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 119
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The first American settler of the township south of Grand river was George Post, a native of Connecticut, who located the north- west corner of sec. 23, on the line of the old Portland and Grand · Rapids, and the Battle Creek and Hastings trails to Marsaque's (or Marsac's) trading post at Lowell. This settlement was made in 1842. The following year Maynard Chatterdon, with his wife and family, consisting of three sons and three daughters, located on sec. 31. Five years later Peter Hornbrook, Charles Gordon, Harrison Wickham, George Monk and W. H. Montague located on the south and southwestern sections. From 1850 to 1854 Jolin Brannan, James Wallace, William Proctor, James Easterby, John and Jacob Yeiter, Christian and Jacob Loyer, William Pratt, and George Acker located their lands. Within a period extending a little over 30 years these men have cleared the wilderness, and founded for their children happy homes.'
THE OLD RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION ..
A meeting of the early settlers of Lowell and the neighboring townships was held at Frain's hall, March 22, 1877, with Cyprian S. Hooker, Chairman, and Harman Nash, Secretary. The purpose of the meeting was to organize a local pioneer society, and to this end a committee of five, comprising Morgan Lyon, W. W. Hatch, Alex. McLean, J. M. Matthewson and Alex. Rogers, was appointed to draft a constitution and set of by-laws. March 31 the old set- tlers of the district reassembled to consider the report of this com- mittee, which, on being presented, was adopted. The society was organized under the name of "The Old Residents' Association of the Grand River Valley," with the object of cultivating social re- lations, as well as collecting historical, biographical and statistical information connected with the early settlement of the country.
1186
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
The first officers of the society were Cyprian S. Hooker, Presi- dent; W. W. Hatch, Vice-president; Harman Nash, Secretary and Morgan Lyon, Treasurer.
The meetings of Aug. 14, 1877, and the succeeding one, held Jan. 30, 1878, were well attended. Sylvester Hodges was elected Second Vice-President. Another meeting, held Feb. 13, 1878, amended article 9 of the laws, by striking out the assessment provisions. The second regular meeting was held Feb. 22,1878, when J. C. Frain and Wm. R. Blaisdell were elected Vice-Presi- dents of the association. Aug. 14, 1878, a picnic was given on the Island in the village of Lowell, in which a great number of Grand Rapids old residents participated. Addresses were de- livered by Judge Solomon L. Withey and Thomas B. Church. The first officers were re-elected in 1878. In 1879 these officers were chosen for a third term. The annual meeting of 1880 resulted in the choice of Cyprian S. Hooker for President; Harman Nash, Secretary; Morgan Lyon, Treasurer; Edson English, A. H. King, Robert Marshall, Alex. McLean, Elias D. Parker, Alex. Rogers, and. Geo. R. Sayles, Vice-Presidents. At the annual meeting of 1881 the above were re-elected.
The following is a list of the members of the Lowell Old Resi- dents' Association, with date of birth, nativity, and date of immi- gration :
Names of Members. Date of Birth.
Native Place.
C. S. Hooker, Oct. 7, 1796,
M. Lyon,
16, 1810,
A. Rogers, Aug. 4, 1809,
W. W. Hatch, March 14, 1822,
M. J. King, May 2, 1814.
J.M. Matthewson, Dec. 13, 1823.
8, 1844
A. H King,
Aug. 16, 1816,
A. McLean,
Nov. 27, 1816,
L. J. Robinson, Sept. 4, 1836,
E. D. Parker,
April 23, 1824,
J. B. Shear,
June 6, 1816,
G. W. Parker,
April 4, 1835, Oct 24, 1836, Dec. 25, 1824,
P. D. Stocking,
B. Rider,
I. Nash,
J. S. Hooker,
June 17, 1798, Aug. 11, 1804, Aug. 29, 1830, April 3, 1836,
N. B. Blain,
Nov. 15, 1829,
W. R. Blaisdell,
Jan. 25, 1830.
S T. Robinson, S. Brower,
May 21, 1829, Sept. 9, 1831,
Orange Co., Vt. Scipio, Cayuza, N. Y. Monroe Co., N. Y. Wheatland, Gen. Co., N. Y. Livingston Co .. N. Y. East Dumfries, Canada.
Oct. 2, 1847 Oct. 22 1836 June 24, 1834 Sept. 15, 1841 1832 April 8, 1832
R. Marshall,
C. C. Sayles, Oct. 25, 1839,
A. R. Hoag, Dec. 30, 1817,
Mary A. Hoag, Feb, 18, 1821, J. C. rain, July 8, 1834,
Eliza'th L. Frain, Aus. 15, 1838,
S. Hodges, April 22, 1813,
Martha Hodges, Oct. 17, 1814,
Tompkins Co., N. Y.
Kent Co., Mich.
Period of Immigra- tion to Mich. Sept. 11, 1837 6. 18, 1836
Nov. 18, 1835 May 3, 1842 66 10, 1831
Thompson, Wind.Co.Conn. Norwich, Shen. Co., N. Y. Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y. Monroe, Ashtabula Co .. O. Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y. Little Falls, Her. Co., N. Y. Scipio, Cayug . Co., N. Y. Caledonia, Liv. Co., N. Y. Robinson, Ottawa Co.Mich. Gorham, Ont. Co., N. Y. Putnam, Wash. Co., N. Y. Burford, Canada W., Hornby, Steuben Co., N.Y. Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich. Midland, Duchess Co., N.Y. Butternut. Otsego Co.,N.Y. Canton, Wayne Co., Mich. LaFayette, Seneca Co. N.Y. Delaware Co , N. Y.
June 10, 1841 Oct. 10, 1841 Native Dec. 30, 1844 Sept. 15, 1843 Dec. 30, 1844 Sept. 15, 1845 Native Oct. 1, 1844 Sept. 15, 1845 Native Sept. 5, 1850
A. Calkins, .
March 2, 1815, Dec. 12. 1822,
Ridgeway, Orleans Co , N.Y.
Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. Orange Co., Vermont.
Cortland Co., N. Y. Jefferson Co., N. Y.
Hen'tta E. Smith, Aug. 9, 1838,
April 1, 1844 July 12, 1830 Nov. 10, 1840 Oct. 18, 1840 Nov. 18, 1854 Oct. 13, 1836 Oct. 13, 1836 Native.
H. Nash,
M. N. Hine,
1187
LOWELL TOWNSHIP.
Native
O. S. Hodges, Oct. 10, 1847,
C. D. Hodges, Sept. 18, 1845,
66 66
66 66
AmeliaM.Hodges,
Wayne Co., N. Y.
Shelby, Orleans Co., N. Y.
Delilah G. King,
March 8, 1819, April 19, 1823,
Orange, Essex Co., N. J.
Orleans Co., N. Y.
Lucinda King,
Lydia Kelsey, April 10, 1797,
Lucerne Co., Pa. Montgomery Co., Pa.
DeborahLPatrick, Jan. 29, 1793,
Wales, Erie Co., N. Y.
Emily Richards, April 10, 1820, Aug. 4, 1827.
Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Wurtemberg, Germany.
J. Kopf,
Oct. 10 1828, Jan. 7, 1833,
Livingston Co., N. Y.
March 11, 1838 Sept., 1855 Sept., 1855 May 15, 1850 Feb. 1, 1843
Maria E.Marshall, Aug. 16, 1831,
May 14, 1808,
Lancaster, Ont., N. Y.
Feb. 1,1843 Native Sept. 11, 1827
Delaney Hooker, Sept. 1, 1807,
Lydia Parker,
April 18, 1824, Sept. 11, 1831,
Cayuga . o., N. Y.
Dec. 30, 1844 June 24, 1834 Native June 1, 1835 March, 1838
C. W. Campbell,
March 26, 1835,
Dumfries, Canada.
Dec. 1843
E. Hatch, Nov. 18, 1834,
W. C. Vanderhoof June 8, 1823 1839,
Harriet Hatch,
C. A. Vanderhoof, Jan. 4, 1828,
Zeidok Howe,
Jan. 20, 1824,
Charlotte Howe,
April 28, 1828,
W. Carr,
Aug. 19, 1834,
Julia M. Carr.
Oct. 18, 1836,
O. A. Robinson, Aug 5, 1828,
Luc'da Robinson,
Orange Co, N. Y.
Oct. 2, 1840 66
A. English,
April 14, 1799,
Windsor Co., Vermont.
A. K. Shaw, April 13, 1810,
Dutchess Co, N. Y.
May 30, 1830
Phebe L. Weeks, Feb. 18, 1819,
Augusta, Canada W.
1830
Esther A. Dake, Nov. 15, 1820,
Livingston Co., N. Y.
Oct., 1843 April 18, 1826
A. Knapp,
March 20, 1803,
"
S. B. Knapp,
Aug., 1838
A. C. Devendorf,
R. Hunter, jr., Sept 20, 1819.
England.
March 31, 1885
Caroline Hunter, Nov. 15, 1822
Wayne Co. N. Y.
The reunions of this society are always looked forward to with pleasure, and having taken place leave behind happy memories. At intervals the genius of the orator or poet adds to the joy of such occasions. A few years ago the following poetical curiosity, sup- posed to have been written by an old resident of Vergennes, now living in Ionia county, was brought forth from its hiding place and recited for the edification of the old people by Geo. Bisbee:
It was some two-score years ago, As these old pioneers well know, When ourtown was a wilderness far and near, Occupied mostly by Indians and deer.
May, 1831 June 10, 1841 Apr:1, 1836 May 18, 1844 June 3, 1839 March 11, 1839 June 3, 1839
Mary A. Patrick,
Mary J. Kopf,
Ontario Cayuga Co , N. Y.
Anne Sayles,
Nov. 12, 1821,
Vergennes, Mich.
Butternut, Otsego Co.N.Y.
Burford, Ont., Canada.
Clara Stocking,
July 28,1811,
Vergennes, Mich. Oneida Co., N Y.
Hannah E. Nash, Aug. 13, 1837,
Ashtabula Co., Ohio.
Cayuga Co., N. Y.
Dec. 27, 1843 Native
Ross, Kalamazoo Co., Mich
Oct. 1, 1843
Herkimer Co., N. Y.
Oct. 20, 1854 Native
Washtenaw Co., Mich.
Genesee Co., N. Y.
E. English, Sept. 12, 1807,
Otsego Co. N. Y.
May 18. 1839 July 1, 1832
J. Weeks,
Nov. 7, 1807,
Orange Co., N. Y.
March 20, 1835
A. Dake,
Oct. 29, 1819,
Clark, Clinton Co., O.
C. Butrick, May 13, 1818, Aug. 17 1799,
Schoharie Co., N. Y. .Ontario Co., N Y.
Betsy Knapp,
July 26, 1822,
Herkimer Co., N. Y.
C. M. Devendorf, Oct. 17, 1831,
1
Vergennes, Mich.
Eliza J. Hodges, Aug. 30, 1846,
Anne P. Rogers, Jan. 19, 1816,
Eliza A. Mapes, June 23, 1824,
G. R. Sayles,
Hen'tta Robinson, Sept. 8, 1840,
Sally Campbell,
Madison Co. N. Y.
1188
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Where now stands this beautiful liall Were giant oaks, grand and tall.
Among the first settlers that came in Were Uncle Wooster and Uncle Tim. Soon others followed ; settlers came often, And they named the place town of Boston. Neighbors were scarce and far between, Many days passed by when none were seen, Neighbors were neighbors ten miles away, Here in the woods at an early day. Each went to work with a right good will, Clearing his land ready to till.
The roads were crooked and bad, to be sure,
But complaining of them the evil wouldn't cure. Our houses were all made of wood Rolled up as high and square as we could ; And sparsely partitioned, if any we had, With curtains, or blankets, sometimes witli plaid.
'Twas not uncommon, in those early days Of good old-fashi ned honest ways, For six, seven, eight or teu to retire In the same room by the very same fire. They did not lie in the morning late, For if they did they knew their fate; So they were up before day And had the bedding all packed away; For the beds were made upon the floor, And oft filled the room from door to door. Our food was cooked in a fireplace Where sparks flew up as if on a race ; Our bread was baked in an oven of tin, Being well kneaded and then put in; First, placed at a rising distance from the fire, Then watched and turned, hitched nigher and nigher, Until it was done a little brown.
Such bread as this was of high renown.
Women in those days were strong and stout, Much better than the fashions now turn out ; They would walk five miles or more Without complaint of being tired or sore ; And if in the field more help was wanted, If we gave them a bid, more help was granted. These were our mothers and sisters and girls, Who never frizzled their hair into curls, But dressed in homespun. comfortable and neat, Boys the girls of those days were hard to beat. Our fathers were sturdy, true and strong, Wielding the well-aimed ax all day long. Ah ! many a giant tree bowed its head Between their rising up and going to bed; Many a time would our fathers come in With lands all hardened and begrinned, And shaking their frocks before the fire, And punching the wood till the blaze rose higher, They would stamp their feet upon the stone hearth, Which was well chinked in with mortar of earth ; Then would they rest them from the toils of the day And the little ones amuse with stories or play.
If to a neighbor a visit weowed We hitched up the oxen and took a load-
1189
LOWELL TOWNSHIP.
Hitched them to a two-ox sleigh, Well spread over with straw or hay, With a chain stetched across from stake to stake That helped the matrons some ease to take; And the youngsters held on as best they could, Their merry voices ringing out in the wood; And the driver sang out, "Gee, Buck ! haw, Bright!" When we went visiting those wintry nights. In the very same way we went to church, No one ever thinking then there was any hurt.
Our meetings we held in a house of logs, A quaint, rough place to worship God; But from those rude altars prayers ascended as high As from costly churches whose spires fret the sky. We were not forgotten by minister or priest : They very soon followed us from the East.
Ah! well do I remember the first deatlı ; She was a mother-the mother of eight. How we all mourned the children's fate! As closely as kin we all stood around While they laid her in the damp, cold ground. Slowly, silently and mournfully we turned away- I shall never forget that burial day.
And now, while I am talking, something makes me sad,
So many now are missing who used to make us glad. Many true hearts have followed ; yes, have perished by the way, . Hearts, brave and true as any that are here to-day. Shoulder to shoulder they stood with us in days gone by, And never yielded to any except the Master on high.
And while we sadly pause and shed a silent tear, I fancy I feel their presence very near. I think I see them beckoning us-those who have gone before, Beckoning us home to their harbor on the other shore.
The Indians would sometimes come in To swap their venison a' d skegamin For flour and bread or coo-coosh-we-os, And if they thought we had it, called for natos:
When the virgin soil we used to plow It took more teams than it does now; Five yoke it took to turn over in a day An acre of grubs (not much clover, I should say). When we came near a stump How the roots would snap, crack and grunt, And when the day's work was all done, Do you believe there was very much fun In taking the iron to Ionia for repair And bring back in the morning a sharp share ? It has been done: yes, many a time There was no nearer smith for some time. When our boys were hungry for fun We went to the woods with dog and gun; One's first deer which he killed outright Gave cause for watchers on that night. Well I remember when and where We had right fun with three bear. A stalwart son of the " Emerald Isle " Was cutting corn, and just a while Before'twas dark, it was nearly sunset, Three bears came in their meal to get. Pat viewed them sharp, right and left, To measure their height and get their heft;
1190
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Then with a corn-knife he made a bold rush And away they went, peil-mell in the bush ; And Pat was winner in minutes three, For in that time they were all up a tree. He hallooed for help, and help came, And they built a fire to keep their game, For there was not a gun for more than a mile ; So they sent a messenger and waited awhile; And when the guns came it was pitch dark, While at the bears the dogs did bark. The shooting was done by guess and gunter, Whether done by old or young hunter. But of the rest, suffice to say, Soon at our feet the bears all lay ; And prouder men or bigger boys Seldom, ifever, made a noise.
We had then many customs and ways That differed somewhat from those of modern days; But people lived then just as happy as now, And if you wish to know, I'll tell you how : They simply followed the Golden Rule, Whether at home, in business or school. These are some of the ways we did those years When we old folks now, were pioneers Still some progress we have made - Don't let us hanker for things in the shade ; Let us leave the past to the past And look to the future, for that is vast. And in it there's work for me and you And no time to lose if that work we do. Then let us in unison proceed to fill The mission assigned us-toil up the steep hill, Ever remembering that labor is sweet When overcome obstacles lie at our feet ; And when summoned to lay our armor by, May we cheerfully respond without a sigh.
The rules of poetry were revolutionized indeed by this old settler; grammar itself was reduced to a skeleton to suit the style of the muse; but with all its faults, the poem is not without merit, since it carries with it not only a good description of pioneer life, but also conveys an idea of the poetry which flourished in olden days with- in the wilderness. It may be truly said that there is more truth than poetry in the composition.
ORGANIC.
The first township meeting was held at the house of Timothy White, April 3, 1848, when Cyprian S. Hooker was chosen chair- men: Henry B. Upham, Clerk, and W.m. B. Lyon and Timothy White, Inspectors of Election. The business transacted at the first town meeting was as follows: "Voted that $100 be raised to de- fray the incidental expenses of the township for the year ending April, 1849; that neat cattle be free commoners; that bucks be re- tained from running at large from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15, under a penalty of $5 each; that the town raise $245 toward building a bridge across Grand river, near the mouth of Flat river; that the
1191
LOWELL TOWNSHIP.
sum of 50 cents on each scholar in the town, over four and under 18 years old, be raised for the support of public schools; that there be but two constables elected; that there be no assistant assessor for the present year." These resolutions, with one or two others, being carried, the meeting adjourned to April, 1849.
The school inspectors met for the purpose of examining teachers April 15, 1848, and issued a certificate to Miss Helen M. White, authorizing her to teach a common school for two years.
The officers of the township from 1848, the year of organization, to the present time, are these:
SUPERVISORS.
Cyprian S. Hooker. 1848
Robert Hunter, jr .. 1870
Harrison Wickham.
1849-51
Edmund Lee.
1871
Cyprian S. Hooker. 1852-3
Simeon Hunt. . 1872
John Brown. . 1854-56
Charles P. Hine. 1873-4
Cyprian S. Hooker.
1857
Robert Hunter. . 1875-7
Jacob Chapman
1858
Almon M. Elsworth 1878
Arvine Peck.
1859
Leonard Hunt. 1879-80
Chas. B. Carter.
. 1860-64
Jarvis C. Train
1881
A. M. Elsworth.
1865-9
CLERKS.
Timothy White.
1848
T. J. Slayton. 1865-6
H. B. Upham. 1849-50
John Huggins. .
1867-70
G. K. White. 1851-2
Otto C. Mc Donnell 1871
A. H. King. . . 1853
James H. Weeks 1872
J. S. Hooker. 1854
John Wingler 1873
G. K. White 1855
J. H. Weeks. 1875-7
E. J. Booth.
1856
Olney B. Fuller
1878-9
Thomas Daniels.
1857-60
Edgar E. Wisner 1880
J. E. Chapin.
1861-2
Dayton M. Church
1881
TREASURERS.
Henry Church.
1848
Clark M. Devendorf. 1865-6
I. A. Danes. 1849-51
M. M. Perry.
1867-8
John Brennan. 1852
Webster Morris 1869-70
Benj. Morse. 1853
Wm. R. Perry. . . .1871-2
Chas. Gordon. 1854
Charles T. Wooding 1873-4
N. W. Tyler.
1855
M. C. Walker. 1875-77
Cyrus Hunt.
1856
Henry Mitchell. 18778
N. A. Jones.
1857
M C. Walker
1879
Myron Severy
1858-9
Fred B. Hine. 1880
Jos. Wilson.
1860-2
Henry Mitchell 1891
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
C. S. Hooker 1848
Iva A. Danes. 1853
D. FMcEwen ..
1848
C. S. Green. 1853
S. P. Rolf. .
.1848
C. S. Hooker. 1854
Ira A Danes. 1848
Charles Gordon. 1854-5
Geo, R. Upham 1849
Philander Palmeter 1856
C. S. Hooker 1850
Jacob Snell. 1857
Daniel Mc Ewen. 1851
Robert Hunter 1858
W. H. Montague
1851
Charles Gordon . .. 1859
Philander Palmeter
1852
Clark L. Bennett. 1860
---
1192
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
J. B. Balcom. . 1861
Matthew Hunter 1872-3
Robert Hunter
1862
Peter Hornbrook. 1873
J. B. Balcom 1865
David H. Denise. .1875
Clark L. Bennett. 1866
James H. Wecks. . 1876
C. G. Merriman. 1867
D. H. Denise. 1876
Charles Gordon. 1867
Milton M. Perry 1877
M. M. Perry. 1868
1868
Robert H. Graham 1878
Matthew Hunter.
1869
Chas. Stoughton. 1878.
T. J. Slayton. 1869
1870
James H. Weeks. 1880
Simeon Hunt.
1870
Levi Stone .. 1881
Charles Gordon 1871
Robert Hunter.
1872
The township schools, including those of the village, are attended by 767 children, of the 922 children of school age reported in the township at the close of the year 1880. There are also 44 non-resi- dent pupils in attendance. The district libraries contain 522 vol- umes, 420 of which belong to No. 1, or Lowell village district. The school property, including buildings, is valued at $17,500. A corps of 25 teachers attend these schools, to whom is paid annually the sum of $4,421, or $176.84 each. The total expenditure for school purposes during the year 1880 was $8,085.40, provided for by a balance from the previous year, together with $6,118.58, dis- trict taxes; $144.04, fees of non-resident pupils; $52.84, library moneys; $462.01, primary school interest fund; and $467.99, one- mill tax. The balance carried forward to the credit of the year 1881 was $1,403.19, almost double the sum on hand at the begin- ning of the previous year.
STATISTICS.
Mr. Cyprian Hooker erected the first frame house here in Decem- ber, 1846, which is said to have been the first of the sort in the township, and in the following year he erected a grist. mill in the village, which now began to assume some importance. The flouring mill of Morris Johnson and Jacob Yeiter's cider-mill are the only manufacturing establishments in the township. One is located two and one-half miles west of the village, the other is four miles south. The Grand River Highland Nursery is five miles southwest of the village; Thebo & Lewis' nursery is six miles west. Martin Hine and John D. Husted are the owners of nurseries also. A post-office was established in 1848. Additions now began to be made; but it was not until the year 1861 that it became an incor- porated village; indeed, the whole town appears to have had but 214 inhabitants in 1850. At the time of the incorporation of the vil- lage, the town contained a population of about 1,100, which in 1870 had increased to 1503; in 1874 to 2,200; and in 1880 to 3,037.
.
In 1874 there were in the township, forming the property of the citizens, 337 horses, 72 oxen, 4 mules, 432 cows, 432 young cattle,
Milton M. Perry 1881
Robert Hunter. 1879
Robert Hunter, jr
James Brennan ... 1877
P. Hornbrook.
1193
LOWELL TOWNSHIP.
526 hogs, and 2,156 sheep. Eight mills and factories give employ- ment to 49 workmen and showed a total investment of $123,000. The previous year the crops yielded 31,513 bushels of wheat; 33,000 bushels of corn; 18,237 bushels of other grain; 9,776 bushels of potatoes, and 1,759 tons of hay. The wool clip equaled 9,154 pounds; the dairy product was 48,065 pounds of butter; the sugar bush yielded 22,092 pounds of maple sugar, and the value of fruit and garden product was estimated at $5,262. The returns for the year 1881 are not yet perfect; but it is safe to say that the general totals of the years 1873-'4, if multiplied by two, would represent the statistics of the township at present.
LOWELL VILLAGE.
This village is favorably located on Flat river, a short distance above the confluence of that stream with the Grand river, 139 miles northwest of Detroit and 19 miles east of Grand Rapids.
The principal industries of Lowell comprise Clark Brothers' woolen-mill, Wm. W. Hatch's flouring mill, E. E. Wisner's flouring mill, Stephen B. Knapp's saw-mill, John Kopf's chair and furn- iture factory, H. D. Wood's planing-mill, Mason & Ecker's planing mill, Nash Harman's edge-tool factory, Harris R. Haight's spring- bed factory, Jacob C. Hare's marble works, King, Quick & King's lumber yard. The business streets are made up with the stores and offices enumerated as follows: eight groceries, four clothing stores, one jewelry store, five dry-goods houses, six millinery rooms, two photographic studios, one sewing-machine and musical instrument depot, three farm-implement warehouses, three hardware stores, eight blacksmith shops, four wagon-shops, three harness-shops, three hotels, one restaurant, two cooper-shops, one gunsmith's store, nine saloons, one cigar factory, two shoemakers, five boot and shoe stores, three drug stores, two bakeries, four dealers in meats, two barbers, four tailoring establishments, two furniture stores, two livery stables and one notion store.
The Lowell National Bank office is located here. This together with the office of the Lowell Journal form two of the neatest offices devoted to banking and newspaper work in the State. An office of the Western Union Telegraph Company has been established here, and within a short time the citizens expect to have a central tele- phone exchange, electric lights and all those luxuries which mod- ern times suggest.
The village contains five churches, a high school, and four ward schools. The Detroit & Milwaukee railroad is on the south side of Grand river, half a mile or more from the center of Lowell, and around the depot has grown up quite a village, with factory, hotel and stores. This is sometimes known as Segwun, though regarded as a part of the village of Lowell.
The location of the village is singularly beautiful. Flat river flows through the heart of the village, and after turning a number
1194
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
of mill-wheels in its course, enters Grand river a short distance below the village, opposite the eastern limits of Chesbro's village of Segwun. Lowell occupies about four-fifths of section 2 in the township which bears its name, together with a quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35, Vergennes township.
REMINISCENCES OF SETTLEMENT.
From a paper, prepared in 1876 by Mrs. Eaton, daughter of Dr. Arba Richards, the following references to the first settlers are made: In 1829 a band of Ottawas had their village on the west side of Flat river. During that year a French trader named Marsac arrived, who during the succeeding two years established a regular trading post within a log-cabin, which he built south of Grand river, near the site of Kopf's chair factory. At that time there were no roads save Indian trails, or no means of navigating the rivers save the birchen or log canoe or rudely constructed raft. Philander Tracy, afterward known as Judge Tracy, and Lewis Robinson, one of the "famous 44," settled with their fam- ilies near the south part of the village, west of Flat river. They built the first houses north of Grand river within the present vil- lage limits. Immediately after Rodney and Lucas Robinson, with their families, located close by. From this time until 1846 immigration slowly but steadily increased. It is impossible for those who have never experienced the realities of pioneer life to imagine the incovenientes, hardships and privations which the early settlers of this region endured. Their supplies had to be drawn from Kalamazoo county through a wilderness destitute of roads and bridges. Pork was $40 per barrel; flour, $20.
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