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 74

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 74

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

John Klopfenstein was born in December, 1814, in Switzerland. His parents, Abraham and Susanna Klopfenstein, emigrated to America in 1827 and settled in Ontario, Can., where Mr. K., of this sketch, was reared and educated, attending the common school. He was married in Waterloo Co., Can., Dec. 3, 1841, to Mary Crumback, born in Waterloo county, March 27, 1817. They have buried six children and have three living-Freeman, born May 13, 1859 (married Florence Schooley) ; Susanna, Jan. 3, 1851 (Mrs. Jacob Rath), and Charles L., Oct. 6, 1864. Mary A., Sarah A., Isaac, John, Samuel and Hannah are deceased. Mr. K. settled in Kent county in 1853 and entered 40 acres of land on sec. 26, this tp. Indians and wild animals were common, and venison was their main dependence for meat. Like all early settlers, Mr. K. became an expert with the rifle, and one winter shot 20 deer. By subse- quent purchases he increased his real estate to 160 acres in Gaines, and 80 acres in Bowne tp., sec. 37. He has cleared his land by his own persistent efforts and has met with well-deserved success. In 1871 he visited the home of his youth. He and his wife, are members of the Mennonite Church.

John Leatherman, farmer, was born in Bucks county, Pa., Oct. 8, 1828. His parents, John and Sarah (Overholt) Leatherman, were natives of the same county. His father died when he was 10 years old, and his mother removed with her eight children to Medina, O. He was bound to a farmer, John Smith, till he was 18. In 1846 he went to Elkhart Co., Ind., and worked among the farmers of Harrison tp. three years. He was married Nov. 20, 1849, to Mary, daughter of Abram and Susanna (Albert) Moyer, born in Ashland Co., O., in June, 1830. Of 10 children eight are living-Sarah (Mrs. Henry Garber), Christian (married Melinda Noggle), Aaron, Abraham, John, Amos, Mary and Nelson. In 1866 he settled on sec. 16, this tp., on a fine farm of 200 acres, well improved and managed. He also owns 160 acres in Bliss tp., Emmett county. Mr. Leatherman is one of the solid men of the county, and his progress from John Smith's bound boy to an exten- sive land owner of this county is one that deserves respectful con- sideration.

Michael Meehan, a native of Tipperary Co., Ireland, was born in 1821. He is son of Michael and Honora Meehan, and came to America in 1850. After a residence of one year in Wash- tenaw county, he settled on 80 acres which he entered from the Government. This county was the home of Indians and wild animals, and the unbroken forest covered nearly every section. The · house was of logs, 14 by 22 feet, and surrounded on all sides by a wilderness of trees. Early and late for years Mr. Mee han toiled to convert the waste into available territory, and he now owns 160 acres on secs. 13 and 24, having added 80 acres to his original possession. He was married Nov. 1, 1853, to Mary, daughter of Edward and Mary Troy, natives of Ireland. She was born in Tip perary, Aug. 14, 1819. They have five children- John, born Oct.

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GAINES TOWNSHIP.

1, 1854; Nora, March 25, 1856 (Mrs. Moses McCarty); David, Sept. 1, 1857; Mary N., Feb. 2, 1860; Joanna, April 10, 1862. The entire family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Andrew J. Pelton, son of James M. and Elizabeth Pelton, early pioneers of this county, was born May 19, 1842. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. He enlisted in the war for the Union in Co. K, 3d Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged Dec. 23, 1863. He re-enlisted the same day in the same regiment to fight once more for the re-establishment of the Union. June 10, 1864, the "Mich. 3d" was consolidated with the 5th Mich. Vet. Vols. Mr. Pelton was engaged in 45 encounters with the rebels,

among them the following: Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, White Oak Swamp, Charles City, Cross Roads, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Petersburg, two fights at Deep Bottom, Hatch's Run and Clover Hill. He was discharged July 5, 1865. Mr. Pelton married Elizabeth Pelton, and they have six children-Marilla J., Liberty M., Edith L., Ellwood J., Statira and Ruth.

William B. Pickett is a native of England, born in Bedford- shire, Sept. 28, 1818. His parents, William and Mary (Baston) Pickett, emigrated to Canada in 1827, and settled in Galt. Mr. Pickett, sr., met with an accident which disabled him from active business, and the support of the family devolved upon the son. There were eight children besides the parents, and it was a heavy burden upon a boy's shoulders, but it was borne uncomplainingly, and with the best results to the son who " honored " his father and mother. His industry and attention to the duties that came near- est to his hands, have brought him competency and comfort in the sunset of his life. He learned the joiners' trade, at which he worked 20 years. He came to this county Oct. 13, 1854, and settled on sec. 20, where he cleared 65 acres of wilderness in five years. He removed to Ionia county in 1863, and in 1865 came back to Kent county and settled on sec. 20 once more. In 1867 he fixed his residence permanently on sec. 33. He owns a valuable farm on secs. 33 and 34, including 280 acres of finely improved land. He was married May 15, 1849, to Susanna Wismer, born in Dum- fries, Canada, Aug. 16, 1831. Their children are as follows -- Elizabeth (Mrs. Cyrus Nogles), John, Joseph, Mary (Mrs. C. W. Wernette), Amos, George and Jesse. Mr. Pickett is a Republi- can, and served as Highway Commissioner. A portrait of Mr. Piekett appears on another page, from a photograph taken in 1869. Orvil A. Riggs, farmer, was born in Brandon, Franklin Co., N. Y., May 15, 1836. His parents, James and Lucy J. (Bowen) Riggs, were natives of Vermont. The former was born Dec. 22, 1800, and the latter, March 20, 1800. They were married in 1824, and had five children, four of whom are living-David, George, Orvil A. and Volney. Mr. Riggs, of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received an academic education at the St. Lawrence Academy, of New York. He was married Feb. 20, 1860, to Helen,

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

daughter of Elihu and Maria (Selleck) Smith, natives of Rutland Co., Vt., born in Avon, Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 25, 1838. Their children, three in number, were born as follows: Cora M., Dec. 24, 1863; Leo J., July 14, 1872; Mabel G., Oct. 18, 1879. Mr. Riggs settled on sec. 33 in the spring of 1861, and in 1866 on his present farm. In 1854 he went to Boston, Mass., where he was employed in a box factory six years, and then went to Jones Co., Iowa, and the next year to Johnson Co., Kan., and after a stay of one year to New York, and subsequently to Gaines, where he worked as a car- penter five years, and since at farming. He is a Republican in politics, and owns 200 acres of valuable land on secs. 31 and 32.

John Ross, a leading fruit-grower of Gaines, was born at Mar- shall, Calhoun Co., April 24, 1845; is a son of Peter and Bridget Ross, natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland, who emigrated to America about 1825,and settled in Marshall. In June, 1848, Mr. Ross, of this sketch, accompanied his parents to Grand Rapids, where his father was a grocer eight years, and then moved to the "Ten Mile Run House," on theplank road, and three years subsequently to Gaines. He has passed most of his life on a farm, receiving his education at the common school, and at Ann Arbor High School. He once commenced the study of medicine, but did not pursue it long. In 1872 he was a grocer at Big Rapids. In 1873 he settled onthe farm he now occupies on sec. 19, containing 120 acres, 30 of whichare in fruit trees. The location of the place is 11 miles from Grand Rapids, on an elevation from which that city is visible. Mr. Ross was married in June, 1872, to Josephine A. Cook, daughter of Orson and Marietta Cook, born in Gaines, Aug. 5, 1845. Mr. Ross is a zealous adherent to the principles of the National party, and is a man of more than ordinary enterprise.

William Ross, son of Peter and Bridget Ross, was born at Grand Rapids, Feb. 27, 1848. Hegrew to manhood in that city and grad- uated at the Grammar School. He was united in marriage Sept. 24, 1876, to Matilda, daughter of Alexander and Catherine Clark. This was the first family of whites that settled in Gaines. Mrs. Ross was born in this tp. March 15, 1851. They have two children -Minnie C., born Sept. 27, 1877, and Frank P., born Sept. 11, 1879. The family are communicants in the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Ross is a National in politics. His farm of 140 acres is situated on secs. 19 and 20, and he is extensively engaged in fruit-growing.

Rodney C. Sessions, a prominent citizen of Gaines, was born in Windsor Co., Vt., Feb. 17, 1824. He is son of Orrin F. and Betsey (Fish) Sessions, natives of Massachusetts. His father died when he was seven years old, and in 1834 he came with his mother to Oakland county, and soon after to Shiawassee county, returning seven years later to Oakland county. In November, 1846, he went to Allegan county, settling in Dorr tp., removing in No- vember, 1847, to his present location on secs. 28 and 29 in Gaines. He taught school three years in that tp. in that early day, and could well be named the "pioneer schoolmaster." He was married

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GAINES TOWNSHIP.

March 16, 1851, to Rosanna, daughter of William and Jane Kelley, born in Middlebury, Wyoming Co .. N. Y., Aug. 17, 1834. They have had three children-F. Hale, born Aug. 24, 1863; Charles R., born Dec. 30, 1851, died Nov. 13, 1853; Eva, born March 24, 1855, died Aug. 24, 1864. In December, 1851, Mr. Sessions made a trip to California in the interests of gold-mining. He returned to his farm in January, 1853. His place contains 200 acres, and is estimated worth $75 per acre. Some years ago he erected a hand- some residence at a cost of $2,000, then the finest frame residence in the tp. Mr. and Mrs. Sessions are both zealous members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Sessions is a radical Republican, and is ranked as one of the most prominent and enterprising citi- zens of Gaines.

Peter Van Lew, one of the oldest and most esteemed pioneers of this tp., was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1803. His father, Frederick F. Van Lew, was born on Long Island, Feb. 5, 1755. He was a patriot of the Revolution and served three years and eight months under Gen. Washington. He died Dec. 31, 1838, aged 84 years. His wife, Penelope Van Lew, was born in New Jersey and died Jan. 18, 1841. They had 12 children, of whom Mr. Van Lew, of this sketch, was the eighth. He began an apprenticeship to the clothier's trade in Lodi, N. Y., at the age of 14, served seven years, and worked at the business 10 years, after which he kept a " tavern " about three and one-half years. He subsequently rented a fulling-mill, carding machine and oil- mill, which he operated four years and then purchased them. Meantime he had signed as security for three men to the amount of $9,000, and by their failure was reduced to poverty. In No- vember, 1845, he came to this county and settled on sec. 31, this tp., where he " took up " 311 acres of Uncle Sam's territory, still in its primitive state, and no road nearer than the " old Kalamazoo stage route." He began anew in the unbroken Michigan forest with little available means. He went to Battle Creek and worked through the harvest season, and with the proceeds of his four weeks' lahor he bought three cows, a yoke of oxen, 10 bushels of wheat, a grain cradle and a dress for his wife. He returned with his riches to his home and family, who had spent the time of his absence in the woods two miles from the nearest neighbors. He worked three harvest seasons at Battle Creek, devoting the re- mainder of the years to the improvement of his farm. He has cleared in all 225 acres of his farm. In 1854 he built a tavern 40 feet wide by 65 feet long and two-stories high. which he continued to run as a hotel until 1876. In the early days Indians were nu- merous and Pete, a famous deer hunter, spent one winter with Mr. Van Lew and kept him supplied with venison. The copper-col- ored ramblers frequently camped on Mr. V.'s farm. He was one of the organizers of the tp. and was elected its first Supervisor, which office he held six successive terms and once since. He was married Dec. 30, 1829, to Anna Couch. She died in April, 1841,

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

leaving three children-Silas H., Oscar G. and Mennaugh. Oscar was born in Lodi, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1834, and was married Aug. 24, 1870, to Mary E., daughter of Caleb and Delilah King, natives of N. Y., born June 4, 1844. Minnaugh was born at Lodi, April 17, 1841, and enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the 126th Reg. N. Y. Vol., Aug. 8, 1862. He was in the engagements at Harper's Ferry (where he was taken prisoner), Auburn Ford, Briston Sta- tion and Gettysburg, where all but 50 of his regiment were killed. He was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. C, 2d U. S. Colored Cav- alry; was wounded in a skirmish at Suffolk, Va., March 9, 1864, and died two days after. Mr. Van Lew was again married June 26, 1842, to Fanny, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Baker, born in Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1810. They had one child -- John, born in Lodi, Sept. 3, 1843. He was married Jan. 21, 1870, to Ellen, daughter of Wm. and Rhoda Barnum, born in Vermont, Dec. 30, 1847. They have three children-Nellie, born Dec. 11, 1871; Chas., born Aug. 6, 1874, and Fanny, born June 30, 1877. Mr. Van Lew has made a division of his estate among his sons and has retired from the burden of toil. He is an advocate of the principles of the National party.

GRATTAN TOWNSHIP.

The history of Grattan township is interesting on account of the moral which it bestows, and the precedents which it has established. Here we find a branch of the Celtic race living under laws which it respects, and under a form of government which it loves. Although the Celtic inhabitants of the township, up to 1848, were adopted citizens of the Republic, there was not one of them who could not boast of having a countryman of the same name and nationality in the ranks of the Revolution, whether on sea or land. From their childhood they could look westward to the horizon and say: " Be- yond are our friends and our destined homes; tyranny has robbed us of all here, save our faith, and our ardent longing for the return of our nationality."

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

Grattan township is one of the eastern tier of towns, and its cen- ter is about 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, and nearly the same distance northwest of Ionia, and is on the State road from Grand Rapids to Ionia. The town has Oakfield township on the north, Ionia township to the east, Vergennes township on the south, and Cannon on the west.

Grattan, in the number and size of its small lakes, is not sur- passed by any town in the county, unless it is Oakfield. There are at least 25 of these, varying in size from 30 to 300 acres each. Some eight or ten of these find a natural outlet through Seeley's creek, the only stream of note in the town, and which empties into Flat river in Ionia county. The town presents considerable inequality of sur- face, and great variety of soil. It has some pine lands, more oak openings, while a considerable portion is heavily timbered. Tama- rack marshes are numerous, but agriculturally it ranks high among the townships of the county.

In 1850 Grattan had about 600 inhabitants, and in 1855 it was assessed at about $187,000. In 1870 we find it with a population numbering 1,297, and appraised for the purposes of taxation at $533,148 in 1875. The population of the township has not increased since 1870, owing principally to the spreading out of the younger members of the community, and the prevailing tendency to possess large farms. The population, as noted in the census returns of 1880, is only 1,238; but the valuation of property is very far in excess of the value in 1875.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

EARLY LAND PURCHASERS.

Among the patentees of the public lands, within this township, the following names appeared :- John Soules, section 13, Aug. 9, 1839; William Devine, section 34, Aug. 9, 1839; Ira Ford, section 35, Aug. 29, 1839; David Ford, section 36, Sept. 9, 1839; Converse Close, sections 10 and 11, April -, 1844; Henry Green, section 13, Oct. 20, 1845; Henry Button, section 21, Oct. 31, 1846; Hiram Proctor, section 24, Dec. 5, 1846; Charles O. Smith, section 17, March 23, 1846; John W. Starkweather, section 14, Nov. 28, 1846; Myron Norton, section 2, July 27, 1846; Charley Francisco, section 27, Feb. 1, 1848; John Ratigan, section 31, Oct. 4, 1848.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

It is difficult to establish the first settlement of this township. As has been shown, William Devine, David and Ira Ford, and John Soules were the first buyers of U. S. lands in Grattan. During the year 1839 Ira and David Ford located in the township and may be named the first settlers, although no improvements were made until 1843, when John McCarthy purchased a tract of land on section 30, and in September of that year raised the first house ever erected in this division of the county. Richard Giles, who settled on section 32, in 1843, built a log house in March, 1844. The same year Luther B. Cook, President of the Grattan Pioneer Association, erected a log house on section 12, this being the first building raised north of Seeley creek. His example was immediately followed by Wm. Smith, his first neighbor, ou section 12; Jared Watkins and Henry Green, on section 13; Converse Close, on section 11; Anthony and Alanson King, on section 1; Volney W. Caulkin, on section 9; Michael Kennedy, on section 19; and William McCarthy, on section 30; William Byrne, Michael Farrell and Dennis McCarthy.

The settlers of 1845 included the following named persons :- John P. Weeks. located on section 25; Orson Nicholson, on section 2; and Anson Green, on section 14.

During the following year Russel Slayton and Dudley Newton located on sections 14 and 17 respectively. Isaac Springer settled on section 15, the same year. Among the other settlers, between 1844 and 1846, were John Sullivan, John Delaney, Edward Mc- Cormick, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Doyle, Morris Scanlan, Alvah Andrews, W. S. Fuller, Leonidas Scranton, Barlow Barton, Edward Bellamy, Nathan Holmes, Sheldon Ashley, Joseph Tower, Solo- mon Tower, John Rogers, Nelson Holmes, Emmons Wood, Milton Watkins, Andrew McDonald, John Brannagan, Joshua Fisk, E. W. Beason, Frank Murphy, S. H. Steele, Wm. C. Stanton, W. Beurman and Thomas J. Morgan.

The first birth within the borders of Grattan was that of James Kennedy, born in September, 1844. Marshall King, son of Alan- son King, was born in December, 1844.

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GRATTAN TOWNSHIP.

The first death of a white inhabitant is said to have taken place about the beginning of October, 1846, when Isaac Springer, a boy of five summers, died, and was buried on the site of the Union school building. Before the close of the winter of 1847-'8, four other members of the Springer family were interred there.

The first marriage in the town occurred July 28, 1844, an Ionia county justice standing just over the line and officiating, while the happy couple were just within the bounds of Kent county. Prof. Everett, in his happy reference to these first nuptials, states that Converse Close and a Grattan girl talked about marrying ; they talked on the subject several times, until they could not see each other without making it their theme, and would ineet specially to talk about it. The upshot of the whole was they concluded to get married. But there was a difficulty in the way, -there was no one near to legalize the deed, and pride forbade them to go away to get married ; or, modern fashion, get married and run. The line of the county was half a mile distant ; beyond that line, in Otisco, lived Esq. Cook ; but out of Ionia county he could not go to marry any one. He met them at the line in the woods, and there -he standing in Ionia county and they in Kent-he made one of the aforetime two-Converse Close and Mary B. l'otter. Like sensible folks, they went to their own cabin. The next day he was cutting down trees, and she was cooking his dinner, mending his pants, and feeding her pigs. They don't live in a log house now ; and they have not got divorced.

The first school was taught by Miss Mary Watkins, daughter of Milton W. Watkins. This lady subsequently married John B. Col- ton, of Grand Rapids. The first district or fractional district school- house was located in Oakfield, on or near the location of the church, in section 36 of that township, and near the northwest corner of section 1, of Grattan. This was erected in 1846, and the school conducted by William Ashley.

In 1847 the first district school-house was erected near the site of Converse Close's dwelling, with Mr. Close as teacher.

Twenty years later the Union building was erected at a cost of $3,000. Asa Slayton was the first principal teacher of that school, inaugurating it in the fall of 1867.

The first church erected was that of St. Patrick's, completed March 4, 1845, on section 32.

The first visiting priest was Rev. Andreas Vizoiski, in June, 1844.

GRATTAN IN 1869.

The following description of this township, said to be written by Mrs. Dillingback, of Grand Rapids, in 1869, is too good to be omitted :

"The surface is quite broken in consequence of its extraordinary network of lakes ; there are no ranges of hills, nor prominent highlands in the town, and its soil is remarkably uniform, adapt-

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

ing it to the mixed husbandry of the country, and especially ren- dering it the best wheat-growing portion of the county. Its wool interests are more than an average, and its productions of hay, corn, oats, potatoes, and neat stock are very fair. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, currants and grapes are a universal success, and much attention is being paid by some to the cultivation and im- provement of choice varieties of fruits. Prominent among these stands Asa W. Slayton, and it well repays a lover of rural beauty, and horticultural enterprise, and success, to visit his pleasant and tasteful home, situated on section 22, south of the Grand Rapids and Ionia State road.

"Formerly considerable attention was paid to the raising of hops, and some years the returns for this crop reached as high as $10,000, but the reduction of prices has ruined the hop interest here, as in many other places.

"Mainly, the town is heavily wooded with oak and hickory, but sections 25 and 36, and a portion of sections 5 and 35, are rich timber lands.

"There are no less than 24 lakes in this town, covering an area. of from 36 to 300 acres each, besides a host of smaller lakes or ponds ; but six demand special notice. Nagle's, or Murray's lake,. lies on sections 33 and 34 in Grattan, and extending more than half across section 4 in Vergennes, is the largest of these, and is remarkable for its peculiar shape, being nearly divided in two by a long, narrow promontory of land owned by Mr. W. Fullington. Crooked lake, lying on sections 20, 21 and 29, is one mile long, quite irregular in shape, and is noted for its islands. Round lake, a pretty sheet of water, on section 21, is one-half mile long, and about the same in width, and contains about 80 acres. This lake and Crooked lake discharge their waters through Seely creek into Flat river. Slayton lake is another small but beautiful sheet of water, lying on section 23. It takes its name from one of the early settlers whose residence is near its shore. Muskrat lake, on sec- tions 4, 5, 8 and 9, is one mile and a half long, and about one- fourth of a mile wide, on the average. It contains about 230 acres, and is bountifully stocked with fish. The kinds caught in it are black, rock and silver bass, pickerel and muskelonge. Pine Island lake, lying on sections 3 and 10, one mile and a quarter long, and three-eights of a mile wide, is the most beautiful of them all. Pine island, from which the lake takes its name, lies on its bosom like a gem on the wave. The far sweeping lake with its picturesque shores and forest-crowned isle, as seen from the home of Converse Close, near it, fixes the gaze of the beholder like some enchanted scene, of which we sometimes dream.

"Grattan has no water course of any note, except Seely's creek, the outlet of nine of its principal lakes. It is an insignificant stream, averaging no more than two rods wide, yet, with its numer- ous and inexhaustible fountains, supplying water-power sufficient for three grist-mills and one saw-mill, in its short course of half a dozen miles. It takes its rise in a small lake on section 15, just

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GRATTAN TOWNSHIP.

north of the State road, three-fourths of a mile east of Grattan Center, running north one and one-quarter miles, through Pine Island lake, west one and one-quarter miles through Muskrat lake, south-east one and one-quarter miles through Wolf lake, where it appears as a small stream, running thence due east, passing within 60 rods of its source, and debouching in Flat river, at the village of Smyrna, in Ionia county. It was named after Munson Seely, a young hunter, who in early days camped upon its banks and pur- sued the chase through its adjacent forests.

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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 74

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