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 142

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 142

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Alexander Mc Lean was born in the State of New York in 1816; was on his father's farm at Caledonia, Livingston Co., that State, until he was 24 years of age. His first venture for himself was teaching school, which he commenced at 20 years of age. After he was 21 he worked on the farm summers at $12 a month and taught school winters for $14 to $18 a month. With a little means thus ac- cumulated, and a small sum given by his father, he came to this county in 1838 and bought between 200 and 300 acres of land in Bowne tp., on secs. 8 and 9. The same fall he returned home and remained home until 1841, when he again came to this county and entered 160 acres in Vergennes tp., where he now lives. After a year or so he sold his land in Bowne tp. and used the proceeds to improve his home place, which was then an oak opening, utterly wild. For the next three years he devoted all his energies to the clearing and improvement of this place In 1844 he built his first house, which was of logs, 18x24, and located but a few feet from his present residence.

In 1846 he married Jane Spencer, a native of Scotland, since which time they have had four children-Henry C, a farmer in Marshall Co., Iowa; Helen, now Mrs. J. S. Dougall, of Lowell; Jennie and Leander.

In breaking his land Mr. Mc Lean used four to six yoke of cattle, sowed the land to wheat, raised 15 to 20 bushels to the acre, hauled the crop to market at Grand Rapids by ox-team and obtained 50 cents per bushel for his grain, many times being obliged to receive his pay in " trade." For recreation in the fall of the year, with rifle in hand he would hunt deer, turkey, etc., which were then abundant. He devoted the winter time to cutting and clearing. Mr. Mc Lean has passed through all the experiences of pioneer life, elsewhere described in this work, has been industrious and liberal. assisting financially and otherwise in all the public enterprises of his community. He was Tp. Clerk three or four years in the early period of settlement here ; has been Justice of the Peace about eight years and Supervisor for a time. He was a Whig formerly and is now a Republican. The improvements on his place are all his own planning. His residence cost $2,000, his barn $1,000, etc. Mrs. Mc Lean is a member of the Con- gregational Church.

As a representative and highly resp cted citizen of Vergennes tp. we present Mr. Mc Lean's portrait in this volume.

David M. Miller (deceased) was born in Fulton Co., N. Y., in 1813. He was son of Eleazer and Elizabeth (Hedley) Miller, natives of New Jersey, the former of Dutch the Jatter of English parentage. He was educated at the common schools of his native State and reared to the calling of a farmer. In 1853 he settled in Grattan, Kent Co, and afterward in Vergennes, where he owned a farm of 80 acres on sec. 29. He was thrifty, industrious and successful in his vocation. He was married in 1834 to Mardla Elizabeth Olmstead. They had but one child- Sabrina E., wife of Bradley N. Lobdell. They reside in the State of New York and have two children. Mr. Miller was a Democrat in political faith and was Justice of the Peace several terms. He lived an unselfish, upright life and com- manded the esteem of all who knew him. He died in 1879. Mrs. Miller has continued to manage the farm and carry on the business of her husband with wisdom and forethought. She has the companionship of her adopted daughter, Mary L. Miller, who has known no other home since her sixth year. She is en -

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gaged in teaching. Mrs. Miller's granddaughter, Emma M. Lobdell, also is a member of her family ; she was the daughter of Bradley N. Lobdell.

Christopher Misner was born in Canada in 1806. His parents were both of Dutch descent. His father, John B. Misner, was a native of New Jersey, and his mother was born in New Jersey. He was educated in the subscription schools in Canada, and has followed the vocation of farmer, in which he has been mod- erately successful. He was married in 1827 to Sarah Perrin, born in Canada in 1809. They have six children, all married. They are still living on the farm which they took from the Government in 1837. It is situated on the southeast half of the northwest quarter of sec. 33, where he has lived 43 years, and contains 80 acres. The Indians were very numerous at the time he fixed his residence, but they were friendly and valuable assistants to the pioneer.

William H. Parker was born in New York in 1819. He is son of George and Amy (Hicks) Parker, natives of New York, of English descent. His father died in 1848, and his mother is still living. She was born in 1801. Mr. Parker has a common-school education and has been all his life a farmer. He was married in 1839 to Maria McWilliams. They had nine children, and the mother died in 1870. Mr. Parker was married in 1871 to Mrs. Warwick, nee Anna A. Barker, daughter of Samuel Barker, a native of New Hampshire, and a fine sample of the athletic, stalwart sons of New England. He weighed upward of 225 pounds and was seven feet in height. He came to Michigan in 1837, and died in Grand Rapids in 1839. Mrs. Parker has one child living-Mrs. G. D. Warwick. Mr. Parker owns 80 acres on sec. 31. His farm includes the original 40 acres on which he settled when he " took up " his land from Government.

Joseph C. Post, farmer on sec. 35, was born in Middlesex Co., N. Y., in 1820. H.s parents, Aden and Abigail Post, were natives of Connecticut, of English de- scent. He received a common-school education and was occupied 12 years of his early life as a ship carpenter. He was married in 1843 to Julia Manwaring, a native of Connecticut, of English descent. They have two children-Emma Eliz- abeth, wife of Robert W. Graham, of Lowell; and Leander Joseph. Mr. Post came to Kent county in 1858, and settled in Lowell tp. on a farm which he brought to a high degree of cultivation, second to none in the tp., and excelle d by few in the county. He has had a successful career, and owns a half interest in one of the best business b'ocks in Lowell village. He has retired from active business life to a small farm of 35 acres in Vergennes. He has led a life of energy and usefulness, and in his declining life is honored and respected by all.

James C. Richmond, farmer and stock breeder of Vergennes, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1821. He is son of James and Lois (Day) Richmond, the former of French descent, and a native of Massachusetts; the latter born in New York, of English parentage. His parents went from New York to Ontario. Can., when he was a small boy, and remained there until he was 23 years old. He has been engaged chi fly in farming all his life. In 1844 he came to Eaton county, where he remained one year. He then proceeded to Ionia, and five years later came to Kent county. When he came to Michigan, in 1844, he had $5, part of which he invested in an ax, and went to work. He now owns 250 acres of land, most of which is in a state of advanced improvement. He was married the same year to Su an Lucas, born in Canada, of English descent. They had nine children, four of whom are married. Mr .. Richmond died May 5, 1864. Mr. R. was again married, May 5, 1865, to Eunice Sage, then Mrs. Vandecar, whose first husband lost his life in the civil war. They have four children.

Lucas J. Robinson, sec. 35. is son of Rodney and Mary (Shaw) Robinson; the former was of English descent, and a native of New York; the latter was of Dutch parentage. His father was a brother of Rix Robinson, and settled in Ver- gennes in 1837, taking up land from the Government. In his boyhood, Mr. Robertson had the Indians for his playmates, and went to school in the log school- house of that period. He was married in 1859 to Henrietta, daughter of Eliab Walker (see sketch of J. W. Walker), born in Vergennes. They have three daughters-Mary Ellen, Julietta and Eunice C. Mr. Robinson is a Democrat.

Seth T. Robinson was born in Cayuga Co, N. Y., in 1829. He is son of Lucas and Delilah (Shaw) Robinson, both natives of New York, the former of Scotch parentage, the latter of English descent. His maternal grandfather was a soldier of 1812. His father, on coming to Michigan, lived several years in Oceana county, and ia 1837 " took up " Government land on sec. 35, where Mr. Robinson, of this

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VERGENNES TOWNSHIP.

sketch, resides. The early life of the latter was spent in the wilds of Michigan among its Indians and wild animals. He knew and spoke the Indian tongue with all the facility of an aboriginal, and was in the employ of Government eight years as interpreter. He was married in 1851, to Sarah J. Burrough-, born in New York. She died in 1852, leaving one child Mr. Robinson was again married in 1875, to Mrs. Hannah (Leslie) Avery. She was married to Mr. Avery, in 1849, and his death occurred in 1872. Mr. R. is a Democrat; has been Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Elbridge, Oceana Co. The fami y of Robinsons have been a noted one in Kent county. They were stalwart, muscular men, and as famous for their kind hearts as for strength, and many incidents of their lives are still re- membered among the remaining members of the family.

Alexander Rogers, one of the old and respected pioneers of Vergennes, was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1809. His parents, Robert and Sarah Rogers, were natives of Connecticut. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father was a Revolutionary soldier, and held the rank of Captain under Gen. George Washington. Mr. Rogers was reared on a farm until 19, when he learned the mason's trade, which he followed five years, and the remainder of his life was spent upon a farm. In 1835 he came to Redford, Wayne Co., Mich., and entered 160 acres of land in Livingston county. In 1838 he came to Lowell and took up 110 acres and lived on it two years, then he entered 137 acres, which he improved and occupied 27 years. In 1867 he moved and located on his present farm on sec. 27, where he owns 83 acres. Mr. R. was married in January, 1831, to Abigail Little, by whom he had three children; of these, one, Thomas A., is living. Mrs. Rogers died in April, 1836, and Mr. R. was again married Dec. 17, 1837, to Ann, daughter of Noah and Lydia Peck, born in Wolcott, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1816. This marriage was blessed with nine children; of these, four are living, viz. : Ann E., wife of Gabriel Onan; Frederick L., married to Caroline Miller, and Sarah A., wife of James Wright, who was a soldier in Co. B, 21st Mich. Infantry. He enlisted in 1862, and served in Gen. Sherman's command till the last gun was fired and the "stars and stripes" waved triumphantly over the battle fields of the South.

R. Vanderbrook was born in Belgium in 1819. He is son of Peter and Mary (Tracy) Vanderbrook, and was bred a farmer in his native country. He came to America in 1844, and after a brief stay at Detroit and other places, he came to Vergennes and settled on sec. 1, where he has lived 30 years, and owns 500 acres of land with good buildings. He has had much more than ordinary men to contend with, being a native of a foreign country, and entirely without knowl- edge of our language and customs. He was married in 1845 to Sophia Smith, of Detroit, a native of Belgium. They have had 11 children, nine of whom are living and three married. Mrs. V. died in 1870. She and her husband were members of the Roman Catholic Church. The home of Mr. V. in Belgium was within 36 miles of Waterloo, the famous battle-ground where Bonaparte had his downfall. Two of his uncles were in the French army.

Rev. E. Van Deusen, sec. 28, was born in Upper Canada Nov 7, 1833. He is son of Alfred and Eliza (Hess) Van Deusen, natives of New York, of German descent; the former is still living. Mr. Van Deusen was educated in the common schools of this county, and finished studying at the College of the Seventh-Day Adventists at Battle Creek. He was reared on a farm and continued in that oc- cupation until he commenced his work as a minister. His duties are mostly those of a missionary. He was married in 1862 to Mary Noyes; they have one child -Dora, engaged in teaching. Mr. Van Deusen is a Republican in politics, and has been Constable two terms and School Director one term.

W. A. Waldron was born in Pennsylvania, in 1848, and is son of William and Anna (Hilgert) Waldron, both natives of Pennsylvania of Holland descent. Mr. Waldron was educated at the State Normal School at Millersville, Pa., and, while completing his course of study, was engaged in teaching, a profession he fol- lowed four years in his native State, and for some time in Michigan, whither he. came in 1875. He was married in 1877 to Alice, daughter of David Hubbs. Mr, Waldron is an enthusiastic supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and in 1879 was elected Superintendent of Public Schools; has been twice re- elected. He is located on sec. 31:

J. W. Walker was born in Canada in 1827. His father, Eliab Walker, was born in New York in 1797, is still living and active as a boy; resides on the farm he took from the Government, and near the place where he built his first log cabin ,

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

which differed little from other structures of the kind at that period. It had at first no floor, but one of elm bark was soon placed in position. His wife, Mary Elizabeth (Perrin) Walker, died in 1863 in this tp. Four of their five children are living, all married. J. W. Walker lives on the homestead. He is a success- ful farmer, and owns 160 acres of land, and has been in Kent county since 1838. He was married in 1854 to Cynthia Hoag. They have four children-Ida L. (Mrs. L. S. McPherson, of Vergennes), Phebe A. (Mrs. D. C. Collar, of Ver- gennes); Mary J. and Emma B. Mr. Walker is a successful farmer and prominent man; has held the office of Supervisor 19 successive years. His

house is the largest in the tp .- 28 by 84 feet, with a small L.

Walter White was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., May 29, 1807. He is son of Benjamin and Abigail (Church) White, both of English parentage, the former born in 1775 in Massachusetts. Mr. White acquired a good academic education in New York, and from choice has pursued farming as a vocation. He was married in 1829 to Sarah F. Wrigley, of Canada, born in England in 1812. They came to Michigan in 1846, and now own 92 acres of land on sec. 10 in Vergennes. Mr. White received from his father a yoke of oxen, which was all the assistance he had when setting out in life. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. White, three are living. Otis, the eldest, lives in Vergennes, and since 1'72 has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements: Isaac W., deceased, left four children. Rhoda Ann is the wife of Capt. W. Keeney. Abby is the Widow Lamberton. G. W. enlisted in the late war in 1862 in the 25th Reg. Mich. Inf., and was killed in battle. Walter, now a prominent farmer, was a soldier in the Michigan Engineers' and Mechanics' Reg. 15 months. Mr. and Mrs. White are connected with the Christian Church, of which he has been Deacon 33 years. He is a Republican and has been Justice of the Peace two terms. He was appointed Postmaster at Alton in 1848, and held the office until Andrew Johnson swung round the circle and swung him out.

Willard S. Winegar was born in Lowell in 1856, and is the son of Ashbel and Ellen (Slaght) Winegar. His father was a native of New York and his mother of Canada. They had three children-Willard S., Carrie A. and Ellen. The mother died and the father was married a second time, to Mrs. Mary (Roberts) Robinson, by whom he bad five children-Charles, Henry, Eddy, Eva and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Winegar are both dead They were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Winegar, of this sketch, had all the advantages of the Union schools of Lowell, which he improved to good purpose, passing through all the more common branches of study. and during bis last term in school giving his attention to German, Algebra, U. S. History, Orthography and Penmanship. He is farming on the homestead of 140 acres; was married in 1879 to Dora, daughter of Lester Hildrith, a pioneer of Kent county, of English descent. They have one child -Dora.

WALKER TOWNSHIP.

Among the various divisions of the county, there is not one which presents a truer idea of progress than Walker. Its popula- tion of 1,876 persons may be said to be exceptionally prosperous at the present time, while the ever-growing city on its borders prom- ises a continuance, if not an actual advance, of this condition.

EARLY SETTLERS OF WALKER.

The first settler of Walker was Samuel White, who, with his family, settled on sec. 23, in 1836. He erected the first log house within the township, built the first frame barn, and erected the second saw-mill on Indian creek, on the north side of section 15. The earliest inhabitants of what was organized as Walker township in 1838, were among the early settlers of the city of Grand Rapids, and for the first few years had one voting precinct, one common township, with its headquarters in the village, Division street be- ing the eastern boundary of what was afterward known as Walker township. Of those settling outside the city limits were Samuel White and a numerous family, in the year 1836. In the same year came Jesse Smith and family, John J. Nardin and family and Robert Hilton and Zelotes Bemis. Among the other early settlers were John Hogadone, Joseph Denton, Wm. W. Anderson, John Harrington, Henry Helmka, Harvey Monroe, Patrick and Stephen O'Brien, James Murray, Lovell Moore, Isaac Turner. Harry Eaton, Josiah Burton, and several others.

In the fall of 1836, Jesse Smith, settled on Bridge street, about two miles west of the river. He had a large family of sons and daughters, some of whom were married, and who set- tled in different parts of the township. One of the elder sons, Benjamin, commenced at an early day on the south side of section 10, where he built a small grist-mill and machine shop on Indian creek.

During the same year a Frenchman named John J. Nardin, who had served in the French army under Napoleon I., came from De- troit with a large family and settled in the southern part of the township, west of the location of the Eagle Plaster Mills.

The following named persons settled in the township soon after those just mentioned: Henry Helmka, Wm. W. Anderson, Joseph Denton, John Hogadone, and Harvey Monroe, from Canada; John Harrington, of Vermont; and Patrick O'Brien, Stephen O'Brien and James Murray, from Ireland. The family of Edisons also came at an early day, and settled on what is now Bridge street.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Walker township has undergone the same changes to which other parts of the State were subjected during the great drainage period. Deep ravines were cut, forming island hillocks, and those in turn were filled up, while new channels were brought into existence. For this reason the soil of Walker is strangely diversified. On the east and south, along Grand river, is a tract of low land, from 80 rods to a mile in width, extending from the northeast to the south- west corner of the township, which is underlaid with a stratum of limestone, lying from two to 10 feet below the surface. Above this is a gravelly loam, which in some parts is filled and covered with large boulders. Back of this is a series of hills and sandy bluffs, rising to a height of 50 or 60 feet. The sandy belt also ex- tends diagonally across the township from northeast to northwest, and varies in width from one-half to two miles. The original tim- ber of the former was elm, black oak, soft maple, hemlock, cedar, etc., and of the latter, pine and oak. We next come to what is commonly called timber land; the timber being chiefly. beech and sugar maple, with considerable valuable oak interspersed through some portions. This timbered land extends throughout the re- mainder of Walker, and northwest into the adjoining townships of Ottawa county .. The soil of the northwestern portion is chiefly clay, with some small parcels of rich, black, sandy loam. The face of the country is gently undulating, with but few hills and swamps.

Walker is as thickly settled as any township which contains no village. The southeasterly part is mostly divided into small lots, containing from five to 40 acres, which are usually devoted to market gardening and fruit-growing. The westerly and northwest- erly part is devoted principally to farming purposes. Peaches, apples and other kinds of fruit are raised in abundance on the sandy belt, and on most parts of the clay land. The low lands along the river produce good crops of grass and grain.

The greatest elevation in the township is the high rolling swell of land extending from section 32, in the southwest, passing through the central part, broken by Brandy creek near the Dunnett Home- stead, continuing northward on the west of Indian creek, and after- ward crossing the line into Alpine. On the highest part of this ridge, near the center of section nine, is a lake covering about four acres, situated in the middle of a swamp of about 20 acres. This lake is about 100 feet above the level of Grand river, and has no visible outlet. Poles run down 60 feet without striking solid bottom.

Of the streams in Walker, Indian creek, formerly known as Indian Mill creek, is the most important. It derives its name from a mill which waserected near its mouth by the Indians in 1834. The site of this mill was near the present junction of the Detroit & Milwaukee with the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, on section 13. The source of the stream is in Alpine. It enters Walker from the north, near the present location of the Indian Creek postoffice, and passes through sections 10, 15, 14, and 13, and unites with Grand

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river near the D. & M. railroad bridge. There was once considerable pine along its banks, and during the first 10 years of the early set- tlement of the township, five saw-mills were erected. In the year 1850, three of them remained. In 1870 only one remained.

Brandy creek, which is a branch of Indian creek, rises on section 16, and flowing northeasterly, enters the latter on the south - side of section 10.

Black Skin creek, so called after an Indian chief of that name, rises in the southern part of the original township, and, flowing south alongside the planting ground before mentioned, enters Grand river on the south side of section 5.

Sand creek flows through the north westerly part of the township, and passes out into Ottawa county on the west. These and many smaller streams are found in the township.

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.

In the year 1845 Joseph Bullen erected a saw-mill on the eastern part of section four. It ran by an overshot water-wheel, the water being conveyed from the pond on Indian creek, near the residence of Solomon Wright, in Alpine, a distance of nearly 90 rods. The mill possessed the facilities for sawing 1,000,000 feet of lumber per year. The mill also contained one run of millstones for grind- ing " feed," etc.

The plaster-mills and quarries on section 34, two and one-half miles below Bridge street, in the side of the bluff near the river, are on the east part of section 34. Plaster was first discovered here by R. E. Butterworth, of Grand Rapids, who then owned the land. He opened the first quarry in the year 1852, which was op- erated under the superintendence of Bernard Courtney. This is the mine now known as " Plaster Cave," or "Hovey's Cave."

The Harrison wagon factory, noticed in the city history, is the most important industrial concern in the township.

LAND-PURCHASERS.

Among the number of those who patented the lands of Walker, the following names appear:

Savoy R. Beals, sec. 1, May 29, 1835. Samuel Weeden, sec. 12, Aug. 1, 1839. G. P. Hogadone, sec. 15, Aug. 13, 1839. Joseph Denton, sec. 21, Aug. 13, 1839. L. Campau, jr., sec. 25, Sept. 19, 1831. E. P. Hastings, sec. 25, Sept. 25, 1832. H. Z. Ellsworth, sec. 25, Sept. 25, 1832. A. Hilton, sec. 28, Aug. 2, 1839. Thales Dean, sec. 28, Aug. 13, 1839. James Murray, sec. 29, Sept. 28, 1839. C. R. Hurlburt, sec. 34, June 28, 1834. Elijah Grant, sec. 36, Aug. 1, 1833. Wm. Mormon, sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1839.

Wm. A. Richmond, sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1839.

Tobias Parmelee, sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1839. Charles Knapp, sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1839. Joseph Omlor, sec. 2, July 31, 1839. Solomon Wright, sec. 2, Aug. 14, 1839. W. Hunt, sec. 2, Aug. 14, 1839. John Dohm, sec. 3, July 30, 1839. Peter Huwer, sec. 3, July 31, 1839. John Dowhie, sec. 3, Aug. 13, 1839. J. E. Buckley, sec. 4, July 15, 1839. James Blood, sec. 4, Aug. 13, 1839. Francis Blood, sec. 4, Aug. 13, 1839.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

H. S. Walbridge, sec. 4, Aug. 13, 1839. John Loson, sec. 4, Aug. 14, 1839. Erastus Clark, sec. 5, Aug. 14, 1839. Minerva Tryon, sec. 6, Aug. 15, 1839. David Smith, sec. 9, Aug. 13, 1839. Isaac Smith, sec. 9, Aug. 13, 1839. John J. Ellis, sec. 9, Aug. 13, 1839. John McIntosh, sec. 9, Aug. 20, 1839. Benj. Smith, sec. 10, Aug. 13, 1839. Loton Simmons, sec. 10, Aug. 13, 1839. Samuel White, sec. 10, Aug. 13, 1839. Moses Edison, sec. 10, Aug. 20, 1839. W. F. Mills sec. 11, Aug. 19, 1839. Joseph Wait, sec. 11, Nov. 8, 1839. D. W. Coit, sec. 12, Sept. 13, 1839. S. H. Yates, sec. 12, Aug. 13, 1839. Milo White, sec. 15, Aug. 13, 1839. R. Bagley, sec. 15, Aug. 13, 1839. Jacob Rhodes, sec. 15, Aug. 13, 1839. D. Freeman, sec. 36, July 14, 1834. Geo. Weaver, sec. 21, Aug. 13, 1839.

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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 142

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