History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 146

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

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534

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

and outcome. From that time his ruin was inevitable. He was obliged to make an assignment of his large stock of goods to secure his bondsmen in the wheat contract, and thereafter his course was ended as a business man. His real estate was all mortgaged, and redemption impossible. In the spring of 1841 his wife died, after a life of every grace and virtue that can adorn a woman, just in time to escape the misery of the total wreck of her husband's fortunes.

In less than a year, on the 4th day of February, 1842, he also was released from a life that had become hopeless and burdensome. So ended the life of this very able and remarkable man,-a man of the most noble and majestic person and bearing, of the noblest and most generous char- acter and disposition, utterly incapable of a mean or dis- honest, or ungenerous action ; the kindest of fathers and husbands, and, till the evil days came (the consequence of one only evil habit), the delight of all circles where he moved, and the pride and joy of his family and friends.

He had not a classical education, but was well versed in all the English branches then taught in common schools and academies, was an excellent mathematician, and a skilled theoretical and practical land surveyor. His reading was very extensive in the general literature of the time, and he was especially familiar with the English classics, taking great delight in, and reading and re-reading constantly, the works of Johnson, Addison, Goldsmith, and others. The novels and poetry of Walter Scott were a source of constant pleasure, and he took great delight in repeating the story of any of these novels, which he would do greatly to the entertainment of those who heard him.

The character of the feudal and border chieftains des- cribed by Scott was precisely in harmony with his chivalrous and somewhat domineering disposition. He liked nothing so well as to have numerous persons in his employ and de- pendent upon him, to whom he was always the generous employer and watchful protector. He always had a helpful hand for the destitute emigrant, frequently receiving large families under his roof and providing for their wants till provision could be made for their settlement.

In politics, Smith was a Whig, a great admirer of Daniel Webster, and a zealous advocate of the protective policy of Henry Clay. In religion, he was an ardent Universalist, well skilled in the doctrine and dialectics of the sect, and ready at all times to do battle in its behalf, and many an antagonist, if not convinced by his arguments. became wary of the contest.

A single incident will show his unbending integrity in financial matters. When his affairs had become hopelessly involved, and ruin and poverty inevitably approaching, although yet in possession of a large amount of property, he was approached by a legal friend, after this manner : " Smith, you cannot but be aware that in a short time your property will be gone and your family destitute. Ought you not, under the circumstances, to take measures to secure them a competence, or at least something, so that they shall not be left destitute and helpless ?" Smith turned upon him with a countenance of utter scorn, and replied : "Sir, every dollar I possess belongs to my creditors, and not to me, and they shall have it to the last dollar. Never presume again to make to me a similar proposition."

He left at his death seven children,-two sons and five daughters,-of whom three only are now living. Betsey, the eldest daughter, the wife of Norman Bigelow, lives upon the old homestead in Vermont ; Sally, the second daughter, is the widow of Hon. Williard C. Flagg, the well-known writer upon horticulture and similar topics, late of Moro, Ill. ; Marcia, another daughter, is the wife of Dr. Nathaniel Thomas, of Van Buren Co., Mich.

JEROME T. COBB,*

secretary of the Michigan State Grange, and editor of the Grange Visitor, was born in Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 29, 1821. His parents, with a family of six children, emigrated to Michigan in September, 1830. His father, Nathan Cobb, located one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 7 and 8, in Schoolcraft township, while the United States land-office for Western Michigan was at Monroe, and in October following built a log house and settled on these premises. His first schooling in Michigan was received at the first school taught in Schoolcraft, in the summer and fall of 1831, by his oldest sister, Mary Ann, in a log house on the farm of Richard Holmes. His first work that he well remembers was bringing water for family use from a spring by the Portage, nearly a mile northeast from home. In this he was assisted by his sister Caroline, now Mrs. Hathaway, carrying the water in a six- quart pail, on a stick, for four weeks. Within three years his father died, suddenly cutting off all hopes of that pros- perity which the work of an enterprising father in these brief years indicated as certain in the near future.

Mr. Cobb's educational advantages commenced the fol- lowing winter, 1834, in a log school-house near by, and for six successive winters he attended this school, working on the farm during the summers. This, with two months at the old " branch," in Kalamazoo, covered all his oppor- tunities for school education.

His time had been so well improved, however, that he taught school successfully during the four succeeding win- ters, in the good old days of " boarding 'round."

He married, in August, 1846, Miss Julianne Benton, of Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and settled on the old home- stead,-the farm which he now owns. The present dwell- ing of Mr. Cobb is on the site of what is claimed to have been the first framed house erected in Kalamazoo County. It was erected by Johnson Patrick, in the spring of 1831, and is on the northwest corner of section 20. Mr. Cobb's wife died within four years of their marriage. By this union he had one son, William B. Cobb, a practical and success- ful farmer, owning and cultivating a farm near Schoolcraft village. He was again married, in 1852, to Miss Harriet Felt, his present wife, a resident of his own township.

From boyhood until 1865, with the exception of a single year, he had lived upon the same farm, where he had applied himself closely to its improvement, and had, in common with others about him, met with that success which usually rewards honesty, industry, and economy.

* This biography was prepared by J. J. Woodman for publication in The Husbandman, of Elmira, N. Y., with portrait.

TOWNSHIP OF SCHOOLCRAFT.

535

In 1865 he made that mistake so common to the Ameri- can farmer. Not satisfied "with letting well enough alone," he rented his farm, moved to the village of School- craft, and engaged in trade, only to repeat the experience of a large majority of farmers who try that experiment. In closing out one branch of business he struck upon another, the manufacture of cooper stock, which, with his son, under the firm-name of J. T. Cobb & Son, he prose- cuted successfully for four years. His prosperity in busi- ness, however, was soon interrupted. April 17, 1873, the boiler of their mill exploded, making a wreck alike of the business and the mill, and killing the engineer.

This catastrophe, together with two fires involving losses covering a total of over twelve thousand dollars, after leaving his farm, constituted a series of business reverses that would

its ills and intent on appreciating all its blessings " before they take their flight."

He is not a politician in a partisan sense, though he takes a lively interest in everything which relates to the public welfare; and although he has had his full share of official position, office has always come to him unsought. .

Several times elected supervisor of his township, he is now serving the twenty-first year of consecutive service as county superintendent of the poor, discharging the duties of that responsible office to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned.

He united with Schoolcraft Grange in February, 1873, a few weeks after its organization, and has since been an active working member.

He was present as a visiting member at the organization

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have discouraged most men in his circumstances. Not so with him. With renewed energy and indomitable perse- verance, aided by an established character for integrity, he surmounted all difficulties, recovered lost ground, and is now in easy circumstances, enjoying a convenient and beautiful home, with pleasant surroundings, and in the possession of a liberal share of all life's blessings, and with social relations that few men more fully appreciate and enjoy.

Living, together with his son, daughter-in-law, and two lively little granddaughters, with his worthy and estimable wife, he makes his home the centre of a generous hospital- ity, recognizing the value and importance of securing the rational pleasures and enjoyments of life within his reach.

If proud of anything, it is of his "practical philosophy," -to make the best of all the circumstances of life, belittling

of the Michigan State Grange, April 15, 1873, and, on ac- count of his well-known ability and fitness for the position, was unanimously elected secretary of the State Grange,- a position which he still holds, having been three times re- elected, and by nearly a unanimous vote. He carried into this office the same business habits which had characterized his operations as a farmer and business man,-method, order, system, promptness, and untiring energy.

The business of his office with its records does credit to the great fraternity that has honored him, and which he in turn has honored by his long and faithful labors.

In April, 1875, the executive committee of the State Grange decided to issue a monthly sheet, and its. prepara- tion and supervision were placed under his direction. The popularity of the little sheet, under judicious management,

536

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

has twice required an enlargement, and before the close of the second volume it was issued semi-monthly. It has now reached a circulation of nearly four thousand five hundred copies, and finds a hearty welcome wherever known.

He rendered valuable aid to the executive committee of the State Grange in their efforts to break up the plaster monopoly of Michigan, which resulted so favorably to the farmers of the whole Northwest; and when material aid was required to accomplish this enterprise, he contributed his full share with the other members of the committee.

Without solicitation he was tendered the office of deputy oil inspector for the Fourth District of Michigan by State Inspector C. G. Luce, which he accepted, and entered upon its duties July 1, 1879.

He is emphatically a self-made man, and if what an eminent divine has recently said be true,-that " he who makes two laughs come where there was but one before is a greater benefactor of his race than he who makes two blades of grass grow where there was but one before,"_ then J. T. Cobb is truly a benefactor.

What he is and what he has have come through square dealing. He is well known and very popular among the Patrons of his State, and much of the success which has attended the work of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry in Michigan can be attributed to his earnest and faithful work.

ALBERT B. JUDSON,

one of the substantial farmers of Kalamazoo County, was born in Woodbury, Conn., Aug. 8, 1819, where the Judson family had lived for many years. His father, William Jud-

son, was born there. When Albert B. was seven years of age his father moved with the family to Ulster Co., N. Y., and in the spring of 1837 fell in with the tide of emigra- tion then setting West. At Detroit he purchased two yoke of oxen and a horse, with which the family were taken to their new home at Schoolcraft. They settled on the south- east quarter of section 20, adjoining the village of School- craft. Here the family resided, and here the old people died,-Mr. Judson in 1863, and his wife in 1867,-leaving a family of six children, of whom Albert B. was the oldest. He married, Jan. 10, 1843, Mary, daughter of Hugh Fin- ley, one of the early settlers in Kalamazoo County, who was born in Ireland and came to this country when he was eighteen years of age. He was a mechanic, and worked in Boston, Mass., from which place he came to Schoolcraft in 1834, where he raised a family of ten children, and died Feb. 2, 1875, in his seventy-fifth year. He was the origi- nal proprietor of the village of Vicksburg, and with his son kept the first general store there.

Albert B. Judson is a self-made man. In all the rela- tions of life " Honesty and economy" has been his motto. His first business enterprise was working a rented farm, which he carried on for six years, during which time he accumulated sufficient means to purchase fifty acres of land, and by making a change obtained eighty acres, where he now lives. Here he has lived for nearly thirty years, has erected large and commodious buildings with pleasant sur- roundings, and added other lands, until he now has a splen- did farm of four "hundred acres, and has raised a family of seven children,-five daughters and two sons. In his busi- ness relations Mr. Judson is strict, systematic, and success- ful, courteous in all circles, and upright in all his dealings.

TEXAS.

NATURAL FEATURES.

Geography .- Upon the west border of Kalamazoo County, south of the centre, is situated the township of Texas. It was formed from Brady in 1838, and derives its name, doubtless, from the Lone Star State, which even then began to appear as an important factor in the history of the American re- public. Adjoining township organizations in this county are Oshtemo, on the north ; Portage, on the east ; Prairie Ronde, on the south; while Antwerp, in Van Buren County, forms its western boundary.

Lakes and Water-Courses .- The surface is diversified by broad plains, numerous lakes, and a low range of hills, which extend from north to south through the central part of the west half of the township, the eastern half being comparatively level. Its water-courses are unimportant, the most considerable one being the outlet of Crooked, Bass, and Mill-Pond Lakes, which, as Portage Creek, flows

in a general northeast course through Portage and Kala- mazoo townships, and finally becomes tributary to the Kala- mazoo River. The lake surface of Texas covers an expanse of perhaps 1200 acres, and occupies large portions of sec- tions 1, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 25, 31, 32, and 34. Eagle, Crooked, Pretty, Pine, Paw Paw, Weed's, Mill- Pond, Mud, Bass, and Duck Lakes are the names of the most important ones.

Soil .- The soil is of the character so common to Michi- gan, consisting of alternate belts of sand, clay, and alluvial deposits, which, with the accumulated vegetable mould of countless ages, forms a mixture well adapted for the suc- cessful cultivation of corn, fruits, and the various cereals.

The Michigan Central Railroad intersects sections 4, 5, 7, and 8, but has no station within the township boundaries.

The Texas post-office and Grange Hall are situated one mile east of the geographical centre.

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MRS. JACOB McLIN.

JACOB McLIN.

The name of McLin has long been prominent in the annals of the State of Tennessee.

Thomas McLin, a son of one of the pioneers of Ten- nessee, was born in the latter State in the year 1774. Following the vocations customary with the farming classes of that region, he married and remained a citizen of his native State until 1804, when, accompanied by his wife and two children, he emigrated to Clinton Co., Ohio, where he purchased a farm. Here he continued until the spring of 1830, his family having meanwhile increased to ten children in number.

The fame of Southern Michigan lands, their cheapness and fertility, had, even at that early day, extended to the ears of people living in the Ohio River Valley. This, together with a desire of having his numerous children settled near him upon lands of their own, impelled another removal to the northward. Accordingly, during the year last mentioned, accompanied by the major portion of his family, he journeyed with a horse team and wagon to the Prairie Ronde settlement, and finally located his pre-emption claim in the territory now known as the township of Texas. The families of William Bishop, William Harris, and Ambrose Fitzgerald alone preceded him here; and Mr. McLin erected the fourth log house in the township.

In 1832 he purchased of the General Government the

premises now owned by his sons, John and Isaac. After a long life of usefulness, he died in February, 1848, sin- cerely mourned by his family and a wide circle of associ- ates.

Four surviving sons, viz., Allen, John, Isaac, and Jacob, still reside upon or near the lands where they began the first improvements nearly half a century ago. Jacob, the youngest son, whose portrait accompanies this brief memoir, was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, in 1817. Since the organization of this township he has been one of its prominent citizens. In politics he is a staunch supporter of Republican principles, and although not a seeker for official distinction and its emoluments, he has quite fre- quently served his townsmen in positions of trust and honor.

In early life he married Miss Adelia Gage, daughter of Isaac Gage, Esq., another pioneer of Texas, who settled here in 1835. Their children, viz., George, Mary (now Mrs. R. H. Gibbs), and Luther I., are all living.

In the education of his children the greatest care has been taken. No wish has been left ungratified ; no thought of expense has deterred him from fulfilling, in his estima- tion, a father's duty. Both sons are graduates of medical colleges. The former terminated his studies in Cleveland and Philadelphia ; the latter in Ann Arbor and Detroit.

537

TOWNSHIP OF TEXAS.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Many months prior to the first purchase of lands in this township settlements had been made upon the southern tier of sections, and the first five or six families to locate held their claims by right of pre-emption.

The beautiful country known as Prairie Ronde was in 1829-30 the scene of an active and important settlement. Therefore, when William Bishop, William Harris, Ambrose Fitzgerald, Thomas McLin and sons, Richard Holmes, Jesse Bond, Orrin Jerome, and Ambrose Searle pushed out and erected habitations on the northern border of the prairie, they became not only the videttes of the Prairie Ronde settlement, but the first settlers within the present township of Texas.

Township boundaries, however, did not trouble them at that time. All were citizens of Brady township, which then comprised the counties of Barry and Kalamazoo and all the country lying north of the same attached to and composing a part of St. Joseph County.

Concerning the first settler within the confines of town- ship number 3 south, of range number 12 west, a vagueness and uncertainty exists which it seems the people themselves have not attempted to solve.

The earliest authentic information is derived from Mr. Allen McLin, who is authority for the statement that his father, Thomas McLin, a native of the State of Tennessee, settled in Clinton Co., Ohio, about the year 1804. He remained there until early in the spring of 1830, when, accompanied by his wife and a large family, he journeyed, with horse-team and wagon, from his Ohio home to this township, finally locating his claim upon section 35, on the premises now owned by his sons John and Isaac. On the 3d of October, 1832, he purchased the east one-half of the northeast quarter of section 34.

William Bishop preceded Mr. McLin, and in the fall of 1829 was living upon the east one-half of the southeast quarter of section 36,-a tract which he purchased from the general government Nov. 19, 1830. At the first town- ship election of Brady, held in December, 1830, Mr. Bishop was elected highway commissioner.

It is believed that William Harris and Ambrose Fitz- gerald were also here before Mr. McLin settled, but of this we are not certain. It is evident, however, that, if not here previous to the time mentioned, they came very soon thereafter, for Ambrose Fitzgerald made the first purchase of land in the township, Oct. 5, 1830. His purchase em- braced the west one-half of the southeast quarter of section 25, and the east one-half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 36.

William Harris was the third to conclude a purchase of public lands. His choice embraced the east one-half of the southeast quarter of section 24, and the transaction was en- tered upon the books of the United States land-office Nov. 29, 1830. The year thus closed with the names of Messrs. Fitzgerald, Bishop, and Harris only upon the land-office records.

During the summer of 1831, Jesse Bond, Richard Holmes, Orrin Jerome, and Ambrose Searle purchased lands situated upon sections 25 and 35, and immediately began improvements.

Allen McLin and wife removed from their former home in Clinton Co., Ohio, and joined the settlement here in the fall of 1832. He made the first improvement upon section 27, having purchased a portion of the southwest quarter in June, 1834. Both Mr. McLin and wife still reside upon the premises first occupied by them. He re- calls the fact that among other early settlers here prior to his own settlement, and not previously mentioned, were Samuel O. Wells, the first supervisor of Texas, and Justin Halstead.

Isaac and William Chester. Gibbs, brothers, from Alle- gany Co., N. Y., bought the northeast quarter of the south- east quarter of section 1, June 20, 1832. During the years 1834 or '35 they built the first and only water-power saw- mill ever erected in the township. It was situated upon the outlet of Mill-Pond Lake, near the east line of section 1, and portions of the dam still remain. Edrick Atwater, another early resident, bought the mill from William C. Gibbs about the year 1837. William C. Gibbs was mar- ried to Miss Laura Stanley, by Cyrus Lovell, Esq., Nov. 4, 1834.

Eli Douglass, from Richmond, Chittenden Co., Vt., arrived in Washtenaw Co., Mich., during the fall of 1833. In June, 1834, he was joined by his brother-in-law, Albert G. Towers. They soon after proceeded to Grass Lake, Jackson Co., where Mr. Douglass purchased 160 acres of land. In 1835, after disposing of his Jackson County possessions, they again located near Battle Creek, in Cal- houn County. Here Mr. Douglass bought 320 acres. They were still dissatisfied with their location, for we find that in December of the same year they journeyed still farther to the westward, and finally made choice of lands situated upon sections 22, 23, and 24, in this township.

In March, 1836, Messrs. Douglass and Towers came on and built a small log house upon the southeast quarter of section 23, which in May following became the residing- place for Mr. Douglass and his young bride, he having married in Jackson County, May 1, 1836, the daughter of one of Jackson County's pioneers.

At about the same time Mr. Towers completed his log cabin, which stood near his present place of residence,- the southwest corner of section 23,-and made memorable from the fact that in it was held the first township-meeting of Texas, in April, 1838.

Here Messrs. Douglass and Towers began the first im- portant improvement between Prairie Ronde and Genesee Prairie. Their lands were mainly situated upon a level tract, prairie-like in its general aspect, with clumps of bushes and low trees scattered here and there, and denom- inated, by many who had viewed them previously, barren lands. But these gentlemen have demonstrated the fallacy of such reasoning, as shown by the broad fertile acres they still possess. Mr. Douglass relates that he " broke up" his first 100 acres with scarcely the use of an axe.

From 1836 to the present time both have been promi- nently identified with the material and official interests of the township they assisted to found.

Among other pioneers who preceded them here, and not previously mentioned, were Norman B. Maxon, Asahel Nelson, James H. Hogshead, Abial Stanley, Levi Luce,

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Edward McElroy, Stephen L. Cole, George Middleton, John McLin, Samuel Van Doran, Joseph Johnson, Isaac Gage, and John D. Ramsey.

During the years 1836 and 1837 the population was still further augmented by the arrival and settlement of the brothers Ira, Johnson, and George Rix, from Genesee Co., N. Y., who have still many descendants residing in the north- west part of the township ; James Weed. the first township clerk ; Isaac P. Morehouse, Oliver C. Hill, John Snyder, John McNett, Richard Douglass, David Douglass, Edrick Atwater, - - Goodsell, Jabez Barnum, George H. Lake, and William R. Hawkins.

Other early settlers who were here prior to the first town- ship-meeting, in 1838, were Abner Dwelly, Oramel Butler, Wm. Clawson, Oramel Butler, Jr., Henry McNiel, Daniel Ingram, Alvah Stevens, Nathaniel Reed, Ephraim Payne, Caleb Johnson, John Van Doran, J. M. Morris, and Smith Payne.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 146

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