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 81

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 81

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" Having examined the locality, I located a tract of land on the west bank of the river, about two miles below the village. In the course of a year a hundred acres were partially cleared, 40 acres sown under wheat, and the entire clearing well fenced. The winter of 1842-'3 was an uncommonly severe one. The snow began fall- ing about Nov. 15, and remained until April 17. During this terrible winter the supply of food for man and beast was en- tirely inadequate. Teams were dispatched south for grain, pork and straw, taking landplaster and shingles to pay for the articles required; but despite the utmost exertion, large numbers of cattle perished for want of food and shelter. The present generation has. but little conception of the sufferings and privations of those who preceded them in settling the valley of the Grand river.

" Mr. Green committed suicide the same winter.

"Between my land and the village of Grand Rapids, was a set- tlement of Ottawa Indians. They had been converted to the Christian faith, and were in charge of a Hungarian missionary father, named Vizoiski. In his little chapel, this worthy man preached four times every Sunday, together with offering up the mass once or twice. His sermons were delivered in five different languages-English, French, German, Ottawaian and Otchipwe.".

In October of each year the Michigan Indians of this district were accustomed to assemble at the Rapids to receive their annual payment, provided for in the treaty which abolished their rights in the land north of Grand river. Those meetings were lively and exciting; the Indians brought their squaws and pappooses; some rode on ponies, while others came in large bark canoes, bringing with them such articles as maple sugar, mats, gloves, embroidered

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

moccasins, which they traded for articles sold by the whites. The coin paid by the Government was the object of earnest attention. It was almost immediately expended by the Indians in purchasing what they required of the settlers, and actually constituted all the money that was seen in the settlement from year to year. In 1850 a geological survey of this property was made, which resulted in finding a gypseous stratum, in every way equal to that worked on the east side of the river. The same year a "plaster-mill was erected, and the first plaster manufactory established on the north- western bank of the river. Six years later the lands, quarries and mill were sold to the Boston Company for $35,000.

W. N. Cook built the first buggy ever built in the valley, for E. B. Bostwick, in 1842-3. Another one, built afterward for Bost- wick, was sold by him to Antoine Campau, and is still in his fam- ily. Mr. Cook made the elliptic steel springs, bolts, woodwork and everything connected with the vehicles. Bostwick sold this buggy to Jeff. Morrison, who in turn sold it to a settler on Gull Prairie, after he had convinced the buyer that the iron work was not cast. This was so well and neatly done, that it resembled casting. The third buggy ever made here was manufactured by Jerry O'Flynn. Evans bought the frame from O'Flynn, and had it ironed by W. N. Cook. The shop stood at the corner of Louis and Waterloo streets, below the Eagle Hotel.

Elizabeth Lee Platt, daughter of Doctor Platt, aged 10 years, died at Grand Rapids, Feb. 9, 1843. The first meeting of the bar of Kent county was held March 6, 1843, to pass resolutions of con- dolence in the case of Luther Beebe, deceased. Lovell Moore, C. P. Calkins, T. B. Church, George Martin, John Ball and other members of the bar were present. A meeting to encourage educa- tion was held at the court-house, March 27, 1843, with Daniel Ball as Chairman and W. A. Richmond as Secretary. The steamboat " Paragon," sailed down Grand river, April 18, 1843, making the first trip of the season.

" The machinery for a woolen factory was introduced into Grand Rapids by Stephen Hinsdill, in September. 1843.

" The Democratic Representative Convention was held at Grand Rapids Oct. 25, 1843. W. D. Foster and W. O. Lyon represented Grand Rapids ; Roswell Britton and W. R. Goodwin, Byron ; J. A. Davis and D. W. Shoemaker, Paris ; John Almy and H. Hun- ter, Plainfield ; Eliab Walker and J. M. Fox, Vergennes ; P. Mc- Naughton and F. B. Thompson, Caledonia ; Rix Robinson and N. Robinson, Ada. Ottawa county sent delegates also. John Almy presided, with E. J. Bacon and D. W. Shoemaker, Secretaries.

The celebration of July 4, 1844, was carried out under the super- vision of John Almy, President of the day, with Col. A. Roberts, Col. N. Hathaway, George Coggeshall, and Lovell Moore, Vice- Presidents. The Kent County Vigilance Committee, of 1844, com- prised C. H. Taylor, Robert Hilton, Roswell Britton, N. Shoe- maker, Nelson Robinson, Peter McNaughton, Rodney Robinson, Henry C. Smith and Philo Beers.

E. M. Holmes

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

" The first house-a wooden structure-stood close by the new stone church of St. Andrew or Richard Godfroy's house, and here the Rev. Mr. Vizoiski, the assistant priest, Rev. Lawrence Kilroy with his aged mother and young sister dwelt. On the morning of Jan. 14, 1850, the pastor realized the fact that this house was on fire and instantly rushed around giving the alarm. The two priests were under the impression that the mother and sister of one of them had heard the aların, and sought a place of refuge in some neigh- boring house ; but the impression was erroneous ; for when the debris was cooled, a search resulted in the discovery of their charred bodies. Miss Kilroy could have escaped easily, but she returned to rescue her mother, and being unable to do so, perished with her. At this period there was no fire department actually organ- ized ; W. N. Cook was the first to ring the alarm. This terrible sacrifice of two human beings, had, however, the effect of conclud- ing negotiations for the purchase of the fire-engine, by the village,

and the perfect organization of two or three fire companies. The

records of the Church were destroyed. The new church then being finished was all the people could save, and this they accomplished. Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Dr. Shepard and other ladies formed in the line to the river, carrying pails of water for the use of the engine.

" When Rev. Mr. De Kunick came to take charge of the Catholic mission in 1850, he made an effort to obtain particulars necessary to enable him to compile a record such as that which was begun by Rev. Frederick Baraga, continued by Father Vizoiski, and destroyed in the fire of 1850. He learned that there were 1,000 names on the baptismal register, 80 on the marriage record, and 60 on the record of deaths. When he arrived, there were 160 Catholic fam- ilies in the city, made up of all nationalities, and to each section of this congregation the great Hungarian priest was accustomed to preach in his own language."

The little steamer, " Hummingbird," was wrecked by a boiler ex- plosion, just below Grand Rapids, Aug. 30, 1854. That was a hot day, too, the thermometer crowding 100 degrees. In 1854 August closed and September began with torrid heat in the Northwest. Chicago was burying 20 or 30 cholera victims daily, nor did Grand- ville escape: three sufferers were buried within a few days.

The drainage of 400 acres of ague-producing lands, lying along the western boundary line of the city, was effected, in 1874-'5, by the construction of a dyke, three miles in length and six feet deep. The cost of this very necessary public work was $10,000, of which sum the inhabitants of the 6th, 7th and 8th wards paid $9,000 and the town of Walker $1,000.

The massive building, known as Sweet's Hotel, was raised four feet and one inch in 1874. The work was undertaken by Coughlan & Hollingsworth, of Chicago. The preparations occupied 25 days, but the actual raising of this brick structure occupied only 36 hours. The contractors had 217 men at the screws, under 12 super- intendents.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

The aggregate cost of buildings erected in the city of Grand Rapids during the year ending Oct. 1, 1874, was $1,312,695. The works completed that year under contract with the Board of Pub- lic Works cost $120,000.

July 4, 1876, Grand Rapids celebrated the centennial of Ameri- can independence in an imposing manner. The Mayor, IIon. P. R. L. Pierce, and a large number of representative citizens, regu- larly organized, devised a grand program and executed it with great success. A procession was had, with music, banners, etc,. an immense attendance was in the city, and an oration was delivered by Thomas B. Church.

The city was first lighted by the Brush electric light June 18, 1881. The electric light tower on Prospect Hill was completed in July, 1881. The tower is 200 feet above the level of Canal street. The company proposes to demonstrate its ability to light the city by the tower system, and then make a proposition to the common council. It is thought that five towers, three on the east side and two on the west side, will 1 ght nearly the entire city, and enable it to dispense wholly with the use of gas and naphtha, except, perhaps, a few lamps of the latter in remote parts of the city. At the time of writing it is uncertain what action the common council will take in the matter. A half-dozen electric lamps on Monroe and Canal streets light these great thoroughfares at present. Many of the business houses use this light in preference to all others; yet it is very questionable whether even a great improvement on the system of electric lighting, as now known, would. justify the abolition of the old and faithful gas-light.

The Saengerfest, or musical festival, Ang. 22-25, 1881, at Grand Rapids, was a success in every feature. The Saenger Hall, opposite the Democrat office, on Lyon street, was erected for this great af- fair. The total receipts were $10,632, and the expenses $11,550. The deficit is small compared with the value of the hall. On the last day but one of this festival, the fifth annual convention of the Peninsular Saengerbund was held.

FROM TONGUE TO TONGUE.

Sept. 12, 1881, the people of Grand Rapids could stand in their own homes and offices and talk with their neighbors in Grand Haven or Muskegon, or at intermediate points, as readily as though in the same room with them. The work of connecting the telephone exchanges of the three cities was completed and open for business that day. The telephones worked admirably, every word and syllable being as distinct as though a few feet, instead of 35 miles, divided the speakers. In using the phones for long range talking, however, the speaker must place his mouth quite close to the transmitter, and talk low and distinct. Then there will be no trouble. The line to Muskegon works equally as well as to Grand Haven. In fact Detroit talks with perfect ease, now, with Port

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

Huron, 70 miles distant; hence there is no doubt of the extension of the connections so auspiciously begun in Western Michigan, in the near future, and that soon we will be within hailing distance of all our neighbors for 100 miles roundabout.

The tariff adopted, as stated by Manager Watson of the Exchange here, was: between this city and Muskegon, Grand Haven or Spring Lake, 25 cents; to Eastmanville, 20 cents, or to Damont or Wolf's Mill, 15 cents per "message."

A CITY IN MOURNING.

Memorial day, Sept. 26, 1881, in respect to President Garfield, was generally observed in the city. The day broke forth cloudy, but soon cleared off and the weather was quite warm. Early in the morning people began to congregate on the streets to see and to be seen. It was a mournful holiday to the workingman. All the shops and business houses were closed, and everything had the appearance of Sunday. At the hotels were knots of persons talk- ing about the character and life of the dead President. Business of all kinds was cast aside and the day given up to prayer, etc.

At one o'clock the memorial procession formed at the corner of Bridge and Canal streets, and marched slowly up Canal and Mon- roe streets to Fulton street park, where the final exercises were held.

Following close in the rear of the procession came several hun- dred citizens on foot and in carriages. All along the line of march the sidewalks and windows of buildings were crowded with people. As the procession moved along, the bands playing a dirge, it pre- sented a mournful aspect. In many instances people were moved to tears.

An immense crowd had collected to listen to the closing exercises of the day in the park. Upon arrival Col. A. T. Mc Reynolds ad- dressed the vast assembly of mourners in a few well chosen words and announced the order of exercises. First the band played a dirge, then came a prayer by the Rev. H. M. Joy .. After the prayer came a selection by the Glee Club, after which Charles W. Watkins, the orator of the day, delivered an oration. After his re- marks came an instrumental and vocal selection by the Glee Club and band, " America." The exercises closed with a benediction by the Rev. B. F. Sargent, and the crowd dispersed.

The Saenger Hall, with a capacity of 3,000, was filled to the ut- most limit in the evening, long before 7:30-the hour for begin- ning the memorial exercises. The arrangements for seating the vast audience were excellent, a detail of a dozen or so members of the G. A. R., in uniform and with appropriate badges, acted as ushers. The stage was draped with mourning emblems, inter- mingled with the stars and stripes, and prominent in the back- ground was a portrait of President Garfield, appropriately draped, while above the portrait was a wreath of white flowers. The front

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

of the stage was bordered completely by a great variety of green- house plants. The hall itself was festooned throughout with black and white mourning tokens. Previous to the formal opening of the meeting a funeral dirge was rendered by the National Cornet Band, to which the audience listened in impressive silence.

Dr. G. K. Johnson presided. The choir comprised the follow- ing named vocalists: Mesdames Eddy , Davis, Calkins, Shedd, Wilson, Patten and Merrill; Misses Renihan, Utley and Davis; Messrs. Shepard, Thompson, Herrick, Davis, Pulcher, Kramer, Utley, Herkner, Pantlind, Thompson and Fairchild.

At the conclusion of the singing President Johnson introduced the orator of the evening, Sylvester Larned, of Detroit, who delivered an address on the life and times of James A. Garfield. The stores and public buildings of the city were draped in mourn- ing colors. Nowhere was the memorial day observed with greater interest than in the city of Grand Rapids.

FIRST PLATS OF THE VILLAGE.

The village of Grand Rapids was platted by C. Barnes, Surveyor, for Toussaint Campau, Aug. 28, 1833, and recorded in the office of S. Vickory, Register of Kalamazoo county, Nov. 7, 1833. It was situate on the south half of the northeast fractional quarter of sec- tion 25, township 7 north, range 12 west. A plat of an addition was recorded June 6, 1835, extending north from Fulton street, and embracing the public square. The first plat extended south from a point two chains in the rear of the north side of Pearl street, or the division line between the Campau and Lyon properties, to Ful- ton street, or the line between the property of Campau and Hast- ings and Daniels. The addition made by Campau in 1835 extends south from the rear of lots on the north side of Fountain street, 106 feet deep, to the center of the public square, or the line be- tween Campau and Daniels' property. . The first platting com- prised Pearl street from theriver to Division street ; Monroe, from a point near the river on Pearl, to Division ; Fountain, from Jus- tice, now Ottawa street, eastward to Division ; Greenwich, now Ionia street, from Fulton to Pearl ; Justice, now Ottawa, from - Fulton to Pearl ; Waterloo, from Spring river at Fulton street, to Monroe ; Louis street, running parallel with Monroe, from the river to Fulton ; Ferry street, from the river to Fulton, and Division street, from Fulton to the alley north of Pearl. Fulton street formed the southern limits. Two islands ex- isted between the points comprised in the line between Grand Rapids and Kent, and the southwestern line of Ferry street, which may now be called a portion of the city. Those islands, with Spring river, have disappeared before the march of improvement. The addition made by Toussaint Campau, in 1835, extended east from Division to a point 250 feet east of Ransom street, or the division line between the Campau and the Frost and Hatch prop- erties, and from Fountain to a line drawn through the center of

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

the public square. The streets were one chain in width, Monroe street alone being one and one-quarter chains wide. The regular lots were one by two chains in area.

The plat of the village of Kent was recorded at Kalamazoo, Feb. 3, 1836. The district then platted extended from the river east to a line running north from Ransom street, named in the Campau village, and comprised the streets known as Cold Brook, Walbridge, Mason, Newberry, Fairbanks, Trowbridge, Hastings, Bridge, Bronson and Lyon streets, running east and west ; Canal, Kent, Ottawa (a continuation of old Justice street), Ionia (a con- tinuation of old Greenwich street), North Division, North Bostwick, North Ransom, Clinton, Livingstone and Coit streets, running north and south. Immediately north of Lyon street and west of Canal, the streets now known as Mill, Lock and Bank, running north, and the streets Huron, Erie, and the western extension of Bridge, run- ning west, were subsequently opened.

The district south from Fulton street to Ellsworth street, and east from Water to Division street, was platted in 1836, by Lyon and Sergeant, as a portion of the Kent plat. The same year the property of Sheldon and Daniels, from the center of the public square south to Ellsworth street, and from Division street east to Jefferson, was platted, comprising 21 blocks.

Scribner and Turner's addition was platted in December, 1847. It extends north from Bridge street along the river to Seventh street.

Morrison's addition was platted in June, 1848, for Jefferson Morrison. It comprised the tract of land south of Morrison street, between Caroline or LaFayette and South streets. His second addition was made in April, 1851.

These, with the following additions, now constitute the city of Grand Rapids :

J. D. Harrington surveyed the Drew & Brown addition in 1857. It extended from Carrier street south to the dividing line between the Coit and Curtiss partition plat, and east from North avenue to Union street.

A. L. & Lewis B Chubb's addition was platted in June, 1860, comprising the district on the west side from the river, known as Olive, Curtis and Water streets, extending south from Earl to Baldwin streets.

The Grant addition was platted in June, 1856, for Mary B. Grant, John McConnell, Francis Prescott, Antoine Campau and William Pruesser. It comprised the district south from Wealthy avenue to Withey street, now 5th avenue, and west from Division to Grandville avenue.

Ellsworth's addition was platted by W. L. Coffinberry in June, 1857. It comprises the district between the river and Division street, and Wealthy avenue and Ellsworth, now Cherry street.

J. F. Chubb's addition was surveyed by K. S. Pettibone in June, 1861, extending from the river west to Turner street, and south one block from Leonard street.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Blakeley's addition, from Blakeley avenue south to Pleasant street, and from Division east to Jefferson avenue,'was surveyed by W. L. Coffinberry in May, 1861.

Antoine Campau's subdivision of the west half of southwest quarter of section 31, township 7 north, range 11 west, was platted Sept. 17, 1835. It included 22 lots between Fifth street on the north, Hall street on the south, Division on the west, and Campau on the east.

K. S. Pettibone platted an addition Aug. 23, 1856, extending west from St. James' Catholic church property to Lane avenue, and north from Bridge street west to the lane south of Second street.

L. Fitch's addition was made in March, 1859. It comprises the angle formed by Bridge and Stocking streets.

Taylor's addition was platted by John Almy April 10, 1856. It included 12 lots east of Buchanan street and west of Division street, and 14 lots south of the property of W. H. Withey and Charles H. Taylor.

Coit's addition, surveyed by John Almy in June, 1856, for D. W. Coit, Joshua Coit, G. K. Johnson and John Clancy, comprised the east half of southwest quarter of section 19, township 7 north, range 11 west, from Fairbanks south to Bridge street, and from Coit avenue to North avenue.

Stewart & Ives platted the land extending from Sweet to Leon- ard street, and east from North avenue to Belle avenue, in Septem- ber. 1857.

Remington's addition was surveyed by W. L. Coffinberry in 1866. It comprised eight blocks lying south of Wealthy avenue and east of Union street.

Hoyt's addition was platted in September, 1866. It comprised 25 lots on the west side of Paris avenue.

George Campau's, two blocks south of Withey, east of Campau street and west of Charlotte street, was platted in May, 1856.

Shepard's addition, as platted in 1856, extends from North Will- iam street to Washington, and east from West street to Straight street.

Holbrook's addition, from East street to Union street, and from Wealthy avenue to Thornapple street, was platted by W. L. Coffin- berry for H. B. Holbrook in May, 1857.

Kendall's addition, platted by W. L. Coffinberry in October, 1850, for Geo. Kendall, W. W. Hatch, E. W. Davis, L. Buell, John Matheson, F. H. Cumming, B. F. Summers, Lewis Porter. Nelson Davis and Hannah Davis. The district platted included the land lying between Bronson and Fulton streets, 124 feet west of Barclay to 98 feet east of Prospect. Kendall's second addition was made in April, 1867.

Withey's addition, made in 1868, comprised the district bounded by Division, Pleasant, Penny and Withey streets.

Coit & Co.'s addition of 18 lots was platted in October, 1868. It

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is bounded by Coit avenue, Fairbanks, Clancy and Trowbridge streets.

Barclay & Robinson's addition, north of Fulton street and west of Diamond, was made in December, 1368. This is in the town of Grand Rapids, just outside the city limits. This tract was in- cluded in the half-mile strip once added to the city.

Wm. A. Richmond's addition was platted in October, 1850, by W. L. Coffinberry.

Coit and Curtis' addition was platted November, 1855, by E. C. Martin.

The Converse addition was surveyed by John Almy, October, 1856, for J. W. Converse.

Leonard & Co.'s addition was platted by K. S. Pettibone in June, 1859.

L. G. Mason & Co.'s plat was made Oct. 24, 1868, by K. S. Petti- bone.

Ichabod L. Quimby's addition was platted Nov. 30, 1868, by John F. Tinkham.

The names of the owners of plats, date of platting, and names of surveyors connected with the several additions to the city, made since 1868, are given below; the name of the owner being given first, and that of the surveyor last:

Harvey J. Hollister, Truman H. Lyman, jr., Geo. R. Roberts, Wm. D. Roberts, Abram W. Pike and Leonard H. Randall; Island addition, on Islands Nos. 1 and 2; July 10; John F. Tinkham.

Nathan J. Aiken, July 19, 1872; Wright L. Coffinberry, C. E.

Carlos A. Abel, April 16, 1869; W. L. Coffinberry, C. E.

Alpheus and Melville Bissell, July 23, 1872; W. L. Coffinberry, C. E.

Dennis W. Bryan and Byron D. Ball, Sept. 30, 1869; Emory W. Muenscher.

Lewis Porter, Aug. 19, 1869; W. L. Coffinberry, C. E.

Coit & Co.'s (William H. DeCamp), Oct. 26, 1869; John F. Tinkham.

James H. Brown, April 18, 1870; K. S Pettibone.

Charles B. Smith, April 9, 1870; E. W. Muenscher.

Ransom E. Ward, April 30, 1870; E. W. Muenscher.

Ocenas Van Buren and Hannah M. Turner, Dec. 11, 1855; Robert S. Innes.

Elisha M. Adams, July 13, 1870; K. S. Pettibone.

S. Holcomb and J. Butler's, July 11, 1870; K. S. Pettibone.

Frederick W. Tusch, Aug. 15, 1872, Delong Gunnison, June 21, 1870; E. W. Muenscher, C. E.

George Lamparter, Aug. 19, 1872; K. S. Pettibone, C. E.

Antoine Campau, May 30, 1870; John F. Tinkham, C. E.

Timothy I. Tanner, Aug. 3, 1870; E. W. Muenscher, C. E.

Johanes H. Bruner, Aug. 27, 1870; E. W. Muenscher, C. E.

John F. Chubb, Jan. 14, 1871; E. W. Muenscher.

Marcus W. Bates, Dec. 7, 1870; E. W. Muenscher.

G. M. Barker, Aug. 5, 18:0; K S. Pettibone. John Clancy, April 27, 1871; W. L. Coffinberry.

Peter Tregent, April 6, 1871; K. S. Pettibone. Johanna King, April 18, 1871; W. L. Coffinberry .

Daniel W. Coit, April 8, 1871 ; John F. Tinkham.

W. F. Capen, June 23, 1871 ; W. L. Coffinberry. Charles H. Southwick, May 23, 1871; W. L. Coffin berry. Daniel E. Corbit, Oct. 15, 1870; E. R. Porter.

Charles W. Coit, June 29, 1871; E. W. Muenscher. Willis Whipple, July 26, 1871 ; E. W. Mueascher. Theodore F. Richards, Aug. 19, 1871 ; K. S. Pettibone.

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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 81

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