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 146

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 146

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).

Joseph Wuite, son of William and Annie (Brown) Waite was born in Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1813. At 19 he learned carpentering, which he has made his business thus far through life. He was married in 1853 to Mary A., daugh- ter of James and Mary Weeden, born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1814. Five of eight children are living -Luke W., Ferdinand F., Charlotte E., James D. and Frank J. Mr. Waite bought 240 acres on secs. 11 and 12 in May, 1845, and now owns 45 acres on sec. 10, all improved. His shop, situated on his place, is fitted with the necessary fixtures for turning all kinds of woodwork.

Thom is Walsh, son of Thomas and Mary (Fogarty) Walsh, was born in Ire- land in 1813. He came to the United States when 26 years old and after a few months stay in New York he came to Grand Rapids in 1844 and was employed about the city two years. In 1851 he bought 60 acres on sec. 19, Walker tp., of which 55 acres are improved. . He was married in 1851 in Grand Rapids to Mary A., daughter of John and Margaret Allen, born in Ireland in 1832.

Sumuel Westlake, son of David C. and Rachel (Waters) Westlake, was born in 1821 in New York. He was employed in the woolen factory of his father until he was 21. Sept. 20. 1842, he came to Michigan with his parents and settled on 133 acres on sec. 6, which he had purchased three years previously. His father died in February, 1843, and his mother in November, 1863, soon after which he lost a brother and two sisters, their deaths occurring at intervals of two weeks only. He was married in February, 1843, to Nancy, daughter of John and Cyrena Hogalone born in Canada i: 1819. They had two children, born in Walker- Martha E., in February, 1831, and Mary F., in January, 1845, and died in March, 1865. In 1849 he bought 80 acres of timber land on sec. 19, 60 of which is under cultivation. Mr. Westlake is Local Elder in the M. E. Church. He was licensed at 19 years of age, and ordained about 16 years ago. He has been Chap- lain of Harmony Grange, Walker, ever since its organization, and was Chaplain of the County Grange one yeur. He belongs to the Old Settlers' Association, and has held the tp. offices of Treasurer and Poor Master.

Jones M. White, first settler in the tp., was born in Palmyra, N. Y., in 1818. His parents, Samuel and Lydia (Morgan) White, went to London Dist., Oxford Co., Can., when he was a small boy. They were natives of New York, the former born April 1, 1781, the latter, Oct. 26, 1793. The White family claim to have de- scended from Peregrine White, the first white child born in America. In De- cember, 1836, they came to Kent county with a team of six yoke of oxen, and spent New Year's day at Gull Prairie, and in the spring of 1837 settled in Walker, where the senior White took up 160 acres on sec. 23, and continued to buy land until he owned about 400 acres. On the west side of the river there was yet no trace of civilization1. and Mr. White cut the first road and drove the first team into the wilderness of Walker tp. The family numbered nine persons, four sons and three daughters. The father was a practical miller, and his sons acquired a knowledge of the business, that proved us ful in a new country, and the eldest stopped at Gull Prairie to work in a mill. They brought 18 head of cattle with them, and took up their quarters in an Indian hut on the river bank, where the whole family sickened with the measles except Mr. White of this sketch, who. took care of the stock, brought lamber from Mill creek eight miles up the river,

1+06

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

rafted it down, drew it out to the claim and built the cabin. The father died in Walker, March 4, 1873; the mother, May 29, 1875. In 1840 Mr. White bought 80 acres on sec. 10, at $25 per acre. He now owns 120 acres with 75 under cultiva- tion. He was married in Walker, Sept. 12, 1811, to Temperance, daughter of . Luther and Jemima Mudge, born in New York in 1820. Their seven children were born in Walker-Charles, Lydia, Adelaide, Florence, Mary, James and Nellie. Mr. White has been Highway Commissioner eight years, and Overseer of the Poor four years.

Samuel White, brother of the foregoing, was born in Canada in 1829. Indians were plenty and Mr. White, jr., became a proficient in their language. He was married in Ionia county, in 1852, and again in 1877 to Mrs. Mary J. Schill, born in Canada in 1838. Mr. White has two children-Isadore M. and Frederick E. He bought 80 arres in Walker, 14 of the State in early life, and has 35 of his father's estate all improved. He enlisted at Grand Rapids in 1861, in the old 3d Reg. M. V. I., Capt. Borden ; was the first volunteer from Walker ; was discharged in April, 1863, for disability, and in June following re-enlisted in the 10th Mich. Cav., Capt. A. Stevenson ; served nearly two years, when the regiment was dis- charged. Mr. White attained the rank of Second Lieutenant. He is running a large steam cider-mill on sec. 23.

Warren Willard, son of John H. and Fidelia (Cleveland) Willard, was born in Ohio July 14, 1829. His father was born in Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vt., Oct. S. 1790; his mother was a native of the same place, born June 9, 1793. In 1837 they went to Shalersville, 30 miles southeast of Cleveland, and bought 50 acres of land, which they exchanged eight years after for 80 acres on sec. 6, this tp. It was in the midst of the forest, and worth $2.50 per acre. The family lived with Mr. S. Fuller two weeks, while their log house was being built, and they had the same privations and perplexities to endure that marks the history of the pioneers of Kent county during the early years. The senior Willard died July 30, 1872, and his wife July 26, 1877. They left two sons -Warren and Henderson. The former purchased his brother's interest in the homestead, and now has 60 acres under improvement. He was married in Orleans, Ionia Co., Mich., June 19, 1854, to Miranda C., daughter of Samuel and Elvira (Maine) Bement, born in Cort- land, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1831. They have two children, born in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co .- Melvin W., Oct. 22, 1857, and Bertha L. Oct. 21, 1859.

Benjamin F. Woodman, son of Dr. Joseph and Sarah (Wright) Woodman, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Dec. 13, 1822. His parents came to Novi, Oak- land Co., in 1837, and were among the earliest pioneers of that section. Fire years later he bought 120 acres of timber land in Ionia county, of which he cleared 80 acres, selling in 1853, when he bought 120 acres on secs. 9 and 4, in Walker, of which 90 acres are in tillage. He was married in Ionia county in 1847, to Rhoda B., daughter of Asa and Electa (Strong) Lee, born in New York, Feb. 16, 1820. They have four children, two of whom were born in Icnia and two in Walker, as follows: Lewis C., Sept. 25, 1847; Sarah A., Sept. 25, 1849; Eva L., April 9, 1859; and Carrie A., Nov. 5, 1864. Mr. Woodman's second marriage was June 2, 1874, to Lydia L. Crumb, born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1826. He has been School Inspector six years, Highway Commissioner two years, and is a member of the Masonic order. Dr. Joseph Woodman was born March 5, 1785, and died Aug. 15, 1838. Mrs., Woodman, his wife, was born Sept. 29, 1795. They had six children, Mr. W., of this sketch, being the fourth. The mother was a native of Deerfield, Mass., and lived there at the period of the Indian massacre, in, which her father was involved.

Ephraim Woodard, son of Joshua and Sophia Woodard, was born in Genesee Co. N. Y., May 29, 1827. His parents moved to Orleans Co., N. Y., when he was seven years old, and one year later to Erie county. In the fall of 1836 they set- tled in Oakland Co., Mich., and in 1845 bought 80 acres of wild land in Walker, on sec. 7. Apologies for roads were in existence, but so poor that the Highway Commissioner himself lost his way, and on one occasion was found half a inile south of where the route was laid, and the Wocdards had to clear two and a half miles to their farm. Mr. Woodard has a fine farm with 50 acres improved. He was married in Tyrone in 1850 to Abigail, daughter of Epliraim and Abigail Brott, born in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1833. They have six children, born in Walker-Charles, Dulcey B., Frank, Bertha A., Fred and Winnie. Mr. Woodard has been Highway Commissioner six years, and is a Granger. His father. Joshua Woodard, died in 1852, and his mother married Frank Blood, a pioneer of Walker, and died in January, 1869.

1407

WALKER TOWNSHIP.

Jeremiah S. Wright, deceased, son of Solomon and Mary Wright, was born in Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1828. His parents are among the first settlers in . Alpine, where they located in 1837. Mr. Wright was engaged for a period of 16 years in the sale of agricultural implements on Bridge street, Grand Rapids, and owned 80 acres on sec. 27, in this tp. He married in 1878 Mrs. Mary Patterson, daughter of Joel and Margaret Churchill, born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1844. Mr. Wright died Jan. 26, 1880. Mrs. Wright's parents came to Grand Rapids when she was nine years old. Her father was born in 1813, and lives with her in Walker; her mother was born in 1836, and died in 1839. She has one son by her first husband, William A. Patterson, born in Grand Rapids, Aug. 28, 1863. Mr. Wright had four children by a former marriage-Andrew, Addison, Valeria and Estella. Mrs. Wright is in possession of 50 acres of her husband's estate, all improved.

Noadiah C. Wright, son of Solomon and Mary (Boyce) Wright, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., April 5, 1822. His parents came West when he was 14, and stopped several months in Toledo, O., where his father bought a team and em- ployed it profitably during the winter, making his way Westward in the spring. He left his family in Jackson county, near Jacksonburg, and proceeded with his household goods and 50 bushels of potatoes on a scow down the Grand river, and landed at North's Landing, now Plumb's Mills. In September Mr. Wright came across the country with an ox team. His father had pre-empted 480 acres for himself and sons, Solomon and Benjamin, on the line between Walker and Alpine, on secs. 32 and 33 Alpine tp. The Baptist and Congregational churches are situated on this tract. The senior Wright sold 160 acres to P. F. Covell, and moved across the road into Walker tp., and bought 120 acres on sec. 4, where he died in June, 1845, and his wife three years later. Mr. Wright took possession of his present farm in 1865. He owns 212 acres on secs. 23 and 15, and 20 acres of woodland on sec. 33, Alpine tp., with 195 acres under cultivation. He has three houses, four barns and two large orchards on his homestead. His property has been acquired by his own unaided efforts, and he values his farm at $200 per acre. His residence, with barn, cost $3,300, and the place is well watered with springs. He was married at Grand Rapids, Oct. 11, 1842, to Ann, daughter of Eleazer C. and Ann (Walbridge) Tabor, natives of Ithaca, N. Y. Mrs. Wright was born in the same place April 3, 1830. Three of four children, born in Walker, are living -Milo, April 6, 1852; Emmagene, in August, 1854; and Parker, in October, 1856. Mr. Wright was a resident of Grand Rapids a number of years, was Constable nine years, and owns two houses and lots, corner of Leonard and Scribner streets, valued at $2,500.

WYOMING TOWNSHIP.

Wyoming, or township 6 north, range 12 west, is diversified in its soil, surface and timber. The Grand river passes through its northwest sections. The swail on sections 17 and 18 is liable to inundations as far back as the base of the great bluff. In the southwest sections valuable tracts of timber exist. In the north- east sections the oak openings and plains are common. In section 2 the plaster rock outcrops in the bed of Plaster creek.

An important feature of this township is a plateau or second bottom extending almost across the township, and varying in width from one to two miles. This was largely covered originally with burr and white oak timber, with a gravelly soil, and regarded as among the very best in the county. The present river bottom is generally much lower than this plateau, and generally from one-fourth to one-half mile in width. This burr oak plateau was first sought, and is now almost entirely occupied with farms, and largely devoted to wheat culture. East and southeast of this plateau is a large swampy tract but partially reclaimed, and on the higher lands to the south are belts of fine timber, some of it originally quite heavy, but now mostly cut off. Probably one- fourth of the town was originally pine lands. Wyoming is with- out lakes, and its principal stream after Grand river, which forms its northern boundary for four miles, is Buck creek, which runs diagonally across the township from southeast to northwest. entering the river near the village of Grandville. This is a val- uable mill stream, and was improved as such at an early day. Plaster creek also passes through the northeast corner of the town- ship, and furnishes power for running the plaster-mills erected on its banks. Several smaller streams are also found in the town tributary to these, or following directly into the Grand river. One of the chief features of the township is its immense beds of plas- ter, probably underlying most of the township, found out-crop- ping into beds of the creek, known to the Indians before the advent of the white man, and for many years extensively worked in half a dozen places.

EARLY SETTLERS.

David Tucker and Gideon H. Gordon are reputed to have been first to settle in this township, as early as 1832. In 1833 Luther B. Lincoln, Joseph B. Copeland, Wm. R. Goodwin, Jonathan F. Chubb, Myron Roys and Henry West settled in this township.

(1408)

1409

WYOMING TOWNSHIP.

In 1834 came Carlos A. Abel, D. C. Britton, Cyrus Jones, Roswell Britton, Julius C. Abel, Ephraim P. Walker, Abraham Bryant, and Josiah McCarthy, and settled at or near the present site of the village of Grandville. Geo. Thompson, Robert Howlett, and Alvah Wanzar also settled within the town during that year. In the next year Edward Feakins, Charles H. Oakes, I. A. Brooks, Thomas Buxton, Ransom Sawyer, Richard Moore, Justus C. Rogers, .Eli and Erastus Yeomans, and Manly Patchen were added to the list of settlers, many of them locating at Grandville. In 1836 Dwight Rankin, Hiram Osgood, Orrey Hill, James Lockwood, Nathan White, Jacob and Charles J. Rogers located in the town.

LAND PATENTEES.

Among the early settlers and others who purchased lands in this township from the general Government, the following names ap- pear: Alvin H. Wansey, sec. 1, May 23, 1834; Luther Lincoln, sec. 3, March 22, 1833; Stephen Tucker, sec. 7, Sept. 25, 1832; Charles C. Trowbridge, sec. 9, Dec. 1, 1832; Caroline Goodwin, sec. 13, Dec. 25, 1834; Sylvester Sibley, sec. 17, Oct. 2, 1832; Henry West, sec. 20, Sept. 15, 1835; Joseph B. Copeland, sec. 22, July 13, 1833; Norman Mack, sec. 27, Nov. 11, 1835; John Wright, sec. 28, Dec. 4, 1833; Eli Yeomans, sec. 32, Aug. 25, 1835; and Philo Bronson, sec. 34, March 14, 1836.

ORGANIC.

This town, under the name and style of Wyoming, was organized in 1848, although under the name of Byron; for 12 years the head- quarters of the town had been at Grandville. In fact, within the present limits of Wyoming was for several years nearly all there was in population and improvement of the town of Byron, so that strictly speaking, Wyoming was organized in 1836 under the name of Byron; and the new town organized in 1848 was given the old name.

The first meeting of the electors of the township of Wyoming was held at the hotel of Dwight Rankin, on Monday, April 3,1848. Lewis Moody was chosen Moderator; Chas. Edgerly was chosen Clerk. John Temmons and Jacob Rogers were chosen Inspectors. The following officers were elected: Supervisor, Wm. R. Goodwin; Clerk, Joseph Blake; Treasurer, Chas. Edgerly; Commissioners of Highways, N. Shoemaker, Dwight Rankin, James B. Jewell; School Inspectors, L. D. Abbott, J. C. Rogers; Justices, Erastus Yeomans, Roswell Britton. The total vote at the first general election ap- pears to have been 101, 16 years after the settlement of the town- ship had begun.

The following list gives the names of the principal township officers elected since 1848:

1410

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

SUPERVISORS.

Wm. R. Goodwin .. 1848-51

Joseph Blake 1866

Nicholas Shoemaker.

1852-4

Ebenezer Davis

1867

Egbert Dewey. 1855

Augustus Godwin 1868

Ebenezer Davis. 1856

John T. Emmons

1869-70

Nicholas Shoemaker. 1857

Augustus Godwin.

1871

Horatio N. Ball 1858-9

Salisbury Mason.

1872-5

Job Whitney. 1860

Nicholas Shoemaker 1876

Ebenezer Davis

1861-2

C. D. Shoemaker. 1877

Job Whitney. 1863

Wm. K. Emmons

1878

Ho: ace () Webster. 1864

Wm. H. Nearpass 1879

Dwight Rankin

1865

Augustus Godwin

1880-1

CLERKS.

Joseph Blake.

1848

Philip Dwitt. 1862-4

James P. Scott. 1849

Silas Powell.

1865

Hortatio N. Ball.

1850-3

Wilson Mentor

1866-8

Sylvester L. Morris.

1854

Win. H. Galloway

1869

John P. Hanchet 1855

Adelbert H. Weston 1870-1

Sylvester L. Morris. 1856

Marcus H. McCoy 1872-3

Silas Powell . 1857

Sheridan C. Smith 1874

Benj. S. Hanchet

1858

Aldelbert H. Weston

1875

Slylvester L. Morris

1859

Clinton D. Shoemaker

1876

Horace O. Weston. 1860

C. E. Kellogg

1877-8

Geo. H. Barker. 1861

Joseph Blake. 1879-81

TREASURERS.

Chase Edgerly

1848

Egbert Dewey. 1867

Robert Howlett

1849-50

Joseph Blake. . 1868

Dwight Rankin

1851-3

James A. Knowles. 1869

Joseph Blake . 1854-5

John V. D. Haven.

1870

Horatio N. Ball 1856

Horace O. Weston

1871

Horace O. Weston.

1857

James A. Knowles. 1872

Ebenezer Davis. 1858-60

Henry G. Reed 1873

John Porter .. 1861-2

Marcus McCoy

1874-5

Sherman H. Boyce.

1863

Francis Boylan.

1876-8

Nicholas Shoemaker. 1864

Reuben Davis .. 1879

Thomas Hardy

1865-6

Charles E. Kellogg

1880-1

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Erastus Yeomans

1848

Silas Powell 1866

Silas Powell

1849

Augustus Godwin 1866-7

Jacob Rogers. 1850

Cyrus Freeman. 1867

Erastus Yeomans.

1851

Samuel Kiefer. 1867

Silas Powell

1852

Wm. K. Emmons. 1868

Robt. Howlett.

1853

Alexander McInroy. 1869

Jacob Rogers

1854

Wm. H. Gallaway 1870

Nicholas Shoemaker

1855

Silas Powell. 1871

John T. Emmons. .

1856

Cyrus Freeman. 1871

John P. Hanchet.

1856

Nichol D. Emmons.

1872

Erastus Yeomans 1857

Alexander McInroy

1873

George W. Kellogg. 1858

Wm. K Emmons.

1874

Ebenezer Davis .. 1859

Walter M. Race. 1875

John T. Emmons 1860

Wm. H. Gallaway 1875

Willian Frost. 1861

Silas Powell. 1876

Silas Powell 1862

Cyrus Freeman 1876

Wm. P. Whitney 1863

Wm. H. Gallaway

1877-9

Thomas Hardy. . 1864

Henry E. Reed.

1879

David Comstock 1865

Silas Powell 1880

Augustus Godwin 1865

Amos Utter 1881

1411

WYOMING TOWNSHIP.

The history of Wyoming is so intimately connected with that of the county, little has been left unwritten regarding it in the pages devoted to the general history. However, the reminiscences of early times and review of the township history, written some few years ago by Prof. Everett, are too good to be lost. He states: " When Kent county was a town of Kalamazoo county, settlements were made at Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Ionia, and Lyons. Cam- pau had his trading station at Grand Rapids, and Rix Robinson at Ada and other places, and the few persons in the valley were dependent on them. Living, as they did, dependent on the Indians with no rights, further than a license to trade, and such as the In- dians would give them, they are not to be considered as at that time occupants and settlers. A few, dependent on Campau and Robinson, were at Grand Rapids, but in point of fact the first settlement was in Wyoming; and the earliest history of the valley is the history of this town. The first locations were made here; the farms were begun here; here the plow first broke the soil; and here the first crops were raised. The advent of the first white man into Ionia county was in the spring of 1833. But Wyoming dates from 1832, when her soil was taken possession of by Robert Howlett, Luther Lincoln, Amos Gordon and Stephen Tucker. They are, therefore, the 'Grand River Pioneers." They came in the fall of 1832, and raised crops of their own planting in 1833. Lincoln took up what was the paper city, but now the thriving village of Grandville; and there, in the spring of 1833, was the first in the Grand River Valley to turn the soil with the plow, and he raised the first crop of corn where the village of Grandville now stands. This pioneer Lincoln was an erratic genius; we wish we could give a better history of him. He did not stay where he was the pioneer.

" Still, 1833, the same year that settled the first colonists at Ionia, is looked upon as the year when the valley was taken possession of by civilized men. This year brought Jon. F. Chubb, Stephen Tucker, Gideon H. Gordon, James Gordon, Wm. R. Godwin, Joseph B. Copeland, Myron Roys, Henry West and George Thomp- son, to Wyoming.

" The first house of any description built by the whites was a log shanty for Lincoln, in the fall of 1832. The first house fit for a family to live in was the log house of Stephen Tucker, built mostly by the Indians, in March, 1833. Lincoln had brought on with him five yoke of oxen, and he stayed over winter in his humble cabin to take care of them. Tucker built his house to live in with his family.

" Mr. Tucker was the first mail-carrier, going once a week to Gull Prairie; Slater, the missionary, the postmaster. Tucker commenced carrying the mail and doing errands for pay, January, 1833.

" As in the rest of the Grand River valley, 1834 brought acces- sions to the settlements: Roswell Britton, Nathaniel Brown, Eli and Erastus Yeomans, Ransom Sawyer, Richard Moore, Justus C. Rogers, E. T. Walker, Josiah McArthy, George Thompson, Julius C. Abel, Hiram and Luman Jennison, and Alvah Wansey."

1412

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

" The first wedding in Wyoming was that of Sylvester Hills and Harriet Burton, in the winter of 1835-'6. Mr. Wilder says that soon after he came he attended a wedding at Esq. Abel's, where he sold his coat to the groom, and borrowed one for himself to wear as groomsman.

" A " pole ' boat-the 'Cinderella '-was launched at Grandville, in June, 1837. It was a time of jubilee. All were invited, and they went on board-old men and maidens, matrons and boys; had feasting and dancing, and abundant mirth. What would we think now of 'launching a pole.boat?' Then such an event was a fore- tokening of brighter days, when they would live like other people.

"The town was organized as Byron May 2, 1836. The meeting was at the house of Charles H. Oakes. First officers: Gideon H. Gordon, Supervisor; Isaac A. Allen. Clerk; G. H. Gordon, Robert Howlett, E. P. Walker, Justices. It was organized as ' Wyom- ing' (Byron set-off ) in 1848, at the house of Dwight Rankin, with Wm. H. Godwin, Supervisor; Joseph Blake, Clerk; Chase Edgerly, Treasurer; E. Yeomans, Roswell Britton, Justices."

SCHOOLS.

The first school district was organized at Grandville. In 1867 a Union school building was erected, 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, with a transept 16 by 30 feet. The building is two stories high with a basement. A cupola surmounts this elegant school building. The following statement deals with the schools at the present time:

No. of District.

No. of Children.

Des. of (Val.School| Buildings. Prop.

No. of Teachers.

Amt. Pd. Teachers.

318

frame

$10,000

$1,545

frame

150

152

3 fr

frame

200

224

4. .

frame

1,000

140

6 ..

frame

196

frame

300

192

3 fr

frame

400

162

frame

1,600

280

715

eight

$13,700

$2,891

The oranization of the Union School Dictrict resulted in a se- ries of law proceedings which lingered before the courts for some years. This difficulty was ultimately settled, and the cause of education permitted to advance without further obstacles.

GRANDVILLE.

This village was first platted by Elijah Smith, Surveyor, April 13, 1835, for Charles Oakes, Benjamin Slater, Levi White and John Boynton. The first addition was surveyed by C. Barnes, June 2, 1835, for Levi White. The original plat was 80 acres. The East and West additions were platted in 1836. Lots, to builders, were sold for $25; to others for $100. But few were sold. It soon became manifest that Grandville was not the place

1413

WYOMING TOWNSHIP.

for the city; so it settled itself down to be a quiet country village, without expectations. It forms to-day a village of 800 inhabitants, six miles southwest of its old and successful rival, Grand Rapids. The manufacturing concerns in operation comprise: one water and two steam plaster mills; the one belonging to Thomas N. Brosnan and - McKee, the others to Loren Day and LaFayette Taylor; L. & L. Jenison, Charles E. Kellogg, J. Grutter and M. H. McCoy are the principle merchants of the place; Jenness & Davidson keep the hotel, and Dunham the livery. The professions are rep- resented by W. W. Whipple, lawyer; Clarence E. Danforth, A. H. Weston and J. W. Cooper, physicians. The tradesmen com- prise : Alex. Galloway, carpenter; John Vinkemulder, Henry Daly, J. H. Bulliment, wagon-makers; De Witt C. Britton and Jerome Oholer, blacksmiths; John E. Spees, P. Van Rheen and E. Manglitz, shoemakers; A. K. Gettman, cooper; C. D. & A. Shoemaker, whiffle-tree-makers. The Methodist, Dutch Reform and Congregational societies have their churches here; the post- office is administered by Joseph Blake, and the Union School is. presided over by a principal and a full corps of teachers.

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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 146

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