History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 60

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

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In 1837 came Gen. Justus Burdick and family. The general, as previously stated, had been here in 1831, but returned to Vermont, leaving his brother Cyren to look after his affairs in Michigan. In 1837 he became a per- manent resident. It is said by Judge Wells that it was greatly owing to his efforts in behalf of the fine burr-oak trees scattered over the site of Kalamazoo that so many of them were spared to beautify the growing village,*

Other new-comers of this year were David B. Webster, Doctors Stuart, Ransom, and S. Axtell ; N. A. Balcht and Maj. Ezekiel Ransom, with their families; Benjamin F. Orcutt, F. E. Woodward, Isaac N. Janes, Leverett Whit- comb, and several others.

The first fatal affray between white men recorded in the history of the place occurred in 1837, on Harrison Street, south of the railway, and near the bridge on Main Street. Two men-Hannibal and Martin-had been digging a well together, and got into a dispute about the work. From words they came finally to blows, and Martin raised a pick as if with the intention of striking Hannibal, when the lat- ter anticipated him with such a severe blow of a pitchfork- handle as to kill him on the spot. The offender was tried and acquitted, and lived in Kalamazoo for a number of years subsequently.

The " wild-cat currency" epoch passed over Kalamazoo, in common with all other towns in Michigan, demoralizing and paralyzing trade and business generally. The reaction succeeding the " flush times" of 1835-36 carried all kinds of business to the lowest possible level. Everything went down to bottom prices; real estate was not salable at any price, and all kinds of produce fell to minimum figures. Wheat sold as low as 372 cents per bushel. The town stood still, or grew to a scarcely appreciable degree, for .several years.

The year 1838 seems to have been a sickly one through- out the West. There were scarcely able-bodied people enough to take the necessary care of the sick. Through the warm months probably three-fourths of the people in this region were on the sick-list. The prevailing diseases were fever and ague, intermittent and other bilious diffi- culties. The mortality was not great, but " general debility" ruled the country with an iron hand.

Among the settlers of 1838 were Horace Mower, from Woodstock, Vt., George L. Gale, George Colt, Dr. E. N. Colt, Lucius L. Clark, Hiram Underwood, Hiram Arnold, and Luke W. Whitcomb. M. N. Joy, in this year, estab- lished the first regular hardware store opened in Western Michigan. He sold out his business in 1845 to Allen Potter.

The court-house, the first one erected, was built during the season, and a number of new dwellings were erected, four of them being on Burdick Street.

In 1838, also, a new speculation, though common enough to most Western towns of any pretensions, was entered into : this was the establishment of a regular race-course by Messrs. Sargent, Holman, and others. The northern rim of its periphery touched the centre of Burdick Street, at its intersection with Lovell Street, and thence it circled in a grand mile-sweep to the southward, enveloping a large share of what now constitutes the Den Blyker addition to the village. To some this no doubt seemed a retrograde step. from the moral antecedents of the fathers, but to many more it was no doubt a source of satisfaction, for now the breeders and managers of fine horse-flesh could have a " heap of sport," and determine the relative merits of " blooded stock," while now and again a " scrub-race" for all comers was thrown in for variety.

The godless business flourished for a number of years, and was eventually succeeded by a still more noted institu- tion, called " The Kalamazoo Town Agricultural Society for Improving the Breed of Horses."±

# Gen. Burdick died in Kalamazoo on the 6th of July, 1849. His wife died on the 4th of September following.

t Mr. Balch's wife died in Kalamazoo in the beginning of January, 1880. See biography of Mr. Balch.

# See Chapter XX.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

In 1838 a new paper made its appearance in the place, under the sobriquet of the Western Banner. It was Whig in politics, and continued for some three or four years, when it was discontinued for want of needed support. Michigan was Democratic in those days, following the lead of Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Lewis Cass. The sale of liquors was a quite extensive business, and we append a few statements from the township records concerning license in 1838-39.

ITEMS FROM THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN KALAMAZOO (THEN BRONSON).

The Michigan Statesman and St. Joseph Chronicle, which had been established in White Pigeon, in December, 1833, was removed from that place to Bronson in the fall of 1835, and the first number issued on the 2d of Octo- ber. It had dropped the latter part of its title in January previously, and was then the Michigan Statesman, pub- lished by Henry Gilbert .* We have made a few selections from its columns down to the year 1842.

Business notices and advertisements in January, 1836 : Notice of administrator's sale, estate of Seth J. Porter. M. Heydenburk and Cornelius Northrup, administrators.

The Vegetable Herald, by Dr. A. Bennett, " devoted to the spread of useful vegetable medicines." Monthly.

Among the mercantile and business notices we notice Isaac W. Willard, general assortment of goods ; A. & A. Buell, boots, shoes, hats, and caps ; H. B. Huston, general stock ; Joseph Hutchins, dry-goods and groceries ; R. Mc- Intosh, general ; Snow & Fisk, new book-store; Winslow & Brownson, general ; John Everard, saddle- and harness- maker; Cyrus Lovell, attorney and collector.

The Statesman for April 21, 1836, published an editorial upon the occasion of the change of the village name from Bronson to Kalamazoo, in which it gives a glowing descrip- tion of the place, its mercantile and manufacturing facili- ties, school, churches, etc., and a résumé of its business, as follows :

Sixty frame houses, 4 public-houses, 10 stores, 1 print- ing-office, 1 land-office, 30 to 40 carpenters, 4 masons, 3 cabinet-makers, 4 blacksmiths, a painter and glazier, 4 tailors, 2 saddle- and harness-makers, a silversmith, a tan- ner and currier, 2 clergymen, 6 lawyers, 3 physicians, a large school-house, and a literary institute.

It calls the large creek Portage River, and enumerates 5 saw-mills, and 1 grist-mill completed, in and near the village, and a large flouring-mill in process of erection.

From its market report for March, 1836, we take the following items:

Salt, $5 per barrel ; flour, from $8 to $8.50; wheat, $1 to $1.25 per bushel ; corn, 75 cents to $1; oats, 50 cents; pork, $22 per barrel; butter, 25 cents per pound ; pota- toes, 50 cents per bushel ; dried apples, $2.50 per bushel ; lumber, $10 per thousand ; shingles, $3 per thousand.

As an index of the influx of strangers and the amount of business transacted, we notice the fact that the postmaster advertises on the 16th of July, 1836, about 250 uncalled- for-letters.

The paper appeared under a new dress on the 23d of January, 1837, as the Kalamazoo Gazette. In this issue are announced the marriages of Amos Brownson to Miss Eliza A. Case, and Isaac Vickery to Miss Catharine A. Huyck, all of Kalamazoo. .

On the 12th of January, 1837, Zephaniah Platt an- nounces his permanent establishment in Kalamazoo as attor- ney and counselor and general land-agent.

The issue of April 15th, in the same year, speaks of great improvements in the village, including a new court- house, a bank building, to cost $10,000, several churches in course of erection, and estimates the population at from 1000 to 1200. There were then 4 taverns, 3 grist- and saw-mills, 1 distillery, 1 brewery, 11 dry-goods stores, 3 provision-stores, 1 sheet-iron manufactory, 1 chair-factory, 1 plow-factory, 1 engineer, and 8 land-agents, in addition to other professions before enumerated.

As a curiosity of the times, there appears in the Gazette for May 17, 1837, an article signed "S. Y. A.," in which the writer shows that railways are a disadvantage to a coun- try, and that what they want in Michigan is canals. He states that " there is not a single flourishing village on the railroad between Albany and Utica, N. Y.," and points to the difference along the canal,-which is pretty good, con- sidering that the two run side by side most of the distance, and that the railway had only been running since the Au- gust before.

The political campaign for State officers in 1837 was very exciting, and the paper, which supported the Demo- cratic- Republican ticket, was brimful of the political logic of those days. Stevens T. Mason had 615 majority in the State over C. C. Trowbridge for Governor, but Kal- amazoo County gave the latter 175 majority. The total vote of the county was 1329.

In October, 1837, George Browning advertises the first wholesale drug establishment in the place.

The first daily U. S. mail made its debut June 15, 1838. In August, 1838, the Gazette gives a description of the village, and another enumeration of its business houses, professions, etc. Among new items are two select schools. It also speaks for the healthfulness of the place, and points triumphantly to the burying-ground, where it says " there are only 27 or 28 graves !"

The stage-coaches in those days ran daily between De- troit and Kalamazoo, twice per week to Allegan and Grand Rapids, and once per week to Niles.

In the issue for Nov. 10, 1838, is published a lengthy obituary of Maj. Ezekiel Ransom, who had died in Kala- mazoo, at the age of seventy-five years. He was born at Colchester, Conn., Oct. 1, 1763, and served with distinc- tion through the Revolutionary war. He had been a resi- dent of Kalamazoo a little more than three years. His wife was Lucinda, daughter of Gen. Samuel Fletcher, of Townshend, Vt., whom he married in May, 1791.

The elections of those days were bitterly contested, and no man could pass through a campaign as a candidate for office and come out unscathed. At the election for members of Congress in 1838, Hezekiah G. Wells was the candidate of the Whig party, and although he was not elected, yet he received a very complimentary vote in his own town and

# See history of newspapers, farther on. We are under obligations to Mr. Gilbert for the privilege of perusing these interesting files.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

county, his majority over Isaac E. Crary,-the Democratic nominee,-in Kalamazoo County being 253, while the high- est majority for any other candidate was 191 for L. H. Trask, candidate for county clerk. The county included at that time Barry County, and Mr. Wells carried all but four towns,-Prairie Ronde, Cooper, Climax, and Hastings.

The Kalamazoo Lyceum was flourishing in those days, and continued for a number of years. Prominent among its members were L. F. Starkey, T. S. At Lee, Wm. G. Dewing, Alexander Cameron, George W. Winslow, and others.

Advertisers in the Gazette, 1840: F. Booher, land- agency ; Stuart & Miller, Walter Clark, W. H. Welch, Elisha Belcher, attorneys ; Joseph Miller, Jr., notary pub- lic ; L. F. Starkey, and Colt & Axtel, physicians; River House, by H. Wilder ; John Barnum and Andrew Taylor. tailors; B. Austin, bookstore ; Geo. Colt & Co., George Browning & Co., and C. Sherman, merchants.

On the 11th of April a new tannery was advertised by A. Davidson.

By the census of 1840, the village of Kalamazoo had about 1500 people.

Upon the occasion of the death of President Harrison, the Gazette appeared in mourning, and a mass-meeting of the citizens of the village was held, at which Anthony Cooley was president, and Henry Gilbert secretary. Resolutions suitable to the occasion were passed, and the citizens were requested to wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

The contest in which Gen. Harrison had been elevated to the Presidency was very bitter, but upon the announce- ment of his sudden and untimely death all classes united to pay respect to his memory.

Among the prominent firms doing business in 1842 were Lucius L. Clark, who appears with a wood-cut of his establishment and a page advertisement; Elisha Clark, general stock ; and Foster & Fish, hardware, iron, nails, crockery, glassware, paints, oils, and drugs.

Early Licenses .- On the first Monday in January, 1838, permits were granted to the following persons by the town- ship board to keep tavern one year in the town of Kala- mazoo :

To Oziel Wilcox and Daniel Lothrop, in " River House."

To Johnson Patrick, in house "Sign of Indian Chief."

To Emmor Hawley, in " Kalamazoo House."

In 1839 the following licenses were granted to persons living in the village :

To William Booher, to keep a common victualing house " in building lately occupied by him as a saddle- and harness- shop, on Main Street, which building is adjoining and west of the one now occupied by John Everard, saddle- and harness-maker." Jan. 12, 1839.

To Reuben Barrett, to keep a common victualing house " in the building now occupied by him as a coffee-shop, and next door east of John Everard's saddle- and harness-shop." Jan 12, 1839.

To Ebenezer Durkee, to keep a common victualing house " in the building now occupied by him as a dwelling, which house is on the north side of Kalamazoo River, opposite the flouring-mill." Jan. 12, 1839.

To Frederick Booher, as a retailer of wine and spirituous liquors, " in the store now occupied by him on the corner of Main and Edwards Streets, and adjoining-east of-the store of T. A. H. Edwards, known as 105." Jan. 12, 1839.

To Hosea B. Huston, as a retailer of wine and spiritu- ous liquors, "in the store now occupied by him on Main Street, and known as No. 97." Jan. 12, 1839.

To Daniel Lothrop, " to keep a tavern in the house now occupied by him." Jan. 12, 1839.

To Warren M. Olmsted, "to keep a tavern in the house now occupied by him as such, and known as the 'Sign of the Indian,' one door west of the bank." Jan. 15, 1839.

To Emmor Hawley, " as a tavern-keeper in the house he now occupies as such, and better known as the ' Kalamazoo House.'" Jan. 16, 1839.

To Sheldon & Arnold, " as retailers of wines and spiritu- ous liquors, in the building now occupied by them as a store, one door east of H. B. Huston's store, on Main Street." Jan. 15, 1839.

To Thomas A. H. Edwards, " to sell wines and spiritu- ous liquors at the store he now occupies, on the south side of Main Street, known as 105, and the next door west of Frederick Booher's store." Jan. 16, 1839.

To Willard & Rice, "to retail wines and spirituous liquors in the building now occupied by them as a store, one door east of the Kalamazoo House." Jan. 16, 1839.

To Nathaniel Holman, " as a retailer of wines and spiritu- ous liquors in the store now occupied by him, on the corner of Main and Portage Streets, first door west of the jew- eler's-shop." Feb. 8, 1839.

To Caleb Sherman, "as a retailer of wines and spiritu- ous liquors in the building lately occupied by L. R. Davis, tailor, and now occupied by said Sherman as a store (on Portage Street)." Nov. 18, 1839.

To Harris Wilder, "to keep a tavern in the house lately occupied by John Rouse as a tavern, and better known as the ' River House.'" Nov. 23, 1839

To Amos Brownson, " as a retailer of wines and spiritu- ous liquors in the building now occupied by him as a store, on Main Street, one door east of the bookstore (and known as the sign of the Spanish Hat)." Oct. 16, 1839.

It is thus seen that Kalamazoo merchants, even at that early day, were nothing loth to accept of the revenue aris- ing from the sale of intoxicating drinks, and the quota of the village in the " saloon" line was full.

In 1838 the following persons were entered upon the records as being liable to the payment of a State tax ; all were in Kalamazoo :

Merchants, etc. : Amos Brownson, Joseph Hutchins, Sherman & Janes, Willard & Rice, Hosea B. Huston, Breck & King, W. G. & F. Dewing, A. P. & H. Bush, T. A. H. Edwards.

Jeweler : R. Evits.

Merchants and grocers : Ebenezer Durkee, A. H. Ed- wards & Co.

Druggists : George Browning, F. Starkey.

Innkeepers : Wilcox & Lothrop, Emmor Hawley, John- son Patrick, - White.

An effort to establish a village incorporation was also

RES. OF COL. F. W. CURTENIUS, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

made in this year, and on the 3d of April an act of incor- poration was approved by the Governor. It was defective, and in the following year, 1839, an amendment was made to render it complete, but nothing was done under it until 1843, an account of which will be found farther on.

Among the new-comers of 1839 were Mitchell Hinsdale,* Charles Gibbs, Elkanah Walter, Israel Kellogg, and Fred- erick Rice. In the spring of this year a heavy business firm also went into operation. The original firm was Arnold & Sheldon; in the following winter Gen. Isaac Moffatt became a partner ; in 1845, Prentiss S. Cobb pur- chased Sheldon's interest, and in 1846 the firm erected the first steam grist- and flouring-mill in the place. It stood on the site of Alcott's warehouse. In 1849 a distillery and saw-mill were put in operation by them on the corner of Burdick and North Streets. The store occupied by the mercantile branch of the business was erected in 1840, on the site of T. S. Cobb's store. The population of the vil- lage in 1839 was estimated at about 400 people.

The year 1840 was chiefly noted for the removal of the Pottawattomies beyond the Mississippi River, and for the famous political campaign in which Gen. William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate, was elected President of the United States over Martin Van Buren, the Democratic candidate.

Hard cider, log cabins, and campaign songs were the order of the day, and the political issues were discussed with wonderful and untiring assiduity. The removal of the Indians is written up in another connection. (See Chapter XIII.)

David S. Walbridge, from Buffalo, N. Y., came to Kala- mazoo in 1841, and established a successful business, which was of great importance in building up the town and making it a commercial centre. He commenced buying all the wheat grown in this region, paying cash for the same, and in many instances advancing money to the farmers on their growing crops. He established a line of flat-boats on the river, and transferred his grain at the mouth to sail-vessels for Buffalo. In the spring of 1842 he leased the grist-mill of Elkanah Walters, and prepared to do an extensive busi- ness in flouring wheat for the Eastern markets. He then went back to Buffalo and soon returned with his family, which he domiciled on Portage Street, in a dwelling erected by Caleb Sherman. His business was extensively carried on for many years. The line of boats upon the river was kept in operation until the opening of the Michigan Central Railway, in 1846, offered a quicker and more certain means of transportation.

Mr. Walbridge subsequently erected a store on the site of the Sweetland block, and engaged in the mercantile business. This store was burned in June, 1857.

VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

The first movement towards effecting a village organiza- tion in Kalamazoo was made in 1838. An act of incorpo- ration was approved by the Governor on the 3d of April in that year. The territory so incorporated is described in the act as follows :

" The part of the south half of section 15 that lies on the west side of the river, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 16."

The qualified voters were to elect seven trustees, one of whom was to be chosen president, and the whole were to be called " The President and Trustees of the village of Kala- mazoo."

The act of incorporation proved to be defective in some respect, and an amended act was passed and approved Feb. 8, 1839. For some reason no steps were taken to organize under the amended act, and the matter rested until 1843, when it was again brought before the Legislature, which finally passed the following :

" AN ACT to revive the acts incorporating the village of Kalamazoo. " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the act entitled 'an act incorporating the village of Kalamazoo,' approved April 3, 1838, and the act entitled 'an act to amend an act incorporating the village of Kalamazoo,' ap- proved Feb. 8, 1839, be, and the same are hereby revived :

" Provided, however, that the election for trustees shall be held an- nually on the second Monday in April, instead of the first Monday in March.

"Approved March 6, 1843."

This fixes the date when the place became, in fact, an in- corporated village, and the present government is operating under the charter of 1843, though there have been numer- ous amendments made to the same at various periods.

The boundaries under the original charter included about a half-section of land, or 320 acres.

By an act approved April 7, 1851, the boundaries were extended to include " that part of section 15 south of the north half quarter-line and west of the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek ; the east half of section 16 south of the north half quarter-line ; the northeast quarter of section 21 ; and the north half of section 22 ; lying north and west of Portage Creek, and including the burying-ground on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 22."

In 1861 the charter was amended, and the boundaries were extended to include the present limits, which inclose all of sections Nos. 15, 16, 21, and 22, the north half of sections 27 and 28, the west half of sections 14 and 23, and the northwest quarter of section 26. The area is two and one-half miles square, covering the equivalent of 64 sections, or exactly 4000 acres. About three-fifths of this area are laid out and built upon, more or less com- pactly. The various plats and additions which have been made and put upon record since 1831 number over 60. Five-sixths of the present area lie within the Indian reser- vation,-Matchebenashewish.

Nearly all the business portions of the village are in- cluded within the limits of section 15, and much of the heaviest portion is situated on the southwest quarter of the same section. The eastern portions of sections 15 and 22 include the low grounds lying on both sides of Portage Creek and along the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. The western and northwestern margins extend over the bluffs which everywhere in the county border the river valley. The railway stations are all situated near the centre of section 15.

The following copy of the proceedings of the first elec- tion for village officers is from the records, as also the com- plete list of village officers from 1843 to 1880:

* This name is also written on various records, Hinsdill and Hens- dill.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

" At an election of the qualified electors of the village of Kalamazoo, for the purpose of choosing seven trustees, according to the act in- corporating said village, held at the court-house in said village on Monday, the 10th day of April, A.D. 1843, the following persons were chosen said trustees : Hosea B. Huston, Hiram Arnold, Abraham Ca- hill, William H. Welch, Lewis R. Davis, Warren Burrell, Caleb Sher- man .*

"HENRY GILBERT, Justice of the Peace, " RICHARD S. GAGE, " " "

" VOLNEY HASCALL, Township Clerk,

" Inspectors of Election.".

On Monday, April 17, 1843, the trustees-elect met, took the oath of office, and organized the board. A ballot was taken for president, resulting in the choice of Hosea B. Huston. Francis March, Jr., was appointed village clerk. April 22, 1843, the board met and passed by-laws and ordi- nances ; David Gilman was chosen marshal, and Hosea B. Huston treasurer.

December 20, 1849, it was ordered "that the trustees of the village employ some suitable person to ring the bell in the Presbyterian church at twelve o'clock at noon and nine o'clock in the evening every day in the week except Sunday; and that Alexander Buell and William White be a committee to make a contract with some suitable person for that purpose."

The following is a list of the village officers from 1844 to 1878, inclusive :

PRESIDENTS.

1844, Luther H. Trask ; 1845-46, Elkanah Walter; 1847, Abraham Edwards; 1848, David S. Walbridge; 1849-51, Isaac Moffatt; 1852, J. P. Woodbury ; 1853, Francis Dennison ; 1854, Israel Kel- logg ; 1855, David S. Walbridge; 1856, Henry Gilbert; 1857-58, H. G. Wells ; 1859, Allen Potter; 1860, S. S. Cobb ; 1861, Latham Hull; 1862, Israel Kellogg; 1863, Allen Potter ; 1864-65, H. G. Wells; 1866, Frederick W. Curtenius; 1867, Hezekiah G. Wells; 1868, John W. Breese; 1869, Nathaniel A. Balch; 1870, Allen Potter; 1871, Foster Pratt; 1872, Allen Potter; 1873-74, Dwight May ; 1875, John Dudgeon; 1876, John W. Breese; 1877-78, F. W. Curtenius.

MARSHALS.

1844, H. J. Boardman ; 1845, Samuel W. Bryan (resigned, and Ira Burdick appointed Jan. 6, 1846); 1846, Ira Burdick ; 1847-48, Nelson Gibbs ; 1849-50, A. J. Sheldon ; 1851, L. H. Trask ; 1852, R. S. Gage; 1853, John C. Hays; 1854, Newton Root; 1855, George P. Kidder; 1856, L. C. Starkey ; 1857, H. M. Brown ; 1858, G. W. Kinnicutt; 1859, Phineas Phillips; 1860, E. L. Goodrich ; 1861, B. F. Orcutt ; 1862, Michael O'Brien; 1863-64, Thomas C. Brownell; 1865, W. Stacy; 1866, D. Fisher; 1867, John H. Wells (resigned, and John Parker appointed Dec. 16, 1867); 1868, Joseph S. Davidson ; 1869-70, William Green; 1871; Charles Gibbs; 1872, Gustavus M. Gates; 1873, Henry J. Brownell; 1874, Arad C. Balch; 1875-76, William W. Foy ; 1877-78, William M. Beeman.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 60

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