History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 118

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 118

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Laurens W. Wolcott was born at War-aw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1843; is son of Nelson and Alvina (Wright) Wolcott. Nelson Wolcott was a pioneer in that region and first County Clerk of the Wyoming section after the division of Genesee county; he was a merchant in the tp. of Java. Mr. Wolcott, of this sketch, is one of eight children, all of whom are living (Robert N. Wolcott, his brother, is Treasurer of the Kent Furni- ture Company). He obtained his elementary education in Attica, N. Y., and afterward attended a seminary at Alexander, Genesee Co. His father having removed to Batavia, Ill., in 1856, he finished his preparatory course for college at Batavia, at the age of 17. The advent of the civil war changed his plans, and he enlisted as a private in the 52d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served under Grant through the campaigns of Fort Donel- son, Shiloh and the siege of Corinth, and until after the battle of Corinth. He served under Sherman through the Atlanta campaign, and on the "march to the sea." He was promoted

from the ranks through the grades of non-commissioned officers, and received his commission as 1st Lieutenant about the close of 1864; was discharged at Louisville, Ky., July 5, 1865, and, a week later, the regiment was disbanded at Chicago. He taught school two years in Missouri and Illinois, reading law as opportunity served. In the fall of 1868 he went to University of Michigan, and in the spring of 1869 came to Grand Rapids, and was admitted to the bar of Kent county. He entered the office of Hon. Byron D. Ball, afterward Attorney General, and in 1871 became his partner. Mr. Ball was compelled by failing health to withdraw from civil practice in 1873, and confine himself to the duties of his office, and Mr. Wolcott managed his business alone until March 1, 1875, when he was associated with his present partner, Moses Taggart, Esq. He was Circuit Court Commissioner from Jan. 1, 1873, to the close of 1876; was President of the Grand Rapids Board of Education in 1877-'8. He was married March 5, 1873,

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to Lucy, daughter of Dr. James Gallup, present Postmaster of the city; they have two children -- Ellen C. and Kate W.

Isaac W. Wood, proprietor of Globe Flour Mills, Grand Rapids, was born at Westborough, Mass., May 12, 1844. His parents were Abijah and Hannah (Stone) Wood, natives respectively of the Bay State and Vermont. Mr. Wood received his preliminary education in the common schools and at Wesleyan Seminary at Wilbraham, Mass. In 1864 he entered Amherst College, from which he graduated with high honors in the class of '68. In 1870 he graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Resolving to make the practice of law his future occupation he entered the law office of Col. George Gray, and was admitted to practice in 1869. He subsequently entered into partnership with È. E. Allen, remaining with him in business about one year. During this time Mr. Wood went to Kansas, and after the dissolution of the firm, to California (in 1872) locating at San Jose, where he remained one year. He then re- turned to Grand Rapids, and for some years was engaged in lumber interests. In 1876 he purchased the Globe Mills, which he has since operated. Mr. Wood was married July 30, 1868, to Mary R. Russell, a native of Nantucket, Mass., and a daughter of Henry and Mary (Mitchell) Russell, the former a pioneer physi- cian of Nantucket. Four children have been sent to bless this union-Willard H., Mary E., Louis E. and Edith M .; the former of whom being the first male child born to any member of the class of '68, obtained the class-cup of Amherst College. Mr. Wood and wife are faithful and consistent members of the First Congre- gational Church.

Robert B. Woodcock, of the firm of L. H. Withey & Co., lumber manufacturers, Grand Rapids, and Superintendent and General Manager of the business, was born in England in March, 1838, and is a son of Christmas Woodcock, also a native of Eng- land and born on Christmas day, 1808; hence his name. Christ- mas Woodcock emigrated with his family to Oswego Co., N. Y., about the year 1845, where he settled on a farm and is still there, and one of the most prominent farmers in New York. He also assisted in enlarging the Syracuse and Oswego canal. Our sub- ject left home when quite young, and worked as a common la- borer. In 1853 he came to Grand Rapids, and in 1855 went to the Southern States, remaining there until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he returned. He worked by the month for W. H. Withey for several years, and after his death purchased his stock of lumber. In 1867 he sold a half interest to L. H. Withey, and the same year they purchased the W. H. Withey saw-mill, with 600 acres of timber-land. The present mill was purchased and rebuilt by them in 1870. Under Mr. Woodcock's wise man- agement the company has been eminently successful.

Charles B. Woodruff, founder of the wholesale department of W. W. Kimball's music store, was born in Otsego Co., N. Y.,

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Nov. 16, 1834. He went to the common schools until the age of 16, when he was sent to Cherry Valley Academy, and two years after entered Hamilton College at Clinton; graduated in his 22d year. He went to Janesville, Wis., and studied law with Bennett & Carpenter; two years after he was admitted to the bar and prac- ticed several years. He was engaged by Mr. Kimball to collect about $4,000 in small and poor debts, and afterward was employed by him to establish the wholesale department of his business. He has been with him 23 years, and has established a branch whole- sale house in each of the Northwestern States. Sept. 1, 1880, Mr. Woodruff came to Grand Rapids and opened a large wholesale and retail house at No. 24 Monroe st., where they deal in all kinds of first-class musical instruments, such as the Hallett & Davis piano, the Emerson, and the popular Kimball organ. Mr. W. was married in Janesville, in 1859, to Jane A., daughter of John Bowen, a native of New York. They have two children- Alice and Arthur. Mr. Woodruff is a member of the order of Free Masons. He owns a house and lot on 32d st., Chicago, with marble front, worth $12,000; also about 20 houses and lots in dif- ferent parts of the city, besides a farm of 160 acres near Lincoln, Neb.

Arthur B. Wykes, butcher, No. 119 Monroe st., son of James and Mary Wykes, was born in Northamptonshire, Eng., in 1837. In 1845 his parents came to the United States, and settled in Lo- rain Co , O., and a few years after went to Medina Co., O. Mr. Wykes came to Grand Rapids in the spring of 1856, and worked in the meat market of Thos. Martin five years, when he com- menced business on his own account. In 1872 he located at his present stand, where he handles 20 beeves weekly, with the same average through the year, besides pork, mutton, veal, etc .; also keeps in stock dried and salt meats; does an annual business of $55,000. He owns his residence at No. 165 N. Lafayette st., also house and lot No. 16 Spring st., and 10 acres in Paris, one- half mile from the city limits, with house and barn. He was married in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1861, to Mary S. Terrill, a native of Medina Co., O., born in 1837; they have four children, born in Grand Rapids-Mary E., Arthur J., Annie B. and Jay C.

John Youell was born Nov. 17, 1843, in Norfolk Co., Eng., and came to America in 1857. His father, John Youell, was a farmer by occupation, and came to this country in 1868, with his wife and daughter, Emma Fisher. Mr. Youell was a lathe-vender by trade -a business not in vogue in the new world. He came to Flint, Genesee Co., and entered the employ of Gov. Crapo in the lum- ber business, where he remained four years. In 1861 he came to Grand Rapids and engaged in restaurant and billiard room busi- ness, in which he has since been occupied; is located at 51 Pearl st. and No. 8 Arcade, and is doing a prosperous business in a quiet and legitimate manner. He is one of the many residents of Grand Rapids who have witnessed the rapid onward strides of the

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Valley City within the last 20 years. He was married in 1864 to Azlena Myers, of Ohio.

Col. Van E. Young, Superintendent of Police, Grand Rapids, was born at Auburn, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1822. His parents were Abram and Lydia (Whipple) Young. In 1844 Mr. Young went to Racine, Wis., and thence to Sheboygan, where he re- mained until 1867. He then came to Grand Rapids, where he has since resided. In 1861 he raised a volunteer company of soldiers, which became Co. H, 1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Inf., and en- listed as a private. He was soon after detailed for recruit service; then was transferred to the 17th Wis. Reg., as Commissary and Quartermaster Sergeant. In the spring of 1862 Col. Young was appointed 1st Lieut. of Co. H, 24th Wis. Vol. Inf., and joined the regiment at St. Louis, Mo. He accompanied the regiment to the Tennessee river, and arrived at Savannah, Ga., March 28, 1862. He was at the battle of Shiloh, and on May 12 was appointed Adjutant of the regiment, serving at the organization of the negro troops. He was subsequently appointed Lieut. Col., and raised the 48th Reg. of Colored Infantry. In the fall of 1863 he was appointed Colonel of the 49th Reg. colored troops, and in 1864 accepted the position of Provost Marshal General, of the 16th Army Corps. Was subsequently appointed Provost Marshal Gen- eral of the Western District of Tennessee, serving in that position until June, 1866. After the war he returned to Wisconsin, and in the fall of that year was elected Senator of the First Wisconsin District, serving until the fall of 1867, when he resigned. Col. Young is a member of the Masonic order. On Aug. 23, 1881, he was tendered and accepted Superintendent of Police, by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners.

John M. Zinser, butcher, No. 26 West Bridge st., leads his pro- fession in Grand Rapids in point of seniority, being the oldest operator in his line of business in the city. He is a German and ranks among the best of his class, both from merit as an individual and the position he has attained as a man of wealth. He was born in Germany in 1825, and is son of Frederick and Mary (Stone) Zinser. He came to the United States in 1847, landing at New York, where he remained three months, more from necessity than choice, not having or being able to obtain more than sufficient money for his most pressing needs. He learned the butcher's trade in Germany, and pursued it in New York, earning $26 a month. As soon as possible he joined his uncle in Ann Arbor and worked

on a farm a few months. In 1848 he came to Grand Rapids and engaged with Giddings & Woodman on Canal st., who were just starting the second meat market established in the city. He re- mained with them three years and then began business on his own account on Canal st. He operated one year in that locality and opened a shop at " Grab corners." Three years after he transferred his business to the west side and opened a stand directly opposite his present location, where he remained until 1866. He had pre-

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viously purchased the site he now occupies. He moved a build- ing upon his lot, and operated until 1875, when he was burned out at a loss of $4,000. He bought the lot adjoining for $3,550, and put up two fine brick buildings at a cost of $18,000. He rents one of them at a handsome figure and occupies the other as a whole- sale and retail meat establishment: holds a stock of $3,000 or $4,000, and his yearly transactions range at about $100,000. He

does a heavy packing business every year. He was married in Ann Arbor in 1850 to Agatha, daughter of Jacob and Mary More- hart, born in Germany in 1822. They have nine children-Julia, Mary, Annie, John, Frederick, Martha, Aggie, Augusta and Pau- lina. The three eldest are married and the others are at home. He has a fine residence on Jefferson st., and three city lots connected therewith, valued at $9,000; also eight and a half acres on Butter- worth ave., 200 acres in Walker tp., and 80 acres in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co. Mr. Zinser and his wife belong to the German Lutheran Church. He is a man of energy, as is certified by his wonder- ful rapid strides from an utterly penniless condition to the ranking fairly with the leading capitalists of the county. He possesses un- common capacity for managing various branches of business, having been in the habit of directing his shop and farm and attending to his finances and other personal matters with profit.

Mr. Zinser's portrait is given on another page of this volume.

LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

On the north side of Grand river and along the valley of Flat river, seems to have been the principal focus for the immigrants, as a sufficient number were in to organize a township in 1838; and although a majority of those participating lived within the limits of the present town of Lowell, the town was called Vergennes, and in- cluded both Lowell and Bowne, or towns 5, 6 and 7, range 9 west. Lowell may be regarded as the third point in the county where the white man made a lodgment. Daniel Marsac, of Detroit, came among the Indians near the present site of the Village of Lowell in 1829, although it is reported that he did not build a house, or get a regular trading post established until two years later. At this time Rix Robinson was at the mouth of the Thornapple, nearly 10 miles lower down, and Louis Campau and a few others at the Rap- ids. The township is one of the eastern tier of towns, and second from the south end of the county. Its principal business point is nearly 19 miles a little south of east from the city of Grand Rapids. North of Lowell lies Vergennes township; on the east it is bounded by Ionia county, south by Bowne and west by Cascade township, Kent county.

Within these limits dwell a people blessed with prosperity. They have passed through the trials of the pioneer era, and now behold themselves surrounded with all the rewards which are offered to industry. The township was raised by them to a very proud posi- tion among the divisions of Kent county. Within a period of three decades the population has advanced from 200 in 1850 to 3,037 in 1880, and still even a greater number are waiting to enter upon the lands which the early settler opened up, or to participate in the profits which the varied industries of the growing village may offer.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

The township is watered by the Grand river, which flows through its northern sections, and Flat river falls into the same on section 11, where there is quite an extended plain, formerly an old Indian burial place and planting grounds, and now the village of Lowell. On the south of the river the country soon becomes rather high and rolling. The lands are openings, from which flow many spring brooks to the river. In the south part are some swamps, through which there is an outlet from the lake on section 25, down south into the Thornapple. But that outlet is not deline- ated on any of our maps. The lake on section 32 has an outlet south into the Thornapple or Little Coldwater. The channels

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

through which the waters of the creeks of the township flow are of comparatively recent formation, being coeval with the great drain- age period of the Lower Peninsula. Like the Red river of the North, the waters soon formed a thousand ravines, so that they might find a level, as it were, with those of that impetuous torrent which swept from the Huron to the Michigan, through the Valleys of the Saginaw and " Owashtenong." Flat river forms a conflu- ence with the Grand river just on the southern outskirts of the village of Lowell, passing through the village in its course to the main stream. The creeks entering the river from the south have their sources in the central sections, where the height of land, peculiar to the township, exists. The streams entering from the north, with the exception of Flat river, which rises in Montcalm county, are Vergennes creek, in sections 21 and 29 of the township of that name, a sluggish, narrow stream having its headwaters in Pratt lake, and flowing in a southwesterly course through sections 26 and 27, the southeast quarter of section 28, and thence south through section 33 into the township of Bowne. The Grand river, with its numerous tributaries, drains the northern portion of this district, while Pratt creek may be said to carry off the surplus waters of the southern sections. McEwin lake and a large pond occupy about one.ninth of section 32; Pratt lake, with its encircling marsh, is about one-half mile in width and one and one-half miles in length, covering a large area in section 25. Section 35 gradually inclines to a common center, wherein is a small pond. In the southern parts of sections 19 and 22 are small ponds forming the sources of two creeks. The soil is sandy or gravelly, with a rich loam in many places. The limestone peculiar to the county is found here, with a brine-saturated sandstone far below. The pine forests, which covered the land long years before the republic was organized, gave place to the green woods, a portion of which now stands to be of use as well as ornament to this portion of the county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Capt. Daniel Marsaque, of Detroit, and subsequently of Sagi- naw, settled near the village of Lowell in 1829, where he built for himself a pretentious wigwam, and within it transacted the busi- ness of an Indian trader. In April, 1830, this favorably known and much respected Frenchman erected the first log cabin built in the valley of the Grand river, between the old La Framboise Post and Jacksonburg. This stood close by the site of Kopf's chair factory, opposite the mouth of Flat river, and formed as it were the most welcome sight to the early immigrants. Below this point was the La Framboise trading-post, once the home of that French Canadienne who surrounded herself with that romantic mysterious- ness which ruled her savage neighbors when mere womanhood would fail. Here Capt. Marsaque dwelt many years as a trader; here also he brought the French lady whom he married at Detroit, and here he purchased from the general Government a portion of section 11, May 30, 1835.

21bassins ,aber

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

Immediately after Marsaque entered these lands, the following entries were recorded: Richard P. Hart, sec. 1, June 13; Lawrence Vanderwalker, sec. 7, June 15; William R. Palmer, sec. 8, Oct. 26; Richard Dean, sec. 12, June 10; Horace H. Comstock, sec. 24, Feb. 15; Fletcher Ransom, sec. 7, July 10; and William Tott, sec. 12, June 10, 1835. With the exception of Daniel Marsac, none of the men who entered lands in this township in 1835 became citi- zens of Lowell. In the spring of that year, the Robinson family, numbering in all 44 persons, set out from the State of New York, and, arriving at Detroit, embarked on a small vessel for Grand Haven, via Mackinaw. June 7, 1835, they reached the mouth of Grand river, and, putting their household goods on rafts, poled their way up the river and settled in Ottawa and Kent counties. Those were only a part of the Robinsons; Rix Robinson had been trading with the Indians at Ada for several years previous. A year later another brother, named Lewis, came with his family and settled on the west bank of Flat river, in the south part of what is now the village of Lowell. He was soon followed by Rodney, his brother. The timber for their first log hut was cut two or three miles up Flat river and floated down by the help of Indians, who were always friendly to those who used them well.

The land-buyers in 1836 presented themselves in great numbers. Among those who actually entered lands in this township that year, and promised to make it their home, were the following: Luther Whitmore, sec. 9, July 26 ; Luke Sweetzer, sec. 10, March 16; Lucius Boltwood, sec. 10, March 16; Richard S. Pratt, sec. 12, July 26; Alfred A. Williams, sec. 12, Dec. 16; Lemuel Burr, sec. 13, June 8; Julius W. Hatch, sec. 22, June 8; Merrick C. Haugh, sec. 22, June 8; Stephen V. R. York, sec. 14, June 8; Elias H. Ely, sec. 19, April 29; Wing Russell, sec. 20, July 25; Robert H. Stone, sec. 13, June 8; Nathan Chidester, sec. 14, June 8; Hannibal G. Rice, sec. 14, June 8; Henry Rowland, sec. 15, July 25; Charles Wagner, sec. 24, June 8; Zenas L. Griswold, sec. 29, Nov. 7; Edwin Stearns, sec. 9, July 26; Edwin S. Clark, sec. 12, July 26; Adonijah I. Underhill, sec. 27, July 25; Jonathan Thomas, sec. 30, July 13; Elias Bliss, sec. 32, Sept. 29, and William R. Rodman, sec. 36, July 25.

As early as June, 1836, Philander Tracy, a relative of Rix Robinson, arrived and entered a tract of land, comprising the In- dian fields, at the mouth of Flat river. He raised a house of pine logs, which were rafted down that stream. This was a high log house, 40 feet long and 30 in width, and was raised principally by Indians. All the posts and boards used in the structure were drawn from the Indian mill to the head of the rapids of Grand river, and taken to the mouth of Flat river, on a scow, entailing such an expense that when this lumber was delivered to Mr. Tracy it cost him $50 per 1,000 feet, and the house, though erected by Indians, cost him $1,000.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

At the time of the sale of lands in this tract, the Indians attempted to hold their fields under the pre-emption law. A state- ment of the case was sent to Washington, which resulted in a judgment against the Indian title. It is stated that while this question was being discussed, Mr. Tracy attempted to enter upon the lands east of Flat river, north of the village, actually going so far as to erect a log house and sow an Indian cornfield with oats. This irritated the savages, who destroyed the oats, and even threat- ened to destroy the log-house and its tenant. Tracy made an entry of this piece of land, but by an order from Washington such entry was revoked, and the land secured to the Indians through the kind offices of a Frenchman named Nontah. He states that the first families who came to Lowell, after his commencement there, was Lewis Robinson and Sylve-ter Hodges with his young wife. Next came the Daniels family, comprising T. I. Daniels and his mother, Thayer Daniels and his sister Caroline.

At that time seed stock had to be drawn from Kalamazoo county over a country utterly wanting in roads and bridge. Then pork was $40 a barrel, flour $20, potatoes $2 a bushel, and every other article of consumption equally high-priced. The country was filled with miasmatic vapors, sickness entered almost every household and held sway, whole families were prostrated, and it has been known that not one member retained sufficient strength to help the other to a cup of water. There, too, between the years 1836 and 1846, the very dogs were seen to sh ike with ague. This statement is further substantiated. Mr. Tracy says: " During that period I was a resident of what is now called Lowell, and one-third of the time I suffered from diseases common to the country. I make the statement in order to give some idea of the sufferings of the early settlers, and am now happy to state that all has changed, and Lowell become one of the most healthy and agreeable districts in Michigan."

Among the original entries of 1837-'9 the following names oc- cur: Robert B. Mintum, sec. 32, Jan. 23, 1837; Alden Boughton, sec. 30, Dec. 31, and James A. Campbell, sec. 31, Nov. 6, 1838; William Van Dusen, sec. 8, Aug. 7, 1839; Daniel McEwen, sec. 33, Sept. 27; Arba Richards, sec. 3, Aug. 7; Joseph B. Daniels, sec. 3, Aug. 7; Thompson I. Daniels, sec. 3, Aug. 7; John N. Andrews, sec. 6, Aug. 19; John Mark, sec. 1, July 24; Jacob Francisco, sec. 3, July 26; Matthew Patrick, sec. 4, July 30; Everett Wilson, sec. 4, July 30.

In 1837 John Thompson, James Thompson, Cyrus Bennett, George Bisbee, John Fox, Philip W. Fox, James Fox. Dr. Silas Fallass, John W. Fallass. Caleb Page, Thompson I. Daniels, George Brown, Rodney Robinson, Lucas Robinson settled north of Grand river. These took up land before it was surveyed. The three Robinsons were brothers of Rix Robinson, and were part of the 44 Robinsons who entered the Grand River Valley in 1835. In 1838 Charles Newton, Eliab Walker, Christopher Misner, Solo-

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mon Lee, Anthony Yerkes, Elder Wooster, Sherman Wooster, Morgan Lyon, William Robinson, Adam Van Deusen, Alfred Van Deusen, Jesse Van Deusen, Walter Van Deusen, Walter Hyler, Jacob Francisco, Wm. B. Lyon, Ransom Rolf, Matthew Patrick, Samuel P. Rolf, Ira A. Danes, Albert Smith, Ebenezer Smith, C. A. Lathrop, Samuel Moye, Joseph Dieffendorf, Daniel Dieffendorf, and David Dieffendorf settled in this town.

The real settlement at Flat river dates from Oct. 13, 1836, when Lewis Robinson, Philander Tracy, Sylvester Hodges, Alva Jones, all from Scipio, N. Y., came up the river and located in the town. The others settled near the confluence of the river. There was at that time no one resident but Marsac. Tracy and Robinson had been there before, in July, and made their arrangement with the Indians; and Tracy stayed awhile to build a house, which he partly completed. When the rest came on they finished it. It was on the right bank of the Flat river, a half mile southwest of Hatch's grist-mill. This house was built partly for a store, to be used by Rix Robinson, in his trade with the Indians.

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 118

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434