History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 65

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

G. K. ESTES came to Bear Lake Village, from Wisconsin, in 1875. He was for some time civil engineer on the Milwaukee & Northern Railway in that state. After remaining here about six months he went to Milwaukee. In the Fall of 1876 he came to Pierport, and was in the employ of C. W. Perry until the Fall of 1880, when he came to Bear Lake, and was in the office of Hop- kins Bros. until last Spring, when he went into the insurance, real estate, loan, and collection business. He has a wife and two chil- dren, and is in prosperous circumstances.

L. F. HALE, of the mercantile firm of Hale & Bunton, is a native of England, and came to this country in 1871. In 1874 he came to Bear Lake, from Pennsylvania, and was book-keeper for Hopkins Bros. He also had an interest in the gristmill. Last Spring he sold his interest in the mill, and in June started a general store, the firm being Hale & Bunton. They do an excellent business, which is under the sole management of Mr. Hale.

DR. F. E. ANDREWS is a recent acquisition of the professional circles of Bear Lake, having settled here in June, 1881. He is a native of Adrian, Mich., where his father was an old resident physi- cian. He graduated at the University of Michigan in 1878. After practicing one year at Adrian, he removed to Pentwater, where he practiced until coming to Bear Lake, in 1881. He has a drug store, which he runs in connection with his practice. Dr. Andrews is one of the rising young physicians of the county, and already has an extensive practice.

D. D. SMITH is one of the enterprising and successful business

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HISTORY OF MANISTEE COUNTY.

men of Bear Lake. He is a native of Illinois, and came to Portage from Wisconsin, and was head sawyer in a sawmill until 1874, when he came to Bear Lake, and was in charge of the Hopkins sawmill until the Spring of 1881, when he formed a partnership with Mr. C. B. Bunton, and purchased the mill. The following Summer he Withdrew from the firm, and in company with Mr. Bernhardt built their planing mill, which they now operate. Mr. Smith is a justice of the peace, and one of the most active business men of Bear Lake. He is a young man of great energy, and is doing a pros- perous business. His wife is a daughter of Mr. Russell Smith, the pioneer of the village.

A. C. CULVER & SON, proprietors of the Bear Lake Independent, came to Bear Lake last Summer from Coldwater, where they pub- lished the Coldwater Sentinel. Mr. A. C. Culver is one of the old newspaper men of the state, and both gentlemen are thorough newspaper men.

S. J. STEELE, engineer at the new Hopkins mill, is one of the early settlers of the village. He is a native of Connecticut, and came to Bear Lake from Missouri, in 1878. Upon coming here he went into the employ of Hopkins Bros., as engineer at their sawmill, and has remained in their employ ever since. He put the machinery in the new mill, and is now in charge as engineer. He is a veteran at his trade, and in every respect competent and trustworthy. He has a wife and five children. One of his sons, Eugene, was almost literally cut in pieces by a circular saw, in a mill at Manistee, but survived the injury, and is now a sound and active man.

J. S. DAVIDSON, foreman of the new Hopkins mill, is a native of Ohio, and came to Bear Lake from Iowa, in 1880, and has been foreman of the mill since it started. He has been engaged at mill work for fifteen years.

E. A. BODWELL, of the firm of E. A. Bodwell & Co., came into Manistee County in 1871, and took a homestead in Arcadia Town- ship. In 1880 he came into the village of Bear Lake, and opened a meat market, and afterwards added groceries. He still carries on his farm, in connection with his mercantile business. Mr. Bodwell is one of the reliable men of the county.

LYMAN T. KING is a resident of Brown town, where he has an extensive farm. He came there in 1868, from Spring Lake, Ottawa County. He has also lived in Manistee several years. Mr. King is a mason by trade, and does a large amount of work in Bear Lake village. He has a wife and six children, who live upon the farm. Mr. King is one of the old residents of the county, and is one of its prosperous citizens.

C. A. ANDRUS came to Bear Lake in 1875, from Oberlin, Ohio where he was engaged in the milling business. He came to take charge of the grist-mill of Hopkins Bros., and still remains in that position. He has a wife and two children. Mr. Andrus is a prac- tical and thoroughly competent miller, and ranks well among the business men of Bear Lake village.

J. BLANCHARD is one of the oldest pioneers of the Manistee region. He was born in the state of New York, in the year 1829. When seven years of age his father removed to the state of Illinois. At nineteen years of age he went to Lake Superior, and was there three years. He was afterwards at Saginaw, Muskegon, Grand Haven, and for a time in Oceana County. In 1859 he commenced carrying the mail from Grand Haven to Manistee, and was thus employed until 1862. His experience during those years made him familiar with everything that occurred between those points. His first trip was made on horseback, and then he rigged a two-wheel cart drawn by two horses. Until 1861 there was only a weekly mail, but after that he made two trips a week. In 1862 he went into the army, and remained in the service until the close of the war. After returning from the war he followed fishing for several seasons, and about 1869 went into the employ of R. G. Peters, and since that time he has been one of his most trusted men. Last year he came to Bear Lake to take charge of Mr. Peters' lumbering inter- ests at this point. The business here being about closed out, Mr. Blanchard will soon be transferred to some other point, where Mr. Peters may require his services. Few men are more familiar with early times along the east shore than Mr. Blanchard

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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

ARCADIA TOWNSHIP.

This is a fractional township, in the northwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Benzie County, east by Pleas- anton, south by Onekama, and west by Lake Michigan.

The town embraces about twenty square miles, and has a coast line of six miles. .

In assorting the contents of various pigeon holes, we came across a historical and descriptive sketch of Arcadia, written in 1879, by one well acquainted with the town. As it serves our purpose here, we copy it as follows:

"Early in the Fall of 1866 a number of families sought homes in the northwestern corner of Manistee County, near the shores of a small sheet of water that lay glimmering smilingly in the sunlight, like a beautiful gem upon the brow of mother earth; and this spark- ling jewel was known to the newcomers by the unmusical but appro- priate name of Bar Lake; so called on account of the sand bar which crosses the channel opening into Lake Michigan.

"The first settlers who wandered into this part of the great wilderness were Dr. W. L. Dempster, from Chicago; G. W. Boss, from Pennsylvania; H. Huntington, from Indiana, with their fam- ilies. Other families followed in quick succession, until the central part of what is a town now was nearly all taken up.

"These pioneers were not exempt from hardships and discour- agements; pioneers seldom find their paths lined with thornless roses. And though many about to immigrate build splendid castles in their day-dreams, they seldom find their visions realized.

"But with much to try the patience of our new settlers, and not a little to encourage them, the years glided away, and with them the forests, and in place of these monuments of slow but sure pro- gress, cozy home-nests sprang up as if by magic; broad fields of waving grain were everywhere to be seen, and by the side of the numerous murmuring streams and mirror-like lake, herds of cattle found pasturage, where for centuries the timid deer had nipped the green herbage and slaked its thirst.

"In 1870 the town was organized, and named Arcadia. The first election was held April 4, 1870. The following are the names of the officers: W. H. Cotton, supervisor; W. H. Ross, town clerk; J. D. Padden, treasurer; M. O'Rorke and J. Norton, highway com- missioners; S. Calkins, school inspector; S. Tondu, W. L. Demp- ster, H. Bowen and H. Chapin, justices of the peace; S. Hotchkiss, L. Moore, J. Morton and W. L. Dempster, inspectors of election.

"In 1874 the total population numbered 1,229. The town contained 11,512 acres of taxable land; 636 acres of improved land. In 1878 there were raised 1,821 bushels of wheat; 2,895 bushels of corn, and of all other grains 3,897 bushels; also, 3,771 bushels of potatoes; and 234 tons of hay; 3,155 pounds of butter were made, and in the Spring of 1874 there were 2,610 pounds of maple sugar manufactured.

"Arcadia has one sawmill, built by C. Huntington & Co. It is

operated by steam, and by the census of 1874 employed five persons. There were 3,000,000 feet of lumber cut, which was valued at $7,500.

"Education claims its share of attention, as may be seen by the handsome frame school, which was erected a few years ago, at a cost of $800. The inhabitants can boast of a good town library, which is a never failing source of instruction and amusement.

"Much of the soil along the lake shore is naturally rather light, but when well cultivated is made capable of raising excellent crops. The timber is of pine, hemlock, maple and beech, all of which is as good as a gold mine to the owners. Large quantities of this timber are exported to Chicago and Milwaukee every year. As yet no pub- lic buildings have been erected, but the farm houses that are rap- idly taking the place of pioneer cottages are a credit to the town's people. And the years will not be many 'ere we shall see stores, machine shops, and churches rearing their architectural forms equal to any in the county of Manistee."

The sawmill of Huntington & Co. was operated until 1880, and then abandoned.

Seymour Calkins, one of the early settlers of Arcadia, is now & resident of Pierport.

BURNHAMVILLE.

is the name of a new place recently started on the lake shore. A pier was built there for the purpose of shipping wood, bark, etc. There is a store, hotel, the sawmill of Shaw Bros., and some other business interests. The Good Templars have a prosper- ous organization, of which Henry Butter is the presiding officer.

The postoffice is named Burnham. There is quite a business done in shipping wood, bark, ties and lumber.

STARKIEVILLE.

is another new place recently started by Henry Starkie, of the firm of Starkie Bros., Milwaukee. The post-office is called Arcadia. In 1880 a sawmill was built there by the firm of Starkie Bros., and other buildings have followed.

There is another sawmill in the township, built the present season, by H. Bowen.

There are three schoolhouses in the town, recently built.

The present supervisor of the town is L. L. Finch.

Statistical facts about Arcadia will be found in that department of this work.

PLEASANTON TOWNSHIP.

In the Summer of 1877 a contributor to the Manistee Times and Standard wrote about Pleasanton, as follows:

"In 1863, it was one unbroken wilderness, and the moccasined

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HISTORY OF MANISTEE COUNTY.

Indian roamed through the forest, hunting bear and deer at his own wild will. Here he constructed his own rude wigwam and bark canoe by the side of the smooth, glassy lake, or, perchance, by some streamlet, where the timid animals came for drink, and the finny tribes afforded him a ready repast when he was too indolent to roam abroad with hatchet or bow. The wild flowers grew in beauty or blushed unseen, except by the native inhabitants of the forest; only an occasional song bird was heard in the great depths of the wilder- ness, for birds seem to prefer the haunts of civilized man.

"Not far from this time, Rev. George B. Pierce, a retired clergy- man, and B. Sibly, sought home and health in this northern climate, and with their axes felled the huge, high-crowned foresters, and of them built each a cabin, wherein to find shelter and repose for them- selves and families. Soon after, others seeing the offer of our gov- ernment to give away large tracts of land upon certain conditions, came and took up homesteads, built log cottages, brought down the centurions to the ground by scores and hundreds, burnt the timber, and in this way laid the foundation for future farms, that, at some time, would be bought ' with a price.'

"It was hard, unceasing toil; the early settlers were poor in this world's goods, some of them having spent their last dollar when they landed in Manistee, then a comparatively small lumbering town.

"Much of the provisions were 'toted' from some of the lake shore settlements, a distance of ten or twelve miles; and often at the close of a hard day's work, over paths that were almost invisible, even in the broad daylight, on account of the low shrub, commonly known as ' ground hemlock,' by the light of a torch, the marks of an ax called ' blazes,' upon the trees, were followed by the weary traveler who plodded on over bush and brake, logs and cradle knolls, stum- bling here and there with his heavy burden of potatoes and flour, with a 'pinch' of sugar and tea, his only luxuries. Not unfrequent- ly did he feel the hair of his head, as one might express it, rise like corn stalks, upon hearing the creaking of decayed bushes, as some of the monarchs of the forest dashed past him, and sped away to some not far off den. There were no well beaten roads; the mail was carried from Manistee to Benzonia by the Indian trail,-no doubt a long, winding way.

"In the Fall of 1866 there were only three horse teams in the town; these were owned by B. Gale, Henry Erb, and James M. Allen. Very ordinary cows were held as high as $60 and $70, and these were brought over from Milwaukee. Good butter was a thing almost unknown. Potatoes of poor, mixed varieties, were sold at prices from $1.25 upwards, according to the mercy of the producer, and the depths of the buyer's purse. The potato bugs had not then arrived on this shore. Flour sold at from $16 to $18 per barrel; pork $22 and $24 per barrel, and groceries in proportion.

"The centre of the town was settled almost entirely by profes- sional gentlemen belonging to the clergy and their families. The rest of the inhabitants are, for the most part, thorough, go-ahead farmers.

"According to the census of 1874, the inhabitants numbered 419. There were 19,724 acres of taxable land; 1,058 acres im- proved. In that year there were 335 acres of wheat put in; 4,465 bushels of potatoes were raised, and 6,145 bushels of corn, 12,190 pounds of pork marketed; 11,500 pounds of butter, and 37,105 pounds of maple sugar were made. In 1876 the improvements had increased and, of course, the yield of produce was much larger.

"The soil is a light, sandy loam, and easy of cultivation, and can be made to yield splendidly by applying top dressing. The timber is beech, maple, elm, and hemlock. At present writing the town con-

tains two churches, a Congregational Church, a simple, common-place structure, situated in the centre of the town, and built, we believe, by a few individuals who were among the first settlers, and who brought with them the old Puritan spirit of worshiping God accord- ing to the dictates of their own conscience. And no sooner had they provided shelter for their families, than they began to cast about them for ways and means wherewith to build a place in which to worship the great All Father. The building is also used for school purposes, town business, and Grange Hall.

"The Methodist Church is a good log building, capable of seat- ing a large congregation.

" There are two school buildings; one of which is a well built frame house, and cost in the neighborhood of $800.

"There is one store situated near the beautiful sheet of water known as Bear Lake, owned by H. Cook. This lake, by the way, belongs largely to the town of Pleasanton. Its shores contain splendid situations for country villas and mill privileges, and it only requires a few enterprising men tostep in and make veritable Edens of these localities.

"A good number of pretty frame dwellings, painted white, dot the town in place of the original log cabins, showing the thrift of the inhabitants or ' moss backs.'

"Almost every dwelling in town has an organ or some other musical instrument.

"One of the best public libraries in the County of Manistee is to be found at Pleasanton, and judging from the appearance of the books, it is a reading community. We do not know of a single family that does not take at least one of the county papers, and very many take two, besides state and other papers, and some one of the best periodicals of the day.

"The log house of Mr. Pierce, at the center, was the first house built in Pleasanton, and what is remarkable is that the first mar- riage in the town took place in this house, and also the first death.

"There is a good cemetery, well fenced, handsomely laid out, and decorated with young native trees, and though no elegant mon- uments adorn its peaceful mounds, we know that our beloved dead will rest quietly beneath the pleasant shade of waving boughs.

"The town is for the most part well watered, and the forest affords shade and pasturage for many herds of cattle that now roam at large during the hot Summer days.

Almost every farmer owns a span of horses, and many of the best improved farming utensils. A few farmers are stocking their farms with sheep. These are found to be of great service in keep- ing down the weeds and briars, that are such a constant nuisance in a new country.

Some of the resources of wealth are found in maple logs, hem- lock bark and small fruits. And whoever chronicles the history of Pleasanton ten years hence, will no doubt inform the world that it is one of the most flourishing towns in the State of Michigan.

The town is bounded on the north by Benzie County, east by Springdale, south by Bear Lake and west by Arcadia.

The present supervisor of the town is Myron Arnold. For population, productions, etc., see general statistics of the county.

SPRINGDALE TOWNSHIP.

Springdale Township was erected by the board of supervisors at their meeting in October. 1870, and so named on account of its numerous ever-flowing springs.

It is known as Town 24, north of Range 14, west, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Benzie County, east

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SORENSON HOUSE.

SORENSON HOUSE, JOHN L. SORENSON PROP., MANISTEE, Mich.

E. E. DOUVILLE'S RESIDENCE, MANISTEE, Mich.

MAMEROW HOUSE

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MAMEROW HOUSE, ERNST MAMEROW, PROP, MANISTEE, Mich.

RES. OF C.W. PERRY, PIERPORT.

HISTORY OF MANISTEE COUNTY.

by Cleon Township, south by Maple Grove, and west by Pleasanton. It contains thirty-six square miles.

The first election was held at the residence of Titus Glover, one of the first settlers of the township, the first Monday in April, 1871. Joseph Marshall, P. B. Fisk and T. D. Glover were the inspectors of the election.

The first township officers elected were as follows: Supervisor, John W. Cowgill; clerk, Willson S. Reed; treasurer, Titus D. Glover; inspectors, J. Marshall and Willson S. Reed; directors of the poor, Lewis E. Hale and William W. Ball; justices of the peace, John W. Cowgill and P. B. Fisk; commissioners of high- ways, George S. Cowgill, Lewis E. Hale, P. B. Fisk; constables, Augustus C. Cowgill and Robert C. Burling. There were eight votes cast, and every elector was elected to some office, a state of things calculated to excite the envy of the modern politician.

EARLY HISTORY.

The early history of Springdale is not unlike that of many other localities. The first settlers came about the year 1866, and began the work of making homes which they might call their own. These seekers after homes and fortunes were not wealthy, and the expense of moving, in many instances, nearly exhausted their slender resources. The first work was to provide shelter and then go forth to earn bread and raiment. The work of clearing up their land progressed slowly. Their own improvements were made at intervals when work abroad could not be had, and then at a great disadvantage. Many of these pioneers had no teams and but few tools. There were times of sickness and distress which called for patience and sorely tried their powers of endurance.

In time, other settlers came in and the town was organized, as above stated.

The land is gently rolling and the soil very rich. The timber consists for the most part of beech, maple, rock elm, basswood and pine. As a whole, it is considered one of the best farming town ships in the county. The Betsy River flows through the northern part, and is noted for its rapid current. Bear Creek also extends through the township. In Sections 38 and 34 is a beautiful lake with no visible outlet. Thus the town is well supplied with water for all purposes.

The total population in 1874 was forty-nine, and there were only seventy-four acres of improved lands. There were in the town 18,582 acres of taxable land. In 1873 there were raised 127 bush- els of wheat, 305 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of other grains; 600 bushels of potatoes and twenty-two tons of hay. In 1874 there were made 1,034 pounds of maple sugar and 800 pounds of butter.

The present supervisor of the township is H. W. Dowd.

CLEON TOWNSHIP.

The township of Cleon was erected by the board of supervisors at their annual meeting in October, 1868. The town is situated in the northeast corner of the county, being Town 24, north of Range 13, west. The first annual meeting was held at the home of Thomas N. Copley, the first Monday in April, 1869. M. P. Grinnell, E. A. Gilbert and Jacob Sears were inspectors of election. It was subsequently set off to Wexford County, and was only re-united to Manistee County last year.

The present supervisor is C. B. Caniff.

Such statistical information of the township as is connected with the county is given elsewhere.

MABILLA TOWNSHIP.

Until the month of June, 1866, the territory now included in the township of Marilla was a dense forest of maple, beech, hem- lock and pine, and inhabited only by birds and beasts. At that time a man by the name of C. Churchill, who had left the Empire State, with his family, to find a home in the new West, arrived here and was pleased with the appearance of the country. There were numerous springs and streams, and the soil promised fruitful returns. He built a log cabin and in the dense solitude of the forest formed a home.

Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Churchill, two bachelors named Lever wended their way thitherward, and made for themselves a ome. In the Fall of the same year S. Evens and J. Rinard, with their families, came along and settled about a mile from the Lever brothers. D. Boyd and family also located in the same neighbor- hood, and the work of developing this new and wild country was begun.

These new comers were persevering and energetic, and were prepared to battle with hardships and trials. Through the day the cattle browsed twigs and leaves, and at night their mangers were filled with moss gathered from trees by the children. But there were dark days and times that tested their fortitude and endurance. There were times of sickness and misfortune. Some of the cattle died, and some had to be sold to meet various wants. Most of their provisions had to be brought on the shoulders of the men from logging camps, that were miles away.

But the dark days passed. The land was cleared, fields culti- vated and prosperity came as the years went on. Other settlers arrived, until in the Fall of 1869 the town of Marilla was erected by the board of supervisors. The town was set off from the region known as Brown town.

At a special meeting of the supervisors, held in January, 1870, James H. Winters, James B. Boyd and William H. Pope were appointed inspectors of the first election to be held in April, at the house of John Wilson.

The first town officers elected were as follows: Supervisor, J. D. Bond; town clerk, J. H. Winters; treasurer, G. Lever; school inspector, O. Lackey; justices of the peace, W. Pope and L. F. Hall; highway commissioners, P. Hower, B. Yates, J. Willson, H. Farnsworth.

The first school in the new township was taught by Mrs. Jennie Pope, who continued to teach for several terms.

As the settlers increased, various school districts were formed and comfortable buildings erected. Two of the school buildings are especially fine, costing about $1,000 each. The town has a well filled public library, which speaks well for the enterprise and intelligence of the people.

There is a very handsome cemetery located near the central part of the town, which is well fenced and handsomely decorated with trees.

The church societies are a Congregational and Baptist. The former was organized in 1872, and the latter in 1876. The first person baptized by immersion in the town was Mrs. M. Snyder. The ordinance was administered in May, 1876.

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History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 65

Author: H. R. Page & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 373

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373