USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan > Part 117
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interred.
The report of the school inspectors of Portage township for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, contains the following table of statistics :
Number of districts (whole, 6; fractional, 3) .... 9
Children of school age. 295
Attendance during year 252
Number of days school taught .. 1199
Number of school-houses (brick, 1; frame, 8). 9
Number of sittings 394
Value of property $5674
Teachers employed (male, 6; female, 13) 19
Wages paid teachers (male, $447; female, $629.50) $1076.50
Total resources for year. $1641.58
Amount on hand Sept. 1, 1879. 239.07
Total expenditures, less amount on hand. .$1402.51
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist class-meetings were established at an early day by John Henika (living in the south part of Kalamazoo township), J. E. Dodson, and others, and services were held in the frame school-house at Indian Fields Corners. Elders Merrill and Winchell were the first preachers who located in town, the latter coming first, as elsewhere mentioned.
The township contains three cemeteries,-one on section 2, another on section 8, and the third on section 34, the latter being of recent date.
To those who have rendered valuable assistance to the historian in his endeavors to gather the foregoing facts
*
FARM & RES. OF WILLIA
MILHAM, PORTAGE, MICH.
433
TOWNSHIP OF PORTAGE.
sincere thanks are tendered. Among the number may be mentioned Caleb Sweetland and Benj. M. Austin, of Kala- mazoo ; Harvey S. Booth, Daniel Cahill, Thomas Cooley, Eli Harrison, Samuel Crooks, and John E. Woodard, of the township of Portage; and Charles O. Cobb, township clerk, for the use of the records.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN F. OLIVER
was born in Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1820. His father, George C. Oliver, was born in Scotland, and came to this country in 1795, being then ten years of age. He moved to Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1826, where he lived until 1843, when he came to Kalamazoo County, and settled in Portage, where he died, Feb. 11, 1850, aged sixty-five years.
John F. Oliver lived with his parents until March, 1849, at which time he married Lucy, daughter of Elijah Root, who came from Genesee Co., N. Y., and settled in Portage, in 1833. He was one of the earliest settlers in this town. He was supervisor in the years 1861 to 1865 inclusive. He died April 16, 1861.
Soon after Mr. Oliver was married he built a small house on fifty acres of unimproved land, which was a portion of his father's farm. From this small beginning he has become the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, well im- proved, with fine buildings and pleasant surroundings. Politically, Mr. Oliver was originally a Whig. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been identified with it. He has held the offices of school inspector, town clerk, supervisor, and justice of the peace for several years, and is the representative of his district in the present Legis- lature (1880).
He has two sons : the oldest, William H., married Geor- giana Marsh, and lives near the old home ; John K. resides at home, and a daughter died in infancy.
Coming into the county in the early days of its settle- ment, Mr. Oliver has watched the progress of improvements in the various branches of industry with interest. A man of strong personal character, he is plain and unassuming ; largely interested and well versed in the important topics of the day, and possesses that sound judgment characteristic of the self-made men of Michigan.
JAMES N. COOLEY
was born in Le Roy, Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1817. His grandfather, Reuben Cooley, came from Massachusetts and settled in Le Roy in 1811. When a boy, James N. went with his father, Benjamin Cooley, to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he grew to manhood. He was the only child, and lived with his parents until the death of his father, which occurred in 1850. From that time James N. con- tinued to carry on the farm until 1865, when he sold out and came to Kalamazoo County, and purchased a farm at " Carpenter's Corners," in the township of Portage, where he has since resided. Upon this farm he has erected fine
buildings and made substantial improvements, farming being his principal business, although he has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, and is at present engaged extensively in the sale of the spring-tooth harrow manufac- tured by D. Waterbury & Co., of Kalamazoo.
WILLIAM MILHAM
was born in the town of Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y., Sept. 5, 1824. When he was twenty years old he came to Michigan with his father, John Milham, who settled in the town of Kalamazoo. William remained with his father four years. He then started out in life for himself, buying, in company with his brother, of a Mr. Stone, the two hun- dred acres of land he now owns in Portage, and on which he resides. The quarter-section on which his buildings are situated had nearly all been broken up, and on it were a small house and two barns. In 1857 he bought his broth- er's share in the farm, giving him as part payment one hundred and sixty acres of timber-land which he had pre- viously purchased. Mr. Milham has improved his farm, and built a large and beautiful house with fine outbuildings. His location is a sightly one, being in the centre of a large park, tastefully ornamented with trees and shrubbery. To his farm he has added, until at this time he owns about four hundred acres. Mr. Milham is not a politician, but always votes. He is a Democrat.
Mr. Milham has been thrice married. His first wife was Miss Ann Eliza Ham, who was born in Claverack, N. Y., Nov. 30, 1826. They were married April 19, 1849. There was born to them one child, Annie E., April 27, 1862. Mrs. Milham died May 27, 1862.
For his second wife he married Mariette Root, who died in 1866.
Married, third, Miss Emma Scudder, who was born in Newton village, Conn., Dec. 8, 1837 ; died March 27, 1876. There was born to them one daughter, Flora E., July 3, 1870.
HARVEY S. BOOTH
was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Nov. 28, 1810. When a lad his father moved with the family to the then frontier of Western New York, where Harvey S. lived until 1837, when he emigrated to Kalamazoo County, and engaged in building barns, making this a specialty and employing several men. From this enterprise he secured sufficient means to purchase eighty acres of land, and was married, Oct. 27, 1840, to Tirzah S. Osborn, daughter of Deacon William Osborn, who came from Utica, N. Y., where she was born Sept. 6, 1820. To this union have been born two daughters,-Amelia F., who married J. P. Stevens, of Kalamazoo ; and Sarah Belle, who is unmarried. Soon after they were married Mr. Booth and his wife settled on their land, built a small house, and commenced to make a home. Here they have lived for nearly forty years, and by their industry, economy, and good management have a fine farm, with large and commodious buildings, and pleasant surroundings.
Mr. Booth has been prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of the town since its organization.
55
434
HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
He has held the office of justice of the peace most of the time since that date. Politically he was formerly a Whig, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. In all public affairs he takes an active part ; is interested in agricultural matters, and conducts his farm with a degree of intelligence that gives him good returns. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and has been Master of the grange.
His neighbors again and again have left the adjustment of their differences to him, without process of law, thus real- izing the beauty and excellence of the Scripture text, " Be- hold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity !" The interests of the widow and or- phan have had his consideration, and always with an effort on his part to protect them against the avarice and grasping disposition of the selfish. Order, system, and well-concerted
0
LITTLE
Photos. by Packard, Kalamazoo.
HARVEY S. BOOTH.
MRS. HARVEY S. BOOTH.
But a small number of men now living date back for so many years to a constant residence in the township of Port- age as Harvey S. Booth. His fellow-townsmen all speak kindly of him : they point to him as the man who has the firmness and integrity to hold the scales of justice nicely balanced; and with proper consideration of these qualities, they have given him, by a strong voice of the people, the place of justice of the peace for a long series of years.
plans are evident in all his efforts, especially in farm man- agement. Whoever visits the premises owned and occupied by Harvey S. Booth and his good wife are sure of a gen- erous welcome, and the recollection of the visit always brings up the idea that here is a family who might with profit be imitated by many others for their industry, prac- tical skill and management, and kind consideration for the interests of their acquaintances and neighbors.
RES. OF H. S. BOOTH , PORTAGE, KALAMAZOO CO., MICH.
PRAIRIE RONDE.
NATURAL FEATURES.
Geographical .- The township of Prairie Ronde occupies the southwest corner of Kalamazoo County, and is desig- nated on the government survey of Michigan as township 4 south, in range 12 west. It was surveyed into sections and their subdivisions, in 1829, by Edward H. Lytle. It is bounded north by Texas township, east by Schoolcraft, south by St. Joseph County, west by Van Buren County.
Topography, Soils, etc .- Within this township lies some- thing less than half of the famous " Prairie Ronde," a broad and beautiful savanna, covered, at the date when its vicinity first became the abode of the white man, with a vesture of flowers that gave it almost fairy-like beauty. Its gentle swells and generally pleasing aspect, together with its excellent soil,-being a rich black loam,-capti- vated the pioneer beholder, and it is not to be wondered at that the first settler in the township or county should have made his home on its confines. The surface of the town- ship is generally level, with slight undulations along the streams. The soil, aside from that of the prairie, is of that quality peculiar to the lower peninsula of Michigan, being more or less sandy, with clay in some places. It is excel- lent for the growth of fruit and grain. The principal water- course of the township is Rocky Creek, which flows in a gentle depression known as " Pleasant Valley." The gen- eral course of the stream is southeast, and it furnishes considerable water-power.
The Northwestern Grand Trunk Railway crosses the . southeastern portion of the township diagonally from north- east to southwest. This road was formerly known as the " Peninsular Railway," and later as the " Chicago and Lake Huron" and " Chicago and Northeastern." It was built about 1871.
Several small lakes and ponds are found in the township, most of them being quite shallow. Paw Paw Lake lies partly on sections 5 and 6, the balance being in Texas town- ship. Wolf Lake is a small sheet of water on the north- west corner of section 2. On the same section also is Har- rison Lake, so named from the first settler in the town and county. It at one time contained a volume of water having a depth of some sixteen feet, but at present is little else than an extensive marsh. It has at times been stocked with fish, which thrived while there was a sufficient depth of water, but dry seasons and extreme cold winters com- bined to dry up the lake and freeze the fish. Several other ponds are shown on the map which are not designated by name.
In the southeast part of the town is the locality long known as "Insley's Corners." The southern portion of the township, which was quite heavily timbered, was settled much later than the remainder, not claiming the attention
of the pioneers until after the prairie was nearly or quite all appropriated ; yet very good, and in some places excel- lent, improvements have been made, and the south part of the township is at present in a prosperous state.
INDIAN VILLAGE.
On the northwest corner of Prairie Ronde a band of some 250 Pottawattomies and Ottawas, under the chieftainship of Sa-ga-maw, had a village and cultivated fields. The burial-ground for their chiefs was located where is now George Nesbitt's orchard, and there Sa-ga-maw was buried. While living with his son the old chief was killed by an Indian from near Jackson, to avenge some real or fancied wrong, and the son succeeded to the chieftainship. Another burial-place used by them was located some forty rods far- ther west. The Indians were greatly attached to the locality in which their village lay, and were exceedingly loth to leave it. It is asserted that after the treaty at Chicago, in 1821, ceding the southwestern portion of the State-except cer- tain reservations-to the government, the line of the Not- tawa-scepe reservation was run eight miles farther east than was agreed upon, and the Indians were consequently greatly discontented. However, they finally removed to it, and about 1833-34 the settlers broke up about 80 acres of land for them on Gourd-Neck Prairie. More or less dissatisfaction always existed concerning this reservation, and after it was purchased of the Indians, in 1833, it was not until 1840 that they were finally removed to a home in the then " far West," although the stipulation of the sale was that they were only to remain upon the land two years, or until 1835.
LAND-ENTRIES.
The following is a list of those who entered land in what is now Prairie Ronde township, together with the section and year of entry :
Section 1 .- 1831, John Perrine, Nathaniel Leverich, Doctor Smith, Ambrose Searle, Daniel Bacon.
Section 2 .- 1830, James M. Fellows, Elias S. Harrison ; 1831, Joseph A. Smith, John Perrine, Bazel Harrison, Roswell Kelsey.
Section 3 .- 1830, Towner Savage, Noble Mckinstry, John Nesbitt, Robert Nesbitt; 1831, Isaac N. Hurd, Noble Mckinstry ; 1836, George Nesbitt, Darius Wells.
Section 4 .- 1830, Josiah Rosecrants ; 1831, Jonas Barber, Bazel Har- rison ; 1832, Lucius Lyon, Alonzo Van Duzer, Major Griswold Van Duzer ; 1836, Joseph Roby.
Section 5 .- 1831, Reuben W. Fox; 1832, John Perrine ; 1834, Russell Munger ; 1835, Niles H. Kinney, John Wilsey, and Carlos Wil- liams; 1836, Joseph Roby.
Section 6 .- 1834, William Bishop ; 1835, Niles H. Kinney, William Spears; 1836, George Emerson, Joseph Roby.
Section 7 .- 1834, William Bishop; 1835, James D. Smith, James S. Cowgill, Peter F. Alexander, Niles H. Kinney, Henry D. Mun- ger; 1836, James D. Smith, William Bishop.
Section 8 .- 1831, Roswell Kelsey ; 1832, Oscar Fitzgerald Eckler ; 1834, Abram Ingle Shaver; 1835, Niles H. Kinney, Isaac W.
435
436
HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Gould, Ira Carpenter, Marsden Alexander, John Kelly ; 1837, N. H. Kinney.
Section 9 .- 1830, John Nesbitt, Robert Nesbitt; 1831, Abram I. Shaver, Allen Sumner; 1832, Major Griswold Van Duzer, Alan- son Wood ; 1833, Hannibal G. Rice; 1835, Daniel Bates.
Section 10. - 1830, John Kelly, Thomas Barber, Abram I. Shaver, Jonas Barber; 1831, Isaac Sumner, Allen Sumner.
Section 11 .- 1830, William A. Bishop ; 1831, Abram Davidson, H. G. Rice, A. Wood, L. Lyon, Bazel Harrison, Thomas Bendure.
Section 12 .- 1830, Ephraim Harrison ; 1831, Reuben W. Fox, John Perrine, Robert and James Smith, Stephen Hoyt, Richard Holmes, L. Lyon.
Section 13 .- 1830, Henry Whipple ; 1831, Christiana Charles, Towner Savage: 1832, Godfrey Knight, Lyman Isbell, Daniels and Dela- more Duncan, Thomas C. Sheldon, Eurotas P. Hastings.
Section 14 .- 1830, Thomas Stillwell, Stephen H. Richardson, Titus Bronson, Andrew Calhoun; 1831, Abner Calhoun.
Section 15 .- 1830, Abram I. Shaver ; 1831, James and Robert Smith, Titus Bronson, Jacob Winter; 1835, Marsden Alexander, John Kelly ; 1836, Samuel Hackett ; 1837, James Cate, Jr .; 1853, Thaddeus Smith ; 1855, Abram I. Shaver. . Section 16 .- School land.
Section 17 .- 1834, Abram I. Shaver; 1835, Nelson W. Alexander, Henry D. Munger, Dennis Bates ; 1836, S. H. Richardson, Joseph Roby.
Section 18 .- 1833, John Jewell ; 1835, Luke Munger, Samuel Covey, H. D. Munger.
Section 19 .- 1833, John Jewell ; 1835, Elijah Kinney, Asa C. Briggs ; 1837, Jerome Cobb ; 1839, Warren Covey ; 1850, Jedson Ball.
Section 20 .- 1835, Salmon Grant, Stephen W. Frank ; 1836, Jesse Smith ; 1855, Alfred Howard.
Section 21 .- 1835, Luther Carleton, Delamore Duncan, John Dix ; 1836, Abram Wigant, John S. Hoyt, Nathan M. Thomas; 1837, John Cowgill, Nathan M. Thomas.
Section 22 .- 1831, James Smith, Robert Smith, Abner Calhoun, and I. Sumner ; 1835, John V. Buskirk ; 1836, Ransford C. Hoyt, Justin Clark, William Duncan, Jr .; 1837, Jesse M. Crosse ; 1855, John Hartman.
Section 23 .- 1830, Isaac Sumner, Justin Clark, George Brown, John Insley, Peter Wigant, Stephens Hoyt; 1831, Isaac Sumner.
Section 24 .- 1830, George Brown, Ransford C. Hoyt, Henry Whipple; 1832, Charles Wolcott, James Knight, John Knight, Nathan M. Thomas, E. P. Hastings ; 1833, James Smith, Jr.
Section 25 .- 1830, David M. Hanson, Delamore Duncan, Justin Clark, Joseph Bair, David Beadle, John Insley ; 1831, C. Bair. Section 26 .- 1830, R. C. Hoyt, Joseph Bair, Jonas Barber, Peter Wigant; 1831, Stephens Hoyt, John Bair ; 1836, Jonas Knight ; 1837, Jay R. Monroe.
Section 27 .- 1836, John Knight, Samuel Stewer; 1837, William Dun- can, Jr., Stiles K. Dodson, Godfrey Knight; latter also in 1852- 53; 1854-55, Delamore Duncan.
Section 28 .- 1835, D. Duncan ; 1836, John Knight, George Wilson, Jeremiah Humphreys ; 1837, Nancy Alexander.
Section 29 .- 1836, Godfrey Knight, Chauncey B. Slade, J. Humphreys, Daniel Whitfield; 1837, Joshua B. Dunkin ; 1851, David G. Kendall ; 1854, John Insley.
Section 30 .- 1837, Robert Morris, James Knight, William M. Adams, Vincent L. Bradford, James Knight ; 1852, John T. Knight.
Section 31 .- 1836, Robert Morris ; 1855, J. M. Day, Hiram Baker. Section 32 .- 1836, Godfrey Knight, Isaac T. Raymond ; 1837, V. L. Bradford.
Section 33 .- 1836, John Knight; 1837, John Knight, James Knight, James R. Mancell.
Section 34 .- 1835, D. Duncan; 1836, John Knight; 1837, John Knight and Delamore Duncan, Richard Knight.
Section 35 .- 1830, Delamore Duncan, Stephens Hoyt; 1831, Robert and James Smith, James Townsend, Samuel Hackett, E. H. Lothrop, Jacob Hendricks ; 1836, John N. Wheeler, Abraham C. Prutz- man.
Section 36 .- 1830, Abiel Fellows, Erastus Guilford, William Duncan ; 1830-31, Jonathan Wood.
EARLY SETTLEMENT-PIONEER INCIDENTS.
In what is now the township of Prairie Ronde was made the first permanent settlement in Kalamazoo County. The
location was in its northeast portion, near a beautiful lake, and the person who had the honor of being the pioneer set- tler of the county-at the time being nearly sixty years of age-lived until the winds of more than "a hundred winters" had "whistled through his branches," and departed to the realm of the future in the knowledge that all his life long he had never known a personal enemy. His name- BAZEL HARRISON-will long be revered by those who knew him or shall read of him from the historic page. His father's brother, Benjamin Harrison, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the judge was therefore a cousin of President Harrison, the hero of Fort Meigs and Tippecanoe.
The time at which Judge Harrison settled on the prairie has been the subject of much discussion, some averring that it was in the fall of 1827, and others that it was in the fall of 1828. From all evidence it is hardly to be dis- puted that the date of his arrival was the 5th day of November, 1828. James H. Stone, Esq., of Kalamazoo, formerly editor and proprietor of the Kalamazoo Telegraph, prepared, with much pains, an interesting sketch of the life of Judge Harrison, which was published in 1874, immedi- ately after the death of the latter, and it is thought proper to incorporate a large portion of it in this history, as it is very complete and authentic :
"Judge Harrison came of not only hardy stock, but patriotic an- cestry. His paternal grandfather, William Harrison, was a native of Scotland, and his grandmother of Welsh birth. These grandparents emigrated to Virginia, and settled either in Berkeley or Charles City County early in the last century. His father's name was also William Harrison, and he was born in Berkeley, Va., about 1732. William Harrison, Jr., was twice married, and by his two wives was the father of 23 children, our centenarian being a son of the second wife, whose name was Worlender Davis. His father married her in Maryland about the same time his younger brother, Benjamin Harrison (father of President Harrison and uncle of the judge), married her mother, Clara Davis, a widow. These two brothers seem to have been very unlike in tastes and character. Benjamin Harrison, as is well known, was one of the prominent men of the Revolution, a man of great in- tellectual power and brilliant career. He entered public life at twenty-four, as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, of which he soon became one of the leaders. He participated in the proceedings of the first Congress, and was one of the signers of the Declaration, and during the first two years of the war served with distinction as chairman of the board of war. He was an intimate friend of Washington, and was three times elected Governor of Vir- ginia. William Harrison, the father of the subject of our sketch, was not lacking in natural capacity and not behind his younger brother in patriotism. But he seems to have been one of those characters, so frequently found in great families, who are never successful. He was, so far as we are able to learn, of good habits and industrious, but, as his grandson (who remembers him well) said to the writer, 'He never got ahead; he farmed it all his life, yet never owned a farm !'# If, however, he did not render so great service to his country as his illustrious brother, he did not live in vain, and was not lacking in patriotic endeavor. Of his 23 children 16 attained their majority, and Judge Harrison has several times described to us, with pride and enthusiasm, the departure of six of his older brothers for Washington's army. It must have been in the year 1778, perhaps just after Clin- ton's defeat at Monmouth had kindled the hopes of patriots, or the inhuman massacre by Butler's savages at Wyoming had aroused their indignation and fears, and the father's address to his sons was worthy a sire of Rome or Sparta. 'Boys,' said he to his six stalwart grown sons, ' I cannot go into the army myself,-I am too old, and must remain to care for mother and the younger children, but I will
* With 23 children and living in Virginia, who could wonder ?- HISTORIAN.
JUDGE BAZEL HARRISON.
437
TOWNSHIP OF PRAIRIE RONDE.
look after the farm and raise the crops while you are gone. We must not let the British get a foothold in this country. We had better all die than to do that. Go and fight for your country and follow where Washington leads, and may God bless and keep you!' As the old judge last summer (1873) described to us this scene, there was some- thing of youthful fire in his half-dimmed eyes, and his voice strengthened as he related this event of nearly a hundred years ago. It evidently made an impression on his youthful mind never to be effaced. 'Oh, yes, I remember well,' said he; 'we all helped them put on their guns and swords, and I saw them march away together, just at daylight, to fight under Washington.' And then he related some of their narrow escapes and spoke of wounds they had received; how ' Kinzie had a bullet in his neck,' which he would never have ex- tracted, but carried with him to his grave that souvenir of battle.
"The judge's father had learned to love and honor Washington, for he had been with him in Braddock's expedition, and often told his children the story of that awful day and the charmned life that the young Virginian colonel, who was afterwards to be so great in history, seemed to bear.
"Just when and where the judge's parents were married we have been unable to definitely fix. They were, we think, however, married in Frederick Co., Md., about 1750, for men and women married young in those days. Our centenarian was born in the county named, thirty miles from Baltimore. As to the year of his birth, there is, and has been for quite a number of years, some dispute in the family. The old family record was destroyed about 1839, and the children do not agree as to the date. The oldest son, William Harrison, who lives in Climax, contends that it was in 1770, and assures us that he knows he is right, for he had made a transcript of the old Bible record only a few weeks before that was destroyed, at the burning of his sister's house, thirty years ago, and this copy he exhibited to us. He is just twenty years, lacking two months, younger than his father, and is positive of the accuracy of his statement, which, he says, his mother corroborated just before her death. Judge Harrison himself says he was born in 1771, and that is the year all the children, except the oldest, agreed upon. We have made considerable effort to gather evidence on this point, and in the course of the search have talked with the judge's neighbors and fellow-pioneers. Several of these latter claim that the judge stated to them, while the old record was in existence, that he was born in 1772. Many of our readers, at first thought, may consider it strange that there should be any dispute on a simple question of age, but in the course of our search on this sub- ject not less than ten similar cases have been related to us, and that such disagreements are quite common in old families, and among even middle-aged people, any one by a little attention to the subject will discover. It is only fair, when there is such disagreement, to be gov- erned by the preponderance of family testimony, and that fixes the date of the judge's birth at March 15, 1771.
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