USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 40
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FREDERICK STIER, farmer, was born in Germany, October WILLIAM W. JOHNSON, filer, born in Racine, Wis., February 18, 1880. He came to America in 1857, and settled in Benona. He . 29, 1842, spent most of his youth in that state and Illinois, and has a farm home of 80 acres, about sixty of which are improved. [ came to Pere Marquette (now Ludington) in June, 1855. He
He was married to Mary Patow, of Germany, in 1856, who died in 1879. His second marriage was to Mary Ludwig, June 5, 1869. The names of the living children are William, Otto, Henry and Fred. Otto, who is the family patron of the County History, is now over twenty-one years of age, and assists his father in the work of the farm. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, and desire and rejoice in the promotion of virtue in their community.
MR. WILLIAM GARDINER, farmer, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., November 25, 1824. He went with his parents to Canada when about three years of age, where he spent most of his youth, in the home and in the school. He returned to York State when eighteen years old, and remained there until the Spring of 1846, when he went to Milwaukee, Wis. He resided there, employed in keeping hotel and in other engagements, until July, 1853, at which time he came to White River, Mich. He came to Stony Creek, Benona, in March, 1856, and in the Fall of 1858 he settled on his present estate at Benona Center. He has in his farm 160 acres, 75 of which are in a fine state of cultivation. He has six acres in orch- ard, consisting chiefly of apple, but including a proportion of peach, pears and plums. He was married to Rufena Hess, of Germany, : in 1848. They have had seven children, namely --- Henry S., George E., William M., Frank J., Effie E., Henrietta and Alice Maud, the eldest of whom is dead. Mr. Gardiner was elected township supervisor at the second township meeting held in the township. He has also served as township treasurer, and in differ- ent other offices. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have been earnest friends of industry, and diligent promoters of local and social enterprise.
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BERTHOLD THIELE, shingle sawyer, son of Gustave and Caroline Thiele, was born in Germany, January 2, 1855, and with his mother and one brother crossed the Atlantic and the lakes, and landed at Stony Creek in 1861. They at once started into the courtry in search of the father, who had already been here one year, but was not aware of their arrival. After a tramp of six miles, they found Mr. Thiele, near what is now Benona Centre. Sev- eral years were spent in various engagements, and in 1866 a home
twenty acres are already under cultivation; three are occupied with a thriving orchard, consisting chiefly of apples and peaches of the best varieties. Mr. Bert Thiele began work in the mill at twelve years of age, and still spends most of his time in his favorite work of sawing shingle, earning over $100 per month thereby. He records one good word for Oceana County, namely, that for the native and the immigrant, it can scarcely be excelled in this west- ern region.
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remained there some two years, and then engaged with C. Mears, Esq., at Hamlin, and worked about two years. After this he made some tours northward, and went to Ludington again in the employ of Mr. Mears, and remained three years. In 1863 he enlisted in the service of his country, in Battery H, First Michigan Light Artillery, and served until the close of the rebellion. He then returned to Ludington, and from there he went to Manistee, and resumed his former profession of filing. In 1873 he went to Pent- water, where he was married to Della Corsaut, of that place, March 8, 1874. She died at Manistee in August, 1878; second marriage, March 18, 1880, to Pearly A. Stewart, of Benona. He has two sons-Marshall Abbott, and Golden Garfield. His present resi- dence is at Homer Lake, Benona, where he has been for three years in the employ of Sands & Maxwell.
TOWNSHIP OF FERRY ORGANIZATION.
As the early records of Otto and Ferry have both suffered by fire at the destruction of Samuel Potter's house, we have had to trust to verbal statements, and in some cases could not ascertain at all what we desired.
We find that in 1868 the application to form a new town, to be called "Reed," was tabled by the board of supervisors.
In October of the same year, the application of W. J. Kennedy, and others, for the same object, was successful. The first election was ordered at Reed's schoolhouse, on April 5, 1869; T. F. Reed, Timothy Smith and D. N. Gustin were appointed inspectors of election.
The following is the list of officers:
SUPERVISORS .- B. F. Reed, 1869-'70-'71; T. F. Reed, 1872-79; Reusler P. Ferris, 1874-'75: Daniel Landon, 1876-'77-8-9-'80-1-2.
CLERKS .- Timothy Smith, 1869-'70; Charles Gaylord, 1872; T. P. Landon, 1873; E. L. Benton, 1874-'76-7-8-9-'80; Gustavus M. Smith, 1875-'82; C. W. Power, 1881.
TREASURERS .- John F. Evans, 1869; Levi Powers, 1872; Daniel Landon, 1878-'74-5; G. M. Smith, 1876-'77-8-'80-1; Thomas H. Pittenger, 1879; E. L. Benton, 1882.
The officers for 1882 are: Supervisor, D. Landon; clerk, G. M. Smith; treasurer, E. L. Benton; commissioner of highways, J. A. Chellis; school inspectors, C. E. Converse (one year) and T. H. Pittenger (two years); justice of the peace, for full term, C. W. Powers; drain commissioner, J. M. Heim, Sr .; constables, G. R. Quick, J. M. Heim, Sr., and P. W. Parish.
The first settler in Ferry was Elnathan J. Reed, who with his sons Theodore F., and George, settled on Section 28, in 1857, coming from Wayne Co., N. Y., and in the Spring of 1875 they sold out for about $20,000, and have all returned to New York. After this family, the town was at first named Reed, but shortly after it was changed to Ferry, in honor of Senator Thomas W. Ferry, who owned large tracts of pine land, and was one of the first to develop and settle this town, and Otto. Elnathan J. Reed and family were men of ability and enterprise, and commencing with hoe and ax, they carved out a good property. They kept the first postoffice, Reed, now Ferry, in 1863. Elnathan J. was the first supervisor, and Theodore, and his brother, Benjamin F., now & justice of the peace in Whitehall, Muskegon County, also held that office. The second settler was Lot North, a sort of Nim- rod, or mighty hunter, in early days. He pre-empted land, but lost it, and left, a lonely widower, in 1858.
The next settler was William W. Gillen, who came in the Spring of 1858, and about the same time came in Samuel Rogers,
and George Shattuck. Orrin Benton and B. F. Reed came next, and then John F. Evans, -- all about 1858. In the Spring of 1859, W. Gillen and Samuel Rogers were engaged seventeen days, cutting out a road to their places.
The first birth was a child of Samuel Rogers, born Novem- ber 14, 1859.
The first marriage was that of Amos Putney, to Miss Evans, in 1860.
The first death was an infant child of Andrew Decker, July, 1860.
The first preacher was a Rev. Mr. Joy, now a Kalamazoo lawyer. The Rev. Mr. Pratt, Methodist Episcopal elder, came in about the same time as Joy, which was in 1861-'62.
The first bridge built in the township, on the north branch of White River, was built in the Fall of 1859, by Andrew Decker, W. J. Kennedy, Samuel Rogers, and George Shattuck. It was built about twenty feet below the present bridge At Ferry village, some of the old timbers being yet visible.
E. J. and T. F. Reed were granted, in 1871, the privilege of erecting a mill dam over the north branch of White River, on Section 28.
In 1872, small pox made great havoc, and the question of pay- ing the expenses was one long dispute between the county and the township.
The first physician in the town was Dr. C. P. Gaylord, who came in 1870; Dr. Irish, who came in 1881, is the only physician in the town.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ORRIN BENTON, farmer, Section 20, was born in Highgate, Franklin Co., Vt., January 27, 1824, and was married to Mary Percy, of the same place, in 1840. They came to this state in 1855, moving into Ferry, October 12, 1858. They have four children- Martha A., Edwin L., Mary A., and Minerva A.
ANDREW DECKER, farmer, Section 25, was born in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., January 21, 1834, and was brought up on a farm, and spent three years as a sailor on the ocean, and two years on the lakes. He came into the township, in 1859, locating on Section 35, and in 1863 changed to his present location. At the time of his arrival in the township, there were but seven families in Ferry and Otto, there not being residents enough in both townships to sign a petition for laying out a road. He married, Nancy Under- wood, of Sheboygan, Wis., October 12, 1859. They have six sur- viving children, James M., George A., Alva, Philip, Guy, and Warren. They have lost two children, one of which died at the age of one day, and Daisy, who died in the Summer of 1877, aged two years and four months.
WILLIAM W. GILLEN, farmer, Section 25, was born in the town of Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1826, and came to White River, July 29, 1856. He married, in 1853, Harriet O'Neal, by whom he had one son, Eugene, who enlisted in Company I, Third Michigan Infantry, and who died of disease contracted in the army. Mr. Gillen married again in 1874, Caroline Benton, by whom he has one child, Lottie, born June 29, 1875. In the Spring of 1863, he enlisted in Battery B, First Michigan Regiment of Light Artillery, which mustered at Grand Rapids, and first went into camp at Pulaski, Tenn. Was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was discharged at the close of the war, June 13, 1865. He settled on a lot on Section 32, in the Spring of 1858, and has carved out of the forest quite a fine farm. He is one of the respected pioneers of Ferry.
DANIEL LANDON, farmer, Section 16, was born in Conneautville, Crawford Co., Pa., January 2, 1837, and enlisted in the One Hun-
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dred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three months, when he was discharged on account of ill-health. He came to this township in 1871, locating on his present premises. He has taken quite an interest in the political questions of the day, and for a num- ber of years has occupied a prominent position in his township, having been elected supervisor, and served for the past seven years, and was township treasurer for the three years previous to his election to his present office. He married, November 16, 1860, Catherine Thompson, and they have seven children-George E., Jairus M., John W., Albert H., Grace E., Mary E., and Angeline L.
CHARLES McCLAVE, farmer, on Section 36, was born in Canan- daigua, N. Y., September 22, 1830, removing thence to Ohio, and on March 4, 1852, he went to California, remaining there fourteen years, returning February 3, 1866. He came to Ferry in March, 1871, purchasing 120 acres. In addition to occupying several town- ship offices, he was appointed county superintendent of the poor, in 1874, and reappointed in 1877, and again in 1880, his third term of office expiring in 1883. He married Ebzabeth Barber, of Branch County, Mich., November 19, 1866, and they have two children- Estenna S., and Minnie M.
The following comprise the firm of E. Powers & Sons, who own and manage the grist and sawmill business in Ferry village, and do quite an extensive business in both establishments:
EPHRAIM POWERS, Ferry village, was born in Richmond, Ashta- bula Co., Ohio, May 25, 1827, and was married to Mary J. Landon, November 16, 1847, in Crawford County, Pa. He came to Ferry in May, 1871, moving in his family in the following November. They have five surviving children-William W., Charles W., Mary E., Ida M., Eugene E. They lost their third child, Daniel W., who was drowned in the mill-pond, August 26, 1876, at the age of fifteen years.
CHARLES POWERS was born in Richmond, Ohio, November 17, 1858, coming into Ferry with his parents, in 1871. He married Amelia Rice, January 1, 1877.
WILLIAM W. POWERS was born in Richmond, Ohio, December 13, 1849, and came to Ferry with the rest of the family. He mar- ried Emma E. McNutt, of Eagleville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, on May 1, 1870, and they have a family of three children.
GUSTAVUS M. SMITH, farmer, on south-east quarter of Section 29, came with his father, Timothy Smith, from Cass County, in 1864, settling on his present place, which was purchased from Orrin Benton. Mr. Smith married, July 4, 1871, Elizabeth Pickel, of Ontario, and has one daughter, Minnie, born January 12, 1878. Mr. Smith is clerk of the township, and is school director for district No. 1, and has also been town treasurer. He has an excellent farm. His father, Timothy Smith, one of the most respected pioneers of Ferry, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., October 30, 1810, and in 1835 married Harriet A. Green, in New York State, where he resided until 1860, when he removed to Cass County, Mich. In 1864 he settled in Ferry, and still retains sixty acres, while his son, Gustavus, cultivates the remaining 100 acres. He has three children -Gus- tavus W., Helena, (Mrs. Erastus D. Smith) and Mary, (Mrs. John Rex, of Alabama). Mrs. Smith died April 28, 1878, regretted by all who knew her.
WILLIAM A. YOUNG, merchant, was born in Missouri, December 7, 1857, coming to Otto in 1868, where he resided until 1880, when he came to Ferry village, and commenced mercantile business De- cember 15, 1880. In addition to his mercantile business, he deals quite extensively in lumber, bark, ties, etc. He married, May 20, 1879, Ida M., daughter of Ephraim Powers. They have one child, Danie.
TOWNSHIP OF NEWFIELD.
This township, which was originally a portion of Stony Creek, from 1855, was set apart in April, 1858, along with what is now Greenwood, under the name of the latter township. In April, 1866, it was organized as an independent township, and from that time dates its existence as Newfield. The origin of the name is explained by that pioneer settler, Joseph W. Sweet, as follows: A number of the settlers chanced to be in his house, and a proper name for the shortly to be organized town was discussed. Elbridge Green wished it to be called Greenfield; Alex. McLaren proposed Sweet-town, which was modestly declined, on the part of Mr. Sweet, who, in turn, suggested Perrytown, in honor of old Booth Perry, the first settler in the town, but at last the name of " Newfield " prevailed, and was inserted in the petition. This meeting occurred in the Summer of 1865.
ORGANIZATION.
As before mentioned, this town was organized in April, 1865, and the first annual town meeting was held at the residence of Joseph W. Sweet, on Section 25; and the little old log-house still stands, unoccupied, but defying the ravages of time. The first ballot-box is still shown by Mr. Sweet, and is used for his tobacco-box. It is simply a small cigar-box with an aperture in the lid.
The first officers were: Supervisor, H. C. Hawley; clerk, Charles H. Potter; treasurer, Joseph W. Sweet; school inspector, Elbridge Green and G. H. Norton; highway commissioners, Milo A. Frink and Champlain Willard; justices of the peace, E. Green, Charles Potter, John McGill, Jr .; constables, O. Frink, L. Mahan, James Furgerson, Alex. McLaren.
The following is a list of the successive supervisors, clerks and treasurers up to the present time:
SUPERVISORS .- Henry C. Hawley, 1866-'67-8-9-'75-6-7-8-9- '81-'82; J. W. Dunning, 1870-'71-2; John N. Chellis, 1873-'74.
CLERKS .- Charles H. Potter, 1866-'67-9-'72; Charles Stro- bridge, 1868; H. C. Hawley. 1870; H. K. Bush, 1871; J. W. Dun- ning, 1873-'74-5-6-7; O. A. Rowland, 1878; I. H. Barlow, 1880; Charles Perkins, 1881; William Fleming, 1882.
TREASURERS .-- Joseph W. Sweet, 1866-'67-8; M. A. Frink, 1869; B. F. Marquick, 1870-'71-2-3; S. Atherton, 1874-'75; John McGill, Jr., 1876-'77; G. D. Webster, 1878-'79-'80; P. Mon- roe, 1881-'82.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler was Booth Perry, who set foot in the wilds of Newfield, in 1856 or 1857, and located on Sections 12 and 19, made a clearing, and sold out to Elbridge Green, some of whose sons still reside in the town. Perry, after making a clearing, returned east, and induced Alex. McLaren and Patrick McFarland to locate near him. They arrived February 18, 1858, and located homesteads and purchased lands in what is still known as the McLaren neigh- borhood. That portion of land they purchased from government, cost them 75 cents per acre. Joseph W. Sweet came in the following April, and first settled on what is now Hesperia. In 1860 he removed to his present location, on Section 25. W. H. Drake arrived in the Fall of 1860. Theodore Taylor arrived March, 1861, and about the same time Robert Binns, John McGill, Jr., in April, 1861. In 1862, Lambert Mahan settled on Section 13. Dr. H. C. Hawley located in Section 34, in April, 1862," and has acted as justice of the peace since 1863 to the present. James Strobridge and son, Charles E., settled, on October 15, 1862, on Sections 21 and 22. Theodore Carlisle, Ezra Spaulding and George Robbins arrived in 1865; Lucius Clark in 1866; G. D. Webster in 1867, and Marion Ressiguie in 1868. Stephen Dudley and Milo A. F. Frink may be numbered as pioneers, having entered about 1862.
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EARLY EVENTS.
The first death that occurred in the little settlement was that of Patrick McFarland, whose body was conveyed through the woods to Grand Rapids in the ox-team of J. W. Sweet, who was also the driver. The body was deposited in the Catholic cemetery, in com- pliance with the last wishes of the deceased. The distance by the roads, as then laid out, would be all of sixty miles. The widow had no means to pay the expense of burial; but. on learning the circum- stances, the Catholics of Grand Rapids raised sufficient by subscrip- tions to pay all funeral expenses and a surplus for the widow.
The first child born in Newfield was Peter, son of Alex. Mc- Laren, who still resides with his father.
The first marriage took place across the county line, in the town of Denver. The parties were Jerryma S. Streeter and Miss Abigail Howe, and the justice who performed the ceremony was Lewis Martin, now residing in Newaygo village.
A MYSTERY.
On Section 31 there stood a log-house with a small clearing, now abandoned, and in the house lived Harvey Barber and his wife. Harvey's brother had returned from the army on a visit, having a Spencer carbine, a navy shooter and a sum of money, the amount of which is unknown. The brother had agne, and was taking quinine, the supply of which being exhausted, his sister-in-law stated that she had found in Pingree's shanty, in Ferry, between Maple Ridge and Reedville, a little vial, which she had buried in the cellar, but had saved the contents, which she was certain was quinine. The man examined the substance, and believing it to be quinine, took a dose, and started with Harvey to cut bean poles; but on climbing on the fence he fell over in a fit, and as soon as Harvey brought him in the house he expired in convulsions. As he was about to be buried, the neighbors sent word to Dr. Hawley, as coroner, who got a jury, and held an inquest. But, although it was ascertained that it was strychnine, guilt was not proved. Afterward an uncle of the Barbers had Harvey and wife arrested, but did not follow up the case. This was in 1865. The Barbers "went to the bad"-he being sent to state's prison for stealing in Mason County, and she being in jail in Hart for theft.
The first school in Newfield was nearly two miles north of Hes- peria, and was a log structure, was called No. 1, and was in Edward Lore's district. The first officers were, Ed. Lore, director; A. Mc- Laren, moderator, and Mr. Brewer, assessor. Miss Isabel Maynard, first teacher. The Brewer mentioned as school assessor, mysteri- ously disappeared, and is supposed to have perished in the woods. In 1864 he started off as a book agent, having been a resident on 160 acres of land since 1862. The old man, who was regarded as eccentric, to use the mildest term, was never afterward seen in New- field. He left a wife and five children.
In 1865 Mr. Sweet was severely injured, and narrowly escaped instant death from a falling tree, which, being dry and decayed, was brought down by his ox-team in passing.
Quite a number of settlers enlisted in the late war from this town. Among those from the Greenwood portion, we may mention Archibald McCallum, who was killed in a skirmish; and of those in Newfield that were killed, were Ezra Rogers and Christian Straight (Swiss), both of Third Michigan Infantry, and William Drake, who also died in the service.
VILLAGE OF HESPERIA.
The thriving village of Hesperia is pleasantly situated on the south side of White River, and partly in Newaygo and partly in Oceana, the main street of the village being the county line.
One of the wants of Hesperia is a railway, which would give it a great impetus.
Strong efforts are being made by enterprising citizens for this object, and a liberal bonus awaits the first road that enters. The village has had a steady growth, as it derives a large trade both from the agricultural and lumber interests, many lumber camps being located in the vicinity. The country, especially to the east and south, is very fine. It has now two hotels, two drug stores, two hardware stores, two gristmills, one sawmill, two grocery stores, three general stores, one clothing and boot and shoe store, one fur- niture store, three blacksmith shops and two wagon shops. There is a planing mill and pump factory in connection with the sawmill. O. A. Rowland is about to erect a steam sawmill. There are three church edifices, and four religious organizations-Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Baptist, and First Day Adventists, who worship in Weare's Hall. There are also flourishing societies of Masons, Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Grangers, and a post of the Grand Army of the Republic. An elegant school building adorns the village.
EARLY HISTORY.
The first marriage in Hesperia was that of Edwin Lore to Celeste M. Sweet, who were married by Lewis Martin, justice of the peace.
The first birth and death was that of Catherine Marvilla Sweet, in 1860.
The first sawmill was erected by Cook & Weaver, in 1866.
The first store was Daniel Weaver's.
The first miller was David Maze.
The first flouring mill was Weaver's, in 1871. The second was built in 1882 by Maze & Robbins.
Hesperia was platted as a village and recorded as such in 1866, Thaddeus L. Waters, of Fremont Centre, being the surveyor. The plat is entered in the name of John P. Cook, of Hillsdale, and Daniel Weaver. An addition has recently been added on the south by Oscar A. Rowland.
The first house was of logs, and was built on the Newaygo side. It still stands, but is unoccupied. It was built in 1857 by Wm. A. Hoskins, now removed. The first frame house was erected where the postoffice now stands, by D. Weaver, in 1866.
The first hotel was John Alderman's.
The first church was the Methodist Episcopal; the first settled pastor, the Rev. Mr. Swift.
The first schoolhouse was about eighty rods north of White River, and the late Minnie Sweet (Mrs. W. Pursel) was the first teacher.
The first settler on the Oceana side was J. W. Sweet, who sent ahead a man named Streeter to assist in building him a house and making a clearing.
The first physician in the village was Dr. L. S. Weaver; then followed Drs. Hawley, J. McNabb, now of Fremont Centre, L. A. McIntyre, now of the Hart Argus, L. E. Norton, Porter, Howard and Wells.
The steam gristmill at Hesperia was erected by D. M. Maze & Co. The present proprietors are D. M. Maze and G. D. Webster, both old residents of the village, Mr. Maze being a practical miller of twenty years' experience, and having had charge for ten years of the only flouring mill in the township previous to the erection of this mill. The building was commenced October 13, 1881, and is 36x40 feet, three stories high, with an engine room 16x26 feet, engine thirty-five horse power, boiler forty horse power, and has two run of buhrs, one for flouring and the other for corn and feed. The machinery is of the latest improved style, the millwright work being
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done by John Ash, a practical mechanic. They commenced manu- facturing May 4, 1882, and are having a good run of custom.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GREENWOOD.
At an early date in the settlement of Greenwood, the Presbyte- rian Church was formed, at first as a home mission, and it was also aided from the Ferry fund. The first minister was the Rev. J. Willard, whose salary for the first year was paid by the Rev. W. M. Ferry, of Grand Haven.
On the 27th of June, 1874, the formal organization of the society was effected, and the first members were: Ralph M. Stevens, James Bennett and wife, Daniel Mckay (deceased) James Walker, Lachlan McCallum and wife, Jacob Williams and wife (now of Otto), M. L. Stevens, Joseph Stevens, Mary McCallum (Mrs. S. Mena), Mrs. L. McCallum, E. P. Becker, Emma Williams (Mrs. Evans), Emma L. Stevens, Mrs. Jennie Stevens.
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