USA > Michigan > Montcalm County > History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families Volume I > Part 27
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Tripp, mustered out, June 8, 1865; Henry C. Worden, discharged for dis- ability, February 26, 1863.
Company F-Capt. Elijah H. Crowell, Greenville; commissioned, July 18, 1862; promoted to colonel, November 14, 1864; mustered out as cap- tain, June 8, 1865. First Lieut. Robert Mooney, Greenville; commissioned, July 30, 1862; resigned, December 1, 1862. First Lieut. Eben R. Ellen- wood, Winfield; commissioned. December 1, 1862; resigned, January 31, 1863. Second Lieut. Eben R. Ellenwood, Winfield; commissioned. July 30, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant, December 1, 1862. Second Lieut. John F. Loase, Eureka; commissioned, December 1, 1863; mustered out, June 21, 1865. Serg. Enoch R. Wilcox. Eureka, discharged for disability, February 28, 1863. Serg. Leonard Rossman, Winfield; mustered out, June 8, 1865. Serg. Thomas J. Potter, Eureka; mustered out, June 8, 1865. Serg. Newell J. Pratt, Greenville; promoted to commissary sergeant, May I, 1864. Serg. William Kent, Fairplain; killed in action in North Carolina, May 19, 1865. Corp. John N. Woodworth, Eureka; died at Nashville in 1862. Corp. John F. Loase, Eureka; promoted to second lieutenant. Corp. John II. French, Cato; died at Detroit, May 30, 1865. Corp. Byron W. Moore, Eureka; mustered out, July 8, 1865. Corp. Reuben W. Smead, Winfield; killed on Mississippi river. Musician Phineas Swift, Fairplain; (lischarged for disability. April 9, 1863. William J. Allen, mustered out. July 18, 1865; James R. Briggs, mustered out, May 22, 1865; Frederick Brant, mustered out, July 6, 1865; John G. Brimmer, mustered out, June 8. 1865; Jolm S. Butler, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, December 9. 1863; Francis Borden, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15. 1864. mustered out, July 5, 1865: Henry Barden, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, August 12, 1864; George W. Cole, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, May 1, 1864; George S. Chandler, mustered out, July 18. 1865; Reuben S. Cowden, mustered out, June 8, 1865; Jacob Davis. mus- tered out. June 8. 1865; Francis Darland, mustered out, June 8, 1865: Johannas De Bree, discharged for disability, February 8. 1863; Lafayette Foskett, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; George Flake, mustered out. July 18, 1865; Benjamin Fordyce, mustered out, June 27. 1865: Enos H. Goble, discharged for disability, February 14. 1863; Richard H. Gibson, discharged for wounds, April 6. 1864; Jasper E. Giles, transferred to Vet- eran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864: David Gristwood, mustered out, July 18, 1865; Hiram Gibson, mustered out, June 16, 1865; George Hall. mustered out, July 18, 1865; John Hunter, mustered out, July 18, 1865;
292
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
John House, mustered out, June 5, 1865; Henry Herrick, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, November 14, 1862; Henry H. Hamilton, died in action at Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 20, 1863; John A. Harris, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864; George O. Holin- der, discharged for disability, December 4, 1863; Christenson Johnson, died in action at Stone's River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; Dallas Jenks, mustered out, July 18, 1865; C. C. Johnson, mustered out, July 18, 1865; Daniel Judd, mustered out, June 8, 1865; Jesse Kenosen, died of disease at Andersonville, Georgia, October 1, 1864; George W. Keeler, discharged by order, May 11, 1865; George Lamberton, died in action at Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19, 1865; William Lamberton, mustered out, July 18, 1865; William Lampman, mustered out, August 9, 1865; Oliver Miles, Jr., mus- tered out, July 14, 1865; Charles H. Meil, mustered out, June 8, 1865; Levi M. McOmber, died of disease at Louisville, Kentucky, December 6, 1862; George Mead, killed by explosion of steamer "Sultana," April 28. 1865; Martin McDonald, discharged for disability, January 22, 1863; Chauncey H. Peck, died of wounds at Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 29, 1863; Nathaniel Pratt, died of disease at Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 18. 1864; James N. Powell, mustered out. July 18, 1865; Daniel B. Rust, dis- charged by order, April 10. 1863; Lewis Ruch, discharged for disability, January 1. 1863: Seth B. Smith, discharged for disability, March 15, 1863: Ellsworth Smith, discharged for disability, February 10, 1863; Ritner Skin- ner, discharged for wounds. April 6. 1864: Rensselaer W. Skinner, died of disease at Gallatin. Tennessee. February 9, 1863; James R. Squires, mus- tered out. July 18. 1865: Henry Strope, mustered out. July 18, 1865; Andrew Swift. mustered out. July 18. 1865; Daniel S. Severy, mustered ont. June 8. 1865; ----- Swarthout. mustered out, June 8, 1865; Edward Straley, mustered out, June 8, 1865; William Swift, mustered out, June 5, 1865; John B. Thompson, mustered out, June 8, 1865; Buel Towsley, dis- charged for disability. December 29, 1863; Charles M. Tuttle, discharged for disability, November 11, 1862; Garrett T. Van Allen, discharged: Anthony Van Stee, died of wounds at Goldsboro, North Carolina, March 28, 1865; Jeptha Van Wormer, mustered out, July 18. 1865; Theodore Wakeman, mustered out, July 18, 1865; John C. Wolverton, mustered out. June 8, 1865: Oscar Weed, mustered out, June 5, 1865; Enoch Wilcox, discharged for disability, February 28, 1863.
Company H-William R. Foote, discharged for disability, May 1, 1863. Company I- John M. Bevard, mustered out, July 10, 1865; James Car-
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
penter, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; Burton Koop, died of wounds at Newbern, North Carolina, April 24, 1865.
Company K-Samuel Andrews, discharged by order, July 23, 1863; Samuel Andrews, Jr., transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January 15, 1864, mustered out, July 8, 1865; Corp. Julius T. Barrett, died in action at Stone's River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; Hiram Barrett, discharged, May 18, 1863; L. M. Carpenter, mustered out, June 6, 1865; James Carpen- ter, mustered out, July 18, 1865; William H. Everest, discharged for dis- ability, May 11, 1865; George W. Gregory, died of disease at Murfrees- boro, Tennessee, December 20, 1863; Sanford Himes, died of disease at Lookout Mountain. Tennessee, June 27, 1864; Corydon L. Hunt, discharged for disability, May 11, 1865 ; M. M. Proctor, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, April 30, 1864, mustered out. June 30, 1865; Simeon Proctor, mus- tered out, June 16, 1865: Ebenezer B. Shay, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee. November 6, 1862; Nathaniel Ward, died of disease at Nash- ville, Tennessee, November 20, 1862.
TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
Company -- William F. Hall, mustered ont, July 26, 1865. Company E -- Alfred R. Isham, mustered out. July 26, 1865. Company F-Lamson N. Isham, mustered ont. July 26, 1865.
FIRST ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS.
Company A .- Moses Burnett discharged by order, June 6, 1865; Brad- ford (. Davis, discharged by order. June 6, 1865; Ira D. Elsworth, dis- charged by order, June 6, 1865; Boughton Goodsell, discharged for disabil- ity, May 11, 1865; Henry Kent, discharged by order, June 6. 1865; Albert W. Lobdell, discharged by order, June 21, 1865: Nelson J. McIntosh, dis- charged by order, June 6, 1865; Wesley H. Philips, died of disease at Dun- can's Bridge, South Carolina, February 16, 1865; Elisha Robertham, dis- charged by order, June 6, 1865: Jacob M. Swarthout, discharged by order. June 6, 1865; Azariah Soule, discharged by order, July 21, 1865; Arnold W. Terry, mustered out. September 22, 1865; Cornelius Vanstee, discharged by order, June 1, 1865.
Company B -- Allen Barnes, discharged by order, June 6, 1865; Augus- tus Coffren, died of disease at Savannah, Georgia, January 28, 1865; 'Sater- lee Solon, died of disease at Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 29, 1864;
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Newell Slawson, discharged at end of service, October 31, 1864; Henry S. Sanford, discharged by order, July 7. 1865; Isaac Underwood, discharged for disability, June 20, 1865.
Company D-Charles Macomber, discharged at end of service, October 31. 1864.
Company E -- Serg. Samuel M. Waters, Montcalm; discharged at end of service. October 31. 1864. Martin V. Feagle, discharged at end of serv- ice, October 31, 1864: John Nichols, discharged for disability, July 28. 1862; Frederick . Roemyk, discharged at end of service, October 31, 1864; Daniel F. Spencer, discharged at end of service. October 331, 1864; John V. Voor- hie, discharged at end of service, October 31, 1864; Samuel M. Waters. discharged at end of service, October 31. 1864: Jason Westover. discharged at end of service. October 21. 1864: Sylvester Wells, discharged at end of service, October 31. 1864.
Company F --- William Comstock, mustered out. September 22. 1865: Elijah Comstock, mestered out. September 22. 1865: James Hosmer, mus- tered out, September 22. 1865: Samuel E. Owen, discharged by order, May 9. 1865; Lewis H. Ransome, died of disease at Savannah. Georgia, January 11. 1865.
Company G-Frederick Grovenberg, discharged by order. June 19, I 865.
Company K -Robert F. Williams, mustered out, September 22. 1865.
Company I-Freeman Brown, discharged by order. May 23. 1865; Leander Rosecrans, discharged by order, May 18. 1865; Richard Smith, dis- charged by order. June 6. 1865: Asa Sinclair. discharged by order. August 4. 1865: Alvin S. Watson, discharged by order, June 6. 1865: Robert G. Young. discharged by order, June 6, 1865.
Company M -- William Wiggins, died of disease at Bridgeport. Ala- bama. March 10, 1864.
FIRST UNITED STATES SHARPSHOOTERS.
Company C -- Alvin Smith, died in action at Chancellorsville, Virginia. May 2, 1863.
Company I -- Joshua Rogert, died of disease at Washington, D. C .; Orrin Knapp, died of disease at Washington. D. C., March 11. 1862; Lorenzo O. Smith, died of disease at Washington. D. C .. March 25, 1862.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
FIRST CAVALRY.
Company F-Silas Berk, died of disease at New Market, Virginia; William H. Costello, discharged by order, June 15, 1865.
Company II -. Wallace R. Page, mustered out, March 25, 1866.
Company K-William H. Woodard, died of disease at Fort Leaven- worth, October 8. 1868.
SECOND CAVALRY.
Company C-Eben R. Delano, died of disease at Nashville, Tennessee, July 14, 1864.
Company F -- Charles Barnum, discharged for disability, July 16, 1862; John C. Burgess, veteranized, January 5, 1863, mustered out, August 17, 1865; George Corbin, discharged for disability; Dwight F. Devendorff, dis- charged for disability ; Emerson II. Gallea, discharged for disability, Decem- ber 27, 1862: George Rossman, discharged for disability, April 3, 1864; Henry B. Williams. discharged for disability, December 27, 1862.
Company L-William S. Striker, mustered out, August 17, 1865.
THIRD CAVALRY.
Company D -- Edwin A. Berry, discharged for disability; James H. Hamilton, discharged at end of service, October 24, 1864; David T. John- son, veteranized, January 19, 1864, mustered out, February 12, 1866; Will- iam H. Staley, veteranized. January 19, 1864, mustered out, September 23, 1865: Squire W. Wheeler, discharged for disability, October 13, 1862.
Company I-Richard L. Merritt, died of disease at Lagrange, July 1, 1862.
SIXTH CAVALRY.
Company D-William S. Smith, discharged for disability, August I, 1863.
Company E-Thomas Dickenson, died of disease at hospital in Mary- land, March 8, 1865; John J. Hammel, mustered out, November 24, 1865; William Phinsey, mustered out, May 15, 1865.
Company G-Enoch J. King. mustered out, February 16, 1866.
Company K-William H. Woodward, died of disease at Fort Leaven- worth, October 8, 1865.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
TENTH CAVALRY.
Field and Staff-Maj. Harvey E. Light, Eureka; captain of Company M, July 25, 1863; commissioned major, January 1, 1865; mustered out, November 11, 1865. Asst. Serg. William D. Scott, Greenville; commis- sioned, July 7, 1863; mustered out, November 11, 1865.
Company A-Jacob Orman, mustered out, November 11, 1865; John J. Riley, discharged for disability, December 26, 1864.
Company B-First Lieut. Nelson Robinson, Eureka; commissioned, August 3, 1865; mustered out, November 11, 1865. John Arntz, discharged, December 1, 1863: Robert Carr, mustered out, November 11, 1865.
Company C -- Thomas E. Dunn, mustered out, November 11, 1865; Nathan Nichols, mustered out, November 11, 1865.
Company D-Ovid Harris, Jr .. discharged by order, June 17, 1865; Ira E. Harvey, killed at Marlinsville, Virginia, April 8, 1865; William H. Printler, discharged by order. August 22. 1865: Thomas Snow, discharged by order, June 17, 1865: J. F. Thornell, discharged by order, June 17, 1865.
Company E-Capt. Harvey F. Light, Eureka; commissioned, August 10, 1863; promoted to major, January 1, 1865. Second Lieut. Nelson Rob- inson, Jr., Eureka ; entered service. Angust 20. 1863 as sergeant Tenth Cav- alry; commissioned, January 6. 1865; promoted to first lieutenant Company B, August 3. 1865 : mustered ont. November 11, 1865. First Serg. Emery J. Blaiding, Winfield: enlisted. August 23. 1863, as sergeant Company E, Tenth Cavalry: promoted to second lieutenant Company F. September 2. 1865: mustered out. November 11. 1865. Serg. William R. Fort, Winfield ; enlisted, August 31. 1863: mustered out. November TI. 1865. Serg. John- son B. Reed, Pierson; enlisted. August 31, 1863: mustered out, November II, 1865. Corp. ITenry V. Darling, Evergreen : enlisted. August 18. 1863: mustered out. October 20, 1865. Corp. Edwin A. Berry. Fairplain ; enlisted. September 8, 1863; died of disease in Kentucky. February 16, 1864. Far- rier Alfred V. Roosa, Eureka: enlisted, October 20, 1863: mustered out. November 11, 1865. Wagoner Levi Spaulding. Eureka: enlisted. August 25, 1863; discharged for disability, April 26, 1864. Alfred Almy, dis- charged by order. September 11. 1865: Anson Buck, discharged by order, February 20, 1865; Lewis Bigbone, mustered out, November 11. 1865; Charles Barnum, mustered out, November 11. 1865; Caleb Barnes, mus-
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tered out, November 11, 1865; John H. Clark, mustered out, November II, 1865; Elijah Carr, mustered out. November 11, 1865; James E. Douglass. mustered out. May 18, 1865; James N. Furguson, mustered out, November 11, 1865; Thomas Gorman, discharged by order, June 17, 1865; Orrin Hubbard, discharged by order, June 4, 1865; Benjamin Hewitt, mustered out, November 11, 1865; Churchill Kilburn, discharged by order, June 17, 1865; Charles M. Moon, discharged by order, June 17, 1865; Eugune F. McMilan, died of disease at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, January 23, 1863; Alexander McKelvey, died of discase at Knoxville, Tennessee, June 25, 1864: Jerome Poulter, mustered out, November 23. 1865; George H. Rose. discharged by order. June 29. 1865: Braddock Show, discharged by order, June 29. 1865: William II. Sager, died of disease at Knoxville, Tennessee, June .25, 1864; Geradus Smith, died of disease at Detroit, Michigan, Febru- ary 8. 1865; Demas Satterlee, mustered out, November 11, 1865; Urias Stout, mmustered out. November 11, 1865: Stephen Skeels, mustered out, November 11, 1865: George B. Wheeler, mustered out. November 11, 1865.
Company F -- Second Lient. Emory J. Blaiding, Greenville; commis- sioned. September 2, 1865: mustered out. November 11. 1865 Samnel Spen- cer, mustered out, October 4, 1865.
Company G-Henry A. Allen, discharged for disability; Samuel B. Carpenter, mustered out. November 11. 1865; Henry H. French, mustered out. November 11, 1865: James M. Orcutt, mustered out, May 27, 1865: Oliver Price. mustered ont, September 1. 1865: Jackson Riker, mustered out. November 11, 1865; Daniel E. Stokes, mustered out, November IT. 1865; Buel Towley, mustered out. November 11, 1865.
Company H-John Decker. died of disease at Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, December 12, 1863.
Company H-Jonathan T. Gorton, died of disease at Camp Nelson. Kentucky, February 11, 1864: Delos Pierce, died of disease at Grand Rap- ids. Michigan. November 23. 1863.
Company M -- William Jones, mustered out. November 11, 1865; Ste- phen Sharpe. discharged. April 14. 1865 : Daniel Shook, discharged by order. August 30. 1865.
FIFTH INFANTRY.
Company E -- Homer C. Munson, dropped from rolls while prisoner of war.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
TENTH INFANTRY.
Company A --- Charles Best, mustered out, July 19. 1865.
Company C-Jerome Hilliker, mustered out, July 19, 1865.
Company E-James Walker, mustered out. July 19, 1865.
TWELFTH INFANTRY.
Company D -- Thomas Bennett, discharged by order. October 13, 1865; Solomon Sherwood, discharged by order. October 13, 1865.
Company E-Merritt Halleck, discharged by order, October 13, 1865.
Company F -- John B. Wetherly, discharged at end of service, Septem- ber 9, 1865.
THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.
Company D ---- Kirk Wewallen, discharged by order, June 1, 1865.
Company F-Oscar P'. Benett, died in action at Chickamauga, Tennes- see, September 19, 1863; Andrew Little, veteranized, January 18, 1864, mus- tered out, July 25, 1865; Augustus Wiser, veteranized, January 18, 1864, discharged by order. August 1. 1865.
Company G --- Lora (. Jenks, veteranized, January 18, 1865, mustered out, February 25. 1865.
FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
Company A-Francis Strong, mustered out, July 18, 1865; Abraham Van Horn, mustered out, July 18, 1865.
Company B-Abiah Johns, discharged by order, June 1, 1865; Nathan B. Scott, mustered out, July 18, 1865.
Company C -- David Borgen, mustered out, July 18, 1865.
Company D -- Henry Bump. died of disease at Fort Schuyler, New York, January II, 1865.
Company E-Albert Washburn, mustered out, June 15, 1865.
Company F-John Fields, mustered out, July 18, 1865; Horatio Kibby, discharged for disability, July 1, 1862; Lewis J. Moore, mustered out, July 18, 1865; Daniel Youngs, died of disease at Willet's Island, (New York Harbor), May 23, 1865.
Company H-James P. Neve, mustered out, July 18, 1865.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Company I-Robert Jenks mustered out, July 18, 1865; Luther Jenks, mustered out, July 18, 1865.
TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
Company D-Emanuel Hissing, discharged for disability, August 8, 1863.
FIRST MICHIGAN SHARPSHOOTERS.
Company H-James Rhineholt, died of disease at Andersonville, Geor- gia, September 8, 1864.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND UNITED STATES COLORED INFANTRY.
Company E -- Jeremiah Read, died of disease, September 29, 1865; Elijah Read, died of disease at Orangeburg, South Carolina, June 27, 1865.
FOURTH CAVALRY.
Company A -- Alexander C. Leman, died of disease at Nashville, Ten- nessee, November 27, 1863.
FIFTH CAVALRY.
Company A-Edwin A. Wheaton, mustered out, June 22. 1865.
SEVENTH CAVALRY.
Company D-Stephen Aldrich, mustered out, July 10, 1865; David Turner, died of disease at Frederick, Maryland, December 22, 1864.
Company E -- Francis F. Hawkins, mustered out. July 22, 1865.
CHAPTER XXVI.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The educational chapter of any community begins approximately at the same time as that of the settlement of the community. This is true in prac- tically every instance in the settlement of a new county. Our pioneers, although not having the facilities with which to acquire education, were very eager that their offspring should not be handicapped in this way. With the beginning of each settlement as soon as there were as many as from seven to twelve or fifteen children, a small school house was either erected or school was kept in private families. The carly school history of Montcahn county demands more than a meager description of the early log school house and the surroundings which at that time were part of the educational systemis. Realizing the part which the one-room log school house played in laying the foundation for our present school system, it seems no more than right that consideration should be given to the first school or schools in each township. The following will give the history of the first schools in each of the twenty townships of Montcalm county :
BELVIDERE SCHOOLS.
The first school held in Belvidere township was taught in the summer of 1868. In the spring of this same year the first school district, which comprised one-fourth of the township directly south of the center, was set off, a meeting called and the necessary officers elected. The rough boards of which the school house was made were bought with money raised among the inhabitants by subscription. When the material had been collected and the shakes for the roof prepared, the inhabitants assembled and the work of construction was of short duration. This house stood near the south quarter post on section 22. This district and that included by Six Lakes were the only whole school districts formed in this township at an early date. considerable territory being attached in fractional school districts to other townships.
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BLOOMER SCHOOLS.
As to where the first school in Bloomer was held or by whom it was taught, there is much diversity of opinion and contradictory statements. It seems that in the fall or winter of 1852-53 Alvira K. Miner opened a school in the little log cabin built by her father upon his settlement in the township, he in the meantime having erected a more commodious one for the family. The names of the pupils in this school were Emma G. Harley, Martha Wil- sey, Bertram Wilsey, Olive Miner and Onella Hawley.
The next summer the settlers who lived in the eastern part of the town- ship held a school meeting and concluded to built a school house. They accordingly put up a log building, which was nearly square (about twelve feet). It had two half-windows, or single sash of six lights each. The benches were split from basswood logs, and set up on pins. It had a fire- place, such as was common in those days, made of stones and mud, and a stick chimney on the outside. Alvira Miner was secured to teach this school also, and it is said by some that she received one dollar per week for her services, but others seem to doubt the ability of the early settlers to raise so munificent a sum. The next term was also taught by her. She was much esteemed as a teacher.
The same summer when Miss Miner taught her first school in this cabin the spirit of enterprise seized the settlers in the vicinity of Miner's Corners. A school meeting was called, Anderson Miner was elected direc- tor. while David Siebrig and Mark Wilsey were called upon to fill the respon- sible positions of moderator and assessor. It was then resolved to build a school house. Accordingly, a body of logs was raised, making a room six- teen by twenty feet. It was finished much after the description of that in the east part of the township. Which was built first it is impossible to say definitely, but it was probably the one at the center. The first teacher was Ruth Dodge, from Ionia county.
BUSHNELL SCHOOLS.
At a meeting of the school board, held on April 10, 1850, district No. I was formed by Chauncey W. Olmstead and William Husker, members of the board. This district comprised sections 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34. A school house was soon after built on the farm of Joseph Stevens, just south of the south branch of Prairie creek. This school house served
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MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the purpose of town house, meeting house, etc., for the whole township for a number of years. The first election held in this building was for the pur- pose of electing county and state officers on the 10th of November, 1850. Jane Ransom, whose people had settled in Ronald. Ionia county, taught the first school in Bushnell.
Pursuant to an application of persons interested, on November 12. 1852. the school board again met and set off district No. 2, which included sections 13, 15, 23. 24. 25. 26. 35 and 36. It will be seen that this district included all the settlements in the township east of Prairie creek. A school house was immediately built of logs on the northwest corner of the north- east quarter of section 25. and for a number of years served as a meeting house for all denominations, and filled a want. on this side of the stream. similar to the school house on the other side.
District No. 3 was formed by the board on the 17th of November. 1853. at which time it comprised sections 5, 6, 7. 8, 17, 18 and the western half of sections 4. 0 and 16. On the 8th of December, following, the board set off district No. 4. which included the southwestern part of the town- ship. Its boundaries were soon more or less changed, as were those of the other districts.
The record of examination bears date of November 8, 1854. at which time Joseph W. Metcalf and Julia Coates applied and were given certifi- cates. A report. entered on February 10. 1855, shows that schools had been taught in districts 1, 2 and 3. It also indicates the apportionment of the mill tax in the several districts to have been as follows: District No. 1 received $18.00; No. 2. $8.53; No. 3. $11.60. The number of children attending in district No. I was 60; in No. 2. 20; No. 3, 37.
CATO SCHOOLS.
In the year 1857, after the organization of Cato, that part which con- stitutes the present township was divided into two school districts, which probably comprised the greater portion of its inhabitants, although the boundaries of these districts cannot now be definitely stated. They were, however, numbered 1 and 2, according to the time when they were organ- ized, but it is believed that school was first opened in district No. 2.
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