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 22

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 22

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PIONEER CITIZENS OF KENT IN OTTAWA.

The settlement of the neighboring county, at the instance of Rix Robinson and Louis Campau, pioneers of Kent, is too im- portant a subject to be overlooked in these pages. The fact that such men exerted themselves toward the settlement of the country west of them, renders such a reference indispensable. For this purpose the following summary from Prof. Everett's papers on the subject is given:

The first occupation of Grand Haven was by Rix Robinson, who pre-empted a quarter section where now is the water front of the city. He established a trading post there, and, in the spring of 1834, Zenas G. Winsor, then a young man, [ was sent to Grand

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Haven as his agent. Winsor was the first English-speaking per- son who stopped there. His place of business was near the "Ferry " warehouse. Rev. William M. Ferry had been for some years a missionary teacher at Mackinaw. Broken in health, he left Mackinaw, and went East, where, in the summer of 1854, he met Robert Stewart, who induced him to enter into an arrangement which caused him henceforth to become a man actively engaged in business. Stewart had purchased of Robinson one-half of his in- terest in the pre-emption. He placed certain funds in the hands of Ferry, with which he was to operate, sharing the results, and making Grand Haven his center. Ferry associated with him his brother-in-law, Nathan H. White, and came on from Detroit by land. They, Ferry and White, arrived Sept. 15, 1834, in a canoe, with two Indians, furnished by Mr. Slater at Grand Rapids. They found Rix Robinson and his family the only white persons. Louis Campau had an agent, a Frenchman, at the Lower Diggings, at the mouth, on the left bank of the river. Robinson was busy getting ready for his. fall campaign, yet he spent several days showing Ferry his pre-emptions. The one-half of these had been purchased by the Grand Haven Company, consisting of Robinson, Ferry and White, as equal partners. Of this company Mr. Ferry was constituted agent.

Business arrangements being concluded, Mr. Ferry started for his family at Mackinaw, in a birch canoe, with two Indians. Re- turning, he brought with him a number of persons, mostly Indians and half-breeds. Robinson came back about the same time, bring- ing with him Mr. Lasley.

The same season the Grand Haven Company laid out the village of Grand Haven. The company built a mill; bought large tracts of land; bought two mills at Grandville; employed Nehemiah Hathaway and George and Dexter Ranney to get out logs at the mouth of Crockery creek to supply the mills. They engaged in building river boats. In 1838 they built a steamer called the " Owashtenaw," a large, stern-wheel boat, too large for the business, as it was then. This was not the first boat, the ." Gov. Mason " having been built the year before by Richard Godfroy. She ran one or two years at a loss to the owners, and was destroyed at the burning of the " big mill."

The Grand Haven Company did business some five or six years, operating in land and lumber. At one time a raft of 200,000 feet was lost in the lake; at another 30,000 logs. On the whole, after spending some $100,000, the business proved unprofitable, the company disbanded and divided the property.

Having traced the Grand Haven Company to its final burial, we may as well go back to the time when Ferry returned, bringing with him his bosom friend, P. C. Duvernay, and family. They stopped with Rix Robinson during the winter. The building, in which 21 persons were quartered, was 16 by 22. The accommodations were not such as would be agreeable to those

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accustomed, as some of them were, to the refinements of civiliza- tion. A part of the 21 slept in the loft of the cabin, and a part in a vessel that wintered in the harbor. What changes have been effected in the lakeside settlement since that time afford to the inquirer ample data upon which to form a correct estimate of the pioneers of Kent, as well as of their immediate successors in the industrial mission of that portion of Ottawa, which at one time was the western limit of the great township of Kent.

THE INDIAN GIRL'S REPRIEVE.

Of all the terrible crimes known to the Christian world, infanti- cide ranks among the first. Among the American Indians it was not only considered criminal, but also cowardly, and, for the dual reason, was punished most severely. Again, the law of " life for a life " was fully recognized and faithfully enforced. In the history of this county it is stated that during the first years of - settlement an American mother entrusted her infant child to the keeping of an Indian girl. The child of nature treated the white babe in the same manner that she would a papoose; allowed it full liberty to creep around; sometimes hoisted the little thing aloft, catching it in its descent. Now, a papoose could tolerate all this, and a good deal more, but it was too much for infant white. The girl was ordered to nurse the baby in an easier fashion, and willingly obeyed; but, unfortunately, in some careless moment, she allowed the little one to fall, and this fall resulted in the in- stant death of the youthful native.

The death song was chanted throughout the villages of the savages, the girl was bound a prisoner in the black wigwam, and Indian law was on the eve of claiming an innocent victim, when Louis Campau, his relatives, and a few old settlers, went in all haste to the Indian village, sought an explanation from the poor girl, and then begged mercy from her terribly impartial judges. The Indians granted a conditional pardon most reluctantly, re- serving the right to inflict capital punishment at any time the mother of the infant would call "a life for a life." The Kitchi- mokomanikwe, or American woman, never asked for such a sacri- fice.

CAMPAU'S FIRST BUGGY.

In the spring of 1844 one of the vehicles furnished by W. N. Cook, for E. B. Bostwick, was sold by the latter to Louis Campau. A few days after the purchase, Uncle Louis hitched up his old and well-known white horse. This done, he made a formal trial of the vehicle, and finding it safe so far, returned to his home to take out Mrs. Campau for a drive. With the two travelers the buggy did well; so well indeed that he suggested an invitation to Mrs. Rich- ard Godfroy. Driving up to the Godfroy residence, then at the

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southwest corner of Monroe and Ottawa, Mrs. Godfroy was asked to accompany them, which request she acceded to. Louis took a short tour on Monroe street, with the ladies, and then under a sud- den impulse returned to his home, where he left Mrs. Campau and Mrs. Godfroy. This much accomplished he dashed down toward W. N. Cook's blacksmith shop and, arriving there, summoned the owner to come out. Mr. Cook responded, when Uncle Louis, stand- ing up in the vehicle, cried out, " Mista Cook, I don't take $25 more for de buggy, dan I did dis morning." "How is that Mr. Campau?" " Why, I took myself and Mrs. Campau for a drive. and then Mrs. Godfroy, and de carriage did not break."

ALMOST EQUAL TERMS.

It is related that at an early day in the history of the Valley City, it was found necessary by the Rev. Mr. Ballard to journey eastward for the object of collecting funds to pay for the church building which he purchased of Louis Campau. Mr. Ballard possessed a buggy and harness, but no horse; Edward Guild had a horse but no buggy. The latter proposed that they put the two together and go in company, as he wished to go East also. This proposition ap- peared very fair, and was accepted. They started on their journey under most favorable circumstances, and during the first few days of travel enjoyed themselves immensely, yet quietly. On reaching the settlements toward Detroit they stopped at one of the primi- tive taverns for food and rest. There they fell in with others, some of them old acquaintances of Mr. Guild, and of course glad to see him. Ballard was a rigid teetotaller. Uncle Edward was not, though not in the habit of drinking to excess. Their friends were sociable and inclined to treat. Ballard peremptorily re- fused, and was pained to see his friend touch, handle or taste the treacherous liquid. At length he grew impatient saying, " Come, come, Uncle Ed, this won't do: you must not drink! we must go, or I shall go on without you." To which his fellow traveler, who had an impediment in his speech, replied, " P-p-p-all right, Brother Ballard, p-p-p-take your p-p-buggy and go ahead; p-p- pretty soon I'll come on with my horse and p-p-overtake you." The parson had the poor end of that proposition and patiently waited his companion's pleasure.

VISITORS AT KALAMAZOO.

In the early years of the State it was customary for inn-keepers to offer to members of the press, not only hospitality, but also a true welcome. A newspaper editor had only to make himself known, when he was treated as a most honored guest. Before this time was thoroughly reformed, Mr. Turner, of the Eagle, whiled away a night at Kalamazoo, endured many miseries, and, return- ing to Grand Rapids, told the story of that night through the col-

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umns of his journal. He pictured the pioneer hotel, and related how he was driven from bed by bugs; how he found a pail of tar, and made a fairy circle on the floor with that material, within which he thought he could rest secure; how he did begin to rest, when he heard a patter as if made by raindrops, and presently felt some- thing more material than rain falling over his face and head; how he struck a light and beheld a vast procession of bugs walking up the side of the room, thence along the ceiling until the vanguard would reach directly over his bed, and then fall down leisurely. He related all this and much more connected with that eventful night. Of course every one was delighted with the story. It was intensely sensational and pleased all except Mr. Gleason, the genial host at the hotel.

Some time after this, a party of Kentish men, composed of Lew Porter, C. H. Taylor and a half dozen others, visited Kalamazoo. Mr. Taylor was then a well-known journalist, and as was his right, sought a journalist's privileges. After a few of his associates had registered, he addressed the inn-keeper thus: " You are Mr. Gleason, I presume?" " Yes, sir," replied mine host. "Well, my name is Taylor, of the Grand Rapids Enquirer." " Glad to meet you, Mr. Taylor; make yourself quite at home," responded Gleason. Porter did not neglect to notice this proceeding, and for mischief's sake alone determined to mimic his friend in seeking a journalist's good times. Coming forward, he said, " You are Mr. Gleason, I presume?" " Yes, sir." " Well, My name is Turner, of the Grand Rapids Eagle." This was a death blow for Porter's little enter- prise. Gleason did not forget Mr. Turner's description of a night at Kalamazoo, and, drawing himself up to. his full height, said, " Well, Mr. Turner, I am not certain that there are bed-bugs enough in my house to accommodate you properly." Porter was momentarily astonished. It was only for a moment. Realizing the relation which existed between the name of Turner and the Kal- amazoo hotel, he quickly repented, confessed the object of his lit- tle game, and reinstated himself in the confidence of the hotel proprietor, to the infinite amusement of the real newspaper man. and his merry fellow-travelers.

TO THE RESCUE.

When, in 1835, N. O. Sargeant, the Almy family, Crampton and a few others entered the village, the latter led the advance, performing sundry American and Irish airs upon a bugle, which he made his in- separable companion. The entrance of this expedition was indeed an exciting event in the little town of Kent. The workmen came into the place with their shovels and picks on their shoulders, marching in double file to the inspiriting notes of the bugle. The chief of the Ottawa village, Noon-Day, beheld the demonstration with amazement and immediately dispatched one of his deputies to Mr. Campau, with offers of assistance to help him drive the invaders,

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as he regarded them, from the town. The chief was so far excited by this entry of pioneers that he assembled his warriors in council, so as to be ready for action as soon as the deputy returned from Mr. Campau. The reader will scarcely be able to imagine the chagrin of these disappointed Indians when the deputy returned and announced Mr. Campau's reply in the following words: "These are our friends and brethren, who have come to labor with us; let us welcome them!"

THE RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER.

There was a time when, amidst the wild, romantic scenery at the rapids of Grand river, on the west side, might have been seen those mounds of earth, which, like mute, patient sentinels, had endured the storms and alterations of heat and cold during untold centuries while watching and guarding the everlasting rushing and tum- bling of that noble stream. It was evident to every. beholder that those mounds had been constructed by the hand of man, who, at some remote period, had chosen that as his abiding place, because it was favorable for hunting and fishing, if not for agricultural purposes. A few miles down the river, there was a group of 12 much larger mounds; so wondrous strange were they, that for what purpose intended, the wise man knoweth not. That beau- tiful prairie now occupied by the village of Grandville, with its adjacent lands, might have been cultivated by the Mound-Builders. At a place several miles still further down the river, there was a long, straight roadway of several feet in height and width, extend- ing across a swamp, upon which a large amount of care and labor had been expended.

It may be safely assumed that this country was inhabited by Indians many hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of years ago. The Indians readily appreciated the advantages offered by such a place as the rapids of Grand river; it was such a favorite place of resort that they maintained one or more villages there. There, from time immemorial, the red man, the independent monarch of a vast domain, had reveled in all his pride and glory, in the luxurious en- joyment of the rich productions of the river, the forest, and culti- vated lands with undisputed freedom. That historic place, now occupied by the flourishing city of Grand Rapids, was once the imperial seat, or capital, of Noon-Day, the great chief and ruler of the Ottawas and Pottawatomies, the two tribes being in alliance with each other, but the latter receiving their chiefs from the Ot- tawas. Both tribes were in the British service in the war of 1812, and participated in the burning of Buffalo in 1813. Noon-Day was a tall, symmetrically formed gentleman, while his wife was a short, dumpy, inferior-appearing lady, with a visage badly marred by large scars. The wonderful changes incident to the displace- ment of one race of people by a different one, were in that case ef- fected so quickly and quietly as to be very astonishing; almost as if

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by magic barbarism and ignorance were superseded by civiliza- tion and intelligence.

EARLY CATHOLIC MISSIONS.

Four French Jesuit missionaries arrived at Mackinaw, where they established their headquarters at a very early day (the exact time not learned), as it appears by their church records kept at that place, that the rite of baptism was administered by them to certain persons in 1616. Printed books used by them there were shown to me which bore a much earlier date, and many curious relics of those times are still in existence.

As the number of missionaries was augmented by arrivals from Canada, they were sent forth from time to time, with Indian guides and dogs, to visit all the Indian villages, at each of which they spent several days' time, when they gave those ignorant liea- thens their first lessons in the school of civilization and Christian- ity, and secured their lasting confidence and esteem. After an absence of one or two months, those missionaries returned to Macki- naw to rest and regain their wasted energies, and others were sent out.

By that plan of operations persistently adhered to, it was supposed that all the Indian villages (Grand River Rapids not excepted) had been visited several times before 1640. Every mis- sionary, upon his return to headquarters, made a report of his doings, which was condensed as much as possible before it was placed on the records at Mackinaw, which was the only reposi- tory of such records, because the Indians were unfit custodian of the records of the different localities, and visits of the missions aries at each place were quite short. Therefore it is impossible- to learn anything very definite in regard to those early missionary operations at any one particular locality; even the history of the missionary labors at Grand River Rapids as late as 1812 are in- volved in the same uncertainty or obscurity as those at that place were 200 years before.

Although never considered as a resident at Grand River Rapids, Rix Robinson was for a long time very intimately and extensively identified with the private and public business transactions of that community, and also of the State. He was the pioneer leader of the Indian traders, and the first white man who ever permanently located in that vicinity. Rix Robinson came from Auburn, N. Y., to Detroit, in 1814, where he remained two years as partner in trade with Mr. Phelps. He afterward, on his own account, estal)- lished several Indian trading posts in Illinois and Wisconsin. He subsequently, as agent of the American Fur Company, established trading posts at different places on the east side of Lake Michigan, one of which was at the mouth of Grand river, in. 1821, and at about the same time one at Kalamazoo, and another at a place since called Ada. In 1837 he abandoned that business and de-

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voted his time more to domestic matters, especially to his beauti- ful farm, situated on the south bank of the Grand river, near the mouth of Thornapple river, and nearly 10 miles east of the Rapids. That was the home of Mr. Robinson and family more than 50 years. He died in 1875, leaving an enviable reputation, the remembrance of which will be long and proudly cherished by all who knew him.

A Baptist missionary station was established at the Rapids of Grand river in the fall of 1826, by Rev. Mr. McCoy, of the Carey station, now called Niles. At about the same time Rev. Leonard Slater, then a young man, with his wife, came from the East to Niles, where they remained during the winter with Mr. McCoy. In the spring of 1827 Mr. Slater and wife repaired to their new field of labor at the Rapids of Grand river, which was called the Thomas Station. It required a man of much faith and perseverance to accomplish the work which had been undertaken by Mr. Slater. But, notwithstanding the many serious embarrass- ments, he, in process of time, had the station in working order, with fixtures and appliances as follows: For himself a two-story log dwelling-house, standing on the west bank of the river, very near the west end of the present Bridge street bridge. A few yards north of his house was a blacksmith shop, in which a white man was engaged in making implements for the Indians. A short distance northwest of that point was a farm, on which was em- ployed a white man to instruct those savages in the mysterious science of agriculture. On a small creek, further north, was a saw- inill. On the same side of the river, and south of the ravine, was a cluster of neat block houses for the Indian families, and one house for religious services and school, where a white teacher in- structed the rising generation. During the nine and a half years that Slater remained there he expended about $14,000 of the mis- sion funds for the benefit of the dear, very dear, heathens. Mr. Slater removed from that place in the fall of 1836, and as soon as he vacated his house, it was occupied by Lovell Moore.

Louis Campau went from Detroit to Saginaw in early times, where he rendered very efficient aid to Gov. Cass, while making the treaty with the Indians at that place in 1816. In 1827 he came to the Rapids and built one or more log buildings for his residence and the Indian trade, on the east bank of the river, about midway between the present Pearl and Bridge streets. He occu- pied that stand about eight years, being the only white man on that side of the river for about five years.

Richard Godfroy was the regular acting Indian agent at the mouth of Flat river (now Lowell), and received his first informa- tion in regard to the Rapids from the Indians, whose representa- tions were very flattering, and who urgently desired him to visit the place. He, therefore, obtained a bark canoe, in which he made the passage, arriving at the Rapids in 1832, where he re- mained and acted as Indian agent and trader for several years.

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He is still at Grand Rapids, and apparently good for many coming years.

James Watson came to the Rapids in 1834, and engaged in the Indian trade.

In the spring of 1833 a Mr. Tucker was the first man who ever passed over the route from Gull Prairie to the Rapids with a wagon drawn by oxen, which conveyed Luther Lincoln, family and effects to the Rapids, where he soon after built a saw-mill on or near the place now occupied by Sweet's Hotel. That was the first attempt to utilize that vast water-power for turning a mill wheel. Lincoln's mill, and the Slater mill on the west side, although they were de- fective machines, were of great value to the infant settlement by way of furnishing lumber, by which means Messrs. Campau, God- froy and Watson were enabled to build good, capacious frame warehouses for their fur trade on the east bank of the river, near where the "rink " now stands. In front of their stores might have been seen those ponderous wooden machines for pressing their bales of fur. In 1833 or '34, Joel Guild erected a house on the ground now occupied by the First National Bank, which was the first frame house and first hotel in that embryo city. That place, in 1834, was fully awakened to consciousness, and from that time the number of inhabitants has increased rapidly and continu- ally to this day.

The steamboat "Governor Mason" (to which Governor Mason presented a new flag), of which Richard Godfroy was owner, ran between the Rapids and the mouth of the river. Louis Campau was living in his new two-story house on Monroe street, to which house was afterward added two other stories, and is the front of one side of the Rathbun House, and the only wooden structure in that vicin- ity. The Kent Hotel on Bridge street, and the National on Monroe street, the latter kept by Myron Hinsdill, were in successful oper- ation. Campau's old log house (of 1827) was occupied by Mr. Page, father-in-law of W. A. Richmond. Sargeant & Co. started a line of stage coaches, to perform regular trips between the Rapids and Kalamazoo, for the benefit of which enterprise Mr. Godfroy expended a large amount of money in improving the road through the timber land between Plaster creek and Green lake, at which place Louis Campau built and fitted up a large hotel building. But that staging business was of short duration, because not pay- ing. Lyon & Company, in order to utilize that great water-power, excavated a great canal extending from the head of the rapids to a place near Bridge street, where was completed the foundation for the " big mill," upon which it was intended to erecta building of such dimensions that 60 perpendicular mill-saws might be oper- ated in the same. But. inasmuch as the agent could not find even half that number of saws in Philadelphia, it led to a reconsidera- tion of the scheme, and the erection of a much smaller building on the north end of the big wall where three or four saws were oper- ated. For a considerable length of time, a brisk sectional rivalry

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in sentiment and action existed between the north part of the vil- lage, called Kent, and the south part, called Grand Rapids, but this finally yielded to the consideration that in reality there was but one village, one community, and one common interest, and since that time a very commendable degree of unanimity in sentiment and action have prevailed.

The year 1837 was the year of the great commercial panic, when many strong individuals were crippled or ruined; yet that feeble little town not only held its own, but received additions to its in- habitants, and made many improvements. In the spring of that year, a ferry was established to convey teams and passengers across the river below the island, which was a good substitute for the foot bridge previously used. In this year the first newspaper was started, the Grand River Times, afterward changed to the En- quirer. The Eagle was the next newspaper, started in 1844.

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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 22

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