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 139

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 139

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1351

SPARTA TOWNSHIP.

Prof. Everett, in his memorials of the Grand River Valley, says: " Yet, unimportant as is the fact, and recent as is the date, who was the first to settle in Spencer is a matter of dispute. It is claimed that an old trapper by the name of Lincoln was the first. But this Lincoln's first location was in Montcalm county, and he moved his chebang into Nelson after others had come in. Beyond this, it is conceded that Cyrus B. Thomas, who came from Wash- tenaw county in 1845, was the first that located over the line. He came with his two boys, William and Levi, and settled by the south line of the town, where still the family occupy. Here Mr. Thomas lived three years; not ' monarch of all he surveyed,' but sole resident in the township. It was not until 1853 that others moved into the town. Then came Abner Haskins and his two sons, Joseph and Alexander, Henry Stoltz, James Tuck, Samuel McClelland, Elias Markley, Jesse Haskins, and possibly some others.

"But it matters little who were the earliest settlers; they had nothing to encounter but the work to clear up their lands; they were simply borderers, not adventurers. The town assumed polit- ical individuality under the name of 'Celsus,' in 1861, the first meeting being at the house of Thomas Spencer, on the first Mon- day in April. Those who have the honor of being the first town officers were: Freeman Van Wickle, Supervisor; Henry A. Free- man, Clerk; Wm. W. Hewitt, Ed. D. Clark, Justices.

" The settlement of Spencer was rather slow, owing to the fact that it was a region that invited the lumberman, rather than the farmer."

FIRST LAND-PURCHASERS.

Among the first land-buyers in the township who received United States patents were : Henry Satterlee, section 4, Aug. 18, 1853; Emory Trufant, section 4, April 24, 1854; Jacob W. Pethy, sec- tion 8, Aug. 9, 1853; George Loucks, section 12, March 2, 1850; Peter Finsten, section 29, July 16, 1852; Peter Oyer, section 29, July 16, 1852; Coorod Moyer, section 29, July 16, 1852; John Goo, section 29, July 16, 1852; Newton Hough, section 29, July 16, 1852; John Buttolph, section 31, March 15, 1854; Byron G. Stout, section 30, May 1, 1854; and Shephard B. Cowles, section 29, Sept. 4, 1854.

The first marriages were solemnized by Freeman Van Wickell, beween Allen and Luther Maxfield and Catherine Thompson and Mary Wilkes, respectively.

The first birth was that of Ida Hatch, in 1861.

First death was that of Cyrus B. Thomas, in 1850.

The first log house was built by Cyrus B. Thomas, in 1846.

The first frame house was built by Thomas Spencer, in 1860.

The first school-teacher was Miss Harriet White.

The first saw-mill was built by Thomas Spencer, eight years be- fore the organization of the township.

1352

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

ORGANIC.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Thomas Spen- cer, southeast quarter of section 27, the first Monday in April, 1861, with Thomas Spencer, Moderator; Shepard B. Cowles and Jesse Haskin, Inspectors of Election, and Shepard B. Cowles, Clerk. The first election resulted in the choice of the following officers: Freeman Van Wickel, Supervisor; Henry A. Freeman, Clerk; Daniel Haskins, Troasurer; Wm. Hewitt, Commissioner of Highways; F. Van Wickel, Wm. Hewitt, Edwin D. Clark, Jus- tices of the Peace; Hiram Couse, Alfred Hulbert, School Inspect- ors; Wm. Smith, Geo. McClelland, Henry Strope, and Darius Gray, Constables. Following are the officers since organization:

SUPERVISORS.

Freeman Van Wickell

1861

Matthew B. Hatch 1867 -- 73

Thomas Spencer.

1862

Jacob Vanzandt

1874

Charles De Cou

1863-4

Scott Griswold. 1875 -- 6

Charles D. Spencer 1865

John Moran 1879 -- 80

Jacob Vanzandt.

1866

Michael Ward 1881

CLERKS.

Henry A. Freeman 1861-2

Jabez W. Griswold . 1875

M. B. Hatch ...

.1863 -- 6

S. B. Cowles.

1876

Aaron Norton.

1867-70

Warren F. Getman. 1877

S. B. Cowles. 1871

A. S. Woodhull. 1878

Richard Clifford

1872

Lafayette Hough 1879

Jacob Vanzandt.

1873

C. D. Spencer.

1880-1

Scott Griswold.

1874

TREASURERS.

Danie' Haskins 1861

Theron Lamberton 1875 -- 6

M. B. Hatch.

1862

John Moran . . 1877 -- 8

Beriah G. Parks.

1863-5

E. L. Boynton .. 1879

James Bradshaw

1866

Theron Lamberton

1880 -- 1

Beriah G. Parks

1867 -- 74

The settlement between the Town Boards of Spencer and Oak- field townships was effected April 12, 1861, when the former township was represented by Jesse Haskin, Justice of the Peace, and Harry A. Freeman, Clerk. Wm. R. Davis, Supervisor; Ches- ter A. Lillie, Justice of the Peace, and Richard L. Wells, Clerk, represented the town of Oakfield. The result of the meeting was the granting of the following sums: Road fund, $154.90; school, $92.45; library, 31c .; township, $5.52; poor; $3.23. Eleven dol- lars were ordered to be paid by the new township to the county, and $5.30 road damages.

SPENCER'S MILL,

a postal village on the southern corner of section 27, is the chief hamlet in the township. It is 33 miles from Grand Rapids and 149 miles northwest of Detroit. A Baptist church, district school,

1353

SPARTA TOWNSHIP.

two saw-mills, one shingle-mill and the postoffice may be said to make up the village. J. B. Leslie has charge of the postoffice; Rev. S. B. Osgoode, of the Church; E. Boynton, of the store; the Pennsylvania Mill Co. and Geo. Strope, of the saw-mills, and S. C. Smith of the shingle factory. Drs. J. Gaze and Charles King are physicians; Palmer Cole and Charles Rielly, Justices of the Peace; J. E. Wheeler, village blacksmith; C. D. Spencer, wagon- maker; White & Friant, Payne & Spencer, and J. Griswold, lum- bermen.

GRISWOLD,

a hamlet of Spencer township, with postoffice, formerly known as "Celsus, " is 25 miles northeast of Grand Rapids and 141 northwest of Detroit. The hamlet is beautifully located on a plateau north of the pine woods of Courtland, Oakfield and the southern sections of Spencer. Among the first inhabitants of the little village were: Shepard B. Clowes, mason; M. B. Hatch, Justice of the Peace; Aaron Norton, carpenter; David Spencer, carpenter; Martin Thomas, carpenter, and Samuel Van Wickle, Justice of the Peace. To-day its population is about 50 persons, of whom the following named may be considered the leading villagers: E. L. Boynton, storekeeper and postmaster; John and Alonzo Griswold, shingle dealers; John Epkildson, blacksmith; Ira Call, S. E. Call, C. S. Calling, I. De Grau, Thomas Gallagher, E. E. Griswold, Lafayette Hough, James Hough, T. N. Portial, O. Shutt and - Ward, farmers. South of the village is a large lumbering concern re- cently built up. The fire of 1879 destroyed the first saw-mills.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

of Spencer was formed Nov. 16, 1857, by Rev. S. D. Ross, in the house of Thomas Spencer. A protracted meeting was held pre- viously, which resulted in the organization of the Church. The first members were: Zenas Ingram, Andrew Thompson, Eliza B. Ingram, Huldah Thompson, Julius Spencer and Margaret Ingram. The pastors who succeeded Mr. Ross were: A. R. Hicks, Charles D. Spencer, - Trowbridge, J. R. Monroe, A. T. Niles, L. M. Barnes, F. R. Osgoode and N. P. Barlow, the present pastor. The church was built in 1877 and dedicated in 1878. The present membership is 120. The Sabbath-school is composed of 110 pupils.

The present officers of the Church are: N. P. Barlow, Pastor; V. Smith, H. Watson, A. J. Sutton and J. B. Leslie, Deacons; Charles D. Spencer, Clerk; J. B. Leslie, Treasurer; Henry Wat- son, J. B. Leslie and Philo Smith, Trustees.

In school matters Spencer township has six districts (one frac- tional), 332 school children, taught by 10 teachers, at a total sal- ary of $692; value of school property, $2,100; total expenses for the school year 1880-'81, $1,408.90. The first school-house was

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

built on the southwest quarter of section 27, by Thomas Spencer, in 1861, at a cost of $500. The school was opened in November, 1861, with a roll of 35 pupils.

PERSONAL HISTORY.

The following sketches of well-known citizens, with the intro- ductory sketch just given, make up the history of Spencer:

Ebenezer L. Boynton was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1842; is a son of Samuel and Amanda Malvina Miller, natives of New York, the former of English, the latter of Scotch, descent. He was married March 9, 1862, to Emily Griswold. They have two children. Mr. Boynton enlisted in the war of the Re- bellion in the 161st N. Y. Vol. Inf., Co. B, and was discharged in 1865. He served in the Department of the Gulf, under Gen. Butler; was wounded April 8, 1864, at the battle of Pleasant Hill. He came to this county in 1873 and settled on sec. 32, where he owns 70 acres of land. A short time since he opened a store here, with a good general assortment, and has the office of Postmaster.

Shepard B. Cowles was born in Massachusetts, March 15, 1826; is son of Syl- vester Cowles, of English descent. He was married in 1840 to Louisa Jane Fletcher, a native of Ohio. They had five children, all married but one. Mrs. Cowles died in 1864. Mr. Cowles was married again the same year to Marian A. Conant, a native of New York; they had six children, and Mrs. C. died June 21, 1869. Mr. Cowles came to Kent county in 1854, and located the land on which he settled in 1855. He was present at the first township meeting, and was one of the Inspectors of Election. He was the prime mover in naming the town; has held nearly all town and district offices. 'In early life Mr. Cowles was a mason, and followed the business in all its branches some years. In 1846 he en- listed for service in the Mexican war, and did military duty 14 months under Gen. Scott. He was drafted in 1864, and was in the war of the Rebellion in some of its most celebrated campaigns, marching with Sherman to the sea. Mr. Cowles belongs to the school of vegetarians, and eschews the use of tea, coffee and tobacco.

Jabez W. Griswold was born in 1817 in Saratoga Co., N. Y .; is sen of Nathaniel and Mary (Shaw) Griswold, the former of English, the latter of German and Irish, descent. Mr. Griswold has been occupied all his life in farming and lum- bering, and has owned a large amount of land, probably about 600 acres, at dif- ferent times. He holds 120 and has given the rest to his children. In 1868 he built a steam saw and shingle mill, which was burned a few years ago. He was married in 1841 to Eliza Edgar; they had seven children, six living and all mar- ried but one, Alonzo. One son is in Colorado, the others own farms in the tp .; there are also two girls. Mr. Griswold is a Republican, and has been Tp. Clerk. He is known as a man of energy and not afraid of hard work.

Scott Griswold, son of Jabez W. and Eliza (Edgar) Griswold, was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., in 1849. He settled in Spencer in 1868, and was married in 1871 to Mailtha Seman. They have three children. Mr. Griswold is a Repub- lican, and has been Tp. Clerk five years; he is highly esteemed among his neigh- bors as a man of integrity and clear judgment. He is a farmer and lumberman.

M. B. Hatch was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 20, 1831; is son of William and Hannah (Brownell) Hatch, both of English descent. He was educated in the common schools of Michigan, and has been all his life a tiller of the soil. He was married in 1856 to Julia Vanhoosen, born in Oakland county, of German descent. They have had 10 children, all born at the homestead, on sec. 17, in Spencer tp. He came to Kent county in the spring of 1853, and settled three years later. The Indians held the territory by right of possession, but they were on the friendliest term's with invaders, and Mr. Hatch found shelter and kindness at their hands. He slept in the hut of the Indian wi:ile clearing his "patch" and building his humble cabin. He carried provisions for his family on his back, from Greenville, a distance of 1312 miles, following an Indian trail. At the date of his locating, Henry Straut, Lewis Thomas, Abner and Jesse Hawkins, Owen Cooper, and Jacob Lamberson were the only settlers in this portion of the tp., which was then included in Oakfield. He owns 255 acres of land, 160 of which on his original location of Government land. Mr. Hatch is a Democrat, and has been Tp. Clerk four years, Justice of the Peace five years, and Supervisor seven years. He was drafted in 1864. Following is the record of the children : Ida. V.

Anna Rhodes

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SPENCER TOWNSHIP.

(Mrs. William Jakeway), Inez V. (Mrs. William Warnock, dec.), Fred. W., Lilla M., Lida M., Gen. Lee, Col. Mulligan, Minnie B, John and Hattie (twins).

Theron Lambertson was born in 1838; is son of Jacob and Betsey (Cramer) Lambertson, natives of New York, of Scotch and German descent. His parents settled in Oakland county in 1839, where Mr. L. obtained his education at the common schools. In 1854 he settled on sec. 17, in Spencer tp., and in 1858 was married to Amanda Brown. They had eight children, one of whom is the wife of William Hunter, a farmer on sec. 16, this tp. Mr. L. owns 200 acres of land ; when he came here there were but 20 acres cleared in the town. He moved in on an Indian trail and cut a road through the woods. Heis a Democrat; has been Commissioner of Highways five years and Tp. Treasurer four years. He was drafted in 1864 in Co. B, 3d Reg. M. I., and was discharged the next year.

John Moran was born in Ireland Aug. 31, 1839; is son of John and Bridget (Hangle) Moran. His parents came to America in 1847, and after looking through Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, finally settled in Albany, N. Y., and in 1855 came to Michigan, settling on sec. 9, in Spencer tp. Mr. Moran was married in 1860 to Margaret Mooney, a native of Kent county, of Irish descent. They have three boys and two girls, Mr. Moran is an independent in politics, with a leaning toward the Democratic policy. He has served as Supervisor, Com- missioner of Highways and Tp. Treasurer. He owns 200 acres of land, and with the help of his wife has accumulated a snug fortune, In the present year he is building a neat residence, at an expenditure of $2,000.

Berich G. Parks was born in New York in 1826; is son of Robert and Mary (Ogden) Parks, born in New York. Mr. Parks attended the common schools to obtain his education, and was trained to the vocation of farmer. His father died before he can recollect, and he had his own fortune to make. He came to Michigan in 1847, and returned to New York, where he was married the follow- ing year, which was commemorated by another accident, the losing of nearly the whole of one hand, only the thumb and part of one finger being left. On his return to Michigan, he settled in Jackson county, and in 1856 went to Spencer tp., then Oakfield. He came to the State 50 cents in debt, a d saved $100, working by the day and month, and now owns 260 acres of well improved land. His mar- riage to Mary Ann Skutt, a German by descent, occurred in 1848. They have had four children, three of whom are living. Mary Elizabeth, the eldest daugh- ter, married John Hunter, and died in 1873, leaving two children, who are cared for by Mr. Parks. He was a Democrat, but latterly has united with the Green- back party. He has been Tp. Treasurer 11 years, Highway Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, and ranks among the best citizens of the tp. The first house he built, in 1856, is standing and occupied.

George rkutt was born in New York in 1833; is son of Peter and Betsey (Decker) Skutt, natives of New York, of Dutch descent. He was married in 1841 to Jane Hall, born in New York. They have one child -- Oscar, born in 1859. Mr. Skutt settled on sec. 19 in Spencer in 1866, and owns 80 acres of land, which he has paid for in hard work. He is a Democrat, and has acted as Com- missioner of Highways; has operated a thresher two years.

Henry Stocks was born in England in 1820 ; is son of Thomas and Sarah (Graves) . Stocks. He went to school in his native country, and learned the business of tailoring. In 1850 he engaged in farming, which he has never abandoned. He came to America in 1847, and stopped in Wastenaw county one year, when he came to Kent county. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Smith, born in Germany, and died in 1879. They had seven children. Three of his sons are young men, active and industrious. Mr. Stocks manages 80 acres of land, 40 of which were the property of his wife.

Henry Stroup was born in 1815, in Pennsylvania, and was brought up and edu- cated in Seneca Co., N. Y .; is son of Michael and Sarah (Graves) Stroup natives of Pennsylvania, of English descent. The great-grandmother of Mr. Stroup, Amanda Whitmore, lived to the enormous age of 126 years. His life has been one of varied occupations; he was a driver on the canal seven years, and was en- gaged about 20 years running logs on Flat river, and in 1847 he settled on 80 acres of land on sec. 34, which he located from the Government at a period when all of Spencer was an unbroken forest. He was the second settler in the tp., and could fill a volume with pioneer reminiscences. He was married in 1841 to Mary Sandford, born in New York, of Scotch and English descent. They have five children. Mr. Stroup is a Republican, and has held the office of Highway Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, and other official positions.

TYRONE TOWNSHIP.

One-half of Tyrone township was originally pine lands. Along the Rouge river on the east, and extending across the north part of the town are extensive forests. The remainder of the town was clothed with heavy timber, and the soil is counted among the best, and especially esteemed for fruit-raising. The town is well wa- tered by Rouge river, which crosses from north to south. Within half a mile and one and one-half miles from its east line, two con- siderable tributaries of this stream enter it from the east, while two smaller ones, having their sources in Tyrone, drain the middle and western portions of the town. There are two or three small lakes in the western part of the town, but not of sufficient impor- tance to claim muchi attention in a county where such abound. The eastern portion of the town, bordering upon the river, is quite rolling, as is generally the case throughout the entire length of the stream.

There is a very noticeable curiosity on the farm of H. C. Wylie, on section 33. It is a very extensive beaver dam. The plow has done damage to it, but still a part of it is in the woods untouched. The whole length of the dam is some 60 rods, and its average height two feet, the embankment reaching a height of five feet at the outlet of the stream. This was built of earth and so construct- ed that it caused a little lake of 12 acres in area to spring up, where previously a little rivulet flowed through the forest.

ORGANIZATION, ETC.

This township was attached to Sparta until, in 1855, it was organ- ized as a separate township, under the name of Tyrone, the first annual meeting being held at the only school-house, which stood on the west line, near the residence of Mrs. Scott. The town- ship meetings were held in the same school district, the house used being about a mile north of where the old one stood. The first township officers were : Supervisor, Urialı Chubb; Clerk, Albert Clute; Treasurer, Harlow Jackson; Justices, Patrick Thomp- son, Albert Clute and Urialı Chubb.

Mrs. Louisa Scott, the first settler, came in 1849; Lot Fulkerson came the next year. Just over the line, in Casnovia, was Mr. Waterman. In 1852 Jacob Smith and Harlow Jackson settled in the same vicinity, and the year following John Thompson and Joseph Keyes also became citizens.

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1359

TYRONE TOWNSHIP.

The following is a list of the principal township officers down to the present time :

SUPERVISORS.

Uriah Chubb.

1855-60

Aug. C. Ayres 1872

Albert Clute 1861

H. H. Wylie.

1873-4

Milan L. Squires

.1862

Henry J. Barrett.

. 1975-6

Jos. Keyes.

1863-4

Henry H. Wylie

1877

Uriah Chubb.

1866-7

Geo. Hemsley. 1878-80

Charles F. Smith

1868

Geo. Snyder

1881

Jas. M. Armstrong.

1869-71

CLERKS.

Albert Clute 1855

Henry C. Wylie 1868

Asa Clark

1856-7

M. L. Squires.

1869

Jos. Keyes.

1858

Harlow Jackson

1870-2

Asa Clark .

1859

H. C. Wylie .. : 1873

Harlow Jackson

1860-1

Milan L. Squires. 1874

Joseph Keyes

1862

James S. Tozer 1875

Asa Clark

1863-4

Geo. Hemsley 1876-7

Joseph Keyes . 1865

James S. Tozer 1878

Harlow Jackson

1866

Jason T. Perham.

1879

A. N. Holmes

1866

James S. Tozer 1880

C. F. Smith

1867

Jason T. Perham

1881

TREASURERS .

Harlow Jackson

1855-6

Lot Fulkerson 1868

Jonathan P. Niles

1857-9

B. S. Treadway.

1869-72

Lot Fulkerson ..

1860

Geo. Hemsley

1873-5

Leander Smith

1861-2

Jos. Sillaway.

1876

Orrin C. Williard

1861-2

Sam. J. Jones .. 1878-9

Hiram Missner

1863-7

Lucian B. Lull.

1880-1

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The record of the Board of Tyrone township goes back only to the year 1868. For this reason the names of the Justices from 1856 to 1867 could not be obtained:

James M. Armstrong . 1868

1869

Ammon Fox. 1875

David Clark.

1870

Uriah Chubb. 1876

W. F. Albee.

1871

Horace G. Chubbuck.

1877

Uriah Chubb.

18.72

Ammon Fox.

1878-9

W. W. Williams

1872

Joseph Keyes 1880

Lyman V. Hoag.

1873

Hiram Carr. 1881

TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught by Miss Susan Field, now Mrs. Myron Buck, at Cedar Springs. The next winter the school was kept by Miss Nettie Wetmore, of Grand Rapids, who subsequenty married Mr. Rood.

The advance of the school interest in the township is best shown in the following statement:

District No. 1 (fractional with Casnovia) was organized in 1853, with nine scholars in attendance at school. A small log house was

La Fayette R. Burch 1874

L. V. Hoag.

1360

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

erected and used until 1861, when the present frame building was erected at a cost of about $500. The former stood on section 31, and the latter stands on the west side of section 30, near the resi- dence of Mr. Chubb.

District No. 2 (fractional with Sparta) erected a frame house, worth about $400, in 1863. This house stands on the northwest corner of section 36, and is commonly known as the Clark school- house.

District No. 3 (fractional with Casnovia) erected a small frame house in 1864, on the southwest corner of section 6, known as the Murray school-house.

District No. 4 was organized in 1861, and a nice frame house was built, worth $500, the following year. It stands on the south- east corner of section 29, and is known as the Leander Smith school-house.

District No. 5 was organized in 1868, and a good frame house erected at a cost of $500, known as the Ross' school-house. It stands on the northeast corner of section 19.

District No. 6 was organized in January, 1870. It has four scholars in summer, and about 20 in winter-being in the midst of a pine country, which brings in the people in winter and drives them out in summer. This district has no school-house yet, school being held in the house of Mr. L. R. Burch. It has been chiefly . sustained by Mr. B. thus far, at a cost of $50 per term.

District No. 7 was organized in 1870. A house was erected on section 22, at a cost of $500, in 1871.

District No. 9 was organized in 1880, and a house erected in 1881-'2.

There are now (1881) 434 school children in this township; 12 teachers, whose total salary is $1,323; value of school property $3,925; total expenditure for the year, $2,523.13.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first sermon preached in the town was by the Rev. Francis Prescott; it was in the school-house in 1854. After that a mission- ary preacher, a Methodist, held meetings there once in two weeks. During the first year, Elders , Bennett, Congdon and Smith held meetings. A Sabbath-school was started at an early day, of which Wm. N. Wylie was superintendent. There is now one house of worship in the town. Three religious societies are in existence- Free-Will Baptist, United Brethren and Methodist. The Method- ist society was the first organized; the Free-Will second, and then the United Brethren. The United Brethren church of Kent City was built in 1878 by that society. Among the original members were John Adams, Peter Snyder and Spence Colby.

KENT CITY.

Kent City, located on sections 32 and 33, was settled in 1874. The village is 19 miles north of Grand Rapids, and 16 south of Ne- waygo. Here is a depot of the G. R., N. & I .. S. R.R., a meeting-

1361

TYRONE TOWNSHIP.

house of the United Brethren society, a postoffice under L. B. Lull, a flour and a saw-mill operated by M. L. Whitney & Son, a news- paper published by F. E. Ackerman, general stores operated by L. B. Lull, E. A. Bower, J. C. & G. W. Parris, a drug store by J. T. Perham, a hardware store by A. & H. Herendeen, a millinery shop by Mrs. L. M. Blackwell, a saloon by J. S. Bowen, a hotel and livery by E. D. Loop. The professions are represented by J. S. Tozer, law- yer, and A. H. Moss, physician. The village blacksmiths comprise Lewis Smith, Geo. Herendeen and H. Corbin. A. Rexford is cooper and shoemaker, Peter Snyder, Robert Side and L. P. Trow- bridge, workers in wood.

The village was platted for John W. Thompson, by V. W. Caukin, Sept. 19, 1870; the first addition was made for Benj. S. Treadway, Oct. 31, 1876. Kent City is now the nucleus of a prosperous and wealthy community. The village is only in its infancy, and must develop with the rich country which surrounds it.

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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 139

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