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 19

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 19

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

to the Ottawas failed. However, he succeeded in establishing a blacksmith shop at Kalamazoo in September, 1823.

Rev. Leonard Slater, whose name appears in connection with the history of the Baptist society, arrived at Grand Rapids in May, 1828, accompanied by a Government blacksmith and two or three laborers. He established the Baptist mission, which afterward performed efficient service in the interests of civilization. The life of this pioneer was attended by many hardships ; he began his work at Grand Rapids by erecting a log house for his own resi- dence, and a log school-house. These were the first buildings ever erected by civilized persons on the western bank of the Rapids, al- though the American Fur Company had built a small store-house two miles up the river previous to 1777. The labors of Mr. Slater were well directed, and consequently won the respect of not a few savages. He erected a block school-house, was liberal and at the same time judicious in his distribution of presents. Consequently his endeavors to conciliate and to convert the Ottawas were not wholly barren ; nor were his labors to educate them without a de- gree of success. After laboring for some time in this rude build- ing, a frame school-house was erected, and the old block house converted into a dwelling. This modern mission school-house was erected in 1837, by the same mission, and was situated near the corner of Bridge and Front streets. It was originally devoted to the Indian children attached to Mr. Slater's mission, but, owing to the influx of the whites and to the indisposition of the Indians, it was soon after appropriated to the uses of the latter.

Mr. Slater was born at Worcester, Mass., Nov. 16, 1802. He died April 27, 1866. His children, Sarah Emily, born Aug. 12, 1827 ; George, Feb. 9, 1829 ; Francis, Dec. 31, 1832, and Brainard, Sept. 21, 1835, were the first white children born of American parents in the Grand Rapids district.

Richard Godfroy, whose name will be forever honorably identified with the treaties of Saginaw, Chicago, Detroit, and even Greenville, came to Grand Rapids in 1832. He is the son of Gabriel Godfroy, patentee of the lands on which Ypsilanti city is built, of the coun- try round Elkhart city, Ind., of many beautiful tracts from Detroit to Terre Haute, and northwestward to Chicago. He was Indian Agent at Lowell for some time previous to 1832, and must be con- sidered a pioneer of Kent county. Two years later he opened a trading post, and carried it on successfully for many years. The great lawsuit-" Godfroy, v. Beardsley and others"-in which his claim to the valuable lands, granted in the letter of President John Quincy Adams, Nov. 28, 1826, and in the deed of the Indian Re- serve, given to Richard Godfroy, Feb. 2, 1827, signed by John Paxton, James M. McCloskey, and Pierre Morain or Perish, was sought to be maintained. This Pottawatomie chief Perish, to whom a section of land at the confluence of the Elkhart river and St. Joseph river was granted by the treaty of Chicago made in 1821, received $300 from Mr. Godfroy in consideration of this deed. In

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the " History of Elkhart County, Indiana," written by the writer of this work for the publishers of this volume in 1880, a copy of the correspondence which passed between Morain, the Indian, Godfroy the trader, and John Quincy Adams, President of the United States, on this subject, with the patents and deeds, are given on pages 729-'31. If an opinion could be offered, it would simply be, that the question of Richard Godfroy's title to those lands seems to be based not on law, but rather upon the eccentricities of law. This respected pioneer is one of the few very early settlers now liv- ing. His daughter, Cornelia, now Mrs. Sarsfield, was the first white child born at Grand Rapids.

Capt. Daniel Marsac, of Detroit, settled at Lowell in 1829, as an Indian trader. Two years later he erected a substantial log hut, and established a regular trading post. Here John Ball slept for the first time within Kent county. The name of Marsac brings up many stirring reminiscences of Detroit, Saginaw, Mackinac, and old Chicago.

Trapper Lincoln, an old man even at the period the first Ameri- can settlers began to pour in, passed his days from 1829 until 1860 in the old hut on the shore of Lincoln lake, in Spencer township. He moved to Montcalm county, where he built the Lincoln Mill above Greenville, and where he died.

Edward Robinson settled in Ada in 1830. He was a brother of Rix Robinson, and for many years resided near the home of " Uncle Rix." He was the father of 13 children, to whom he gave the general title, "The Baker's Dozen."

David Tucker and Gideon H. Gordon claim the honors of first settlement in the township of Wyoming. They arrived in Michi- gan in 1832, and leaving Detroit sought out for themselves the beautiful homes which the section of country around Grandville of- fered.

Toussaint Campan came to the Rapids while still a youth in the employ of Louis. He made the district the home of his more ad- vanced years. The pioneer has gone with the majority; his widow is still among the old people of the county.

Rev. Frederick Baraga, the well-known Indian scholar, antiqua- rian and lexicographer, settled in Grand Rapids in June, 1833, as resident priest. Under his direction a frame church building was erected on the west side of the river. One of his parishioners, Lonis Campau, aware that the existence of this church on the west bank would interfere materially with the plans of himself and others for building up the village on the east bank, entered into arrangements with Barney Burton for its removal. During the winter of 1833-'4, the little house of worship was moved across the river by Burton, and stands on Ottawa street at present, near Wood's carriage shop. This was the beginning of discontent. The impracticable trapper, hunter, and trader. of the Saginaw could not be reasoned with on the subject. Rev. Mr. Baraga left the village forever, and the Catholic mission of the Rapids was temporarily

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disorganized. This celebrated missionary wrote a grammar and dictionary of the Otchipwe language; was raised to the bishopric of Lake Superior, and subsequently Bishop of Buffalo. His travels led him to the Athabasca regions, and eastward still to the Hudson's Bay district, where he is remembered by the Indians and the Hud- son's Bay Company's officers and men.

Baraga was a cousin of the emperor of Austria, one of the Ru- dolph Hapsburgs. T. B. Church visited him at Marquette a short time before his death. His sister, who held his estates in trust, and who died in 1878, sent remittance after remittance, to aid in carry- ing out the object of his missionary labors.'

Joel Guild and his family, the first American settlers of Grand Rapids, accompanied the Dexter colony to Ionia in 1833. There meeting Louis Campau, the pioneer of Western Michigan, Mr. Guild accompanied him to his trading post at the Rapids, purchased from him a building lot, and erected the first frame dwelling house on the site of the present City National Bank. It is stated posi- tively that this early settler arrived early in June, 1833, while others place the date of his coming Aug. 12, that year.

Jonathan F. Chubb brought his family to Wyoming township in 1833, and purchased land between the foot of the Rapids and Grandville. After a four years' pursuit of agriculture he disposed of his farm, and inaugurated the agricultural business on Canal street in the village of Grand Rapids.

Ira Jones and Eliphalet Turner settled in the county in 1833, and were instrumental in building up its interests. These old set- tlers died in 1870, much regretted by a large circle of true friends.

Myron Royce, a settler of Wyoming in 1833, located on section 9. Mr. Royce still resides in that township, on the old home- stead.

Henry West came West in 1833 and selected his lands on section 20 of the same township.

Luther Lincoln, one of the first to enter lands in this county at the White Pigeon Land Office, with Louis Campau, came in 1833, and located the lands on which the village of Grandville stands.

Hiram Jennison arrived in 1833, and settling lands near the Lincoln tract, made Grandville his home.

Joseph B. Copeland and William R. Godwin, old settlers of 1833, entered lands adjacent to the Lincoln and Jennison properties, and became permanent settlers.

Eliphalet Turner arrived at Grand Rapids Aug. 11, 1833, but did not settle on the land now occupied by the city. He was, however, among the very first settlers of Kent county.

Barney Burton, whose widow still resides here, located lands in Paris township in 1833.

Edward Guild, Joel Guild and Daniel Guild, all well known among the old settlers, made locations within the present boundaries of Paris township in 1833.

James Vanderpool arrived in the township of Kent in 1833, and entered lands within the district now known as Paris township.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Jacob Winsor, son of Darius Winsor, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., June 11, 1816, came to Michigan in 1833, and settled at Grand Rapids. His death took place Dec. 22, 1874.

Martin Ryerson, born at Paterson, N. J., Jan. 6, 1818, came to Grand Rapids in 1834, and entered into the employ of Richard Godfroy. In May, 1836, he became a pioneer of Muskegon, at which place he continued to reside until 1851, when he moved to Chicago.

Col. Horace Gray, of Grosse Isle, who was a resident of this place from 1834 to 1838, visited Grand Rapids in August, 1881, to acquaint himself with the great changes which progress wrought, as well as to visit the few survivors of the settlement of 1834.

James Clark, born at Rahway, N. J., Jan. 31, 1799, married Miss Catherine Powley, of New York, in January, 1821; immi- grated in 1831, and settled in Superior township, Washtenaw Co., where he dwelt until February, 1834, the date of his settlement at Grand Rapids. His was the 14th white family to make Kent county a. home. He was the pioneer of Plainfield township, where he died in 1867.

Hiram Jennison, born at Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 11, 1813, immigrated to Michigan in 1834, and settled at Grandville the same year.

Ezekiel Davis was the first settler of the township of Grand Rapids, having located on section 34 in 1834.

Lewis Reed, Ezra Reed, and Porter Reed were among the settlers of 1834.

David S. Leavitt and Robert M. Barr settled in Grand Rapids township in 1834. A brother of Robert M. Barr arrived here shortly after, and settled permanently in the county.

Among the settlers of 1834 were Roswell Britton, Abraham Bryant, J. McCarthy, Ephraim P. Walker, Julius C. Abel, all of whom settled at or near the village of Grandville; Robert Howlett, George Thompson, and Alvah Wanzy settled in Wyoming the same year.

Rev. Andrew Vizoisky, successor to Rev. Frederick Baraga, was one of the old settlers of 1835. He was born in Hungary, Austria, in 1792; immigrated in 1830, and, after a tour through Europe and the Canadas, entered the United States in 1831, where he lost little time in registering his name on the roll of citizenship. From 1831 to the close of 1834 he was the successor of Pere Montcog in the mission of St. Clair, having received his appoint- ment from the Bishop of Detroit. At the close of 1834 he was transferred to the mission of Grand Rapids, and for over 17 years was among the most energetic and esteemed citizens of the grow- ing village. It has been truly said that the ministry of this priest in Kent and adjoining counties was marked by unsurpassed devo- tion and its most gratifying results. No road was rough enough and no weather inclement enough to keep him from the post of

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

duty. To the poor he brought relief, to the sick consolation, and to the dying the absolvatory promises of his office. Under his ad- ministration a fine stone building was dedicated to Catholic wor- ship in 1850. This building stood on Monroe street: he saw it filled with a large and happy congregation; witnessed the fulfill- ment of his hopes in this regard, and died full of honors, Jan. 2, 1852.

Lucius Lyon, one of the settlers of Grand Rapids in 1835, was born at Shelburn, Vt., Feb. 26, 1800, and died at Detroit, Mich., Sept 24. 1851. His father, Asa Lyon, of Shelburn, was esteemed a man of sound judgment. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Ambrose Atwater, of Wallingford, Conn. Some of his ancestors were among the original settlers of New Haven. Mr. Lyon, as a child and youth, was educated in the common schools of his native town; and he entered, when approaching his majority, upon the study of engineering and land-surveying in the office of John Johnson, of Burlington, Vt. At the age of 22 years, with a. thorough knowledge of that business, he went to Detroit; and his professional skill becoming known, he was soon afterward appointed by the United States Surveyor-General, one of his deputies for the district northwest of the Ohio. In this office, Mr. Lyon con- tinned until 1832. While still engaged in its duties, he was in- formed that he had been elected a delegate from the then Territory of Michigan to the Congress of the United States. He accepted, and remained in Congress until the first convention was assembled to form a constitution, with which the State of Michigan applied · for admission into the Union. Of that convention, Mr. Lyon was a member, and his course was signalized by his influence in procuring the adoption of those provisions respecting the common-school lands that made the funds accruing therefrom a sacred and per- manent trust, by which the endowment has become so large and beneficial. The first Legislature which assembled in Michigan chose Mr. Lyon as a Senator in Congress,-an honor due to his character and services in behalf of the new State, and to his general knowledge of the condition and necessities of the Northwest. Mr. Lyon continued in the Senate until 1839, when he withdrew to Grand Rapids, then a village of a few hundred inhabitants, where he owned a large amount of property. In 1842 he was nominated and elected by the Democrats of that district as their Representative in Congress. Upon the expiration of his term, he was appointed by President Polk to the office of Surveyor-General for the States of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. At his request, and as a con- dition of acceptance, the office was located at Detroit. He filled it until his death, which occurred Sept. 24, 1851. His experience as a surveyor in early life, and as a member of the Committee on Public Lands, in both Houses of Congress, qualified him for the discharge of his duties. Mr. Lyon was not a brilliant man, nor rapid in his mental action; but, by being patient. carefully observ- ing, and deliberately considering all subjects which were submitted

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to him, he generally reached a correct conclusion, and was especially able to make practical applications of results. Thus, in his favorite line of study, natural and mechanical science, he became a proficient, and a peer of those who had enjoyed superior educational advantages. The extent of his knowledge and his capacity for action were sometimes obscured by his modesty. From the unpretentious and silent man, but a tithe of that influence and achievement was expected which he was found to have wielded and accomplished. He was amiable, benevolent and religious; and, in after life, found rest, satisfaction, comfort and joy, often fervently acknowledged, in that form of Christian faith taught by Swedenborg. From his first appearance in public life, until his death, a consistent Democrat, he was unwavering in his political principles and associations. He never married; his housekeeping was superintended by a maiden sister, who yet survives him. In conclusion it may be said that to no other statesman whom Michigan has produced and sustained in office, does she owe more than to the citizen Lucius Lyon.

-He and Charles H. Carroll, proprietors of the Kent plat, or rather the village of Kent, were among the first to attempt the development of the mineral resources of this portion of the valley.

Believing that salt could be made here, and knowing that this section indicated, geologically, saline springs, he, in 1841, com- menced sinking a well on the west bank of the canal, above the big mill, which, after many difficulties and embarassments, became a supposed success, and the manufacture of salt was, in 1843-'4 and '5, prosecuted with considerable spirit, by means of boiling and evap- orating. The enterprise failed, owing to the difficulties in keeping out fresh water which diluted the brine. It is said that Lyon ex- pended upward of $20,000 in this experiment, and his profits were nothing. Subsequently, from 1858 to 1864, Ball & McKee, J. W. Winsor, W. T. Powers, C. W. Taylor, James Scribner, with others, renewed the effort to make salt, many wells were sunk, and several thousand barrels made, 'but East Saginaw had, in the meantime, found the seat of empire, and, from superior and purer brine, soon demonstrated that she was " master of the situation," and the people here could not compete with her, so that the works in this city gradually went the way of all unprofitable enterprises.

N. O. Sargeant, whose connection with Kent county, and particu- larly with Grand Rapids, dates back to 1835, arrived at the same time as Almy and Lyon. He purchased an interest with the latter in the " Kent plat," and became one of the great improvers of the village. He, however, did not remain very long.

Leonard G. Baxter arrived in 1835 as an employe of Sargeant. Geo. Crampton was another of the workers who came that year, accompanied with an ax, a pick, a shovel, a stout heart and strong arms. This pioneer died in August, 1881, and was buried in this county.

In 1835 a large number of immigrants settled in Wyoming,

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among whom were Charles H. Oaks, Joseph A. Brooks, Thomas H. Buxton, Manly Patchen, Ransom Sawyer, Richard Moore, Jus- tus C. Rogers, Eli Yeomans and Erastus Yeomans.

John Aliny, better known as Judge Aliny, a native of Rhode Island, arrived in Grand Rapids in 1835, to take charge of the " vil- lage of Kent," then the sole property of Charles H. Carroll, of Groveland, N. Y. Referring to this family, P. R. L. Pierce says :-

" Mr. Alny held many important places of trust, such as mem- ber of the Legislature, Judge of the County Court, Chief Clerk in the Suveyor-General's office, engineer of the Kalamazoo and other river improvements. He also held the office of City Engineer. The Judge was a splendid draftsman, and in water-color and India-ink drawings was not excelled. He was a scientific man of much learning, and his general information was very great. He was very methodical and exact in his calculations and business. He had studied law and was admitted to practice, but the duties were not congenial to him, but he was thoroughly grounded in its principles, and was a safe and trusty counselor. He was a walking encyclo- pedia. Of splendid physical form, and a most benignant expression of countenance; he was a man of mark among his fellows, and a courteous, genial gentleman, and beloved by all, and his memory will be cherished by every pioneer of the Grand River Valley who survives him. The immediate relatives of Judge Almny who form a part of the "days of small beginnings," are Mr. P. R. L. Pierce, Mrs. F. M. Lester, Hon. T. B. Church and Alphonso Almy. His wife was a sister of P. R. L. and J. W. Pierce and Mrs. Lester. She died in November, 1875, in Canandaigua, New York.

Horace and Lyman Gray settled at Grand Rapids in 1835. Andrew Robbins arrived here the same year and made a perma- nent settlement. Edward Guild, James Lvman, A. Hosford Smith, Darius Winsor, Jefferson Morrison and William C. Godfroy were among the settlers in territorial days, having come to Grand Rapids in 1835. Lyman and Morrison opened their general stores in the village that year.

Julius C. Abel, the first lawyer who settled in the village, came in 1835, and entered on the practice of his profession at once.

Dr. Wilson, the first medical doctor of Kent county, came here in 1835, under the auspices of Louis Campau, who furnished him with the modus operandi of the profession. His practice com- menced in August of the same year, when fever and ague offered sufficient subject on which to try his medical skill.

Dr. Charles Shepard may be considered a contemporary settler with Wilson. He arrived on the Thornapple Oct. 18, 1835; the day following vaccinated 120 Indians by order of Rix Robinson, then agent for the U. S. Government, and entered Grand Rapids Oct. 20, 1835, where he at once entered on the practice of his pro- fession. His gray pony and himself were known throughout the county. Ever earnest in his duty, he won the esteem of all the people in this and adjoining counties.

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Abram Laraway aud Benjamin Clark settled in the town of Paris in 1835, having previously made a temporary settlement at Grand Rapids.

Samuel Gross made an actual settlement in the township of Plainfield in 1835. He brought his family with him.

Antoine Campau, who was placed in charge of the old trading post at the village of Saginaw, and also of the small store which stood near the site of the Bancroft House of the present day, left the Saginaws in 1835 and settled at Grand Rapids. Mr. Little, of Kalamazoo, in describing the funeral services of the deceased pio- neer, says: " That chilly morning of the 4th day of November, 1874, witnessed a solemn and impressive scene. That score of grey-haired, invited friends were standing in two lines extending from the sidewalk to the Catholic chapel which then stood oppo- site the present beautiful church of St. Andrew, with uncovered heads, while the casket containing the remains of Antoine Cam- pau, their former friend and intimate associate, was borne between their ranks and followed thence to the chapel, where the last sad rites were performed by several officiating priests.

The Robinson family, consisting of 44 persons, natives of New York State, immigrated to Michigan in 1835. The party sailed from Detroit, via Mackinaw, to Grand Haven. The settlements of this family extended fromn Lowell, on the eastern borders of Kent county, to Blendon, in Ottawa county.

Benjamin Sizer, a native of Vermont, arrived here in 1835, and without inquiry or guide proceeded to seek a location. Unfortu- nately, while wending his way along the old deer walk near Plaster creek, an Indian bullet pierced his heart. The savage watcher of the omonsom, or deer trail, rushed forward and was horrified to find that a white man was the victim of his deadly aim. Etagesh- kid, or gambler, as the involuntary slayer was called, rushed madly through the forest crying out, Gi-nibo! Gi-nibo! i. e., He is dead! He is dead!

John Ball, born at Hebron, N. H., Nov. 12, 1794, arrived at Grand Rapids, Oct. 14, 1836; what an important part has been taken by this old resident in building up the interests of the county is well known. He was the third representative of the district in the State Legislature, having been elected in 1838.

William A. Richmond, born at Aurora, on Cayuga lake, Jan. 28, 1808, came to Michigan in 1826, and ultimately settled at Grand Rapids in 1836. His death in the city of his adoption was recorded in 1870. Mr. Richmond was among the enterprising men of his day, and, like them, did much to raise this city to the proud position it now occupies.

Myron Hinsdill arrived in 1836, and the same year erected the National Hotel. His brothers, Stephen and Hiram, came the same year.

Hiram Osgoode, Orrey Hill, Nathan White, Dwight Rankin, Jacob Rogers, Charles Wheeler, James Lockwood, Charles J.

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Rogers, Leonard Stoneburner, George Fetterman, entered their lands in the township of Wyoming in 1836.

Josiah Burton settled in the county in 1836.

Simeon Hunt visited the county in 1836, returned to his Eastern home and, re immigrating, settled in the county in 1844.

Brig. Gen. Solomon Withey, father of Judge Withey, of the United States Court, born at St. Albans, Vt., April 1, 1820, set- tled at Grand Rapids in 1836. He was among the first officials of the county. A man of sterling honor, he won the esteem of all with whom he met.

John W. Pierce, born at Geneseo, N. Y., Dec. 4, 1814, died at Grand Rapids, Oct. 26, 1874. He came here in 1835, as a clerk in the employment of Charles H. Carroll, then owner of the Kent plat. He pretty soon opened a book store, the first in the valley. This book store was at the northeast corner of Kent and Bronson streets, where he remained in business until 1844, when he em- barked in general trade on the corner of Canal and Erie streets. Here he erected the first brick store on Canal street. In 1871, his buildings on Canal street were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $30,000. The next day he said: "It is nothing but property. It has not put a weed on my hat." With characteristic energy and good nature, he set about the work that fire had made a necessity. In 1842, he married Sarah L., daughter of Col. Roberts. In his family, he was the honored and beloved husband and father. He was always ready to help the public; was one of those who were always on hand when it was proposed to do some good thing. He held several public offices, but never was in the habit of asking for them. When he arrived in the village of Grand Rapids, there were only 13 frame buildings erected.

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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 19

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