850, when he became principal of the Battle Creek union school, which was opened in the union school building, then just erected. There had been an effort made, some two years before; to establish a union school in Battle Creek, but after six months' trial it had signally failed. To Mr. Van Buren, then, belongs the credit of first successfully establishing the union school in that place. He conducted this institution for one year, and as his health was somewhat impaired by continued teaching, he sought the lighter task of teaching a select school in the same city, which he managed for one term, when he resigned the " rod and ferule," and sought relax- ation and the restoration of his health.

In 1856 he became princeps juvenis in a select school in Dowagiac, Cass Co., and in the fall of that year gave the " Roderick Dhu whistle" to call together the union school forces in that then young and aspiring village. Completing bis year in that school, he returned to Battle Creek.

TOWNSHIP OF COMSTOCK.

393

In the fall of 1857 he visited the South for his health, and for a situation as teacher. His health improving, he took charge of an academy near Yazoo City, Miss., and re- mained at its head for a large part of the year which he spent in that State.

On his return North he opened a select school in Battle Creek township, and closed his long and successful labors as teacher in the Climax high school, of which he had charge as principal for one and a half years.

In the fall of 1859, Mr. Van Buren published his work entitled "Jottings on the South." This book was favor- ably received both in the North and South. In 1864 he engaged in the business of fire insurance. On the 14th of November, 1866, he married Miss Mary L. Gilson, of Reading, Pa., a lady of culture and estimable worth. They have no children. They moved to Galesburg, their present home, in the spring of 1867. Mr. Van Buren is still en- gaged in the business of insurance, giving what time he can spare to literary pursuits and to writing for the press.

Originally a Democrat, he became a " Free-Soiler" in 1848, and a Republican in 1854. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Galesburg, and his wife is a mem- ber of St. John's Episcopal Church, of Kalamazoo. He has been township treasurer of Comstock, and has repeatedly filled the office of township clerk, which he now holds.

The writer has had much personal intercourse with Mr. Van Buren, and from experience understands well what a prominent Michigan clergyman meant when he said Mr. Van Buren's society had been of the greatest value to him. It is impossible to be long in his society without feeling the pure moral atmosphere which surrounds him ; and it is equally impossible to hear him talk without gathering some of the gems which he scatters around from out the treasury of a richly-stored mind. A lover of literature, he seems to have read everything that was worth reading ; endowed with a wonderful memory, he is constantly producing from his store-house " things both new and old;" an excellent de- bater, he is never at loss for his authorities ; a fine conver- sationalist, he makes his listener regret when " the clock strikes the hour for retiring."

Genial and companionable, he has ever been considered the Charles Lamb among his schoolmates and literary friends.

He still retains his love of the ancient classics, and de- lights in recalling the stately strains of Virgil, the spark- ling odes of Horace, and the grand verse of old Homer. If his memory is remarkable, the versatility of his attainments is no less notable. At one time he interests you in ancient and modern history ; at another, his knowledge of Bacon, Locke, Hamilton, and others " of that ilk," adds interest to the hour. While he enjoys the analytical sermons of a Swing or a Thomas, while he delights in the productions of a Scott or Carlyle, a Cooper or a Matthews, he will revel in antiquarian lore and Indian tradition.

He is a terse and vigorous writer on subjects congenial to him, but his innate modesty has hampered his usefulness in this direction. An honest temperance worker, he is a good lecturer in that field; an earnest Bible student, he has been of great aid in the Sabbath-school ; an honest politician, though he loves his party well, he loves his country more ;

a member of the Congregational Church, his religion is so thoroughly Catholic that it embraces all mankind.

The greater part of his life has been spent in the school- room. His pupils are scattered all over Central Michigan. To his profession he brought a gentle, loving nature, which possessed and maintained discipline without enforcing it, and a richly-stored mind from which he gave valuable in- formation, without making study a weary routine to his pupils. His aim seems ever to have been, both in the school-room and out, not only to develop the full scholar, but to teach true manhood by example as well as by pre- cept.

Mrs. Van Buren is a most worthy wife of a worthy hus- band. She is a lady of culture, having been educated in one of the best schools of the East; but, while she loves literature, she is a model housewife. She was one of the most active of those who helped to organize the " Ladies' Library Association of Galesburg," and she has done much by her zeal and active labors to win for it the successful position it has attained.

If this sketch seems eulogistic, the writer honestly be- lieves that it is not more so than the subject deserves; for where Mr. Van Buren is thoroughly known, he is acknowl- edged to realize the description of a true man as given by one of his own favorite poets. Enjoying his books, pure in his tastes, a gentleman, a scholar, and a true Christian, if he has not risen to eminence,* it may well be said of him,-

"" The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that."

COL. WILLIAM R. SHAFTER.

William R. Shafter was born the 16th of October, 1835, in Galesburg, county of Kalamazoo, Mich. His father, Hugh M. Shafter, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this volume, was from Windsor Co., Vt. His mother was the daughter of Mathias Sumner, who was a relative of the late Charles Sumner, of Massachu- setts. She was also from Windsor Co., Vt.

William R. Shafter received his education in the common schools of Galesburg. He attended, in 1861, the spring term of Prairie Seminary, in Richland, and enlisted for the war at the close of the term. At the age of twenty- one he began the vocation of school-teaching, and continued to teach in this part of the State during the winter season until 1861.

He married Miss Hattie Grimes, of Athens, Calhoun Co., Mich., Sept. 1, 1862.

His military record can be briefly outlined as follows : He entered the service as first lieutenant 7th Regiment Michigan Infantry Volunteers, Aug. 22, 1861 ; discharged Aug. 22, 1862; was promoted major of the 19th Regi- ment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Sept. 5, 1862; and lieutenant-colonel, June 5, 1863; colonel 17th United States Colored Troops, April 19, 1864; brevetted briga-

* One of his old schoolmates says, "While Mr. Van Buren was getting his education he encountered severe trials and hindrances from an ailment in the knee that resulted in the loss of a limb. Then poor health and, later, defective hearing sadly interfered with his using the talent he possesses in some one of the professions."

394

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

dier-general of volunteers, March 13, 1865, " for gallant and meritorious services during the war ;" mustered out, Nov. 2, 1866; paid to Nov. 6, 1866; promoted lieu- tenant-colonel 41st United States Infantry, July 28, 1866 ; accepted Jan. 26, 1867; brevetted colonel, March 2, 1867, " for gallant and meritorious services in the battle

Photo. by Van Sickle, Kalamazoo.

your R Shafter

of Fair Oaks;" unassigned March 15, 1869; assigned to 24th Infantry, April 14, 1869; promoted colonel, March 4, 1879.

In regard to his military career we give the following extracts from military papers, embodying the opinions of his superior officers :

"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, " Oct. 27th, 1864.

"The 17th U. S. Colored Infantry, commanded by Col. Wm. R. Shafter, deserves particular notice on account of the fine condition of the Camp, the good discipline and Soldierly bearing of the Troops, and the cleanliness of Arms and Equipments. The Arms are old, and of a very inferior quality, but have received so much care in cleaning and burnishing as to give them the appearance of new arms.

(Signed)

"W. C. THORPE,

"Capt. 13th U. S. Inft., and Inspector Post, Nashville."

The following are extracts from the report of Capt. Thorpe, of Dec. 31, 1864, mentioning the United States Colored Infantry :

" Being myself upon the field, I witnessed their actions frequently on the 15th and 16th, and was highly gratified at the creditable man- ner in which they bore themselves during the entire time they were engaged with the enemy,-remarking on the ground to a brother officer that they fought regularly and vehemently, like veteran sol- diers. The courage and persistence with which they charged the rebel line could hardly be excelled by any troops."

Among the officers who fell in this battle was Capt. Job H. Aldrich, of Galesburg, Mich.

"Too much praise cannot be awarded Col. Wm. R. Shafter and the officers and men under him for their conduct upon that occasion, and

the assiduity with which they have labored to make the 17th U. S. Colored Infantry equal in all soldierly qualities to any in the ser- vice."

And he again speaks of the thorough discipline of the regiment as " not being excelled by that of any other in the army."

Dec. 23, 1865, Gen. Thomas requested a complete sum- mary of his military history from the breaking out of the Rebellion up to that time.

The following embraces that summary, which Gen. Thomas indorses and sends on to the War Department :

"Entered the army as first lieutenant 7th Regiment Michigan In- fantry, June 28, 1861, was promoted to major of the 19th Regiment of Michigan Infantry, Aug. 23, 1862, and lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, June 4, 1863. Received his appointment as colonel 17th Regiment United States Colored Infantry, Nov. 17, 1863. Col. Shafter is one of the most successful officers who has ever held position in the colored regiments. He has given his whole attention to the subject of their improvement, and his command has attained to a degree of discipline and soldierly bearing which is not only creditable but very remarkable. Col. Shafter was a participant in the siege of Yorktown, in the battles of West Point, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale, and Malvern Hill, Va., and in the affair at Thompson Sta- tion, and the battles of December 15th and 16th, in 1864, in front of Nashville. Col. Shafter has been commanding the post of Nashville since October, 1865, and is now in command of the District of Middle Tennessee. He is an officer of discretion and good judgment, and in all his field service his conduct has been gallant, and his ability and zeal most commendable. I have the honor to submit the foregoing recommendation for promotion and appointment in the army of the United States for consideration, and would respectfully request such favorable action as may be deemed consistent with the requirements of the service.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 106

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