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 120

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 120

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

To give an idea of the straits in which they oftentime found themselves, it is said they were forced to dig the seed potatoes immediately after planting, so as to ward off starvation. An in- cident in the lives of John and James Thompson, who, with their families, settled on the east side of Flat river at an early day, on the land subsequently known as the Pratt farm, is worthy of record. It appears that early in the spring of the year necessity compelled those pioneers to proceed to Gull Prairie, so that they might ob- tain seed and supplies. They took with them their ox-teams and occupied several days in making the journey. On returning they found that the rivers had burst their icy coverings, and a fierce torrent swept by, where some days before was the ice-road. What to do was the serious question of the hour, but stern necessity overcame every obstacle, and the travelers succeeded in reaching home that night. It seems that each of them procured long poles, to which they tied their sacks of provision, and then proceeded to cross the ice-encumbered river. It was a feat which desperate men alone would undertake and careful men accomplish.

The Indians often threatened them; the bear, wolf and rattle- snake opposed their settlement; but amid all these obstacles the settlers of old held their lands and homes; remained to see the

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

Indians become their best friends and the wild animals of the wilderness gone forever. The Indians became kind neighbors, and a help rather than an enemy; for to the aborigines they looked for a supply of fish, venison and wild fruits.

Illness was, however, the primary enemy of the settlers. It has been truly said of Michigan, that it could never be settled without the aid of quinine, and the proverb fully extends its application to Lowell. The air was so poisoned with the malarial effluvia aris- ing from swamps and marshes, that not only the Indians and American pioneers suffered intensely from fever and ague, but also the very dogs of the settlement. Quinine was the great specific, and was considered as great a necessity in the households of the township as any article of food.

THE INDIANS OF FLAT RIVER.

The history of the Flat River Indians is given very fully in the pages of the county history : there are, however, a few facts spe- cially pertaining to the history of Lowell, which have been noted by early settlers, and these are in the following pages. The Indians were generally a harmless people. Their association with the white people did not tend to their physical or moral advancement, although a few Indian women were much benefitted from practical lessons taught them by Mrs. Rodney and Mrs. Lucas Robinson. Intoxicating liquor was the curse of each Indian village and con- tributed mainly to their impoverishment and degradation, yet it is said of the Indians of Flat river that they were faithful to the whites without an exception.

Even Cobmoosa's " devil," an ill-looking, quarrelsome Indian, of Cobmoosa's band, said to be the son of the chief, was subdued. On one occasion a large thorn entered his hand which resulted in inflammation. The hand caused him such intense pain, that one day he rushed into the log-house of Mrs. Arba Richards asking for help. The housewife, sympathizing with the savage, took a pair of tweezers and drew forth the thorn, then washed and dressed the wound and told the "devil" it would soon get well. He did not show any sign of gratitude just then ; but after the lapse of a few months, when the wound was healed and the woman had forgotten . all about her kind act, the Indian visited the house, bringing with him a pail of large wild plums, and with various gesticulations pre- sented them to her in token of her kindness. For years afterward he never failed to exhibit in some manner his sense of gratitude.

Mrs. Arba Richards remembers seeing a white woman who lived with the Ottawa Indians on Flat river from her youth. The woman was said to be 80 years old. She died from the effects of a cancer in the head, about 1840. The Indians gave very little information concerning her, but it is supposed that she was a white girl made captive by the savages in her childhood, and adopted by them as a child of the tribe.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

The first burial ground was the old Indian battle-field, half a mile west of Lowell, on the Ada road. In early days the first set- tlers remember the burial of a chief here. The dead warrior was placed in a rude pit in a sitting posture, surrounded with all his favorite pipes, guns, and peltries. The grave was so covered that the white settlers could at any time see the body of the savage arrayed in his funeral attire.

Another burial ground, is on the west bank of Flat river, a half mile north of Main street. One of the old mounds exists to-day, and forms the Mecca of visiting Indians.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE.

In connection with this first school the name of Caleb Page must be associated. He was a native of Windsor, Vt., who located a 40-acre tract of land near what is now Fallassburg, on section 24, in 1837. Here he formed the acquaintance of Miss Baird, and within the school-house married her, in January, 1839. This was the first wedding among the American settlers of Lowell vil- lage. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Mr. Richards, a Methodist circuit preacher. A general invitation was extended to every adult then in the district, and it is said the bride used every effort to make the occasion one of pleasure and joy. The scholars' seats and desks, referred to above, were actually white under the washing process to which the lady subjected them ; the floor was also scoured free of color; the log walls were hidden beneath a web of evergreens and white sheets. The windows were draped in white. and even the old fire-place was ornamented with the con- ventional tongs, poker, fire-shovel and, it is thought, a fender. The refreshment table was well supplied ; while the orchestra was com- posed of local talent said to be under the leadership of Mrs. Rod- ney Robinson. That wedding day is well remembered ; but the principal actors in the little play, together with many of their guests, have gone to their eternity.

FIRST THINGS.

The first school district was organized in 1837.

The first school-teacher was Caroline Baird, in 1838.

The first white settler was Captain Daniel Marsac or Marsaque, in 1829.

The first log house was erected in 1831, by Marsac.

The American pioneers were Philander Tracy, Sylvester Hodges, now of Vergennes, Alva Jones, and Lewis Robinson.

The first apple-trees were set out in 1836, by Sylvester Hodges. The first marriage took place in March, 1839, between Caro- line Baird and Caleb Page.

The first death after the arrival of the American pioneers was that of Wobwindego, or White Giant, who died early in 1837, of small-pox.

1 .

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

The first bridge was built across Flat river in 1840, at Fallass- burg.

The first centenarian was Mrs. Lucky, mother of Mrs. Deborah Patrick, who died in 1861, aged 101 years.

The second bridge over Flat river was built at Lowell, in 1844. This became impassable, when a new bridge was built. This was also taken down, and the present bridge constructed.

Lewis Robinson is said to have built a frame addition to his log house, on the west bank of Flat river, previous to 1846.

Cyprian S. Hooker built the first frame house in the village of Dansville, beginning it Dec. 18, 1846, and moving into it Christ- mas with his family. This was the first frame dwelling house in Lowell village or township.

In 1847 the second frame house was built by Harry Upham, which is now the dwelling house of Mrs. Susan A. Williams.

The first dam across Flat river was constructed in 1847, by Cyprian S. Hooker. At the same time he built the grist-mill on the east side of Flat river. The first sermon ever preached in the village of Lowell-which, however, in pioneer days was called Dansville-was delivered at the house of Mr. Hooker in 1849, by the Rev. S. S. Brown, a Congregational minister.

The first Methodist preacher who visited the settlement was Elder Mitchell, a missionary from the Ohio Conference.

The first village on Flat river was platted under the name of Dansville, in 1847.

Philander Tracy was the first Postmaster at Lowell. Rodney Robinson was appointed Postmaster in 1848.

The first village election was held in 1861.

The first brick dwelling house was built here by Rev. Mr. Mal- pas, on Division street.

The first large flouring or grist mill was erected by Wm. W. Hatch, in 1867, on the west bank of Flat river. However, the old grist-mill was in use as early as 1847.

The first church building erected was that by the Baptists. The Congregational church was built in 1858, under the auspices of Rev. D. L. Eaton. The Methodists purchased the "old red school-house," and converted it into a church. This occupied the site of the present brick church.

The first white child born in the settlement was Joseph Marsac, son of the first settler.

The first white woman who died at Lowell was Mrs. Philander Tracy, in 1838.

The first brick store was built by Edward Lee, on the north side of Bridge street.

The first physician, Dr. Arba Richards, located in the original township of Vergennes in 1839, and was the first physician of the district. As is mentioned in the biographical sketch, he was a native of Vermont. At the date of his immigration he possessed all those traits of character which distinguished the pioneers. He

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

brought with him his wife and her infant daughter, now Mrs. D. L. Eaton. Immediately after coming here he entered upon the practice of his profession, and, like the pioneer doctors of Grand Rapids, had a large tract of country to travel over, and all the dangers and inconveniences of the time to undergo.

The first frame-house builder, Cyprian S. Hooker, a well known and highly respected citizen of Lowell, died at his residence in that place Thursday, Sept. 1, 1881, aged S5 years. Mr. Hooker was one of the old settlers of Lowell township, and his name is intimately connected with the social, industrial, religious and po- litical history of both the township and village of Lowell. He was born in Connecticut; came to Michigan, and settled near Ypsilanti, then to Livingston county, next to Portland, Ionia Co., then to Saranac, where he built a saw-mill, at a time when he was almost the only inhabitant. In 1846 he moved to Lowell, and on the organization of that township, in 1848, he was chosen Super- visor and also Justice of the Peace.

PLATS AND PLATMAKERS.

The first plat of the village was made in 1847 for Capt. Daniel Marsac, who named the place "Dansville." In 1850 Marsac dis- posed of his interest in those lands to Abel Avery, of Ionia, who received a quiet title for the Tracy and Lincoln entries, or the University lands. Avery added 102 acres to the original plat of the village of Dansville, and the nucleus of Lowell was formed. In 1854 the name was changed to Lowell, in view of its manufact- uring facilities which the district offered. During that year Wick- ham and Richards platted 93.15 acres on the west side of Flat river, and to this part of the village the present name was first applied. The Marsac and Avery plats, together with the Chapin and Booth eastern addition to the village of Dansville, containing 30 acres, were grouped under the same title in 1855, and thus the beginning of "Lowell of the West " was made.

Since 1855 the addition known as Fox's, surveyed by A. C. Smith, July 24, 1868,-a tract of 52 acres, lying north of Wick - ham and Richards, -- was laid off ; Peter Lee's addition, surveyed by Robert S. Jackson, March 23, 1870, containing 48 acres, was platted north of Abel Avery's addition; Snell's addition, contain- ing 50 acres, was platted for Mrs. Caroline Snell in 1870, west and south of Wickham and Richard's addition; A. M. Ellsworth's plat was surveyed by R. S. Jackson, June 17, 1870, north and east of Peter Lee's addition. This comprised 60 acres, 20 of which lay within the village limits, and 40 in the town of Ver- gennes.

The plat of the village of "Segwun " was laid off for Henry O. Chesebro Oct. 26, 1863, by H. B. Alden, Surveyor, south of Grand river, on the line of the D., G. H. & M. railroad. This name is seldom applied now, as the entire platting in the neighborhood of the mouth of Flat river is known as Lowell.

Francis Ting

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

In April, 1869, Robert S. Jackson re-surveyed the village for M. R. Blodgett, L. B. Lull, Simeon Hunt, John Huggins and J. C. Scott, thus forming the Village Board. This is known as the "re- survey of Lowell village," authorized by the Legislature.

LOWELL IN 1867.

As recently as 1870 the village of Lowell might be called a town of wooden walls. Very few brick buildings were then in exist- ence, and even the frame structures were as unpretentious as they were scattered. The brick block opposite the Dake House was all that represented the large business blocks of the present time. The Union School building stood on the block bounded by Monroe, East Water, High and King streets; the postoffice stood in the cen- ter of the Flat river channel; a sash and door factory was located on the eastern bank of Flat river fronting on Kent street; the Lowell Woolen Mills, a large building, stood in the center of Flat river, south of the Forest Flouring Mills; the last named mills fronted on Bridge street. On the west bank of the river, south of Main street, were the Lowell Flouring Mills and in the neighborhood a second sash and door factory. The edge-tool factory was located on the south side of the viaduct, opposite the old postoffice. The newspaper office of Webster Morris stood on the northwest corner of Bridge and Monroe streets; while on the corresponding corner of Bridge and Division streets was the M. E. Church. 9 The Congregational Church was situated at the corner of Spring and Hudson streets. The Baptist society had a small building on the corner of Bridge and Jackson streets. The members of the Catholic congregation at that time were accus- tomed to assemble at intervals in their first house of worship, but generally attended the Grattan Church. Bridge street presented an irregular line of frame business buildings. On Hudson street, between Main street and Grand river, there were only 10 dwelling- houses. On the east side of Flat river, the inhabited portion of the village extended from Kent street to East North street, and from Jackson street west to the river. Without these bound- aries there were not over 60 dwelling-houses. The west side, extending from Flat river to West Washington street, was fairly built up, and on Spring street between Amicy and Washington was a large dwelling-house. South of Grand river was the D., G. H. & M. R. R. depot, and still farther south the Lowell vinegar factory. A steam saw-mill stood between the railroad and the river, opposite the confluence of Flat river, The chair factory was located south of the railroad, a block west of the line of Division street. Above the Main street viaduct and within the village limits were four picturesque islands, and between the viaduct and mouth of Flat river another series of island formations. . Grand river was spanned by the Division and Hudson streets viaducts. Flat river by the Bridge street viaduct.

1202

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Among the business and professional men of the village of 1867 were the following: E. W. Avery and Morris Johnson , planing-mill and eave-trough factory, Monroe; Horner W. Avery, painter, Bridge; Baker, Rev. A. W., Baptist preacher; J. B. Balcom, physician and dentist, Bridge; W. & M. Barber, groceries, Yankee notions, and boots and shoes; R. Barbin, blacksmith; C. S. Bills, blacksmith and livery stable, Monroe; Blaisdell, W. R., hardware, stoves and tinware; C. Blass and -- Strang, lumber dealers; William Boyce and Chauncey Van Deusen, edge-tool manufactory, Bridge; P. B. Buckley, carpenter and builder; J. Carr and Frank Skinner, bak- ery, billiard saloon and dining rooms, Monroe; E. A. Chapman, photograph artist, Bridge; H. M. Clark, general insurance agent, office with Hatch & Craw, Bridge; C. A. Clark and W. B. John- son, woolen manufacturers; Curtis, Session P., Justice of the Peace; Devendorf, Clark M., bookseller aud stationer; Eddie, James, phy- sician, Bridge; Ellsworth, Almon N., physician, Bridge; Faengar, C. Julius, saloon, Bridge; Fox, P. W. & Co., flouring mill; John Giles and Daniel Driscoll, groceries and provisions, corner Bridge and Monroe; William W. Hatch and Edwin R. Craw, proprietors of Forest Mills and dealers in flour, grain and plaster, Bridge; Hen- derson, Fielding, barber, Bridge; Hine, Charles R., druggist and grocer; Martin Hine, Giles S. Congdon and Charles T. Wooding, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, Bridge; Hiler, Milo, jeweler, Bridge; Howes, D. D., general store, Bridge; A. J. Howk and J. S. Hunt, boots and shoes, Bridge; John and George Huggins, meat market, Bridge; Hunter, Edgar B., blacksmith. Monroe; S. Hunt, J. H. Wood and H. H. Vinton, general store, Main; L. H. Hunt and A. P. Hunter, druggists and grocers, Bridge; Husted, Noalı P., insurance agent and proprietor of Grand River Nurseries; Kapf, John, saw-mill and chair factory, near depot; J. Kapf and William Kaumson, furniture, Bridge; Francis King and Joseph W. Amphlett, carriage makers, Bridge; Kerekus, M. B., painter; King, Francis, hardware, Bridge; Klummp, William, saloon, Bridge; Stephen B. Knapp and E. W. Tucker, saw-mill; Edmund Lee, jr., and M. R Blodgett general store, Bridge; J. Q. Look, and D. L. Eaton, druggists, Main; Lovejoy, James, groceries and pro- visions, Bridge; Lowell National Bank, William W. Hatch, Pres- ident; E. J. Booth, Vice-President; James W. Norton, Cashier; Malcom, Isaac, physician; Mathewson, John M., lawyer, Bridge; John F. Mc Cabe and George W. Parker, grocers, and wool, grain and produce dealers, River; Nathan Mc Carty and R. Guest, gro- ceries and provisions, Bridge; Meddler, Worden J., groceries and provisions, boots and shoes, Bridge; Moe & Co., Robert B., harness- makers, Bridge; Merriman, C. G., Justice of the Peace; Moore, C. T., groceries and clothing, Bridge; Morris, J. D., news depot, sta- tionery and books, Bridge; Morris, Webster, editor and publisher of Lowell Journal, River; Mount, Rev. Nathan, Minister; Nel- son, Theodore, proprietor of Franklin House and Deputy Sheriff; Peck, Alvine, physician, Bridge; Peck, H. B., dentist, Bridge;

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

Perry, Charles R., physician, Bridge; Potter, W. T., proprietor of Lowell House, Bridge; Pullen, William, merchant tailor and cloth- ing, Bridge, corner Monroe; Purple, Miss Martha N., physician, Eclectic; Reese, Ralph, dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, Bridge; Robinson, John W., worsted spinner; Ryan, Daniel, dining.room, near depot; Shaw, Mc Dole, Justice of the Peace; Shear, John B., groceries, crockery and glassware, Bridge; Shepard, Horace, lum- ber dealer; Thomas J. Slayton and Milton M. Perry, lawyers and insurance agents, Bridge; Stevens, James W., Justice of the Peace; C. G. and N. A. Stone, general store, Bridge; Thomas, Alfred and John Tate, livery stable, Monroe; Warwick, Mrs. Ann, dress-maker, Bridge; J. C. West and J. C. Scott, hardware, stoves and tinware, Bridge; J. N. White and Robert W. Graham, boots and shoes, clothing, hats, caps and furnishing goods, Bridge; Wilson, J., black- smith; Young, V. D., groceries, provisions and Yankee notions.

The brick buildings of the village in 1870 comprised the two- story block on Main street, west of the river, containing five stores, with large hall and offices on the second floor; Lee's block, King's block, and Graham's three-story block, the Clifton House, partly brick, the M. E. church, and perhaps one or two dwelling houses. To-day Main and Bridge streets are lined with large brick blocks, and before the close of September, 1881, still larger buildings will be completed.

ORGANIC.

An act to incorporate the village of Lowell was passed in 1859, but allowed to pass unnoticed by the villagers. The subject was brought before the Legislature in the winter of 1860, and the act of incorporation approved March 15, 1861. Under this new author- ity the charter election was held. The following is a list of the village officers:

PRESIDENT.

Cyprian S. Hooker 1861-64

Arvine Peck. 1865-68

Morris R. Blodgett. 1869-71

John C. Scott. 1872

RECORDERS.

C. A. Blake.

1861-63

James H. Weeks. 1873-80

Eugene A. Sunderlin. 1881

TRUSTEES.

W. W. Hatch, I. B. Shearer, Ar-

vine Peck. 1861

A. H. King. 1862

C. R. Hine. 1863

E. R. Craw. 1864

Robert Hunter. .1865

S. Brower .. .1866

E. W. Avery 1867

Simeon Hunt. 1868

John C. Scott, L. B. Lull. 1869 Simeon Hunt. .1870

Lucien B. Lull. 1871

S. H. Hunt. 1872

E. R. Craw. 1873

Milton M. Perry 1874

Wm. Pullen. .. 1875

Edwin R. Crass. 1876

Robert W. Graham 1877

Jarvis C. Train. . 1878

Francis D. Adams. 1879

Robert W.Graham

1880

Jarvis C. Train. 1881

John Huggins. 1869-72

M. N. Hine. 1864

Francis King. 1865-68

Chester G. Stone. 1873-77

Arvine Peck .. .. 1879-79

Milton C. Barber .1880-81

1204

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

TREASURERS.

Simeon Hunt .. 1861-63

William Pullen. 1878

U. B. Williams

1864

Charles T. Wooding .1879-81

Clark M. Devendorf.

1865-77

MARSHALS.

J. Chapma 1861

Cyreno C. Sayles 1871

W. J. Medler. 1862

James B. Sprague. 1872

Robert Marshall.

1863-64

Robert Marshall 1873

John Wilson. 1865

Charles Blass .. 1874

Robert Marshall 1866-67

Robert Marshall. 1875

E. R. Huxley 186S

Thomas Tate Henry W. Booth . 1876

. Geo. W. Lane.

1869

John Calkins .. 1877-78

Robert Marshall. 1870

Robert Marshall 1879-81

ASSESSORS.

Cyrus Hunt.

1861-64

Simeon Hunt. . .. 1872

Almon M. Ellsworth.

1865-69

Robert Hunter, jr.

.1873-77

Robert Hunter, jr

1870

Almon M. Ellsworth. 1878

Edmund Lee.

1871

Milton M. Perry. 1879-81

SYMPATHY WITH THE FIRE STRICKEN.

A meeting was held at Lowell, Saturday, Sept. 10, 1881, to take steps to organize a committee of relief to collect funds and cloth- ing for the sufferers by the forest fires. The meeting was presided over by Harmon Nash, with M. H. Walker as Secretary, and the following were appointed: Sylvester P. Hicks, John Giles, Geo. Wilhelms, L. H. Hunt, Mrs. R. Marshall, Mrs. J. H. Owen, Mrs. C. D. Hodges, Mrs. G. W. Parker.

Within two days $400 were collected, together with good cloth- ing valued at $400, aggregating $800. Mr. Nash received, packed and shipped the clothing per express free of all charges. The money was collected principally by John Giles and L. H. Hunt. The other members of the committee, with the ladies, exerted them- selves in other departments of the good work, and made their sympathy material.

FIRST SCHOOLS.

As early as 1837 the settlement known as Flat river, then com- prising Lowell and Vergennes, was organized into a school district. In the month of April, 1838, the first school building was raised by the Robinsons. This was a very primitive log house, located on the west side of Flat river, due south of the dwelling-house of Mrs. Lyons. The first teacher was Caroline Baird,-an experi- enced preceptress from Ithaca, N. Y., who was employed by the trustees in May, 1838. During the winter of 1838-'9 she was as- sisted by her niece, Helen Chapin, and within the primitive build- ing both ladies made their home. An old-time fire-place, with capacious hearth, was a characteristic of the edifice. A low cham- ber formed the sleeping and store-room. The seats for the scholars

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

were rude benches, formed of hewn logs; while the desks, --- bless your souls, a scholar of the present time would not go within a rod of them !- were simply wide, rough boards, fastened to the log walls in such a manner as only necessity could dictate.

Maria Winslow, daughter of Dr. Winslow, who is referred to in the section on the medical men of the past and present (pages 464 et seq.), succeeded Mrs. Page. This lady taught school in this county for. over 20 years, and like Miss Baird, married. She is the wife of Heman Leonard, of Grand Rapids.

In 1849 Mr. Hooker built the first frame school-house in the village, which was also the first in the east part of the county. It occupied the site of the present M. E. church, and was known as the " red school-house." To what extent the school system has grown within a period less than half a century, may be learned from the following statistics:

SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT.

There are two large brick buildings and one frame house devoted to school purposes in the village of Lowell, which, with the school property, are valued at $13,000. A late report shows the number of children in the village to be 596, of whom 473 attended school during the year 1880. The number of volumes in the district library is 420 ; the number of teachers employed, 10, of whom three are male teachers. These received a salary of $3,122, which gives an average pay of $312.20 each per annum. The total indebtedness of the district at the beginning of 1881 was $3,000. The total expenditure for the year was $6,040.09.

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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 120

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