USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 19
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WILLIAM KIESEWALTER is a native of Germany, and came to this country in 1862. He first came to Ludington, but remained only a short time and then went away. In 1857 he returned and put up a frame building on Ludington Avenue, in which he started in the grocery business. In the fire of June, 1881, he was burned out, but immediately built a substantial brick building and filled it with a larger stock than ever, and is doing an excellent business. Mr. Kiesewalter has been a successful business man. Beginning with but little capital, he has by industry and good management accu- mulated a handsome property, and stands high in business circles.
WALLACE W. REED is a native of New York State, and in 1878 came to Ludington from Holly, Mich. It was during that year that Ludington was incorporated as a city and was growing very rapidly. Mr. Reed engaged in the real estate business, which he continued until April, 1882; he then fitted up a building near the post- office on Charles Street and opened a sample room and liquor store,
where he keeps a large stock of the very choicest goods that the market affords.
ROBERT FAIRBANKS is a native of New York State, and came to Ludington in 1871. He learned the blacksmith trade when a young man, and has followed it to the present time. Since Sep- tember, 1881, he has been in charge of the blacksmith shop at P. Ewing's wagon works. Mr. Fairbanks is a good citizen and an industrious and skilful workman.
CHARLES BOERNER, of the firm of Tiedeman & Boerner, contractors and builders, is a native of Germany, and came to this country in 1868. He first went to Wisconsin and learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1868 came to Ludington and went at work as con- tractor and builder. In 1874 he went into company with Mr. Tiede- man, and the firm has continued to the present time, and has done a very extensive and prosperous business. The present season they have completed the new Lutheran Church and several other build- ings in the city.
HENRY NEUMANN is a native of Germany, and came to this country in 1859. He located at Saginaw, and in 1864 enlisted in the service with the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry and served until the close of the war in 1865. In 1875 he came to Ludington and opened a large saloon and restaurant on Ludington Avenue. Soon after coming here he induced several Germans to join him in organizing the " German Aid Society," of which he is still the president.
A. VOGEL is a native of Germany, and came to this country in 1866. He first located in Pennsylvania and was foreman in a brewery. From Pennsylvania he came to Pentwater, where he was also foreman in a brewery. In 1877 he came to Ludington and started a brewery near where the fair grounds are located. He continued in business for a time, but finally converted his build- ings into a warehouse and took the agency for Blatz and Best's Milwaukee beer. The beer is shipped here and stored in Mr. Vogel's warehouse, and then distributed among his customers. His business amounts to about $20,000 annually.
ANTON HERGESELL was born in Germany, July 25, 1820. In 1866 he came to this country and for a time worked in a flouring mill in Milwaukee. In 1871 he came to Ludington and worked one year in a flouring mill. In 1878 he bought two lots in the Fourth Ward, cleared away the trees and stumps and erected a substantial building which he has since occupied as a residence and saloon.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Very much of the history of the townships has already been given in the general history of Mason County, and it only remains to trace the township organizations and notice a few matters local to each.
The agricultural resources of the county have not been de- veloped as rapidly as in many other counties, for reasons already explained, but at the present time the land from which the timber has been cleared is being rapidly taken up for agricultural pur- poses. Large fruit orchards are being planted, and in a short time this county will take a front rank among the fruit counties of Michigan.
We take up the townships in the order in which they were organized.
RESOUNDING TITLES.
That the progenitors of the township organizations were a patriotic and liberty-loving people is evident in the group of historic names which the county presents. In the three original townships, the choice of Pere Marquette as a name for one of them was made arbitrary as well as desirable by the historic associations which clustered about a portion of its territory. Little Sable was a nat- ural namesake of the river that coursed through that township, but the godfathers of the remaining township, unhampered by local requirements, invoked the inspiration of the time in which they lived and gave to it the suggestive name of "Free Soil." Then, in 1867, three other townships came into existence, and their advent was at a time when "Victory" was freshly written upon our national banner, and associated with it were the names of Grant and Sherman. Nothing was more natural than that these names should be selected. And then a mighty volume of memorable history was commemorated in the names of four townships whose corners touched-Free Soil, Victory, Grant and Sherman clasping hands in a common brother- hood of historic associations. At a later day came Custer Township, named with equal propriety.
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP.
The township of Pere Marquette is one of the three original townships erected by the act of Legislature under which Mason County was organized. The township comprised Townships 17, north of Range 15 west; 18, north of Range 15 west; 17, north of Range 16 west; 18, north of Range 16 west; 17, north of Range 17 west; 18, north of Range 17 west; 17, north of Range 18 west; 18, north of Range 18 west, except that part of 18 north of Range 17 west and 18 north of Range 18 west in Little Sable. The first township meeting was held at the house of Burr Caswell. The first supervisor was Burr Caswell. The apportionment for this township of the first tax was $494.84.
The history of this township is mostly told in connection with that of the county and of the city of Ludington.
This, of all the townships in the county, is the one associated
with so much of historic interest. It was in its soil that the grave of the great missionary was made. It was here the Indian village was located, and the braves of the older days were buried. It was here in a later day that the first white settler of the county located and planted the germs of a civilization that has been so fruitful of rich results. This township is still the home of Hatfield, Phillips and Holmes, who came before Mason County had an existence. It has a considerable number of excellent farms and fruit orchards. Along what is known as the "Clay Banks" is a tract of clay soil and very productive. It was here that the first farms in the county were located.
A well-known pioneer of Pere Marquette Township and of Mason County, who still lives upon a superb farm in this township, 18
RICHARD HATFIELD.
Richard Hatfield, one of the sturdy pioneers of Mason County, was born at Guilon, Wayne Co., N. Y., July 15, 1826. His parents were natives of Massachusetts. When about fourteen years of age Richard began driving on the Erie Canal, and continued that occu- pation for three seasons. He was then employed as steersman, and in the Winter season followed hunting and trapping in Ohio. He ran on a freight packet out of Buffalo for one season, and the follow - ing Winter spent at hunting.
In the Fall of 1850 he hired out to come to Pere Marquette to work about the mill. He landed at Pere Marquette the 19th of November, 1850, and worked through the Winter-driving team most of the time. The following Summer he spent boating on the Erie Canal, but returned here in the Fall, and that Winter he hunted and trapped. He also made several trips to Muskegon on foot, and brought back packs of goods to sell to the Indians. November 12, 1854, he was married to Miss Mary Caswell, daughter of Burr Caswell, who settled here in 1847. Mr. Hatfield had boarded at Mr. Caswell's, and worked some on his farm. In 1855 he bought eighty acres of land, at 75 cents an acre. The land was covered with an Indian "sugar bush," and the first time he saw the tract was when he went to see the Indians make sugar. In October, 1855, he put up a log house, sixteen by eighteen feet, and began keeping house. He continued hunting and trapping during the Winter season until 1873. In 1870 he began a new frame house, which was finished in 1872. He was a great worker, and rapidly improved his farm, setting out fruit-trees, and in a short time he became noted for the excellence and abundance of his fruit. Four- teen children were born to them, five of whom are still living. Mrs. Hatfield died in May, 1882. She was a most excellent woman, and in their pioneer life had been a help-mate in the truest sense.
Mr. Hatfield still lives upon the farm he first purchased. It is situated in Pere Marquette Township, and is one of the best farms in the county. He is still a man of great vigor, and is authority upon all matters of early history relating to this region. For many years he kept a diary of events, and possessing a clear and retentive mem- | ory, he is a complete encyclopedia of record and reminiscence.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
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ALEXANDER M. AGENS was born in Newark, N. J., August 26, 1826; settled in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1864; in the boot and shoe business for three years. In 1867 he made Mason County his home, and now lives on Section 3, Pere Marquette Township, on the lake shore, at an elevation of some 300 feet above the lake. Fine fruit land abounds in this locality, and he is quite entensively engaged in cultivating different varieties. Has been township clerk for ten years. Married, September 3, 1850, Georgiana Denn, who was born in Essex County, N. Y., July 25, 1828, and died October 17, 1878. Three children, Monroe A., Martin L., Cornelia F., who died in 1875.
F. S. BOOTH was born in Ohio, January 7, 1833. His father settled in LaGrange County, Ind., in 1841. Married, April 17, 1858, Hannah D. Perkins, who was born June 21, 1835. They settled in Pere Marquette Township, Mason County, in 1878, since which he has been supervisor two years and township treasurer.
J. F. PHILLIPS was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., April 3, 1814; moved to Kane County, Ill., in 1839, remaining till 1849, when he settled at Ludington, Mason Co., and engaged as head sawyer and filer; was among the first in that locality. He was em- ployed in different capacities till 1859, when he settled on his present home, on Section 3, Pere Marquette, which he had pur- chased as early as 1852. He has been sheriff of the county two terms, township supervisor and other township offices. Married, November 19, 1887, Almanza Hewett, who was born November 6, 1819. They are perhaps the largest couple in the county, together weighing fully 550 pounds. One living child, Mrs. Dorleska Hull, born February 12, 1840.
This township is bounded on the north by Lincoln and Amber: on the east by Lincoln, Amber and Riverton; on the south by Summit, and on the west by Lake Michigan.
The Pere Marquette River runs north-westerly through the town- ship until it empties into the lake of the same name. Upon the north shore of this lake and in the northwest corner of the town- ship is the city of Ludington. There are two schoolhouses in the township outside the city of Ludington. It was just south of the lake in this township that the county`seat was located until its removal to Lincoln.
The population of the township in 1880 was 516, and the total vote 109.
The present supervisor is J. P. Swanson, and J. E. Campbell is township clerk.
FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP.
The township of Free Soil is one of the three original townships erected at the time Mason County was organized. It comprised all of the county lying north of the division line between Townships 19 and 20 north. The first township meeting was held at the house of Charles Freeman, at Free Soil mills, in the Spring of 1855.
The population of the township in 1880 was 318, and the total vote ninety-five.
One of the earliest settlers in this township was Mr. S. K. Hutchin- son. He was born in the state of New Hampshire in 1796. At an early age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed through life. From New Hampshire he went to Vermont, where, in 1818, he was married. From Vermont he went to Rochester, N. Y., where his wife died, June 3, 1848. In 1855, with his two young daughters, then at home, he came West and settled in the township of Free Soil, and was a resident of this county until his death, which occurred June 8, 1876, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George
Tripp, in Ludington. He was a man of exemplary habits, and he was greatly esteemed by all who knew him.
In September, 1870, a resident of Free Soil wrote .o the Lud- ington Herald about the township as follows:
"Though located in the extreme northeastern portion of the county, we have as fine a country, as fruitful a soil, and as honest, industrious citizens as can be found in any part of our county. A large portion of our township is heavily timbered with beech and maple, while in the northeast portion there are some fine tracts of pine, and along the streams are found a variety of other timber. Owing to the large amount of railroad lands in our county, which, until quite recently have been excluded from market, our township, like many other portions of the county, is yet sparsely settled, but its agricultural resources are being rapidly developed. We have as rich and fertile a soil as can be found in this or any other state. In proof of this fact the evidence is at hand, though the dry weather of the present season has been somewhat unfavorable to a portion of late crops. Farmers in this vicinity have all threshed their wheat, which yielded on an average from twenty-five to forty bushels per acre.
* * * We advise every one taking up a new farm to make it one of the first points to set out an orchard, which will soon become one of the most productive sources of profit on the farm."
The "Free Methodists" have a class, and have held religious services in "Riter's" schoolhouse since 1880. Their present pastor is Rev. L. T. Jackson.
The Methodist Episcopal Society also hold religious services in the schoolhouse, there being no church edifice.
The present supervisor is J. Edwin Smith, and the town clerk is Wayland Hastings.
Free Soil is bounded on the north by Manistee County; on the east by Lake County; on the south by Sherman, and on the west by Grant. The Manistee branch of the F. & P. M. R. R. runs through the western portion of the township, in a northwesterly direction.
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.
The township of Summit was the first township erected by the board of supervisors of Mason County. At a meeting in December, 1859, it was voted that Town 17 north, of Range 18 west, except Sections 1, 2 and 3, and Town 17 north, of Range 17 west, except Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, from the present township of Pere Marquette, be organized into a new township, to be called Summit. The first township meeting was held the first Monday in April, 1860, at the house of William Quevillon. George A. Caswell, Washington Weldon and William Quevillon were appointed three electors of the township, to preside at such first election or town meeting, and exercise the same powers as inspectors of election at ordinary township meetings.
The first settlers in what is now Summit Township were Wil- liam Quevillon, Washington Weldon and Peter La Belle. The two latter are still residents of the township, but Mr. Quevillon is a resident of Manistee.
W. H. Foster was an early settler in Summit, and was the first farmer in the county to use a reaper and mower. His farm covered 500 acres.
Summit is a lake shore township, and has a good soil for agricultural purposes. The timber is principally hardwood. Numer- ous small streams traverse the township in various directions, which supply the farms with pure water.
The township is bounded on the north by Pere Marquette, on the east by Riverton, on the south by Oceana County, and on the west by Lake Michigan.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
The population in 1880 was 387, and the total vote 140. The present supervisor, is H. C. Cole, and the town clerk is Lewis Rose. There are two schoolhouses in the township.
(BIOGRAPHICAL.)
ORENZO RICE was born in Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on the 25th day of April, 1832; was raised a farmer's son, and has followed that occupation principally through life; was married to Lucy M. Chandler, on the 23rd day of October, 1855. She was born in the same town, on the 3rd day of November, 1835. He lived in the town, where he was raised, until March, 1861, when he removed with his family to Trenton, on the Detroit River, where he engaged in farming and teaching school Winters. He remained there until February, 1866, when, with his family, he moved, in the dead of Winter, with wagon and sleigh (being some fourteen days on the journey) to what was then known as Pere Marquette, now Luding- ton, Mason County, on the east shore of Lake Michigan. He settled five miles east of the village, in what is now known as the Town- ship of Amber. In April, 1867, he was elected treasurer of the Township of Pere Marquette, when it embraced what is now five townships. He was the first supervisor of the Town of Amber. He moved to Section 30, Township of Summit, on the south line of Mason County, in June, 1874, where he now lives. He was elected supervisor of his town, in the years 1875, 1876 and 1877. He has been engaged through the Winter Season at teaching school, having taught fourteen terms, since he moved into the county.
FRANCIS SHAPPEE was born in Montreal, Canada, July, 15, 1844; moved to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1855. Enlisted in 1861 in the Sixtieth New York Volunteers; served till the close of the war in the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; he gets a pension. Settled in Mason County, Mich., in 1870, and lives on Section 18, Summit Township, and is engaged in farming and fruit growing, of which he cultivates over ten acres. Married September, 1865, Aurelia Ferguson, who was born in Jeffer- son County, N. Y., Aug. 24, 1850. Six children, George, Francis L., Angeline, Albert, Clarence, Roy, and one that died, Lester J., born September 24, 1871, and died January 4, 1872.
GEORGE C. MCCLATCHIE, of Scotch parentage, was born in Canada, September 1, 1836. Resided there till he settled in Summit, Mason Co., Mich., in 1865, locating on Section 18, and engaged principally in fruit culture, having over twenty acres of all varieties. He has been county clerk, township treasurer five years, and most other local offices. Married, July 18, 1860, Margaret Lunan, born in 1835. Eight children, Alfred J., Caroline, Emma S., Minnie A., Rosella, Ida J., Griffin Yale and Myrtle G., to all of whom he is giving liberal educations, as their ages will permit. He has had the mis- fortune to lose one child by death from scarlet fever, F. Willie, born January 25, 1868, and died February 16, 1879.
JACOB SCHRUMPF was born in Germany, April 24, 1821; settled at Pentwater, in 1855; a farmer by occupation, and has contributed to the prosperity of Oceana County, by clearing and subduing three farms, among which is the county farm for Oceana County. He now lives on Section 31, Summit Township, Mason County. He was married September, 1851, to Caroline Hoch, who was born in Ger- many, January 6, 1830. Eight children were the result of this union.
JOHN G. KISTLER was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Octo- ber 14, 1857. He settled in Summit Township, Mason Co. Mich., on Section 12, in 1875. He is a farmer and blacksmith.
ELIHU NICKERSON was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., Decem- ber, 9, 1804. He removed to Canada East, in 1826, thence to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1835; to Lake County, Ind., in 1839; to Barry County, Mich., in 1842, and to Summit, Mason County, in 1865, locating on Section 30, where he now lives. He has been justice of the peace for a term of years, and was married Decem- ber 6, 1831, to Mary Winegarden, who was born in Canada, in 1814, and died September 30, 1878.
SOREN ANDERSEN was born in Denmark, September 14, 1843, and settled at Pentwater, in 1864, being a carpenter by trade. He now owns a nice farm of eighty acres on Section 6, Summit Town- ship, where he resides, except on temporary absence. At present is saw-filer in Bush & Chapman's mill, Pentwater. Marrried, March 6, 1872 to Anna Mortensen. Four children-Andrus, Martin, Mary and Dagmar.
M. P. MARBLE, was born in Piscataquis County, Me., September 2, 1828; moved to Lycoming County, Penn., in 1849. In 1864 he went to Steele County, Minn., and engaged in saw and gristmill business, remaining four years, when in 1868, he moved to Manistee, and to Ludington the year following. In 1870 he moved to his present location on Section 12, Summit Township, and is engaged in farm- ing and orcharding. Has been township treasurer several terms. Married, October 13, 1853, Lucy Custar, from Lycoming County, Penn .; four children-Frank M., William R., S. G., and Fannie O.
SMITH HAWLEY was born in Brant County, Ont., Canada, From there he went to Middlesex County, Ont., in 1855; and to Ionia, Mich., in 1865: Muskegon, in 1867; and Ludington, Mason County, in 1872. In 1875 he purchased a fruit farm on Section 13, Sum- mit Township, where he now resides; has a fine young orchard in different varieties of ten acres, and is constantly adding to it. Has been school inspector, superintendent, etc. Married, June 9, 1867, Gertrude Schaefer, who was born in Prussia, December 12, 1846. Seven children-Ernest A., Frank W., Oscar E., Grace G., Lewis A., Harold H. and Ransom S.
J. B. HouK was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, December 21, 1833. In 1871 he made Mason County, Mich., his home, set- tling on Section 7, Summit Township, where he now resides; culti- vating a large farm, and fine orchard. Has a family of seven children, which he is settling around himself. Married, January 28, 1857, Lydia K. Bailey, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 16, 1839. His children's names are-Wallace S., Charles L., Daniel L., Emma J., Austin J., Jessie W. and Cornelius B.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
This township was erected by the board of supervisors in 1861, but there are no records of its erection or organization. It was one of the early townships erected by the supervisors.
Its present boundaries are as follows: North by Hamlin and Victory; east by Amber; south by Amber and Pere Marquette, and west by Lake Michigan. The first supervisor was Edwin Mears.
The number of acres of land assessed in 1861, was 5,498.42, and the equalized valuation was $11,984.40. The equalized valua- tion of personal property was $5,490. The township at that time was much larger than at present.
Charles Mears began operations at Lincoln or Sable, as it was formerly called, about six years before the county was organized. His operations at this point and the location of the county seat are given elsewhere on these pages. Mr. Mears still owns the mill property and a large amount of land in the township.
What was once the village of Lincoln has dwindled down to a store and a few houses about the mill. The old jail building is still
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E. NICKERSON.
MRS. E. NICKERSON.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
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standing, as a reminder of the days when Lincoln was the "shire" town of the county.
Lincoln Lake occupies a considerable portion of the township. The land is for the most part sandy, and there are but a few improved farms in the township.
There are two schoolhouses, one in the eastern portion and one in the northwest corner of the township.
The population of the township in 1880, was 140, and the total vote 25.
The supervisor is E. N. Fitch, and the clerk is W. S. Cooper.
HAMLIN TOWNSHIP.
Hamlin Township was erected by the board of supervisors in the year 1860, but as in the case of Lincoln, there are no records of its erection or organization.
Its present boundaries are as follows: North by Grant; cast by Victory; south by Lincoln and Lake Michigan, and west by Lake Michigan. The first supervisor was S. P. Saxton.
The number of acres of land assessed in the year 1861, was 4,145.24, the equalized valuation of which was $12,071.18. The equalized valuation of the personal property was $590.
Charles Mears was the earliest operator in this township. He built a large sawmill at the mouth of the Hamlin River, and in the Fall of 1872 sold it to the firm of Pardee, Cook & Co., of Chicago. The mill cuts about 15,000,000 a year, and employs sixty men. The firm has a large store near the mill.
This firm owns about 200,000,000 feet of standing pine in Mason and Lake Counties.
The postoffice is kept in the store. William E. Cook is post- master.
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