History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 129

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

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In 1858-59, Professor N. H. Walbridge, then recently of Yellow Springs, Ohio, now of Cedar Springs, Mich., had charge of the school. He was succeeded by J. C. Bur- rows, then of Ashtabula, Ohio, now the able member of Con- gress from this district. Mr. Burrows was followed by Professor Asa S. Hardy, of Amherst College, and he, in turn, by Professor E. G. Hall, who conducted it for two years. Professor Hall was subsequently also for a number of years county superintendent of schools.

Among others who managed the school, with varied suc- cess, were Professor J. W. Banfield, T. W. Crissy, the lat- ter now a resident of Flint ; ex-Senator W. P. Andrus, of Kent County ; Professor H. C. Howland, Dr. William Bovee, Professor C. W. Wooster, and Professor Walbridge again in 1872-73, Professor Webb, Professor Wells, and Professor A. E. Ross.

The school was in operation, with varying fortunes, for a period of about twenty years, the last term having been in 1877.

When it was first opened pupils came from considerable distances, and this continued until the system of union schools was in successful operation in the adjacent country, when its patronage sensibly diminished, as the home schools presented the same advantages, at a less cost, which the Prairie Seminary had formerly offered.

No attempt has been made for a number of years to sus- tain a school, though the organization still exists, and in case the necessities of the village require a higher grade of schools than now possessed, the property may be converted to profitable uses for high school or other purposes.

It was never expected by the original promoters of the enterprise that it would be profitable in a pecuniary sense, and, in fact, a considerable outlay was annually required in addition to the income from tuitions to keep the school in operation, and to make repairs, etc., but the stockholders and managers had the satisfaction of knowing that it had been an exceedingly useful institution, sending forth a large number of students, well educated, and prepared for respon- sible and honorable positions in society. The average at- tendance, in the most prosperous days of the school, was about 100.

Among those who have filled the position of trustees, in addition to those already named, may be mentioned Gilbert E. Read, W. C. Sabin, J. S. Lynch, William Doolittle, C. B. Brown, Randall Crosby, S. B. Patrick, C. W. Jones, A. S. Parker, R. H. Warn, Stillman Jackson, Dr. R. S. Haw- ley, S. T. Brown, and Henry Knappen.

The present trustees are Rev. Milton Bradley, Gilbert E. Read, C. W. Jones, C. B. Brown, William Doolittle, and Stillman Jackson. Messrs. Bradley and Read have served longest, having filled the office for twenty-three years each. The present amount of stock is about $3000.

We would tender our thanks to Hon. Gilbert E. Read, Rev. Milton Bradley, and many others, for information fur- nished and favors extended in preparing this history of Richland township.

* Material for this article furnished by courtesy of Hon. Gilbert E. Read.

Photo. by Packard, Kalamazoo.

MORGAN CURTIS, EsQ.,

was the third child in a family of ten children, born in Cort- land, Cortland Co., N. Y., in 1810. The Curtis and Cham- berlain families came from Dudley, Mass. His father, Moses Curtis, married Miss C. Cloa Chamberlain in 1805. While a lad, Morgan worked with his father in clearing up the new, heavy-timbered farm every summer, going to a winter school four months in the year, until he was twenty years old. The oldest brother had gone to learn a trade, the second had died early, which left the burden of work upon him as a helper of his father. At the age of twenty he bought his time of his father for forty dollars, and hired out to an uncle for one year at ten dollars per month. With this wages he paid his father for his time and clothed himself. After that he taught school each winter four months for four years, and worked for the same uncle eight months every year, losing no time in going from one business to the other. He came to Richland, Kala- mazoo Co., Mich., June 22, 1836, and hired out to Hildah Barritt for three months at sixteen dollars per month. His first work under that contract was planting potatoes before sunrise, after milking the cows. The work of that summer took him through a heavy harvest, when all the grain was cut with a cradle. In the winter of 1836-37 he taught school in a log house on the east part of the Knappen farm, at ten dollars per month, taking his pay in "dicker." In the win- ter of 1837-38 he taught school in Gun Plain, in a log house used as a school-house, church, and for all other public meet- ings. There he first met Miss Isabella Monteith, daughter of William and Jeannette Monteith, a Scotch family, and resi- dents of that district. After such preliminaries as the new country afforded, they were married by Rev. Calvin Clark, March 25, 1840. He bought the farm now (1879) owned by Mr. Birge, and moved into his own log house.

Here we find him in 1840-41, teaching in the upper room of his own house, finding room, stove, and wood for thirteen dollars per month, paid in the barter of the country. Before and after school hours he was cutting wood, caring for his stock, and hauling logs two miles west to a saw-mill on Spring Brook. To save time, he took his axe, started his oxen, and

" butted off " his logs while on the way to the saw-mill. This was the period of greatest uncertainty and trial for all the families of the community. Sickness, failure in crops, and the low price of all produce, rendered success very uncertain. He did not begin to recover himself until he exchanged his farm for the one formerly owned by Levi White. Toiling early and late, and aided by his noble wife, with rigid economy, he was finally successful, and in no year since 1844 have his expenses been equal to his income. Steady toil, careful- ness, and business habits have secured for him, his wife, and his children a competence,-a home of comfort and abundance in his declining years. He has risen to his present position by the most determined industry and perseverance. It has not been accomplished by aid from others, or fortunate invest- ments. He and his wife early united with the Presbyterian Church of Richland. They have been constant attendants upon its worship, and aided in sustaining its interests. He has been an officer in the church, and for years a trustee in the Presbyterian society, and has sought to promote both the temporal and spiritual interests of that congregation. No man has been more decided against irreligion and impiety. He aided in building " Prairie Seminary," was a member of the board of trustees, and for ten years co-operated efficiently and liberally, with others, in sustaining that seminary.

He has been outspoken against intemperance and all forms of prodigality, and has always sought to influence the young men for integrity, industry, and good morals. He is known to abhor an idle, inefficient life, and to frown upon all business transactions which are not legitimate and honorable.

Much is due to Mrs. Curtis in all these years of toil. Of her it could always be said, "She looketh well to the ways of her household." Now "Her children rise up and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Two children were taken away early,-one of them as he was just ready for business, a promising young man. Two remain, Mr. William L. Curtis, successful in business here, and a respected citizen, and Mrs. Jeannette C. Wylie, pleasantly settled at Grand Rapids, Mich.

REV. M . BRADLEY,

LEONARD SLATER.

G. E READ.

ALFRED

NEVINS.

477

TOWNSHIP OF RICHLAND.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. GILBERT E. READ .*

Mr. Read comes of good ancestry. His father, Deacon Rufus Read, was a native of New Haven, Coun. ; his mother, whose maiden name was Rhoda K. Dean, was from Taunton, Mass. ; both families were of Revolutionary stock. His grandfather, Rev. Peter Read, was one of the early pio- neers of Ludlow, Vt., and took an active part in its early history. He was its first Congregational minister, and its first representative to the State Legislature.

Mr. Read was born in Ludlow, on the 6th day of May, 1822. His father began life as a farmer. Gilbert early acquired a fondness for books, and eagerly devoured every volume that came in his way. At the age of thirteen his pa- rents placed him in a store, thinking a mercantile education would be best for him ; but this did not suit him, he longed for his books, and finally persuaded his father to let him re- turn to school. He came back to the farm with the under- standing that at the age of fifteen he should commence a regular course of education. But the financial crash of 1837 came, and his father, by signing for friends, became hope- lessly involved. Broken down in health, with a family of ten children to support, the cherished plan of the education of his son was abandoned. This threw Gilbert upon his own resources. He saw that his first duty was to help support the family, and then to look after his own education. A sojourn of four years with his father's family in Claremont, N. H., brought him the advantages of one term of school- ing at Black River Academy, and two at Claremont Semi- nary. These degrees in education he himself earned. At eighteen he taught a district school, and continued for seven years, teaching usually in the winter.

In June, 1842, he came with his father's family to Rich- land, Mich., where he has since lived, and where, for the next five years, he labored for the support of the family, eight of whom were younger than himself. His father's health being poor, it devolved on his son to devise the means to clothe and educate the children, and to give them a start in life. And nothing deterred him from it ; although opportunities were offered greatly to his advantage, yet he remained with the family and labored for their support. In 1848 his father sought a milder climate, and removed to Cin- cinnati, where a daughter lived, and where, eventually, the rest of the family in Michigan, save Gilbert, went.

Mr. Read was converted at Claremont, N. H., and united with the Congregational Church in that place in 1842, and united with the Presbyterian Church in Richland in 1843.

He began his political life as a Whig. From the time of his first vote he became an active worker in the old Whig ranks, and was chairman of the Richland township committee till the formation of the Republican party, and was usually sent as delegate to the county convention, and frequently from there to the district or State convention. He was a delegate to the last Whig convention, and went for the purpose of seeing the grand old party decently buried, and to indorse the Republican movement. He was

always a strong anti-slavery man, and consequently was ready, in 1854, to become a true Republican.

As soon as he was of age he was elected school inspector, and held that office, and that of township clerk, for the next seven years. In 1854 he was elected supervisor on the Whig ticket. This was the last time the old Whigs elected a ticket in Richland. He held that office for four suc- cessive years, and for three of them was elected chairman of the board of supervisors. In 1860 the east district of the county sent him to the State Legislature, where he served as chairman of the committee on the reform school and was on the committee of banks and incorporations, the third committee of importance in the House. This Legis- lature was one of the most important in our history. With a bankrupt treasury, it was compelled to devise means to pay off a heavy State debt, and then provide for raising troops, both of which it courageously undertook, and which re- sulted in the adoption of a financial State policy that has made Michigan the pride of the Union. He was returned to the House in 1862, and was made chairman of the com- mittee on State affairs, then one of the most important committees in the Legislature. He also served on the committee on State prison. During this term he won the reputation of being a successful legislator, and was looked upon as one of the leaders on the Republican side. He had at this time charge of some of the most important matters relating to the State and the war.

In 1864 he was again returned to the House ; was elected Speaker, and presided with great ability through the long and trying session of 1865. "In 1870 he was assistant United States marshal for the eastern district of the county, and took the census. In 1875 he was elected super- visor of Richland, and again in 1876, and represented the county at the State board of equalization, and succeeded in reducing the assessed valuation of the county. In No- vember of the same year he was elected to the State Senate, and was made chairman of the committee on State affairs, and served on the committee on agriculture and the agri- cultural college.

Mr. Read has always taken a lively interest in all benev- olent, educational, and temperance movements. He was one of the originators and stockholders of the Prairie Seminary, and for over twenty years one of its trustees. For several years he has been superintendent of the Pres- byterian Sabbath-school. He has been a useful and in- fluential man in his township.

He was early interested in the railroad project to connect Richland with Battle Creek, which resulted in the build- ing of the Mansfield and Coldwater Railroad.

Mr. Read has acquired a handsome property by his vo- cation as farmer, to which he has added of late years by the manufacture and sale of lumber.

He was married, on the 6th of March, 1856, to Miss Mary A. Daniels, eldest daughter of David H. Daniels, of Gales- burg. They have an interesting family of children, and purpose to give them a thorough education. Whatever the family has of wealth and prosperity, or that would add to its comfort and happiness, credit should be given to Mrs. Read for performing her full part in securing it. An excellent housewife and mother, she has the true, lady-like

* By A. D. P. Van Buren, Esq.

478

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

kindness to make the friends of her husband feel the full enjoyment of home in her own house.

Gilbert E. Read is a true type of the self-made man. What he has got of wealth or education he has earned. And he has not been content with merely securing a com- petency for life ; he has been a diligent reader of books, and has gathered from them treasures that enrich the man, and compared with which the highest treasures of the world are valueless.

Mr. Read's strength lies in doing well what he under- takes. From pathmaster to senator, efficiency and thor- oughness characterize his work. He has quick perceptions, a retentive memory, and a logical mind ; while the good sense begot of experience has directed his course and made him the man ready for the occasion. One may know a great many things, and not know any of them well ; and he may possess much knowledge, and not be able to use half of it. As will be seen, Mr. Read had early learned to husband his own resources, and to make the best use of the knowledge he possessed. This is of the greatest value to man,

"For life and learning doth. not excel In doing much, but in doing well."

Mr. Read is yet in the full vigor of manhood. He is a man of high social worth, an influential citizen, a useful public man, and an able legislator.

REV. MILTON BRADLEY,*

the son of Truman and Sarah Bradley, was born in Stock- holm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 13, 1812. The country was new. Their log-house home was on the banks of the St. Regis River. The Indians trapped and hunted near them, and were often at their house. The family came from Vermont in 1810. They were originally from Connecticut. He was educated in the district school, attend- ing three months in the year. At the age of seventeen he went to St. Lawrence Academy, in Potsdam, N. Y., then under the care of Rev. Asa Brainerd. In 1829 he united with the Presbyterian Church in Potsdam, of which the late Rev. O. P. Hoyt was pastor. He remained there two years, and in 1831 entered Middlebury College, and graduated in 1835. Dr. H. D. Kitchel, late of Detroit, and Hon. N. A. Balch were members of that class. In 1835-37 he had charge of Fort Covington Academy, New York, going from there to Auburn Theological Seminary. In May, 1838, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the St. Law- rence Congregational Consociation, and in September, 1838, took charge of the Congregational Church in Parishville, N. Y. He was married, Sept. 5, 1838, to Miss Sarah Jones by Rev. Aaron Foster. In 1839 he was dismissed from the Consociation and united with the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, and was ordained by that body, and by a council installed as pastor of the church in Parishville, where he 'remained five years, prospered and sustained by a united people. The health of Mrs. Bradley required a change. By the advice of Rev. O. P. Hoyt, he came to Richland, Mich., in October, 1843. Rev. Calvin Clark had left the

Presbyterian Church the July previous. After preaching in Richland three months, he was called to settle as pastor on a salary of four hundred dollars. This call was not immediately answered, and the winter of 1843-44 was spent in Illinois. In May, 1844, the call was accepted, and he was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church on the 10th of July, 1844, by the Presbytery of Kalamazoo. Rev. O. P. Hoyt preached the sermon, Rev. C. Clark gave the charge to the people, and Rev. James McLaurin to the pastor. His time and strength have been given to the people, and they have been united and strengthened as a Christian congregation. The salary was gradually increased, and for several years has been one thousand dollars. Mrs. Bradley, who had long been an invalid, was called home, Sept. 11, 1871. She was worthy of the place which she held, and her memory is still cherished by the friends who knew her best. On the 22d of December, 1877, Mr. Bradley was suddenly laid aside from his work and absolute rest enjoined. The people kindly gave him a vacation of six months, con- tinuing his salary. At the end of this time he was not able to resume his work, and resigned. His resignation was ac- cepted, and by the concurrent action of the congregation and the Presbytery of Kalamazoo he was made pastor emeritus. He still remains in his home, and is regaining something of his former strength and vigor. He preached to this con- gregation for more than a third of a century,-the longest of any pastorate in the State. He has officiated at three hundred weddings and attended more than five hundred funerals, frequently going into the surrounding country for these services. Literally he has rejoiced with us in our prosperity, and sympathized with us in our sorrows, in all these years. His preaching has been thoroughly evan- gelical, with no sensational methods of work or teaching. He has especially endeavored to manifest everywhere a life in righteousness as an influence for Christianity. He awaits the ordering of our Lord.

ALFRED NEVINS

was from Hanover, N. H. He began his active life Feb. 7, 1798. His early opportunities for education were limited, but, improving his few advantages, he was able to commence school-teaching when he was twenty-one. He taught in Hav- erhill for five years. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Miss Cynthia Morse, of Haverhill. They removed from Haverhill to Braintree, Vt., where they resided until 1844. For forty years he taught school every winter and worked on the farm in the summer. He was an earnest, intelli- gent, and successful teacher, and was able to secure a pleas- ant home in Braintree. But he became involved for the benefit of others, and, in order to save a part of what had been gained by so much toil, he brought his family to Michigan, in May, 1844, and settled at Richland. He gath- ered up his scattered property as best he could, went again upon the farm and into the school-room. He taught in this town several terms, and held various offices of trust. In both teaching and farming he was full of energy and perseverance. The people trusted him implicitly. He was equal to any other man in reviving the farming and busi- ness interests of this community, while he was also fore-

* Prepared by William Doolittle.

479

TOWNSHIP OF RICHLAND.

most in promoting educational and religious interests. His energy and correctness in all that he undertook became a marked influence among the people. He was not merely a man of toil and business, but also a Christian man. He was a trustee of the Presbyterian Society, and also of Prairie Seminary, when he died. Early and late, summer and winter, he planned and toiled, and by the very force and integrity of his character he became a power among the people. But too early for us his health failed, and at the age of fifty-nine he calmly and in hope laid him down to rest. His worthy wife, who always shared with him the toil of life, remained here, in the family of a daughter, with children and grandchildren to minister to her wants.

DR. URIAH UPJOHN.

The Upjohns were from Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire, Eng- land. Rev. Wm. Upjohn, father of the subject of this biography, belonged to the Independents in England, and preached in Shaftesbury for thirty years without remunera-

DR. URIAH UPJOHN.

tion, believing it to be his duty to lead the sinner to the Redeemer without money and without price; he at the same time following his legitimate business as a civil en- gineer. He was a man of acknowledged ability and of good lineage. The doctor's mother's maiden name was Mary Standard. She was an excellent woman, and came from the Northcote family. Uriah, the ninth of twelve children, was born the 7th day of September, 1808, in Rumney, Monmouthshire, South Wales, where his parents were tem- porarily residing. To ascertain the true worth of a man it is necessary to know the influences to which he was exposed in his early days, the associations of his youth, the manner of his education ; these things have much to do with the career which follows. We find in Uriah's early life evident traces of a boy who was spelling and reading his way to a fully-developed man. He received the benefit of the ele-

mentary training of the English schools of his day. He was next placed in the Heytesbury and Castle Carry schools, where he went through a full academic course. He re- members that his father took him from school for a time to aid him in making a railroad survey from London to Ex- eter, the first survey of the kind in England. Amid the connective influences of an excellent home and the disci- pline and thorough training of good schools, Uriah passed from childhood to manhood. He remained at home until April, 1828, when he and his next older brother, William, bade good-bye to the inmates of the old home in " merrie England," and, taking passage in an ocean vessel, embarked with their effects and fortunes for the United States. After a prosperous voyage across the Atlantic, they arrived at New York City in June, and spent the summer traveling and prospecting through some of the Eastern and Southern States.

The following winter Uriah played the " English school- master abroad" for the people of East Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y. Early in the spring of 1830 he returned to Eng- land for the purpose of assisting his parents in their prepa- rations for removing to America. Arrangements being completed he, with his father's family, once more set sail for the New World, landing at New York in July, the same year. The family settled at Greenbush (East Albany), N. Y. It was while living here with his parents that he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Hale. He had while living in England given some attention to this study. Dr. Hale was a man of learning, and an able physician,-a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia. He was a man of high social standing, having married the granddaughter of Governor George Clinton, her father being the well-known " Citizen Genet." Mr. Up- john, after going through the full course of studies in the "College of Physicians and Surgeons" in New York City, graduated on the 25th of March, 1834. He had also at- tended the practice of " Physic and Surgery" in the New York Hospital during the two sessions of 1833-34; and had found time during his summer vacations to attend two full courses on surgery and anatomy under Professor Alden March, of Albany.

The following recommendation which our graduate bore with his diploma from college needs no word of comment :

"To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN :

"Be it known that Dr. Upjohn received his degree in our uni- versity yesterday. It affords me great pleasure to bear testimony to the great diligence with which he has pursued his studies, and to the uncommon proficiency which he evinced in his examination before the professors. My best wishes attend him in his career in life, and it is my opinion that wherever he may locate, he will be a valuable acquisition to his professional brethren and the community.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 129

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