USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 12
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The following incident was related to the writer by Mr. Ryer- son, and shows the manner of enforcing a rule of the early settlers requiring a uniformity in dress, a rule which prohibited the wearing of "stove-pipe" hats and white shirts. A young man from Grand Rapids one day made his appearance on the "streets" of Muskegon wearing these contraband articles of dress, and who, by the way, was putting on numerous airs in consequence. A mock court was soon organized, a complaint was made against him for horse steal- ing. He was arrested, examined and bound over to the Circuit Court. The constable started with him for the jail (a log stable), and on the way he was allowed to escape, as had been pre-arranged. The fellow ran for the woods at a rate of speed that would have astonished a deer, while the whole town followed him, yelling at the top of their voices, and pretending to try to overtake him. The hat was never seen in Muskegon again.
Mr. Ryerson removed to Chicago in 1851, where he has since resided, excepting about seven years which he spent with his family in Europe.
THEODORE NEWELL was a native of Connecticut, and settled in Muskegon in 1836. He lived here a few years and then removed to
Chicago, and afterwards to Kenosha, Wis., and thence to Chicago again, where he died in 1869.
HENRY PENNOYER settled in 1836 at the mouth of Muskegon Lake, his object in locating at that place being to secure a claim to land in that vicinity, as it was then supposed that the future city of Muske- gon would be built on the sand hills near the Mouth. He and his brother, Augustus Pennoyer, built a mill the same year at Pennoyer Creek, a few miles above Newaygo. Mr. Pennoyer left Muskegon soon after and removed to Grand Haven. He now lives near Nunica.
SAMUEL ROSE was born in Grandville, Mass., in 1817, and came to Grand Rapids in 1836, where he met Augustus Pennoyer, who was then getting ready to build a mill at Pennoyer Creek, at Newaygo. He made an agreement to work for Mr. Pennoyer, and started with some other men to go through the woods to the place they were to work. There being no road, and not keeping the right direction, they got lost and were out five days before they reached Muskegon River. Then, thinking that they were above Newaygo, they started down the stream, and after a time they came to Muskegon Lake. After obtaining some provisions, they started up the river, and passing the site of the village of Newaygo (at which place there was then no settlement), reached their destination. Mr. Rose has continued to reside on Muskegon River, sometimes at Muskegon, or at other towns up the river; his present residence being near New- aygo.
GEORGE W. WALTON was born January 3, 1812, in Essex County, N. Y. In 1833 he removed to Chicago, and settled in Muskegon in May, 1837. During his early residence here he was very active in public matters; was supervisor of the township for several years, having been first elected in 1847, and was one of the first postmast- ers of Muskegon. Mr. Walton removed to California in 1845, where he remained several years, and went thence to Nevada, where he died in 1874.
JONATHAN H. FORD was born in the State of New York. He set- tled in Muskegon in 1837, and built the mill at the mouth of Bear Creek. During his early residence here he was elected one of the associate judges of the Ottawa County Court. He left Muskegon in 1845, and now resides in Wisconsin.
ISAAC D. MERRILL was born in 1809, and settled in Muskegon in 1839. He has continued to reside on Muskegon River since that time, his present residence being at Bridgeton.
GEORGE RUDDIMAN was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Sept. 29, 1815, and came to America in 1833, stopping one year in Pennsyl- vania, when he came to Michigan, and has since resided most of the time in this State. He settled in Muskegon in April, 1840, and en- gaged as a millwright in repairing the mill at the mouth of Bear Lake. In 1841 he took charge of this mill, and in 1844, in com- pany with his brother, John Ruddiman, he bought the property where the McGraft & Montgomery mill now stands.
In 1840 Mr. Ruddiman attended the election in Muskegon and voted for Gen. Harrison for President of the United States. Geo. Ruddiman built the first boat used for towing logs and vessels in Muskegon Lake. It was a small sidewheel steamer, and was called the Peggy. He now resides in the township of Muskegon.
GEORGE B. WOODBURY was born in Worcester, Mass., and in 1837 removed to Michigan City, where he remained until October, 1840, when he left and settled in Muskegon, coming all the distance along the shore of Lake Michigan in a small boat. Soon after reaching Muskegon he obtained employment as engineer in the T. Newell & Co. mill. He continued this for several years, at the same time carrying on a blacksmith shop, where he employed his leisure time in making traps for the Indians, and in doing other blacksmith
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
work. This was the first shop of the kind in Muskegon, and the only one at the time north of Grand River.
Mr. Woodbury in those days was rather fond of a practical joke, as were most of the early settlers. The following is remembered as one of them: A man from Monroe, who was rather inclined to put on airs, came to Muskegon with a quantity of wild-cat money, which at that time was not entirely worthless, but was considerably depreciated in value; and thinking he was off in the woods among ignorant men, he endeavored to buy lumber with it at its par value. Samuel Rose, who happened to be up the river at the time, had a raft of lumber lying in the water near where the flouring mill now stands, and Mr. Woodbury sold the lumber to the Monroe man, agreeing to wait for his pay until the lumber was hauled out, at the same time telling everybody to keep the joke quiet. The man worked three days in the water and got out about 25,000 feet, when Mr. Rose returned and exposed the joke, when the man left town a somewhat wiser man, taking his "wild-cat" with him.
Another joke was to the following effect, played on a loud talk- ing new-comer, who had failed to become popular with the settlers. Mr. Woodbury one day said to Mr. Ryerson that it was too bad that that stranger should be eaten up in that way; that Mr. Green ought to suffer for it. The loud talker, as was intended, heard the remark and immediately inquired in regard to the particulars. Mr. Wood- bury, in reply said "that Mr. Green had sent a stranger upon the hill alone to cut logs, and that the hodags had killed and eaten him, leaving nothing but his boots." He started at once for Mr. Green's house to give him a terrible lecture. Mr. Green said it was one of Ryerson and Woodbury's jokes, but he would not believe it and con- tinued to blame him for thus allowing a stranger to expose himself. Mrs. Green endeavored to corroborate her husband's statement, when the loud talker said "he did not want her to put in her clack; she could not make him believe that Mr. Green was not to blame." The man was so much afraid of the imaginary animals that he soon after left the town. Hence the origin of the term Hodags.
SAMUEL J. GREEN was born in Ohio, and settled in Muskegon in 1840. He died in May, 1858.
JOHN H. KNICKERBOCKER was born in 1815, at Watertown, N. Y. He settled in Muskegon in 1840 and died August 26, 1856.
RICHARD RYERSON was born in Patterson, N, J., February 9, 1812, where he lived till he was about twenty years of age, when he removed to Western New York, where he lived until 1843, when he came and settled in Muskegon. He was engaged during the first year of his residence here at logging, at prices that would not be considered very good at the present time, sometimes selling good logs at $2 per thousand feet. Mr. Ryerson for several years kept the Walton House, the first frame hotel in Muskegon. He resides in the township of Cedar Creek, in this county.
ALFRED A. MAXIM was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Jan- uary 26, 1820. Coming West in 1843, he made Kenosha, Wis., his first stopping place. In November of that year he started from Chi- cago for Grand Haven on a schooner, with two yoke of oxen and some men whom he had employed, to seek his fortune at lumbering. The next day after reaching Grand Haven he started along the beach of Lake Michigan for Muskegon, there being at that time no road through the woods. They had not proceeded far when they came to a place where the drift wood had filled up the narrow space between the water and a high bank; and not being able to drive around they were obliged to unload the wagons-part of the load being barrels of pork-take apart the wagons and carry them and their contents over the hill. They then led the oxen around and having yoked them and put the wagons together, loaded up and started again.
Mr. Maxim was entirely unacquainted with quicksand, and when
driving along on the smooth sand at the mouth of Little Black Lake the oxen began to sink, and before he could get upon dry land they had sunk so that their heads alone were visible. After great exertion they finally succeeded in rescuing the animals alive from their perilous situation. They left the beach at the mouth of Black Lake and went through the woods, taking their course by compass, and reached Muskegon Lake near where A. V. Mann & Co.'s mill is now situated. From thence they followed along up the lake and stopped at the Muskegon House then kept by Mr. Dill. These wagons were the first ever driven into Muskegon. Mr. Maxim has been engaged in lumbering most of the time since, and continued to reside on Muskegon River until recently.
JOHN RUDDIMAN was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, March 20, 1814, and came to this country in 1831. He lived four years in Pennsylvania, when he came to Michigan and lived in Detroit. In 1839 he removed to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1843, when he settled in Muskegon, where he has since continued to reside. In 1849 he built a mill on the north side of Muskegon Lake, in which, in 1850, he put in the first siding mill in use on the lake. He built a flouring mill at the mouth of Bear Lake in 1852, the first in oper- ation on Muskegon Lake.
ELIAS W. MERRILL was born in Falmouth, Maine, October 2, 1812, came to Michigan in 1837, and settled in Muskegon in June, 1844. He has continued to reside here, excepting one year when he lived at Bridgeton and one year in his native State. Mr. Merrill was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1856; was postmaster in 1861, State Senator in 1865, and postmaster a second time in 1869, holding the office till 1875.
ROBERT W. MORRIS was born in 1813, in the State of New York, aud settled on the Muskegon River in 1842, and a few years after came to Muskegon. For a number of years he was an active busi- ness man, but his health having failed he retired from business in 1865 and removed to Grand Rapids, where he died May 5, 1866.
ASHLEY B. FURMAN was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in January, 1819, and settled in Muskegon in 1845. Although he saw very much of the early history and settlement of Muskegon, it is doubtful whether the reply he once made to the question, "How long had he known Muskegon River?" was strictly true. He said "he had known Muskegon River ever since it was a small stream, in fact since it was first laid out." Mr. Furman died October 4, 1872.
The foregoing are sketches of all those who settled in Muske- gon during the first ten years after the first settlement was made, so far as the writer has been able to learn. Some of these sketches are not as perfect as would be desired, the necessary information not being accessible.
SETTLERS PREVIOUS TO 1860.
The following is a list of the persons who settled in Muskegon subsequent to 1846 and prior to the year 1860, as far as the writer has been able to obtain their names:
1846-James Graham, P. Blake.
1847-Charles Martin, Frank Young.
1848-Ezra Stevens, Nich. Petrie, C. Davis, Chas. Carmichael, E. A. Partridge, Mrs. Julia Witherell, Mrs. Fanny Shepherd, John Witherell, Mrs. Albert Hodge.
1849-M. W. Lloyd, Mrs. Ellen Boyd, Jolın Cameron, C. P. McSherry, E. H. Wylie, Dennis Garvey, Theo. Wilson, Nich. Kempff, P. J. Connell.
1850-Julius Bosksch, A. Trowbridge, F. Eimer, John Hetz, Jonathan Boyce, Thomas Mills, Fred Drixelius, Werner Kister, John Carmichael.
1851-David Blake.
1852 -- A. J. McHenry, Hubert Stein, J. D. Davis, Jacob Hetz, Charles T. Hills, Lars Larson, Fred Bowles, Edward Boyce, Ray-
RES OF L.G.MASON, COR JEFFERSON ST & GRAND AVE. MUSKEGON, MICH.
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
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mond O'Harrow, M. S. Burge, Dennis Reardon, John A. Curry. 1853-J. H. Swan, Charles W. Root, Wm. Glue, Peter Gross- man.
1854-Ira O. Smith, P. Dowd, Henry VanBampus, Ole Oleson, Wm. Kotelman, Nich. Schuler, Henry Jacobs, John Bronson, And- rew Olson, Edward Ford.
1855-Alex. Cotie, John W. Kent, Martin Kochlin, Peter Muhl, Capt. Henry Dobson, J. H. Hackley, Matthew Wilson, Henry H. Getty.
1856-L. G. Mason, S. D. Murray, R. P. Easton, Luman Hamblin, Gideon Truesdell, A. B. Miner, S. R. Sanford, F. Eimer, H. Riehle, J. W. Moon, John Torrent, Chas. H. Hackley, S. H. Stevens, Dr. A. Maurer.
1857-A. A. Bullock, M. F. Ramier, P. Schnorbach, Lewis M. Haines, John T. Dibble, Chas. D. Nelson, E. Potter, W. F. Wood, A. V. Mann, W. L. Ryan, Thos. Wheeler, W. H. Lewis, Bennett Ripley, Wm. Rutherford, Chas. Graves.
1858-Henry H. Holt, Wm. Pickett, George Schwegler, A. Rodgers.
1859-S. B. Peck, Geo. Arms, A. Mulder, J. Mulder, Geo. F. Outhwaite.
THE SCHOOLS.
The first school in Muskegon was a private one, taught by Miss Clark in the winter of 1848-'9, in a room in the dwelling house of Charles Martin. Among those now living in this county, who at- tended this school, are Henry Lasley, of Montague; William, August and Joseph Baddeau, of Holton, and Mrs. Minerva Curry, of this city. The first school house erected was built by private subscrip- tion in the autumn of 1849, on the corner of Clay avenue and Ter- race street. It was 20x30 feet, one story, and cost about $300. It was afterwards considerably enlarged, and was for several years the only school house and place for religious services in the village. It was finally sold, removed, and converted into Holt's Hall, which was destroyed in the great 'fire, August 1st, 1874. Wm. D. Holt taught in this school house the first winter. Miss Roberts ( after- wards the wife of Frank Cole) taught during the second winter and the summer following.
The first union school building was erected in 1860, while Thomas Wheeler was Director of the district. This was replaced by the present building in 1875.
Mrs. C. T. Hills, formerly Miss Margaret Mcintyre, was en- gaged in the puplic schools in this city, either as principal or first assistsnt, for fifteen years, her engagement being for the longest term of any teacher thus far employed.
THE CHURCHES.
The first priest of the Roman Catholic Church who officiated in Muskegon after the town was settled was Father Visosky, of Grand Rapids, who came here in 1835 and held services in Lasley's house. Services were held here occasionally after that time, but nothing was done toward building a church until 1856, when Father Van Pamel, of Grand Rapids, commenced the work. The original building was completed and the first service held in it in 1857. It was known as St. Mary's church. Since that time several additions and improve- ments have been made. The first resident priest in Muskegon was Father Stonehouse, who settled here in 1857. Father Rievers oc- cupied the position eleven years, and died in 1872, and was suc- ceeded by Father Van Pamel, who returned to his former charge.
In 1843 Rev. Mr. Warring of the Methodist Episcopal Church, made a visit to Muskegon, when Mr. Ryerson, having fitted up seats in his boarding house, went around and notified the people of the proposed service. The settlers were all present, including an old man who was very much under the influence of liquor. The minis-
ter was preaching when the man went in, and was saying something in regard to the Jews; and as the old man passed along he chimed in, "and gentiles too." No notice was taken of this intrusion, and he took his seat on the stairs that led to the floor above. He soon, however, began to respond very loudly, not with the word amen, but instead the Indian on-in-day. Mr. Woodbury, who was sitting near, often making repeated attempts to keep him quiet, took him by the coat collar and pulled him up stairs, and the service proceeded in an orderly manner. At the close a collection was taken amount- ing to $7.50. This was the first Protestant service held in Mus- kegon.
From this time until 1850, ministers here on a visit or other- wise, held services, several of whom came at the request of the late Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, of Grand Haven. Among them was the Rev. Mr. Wheeler, who came a number of times in the winter of 1844-5 and held services in the boarding house occupied by Mr. Maxim. In the spring of 1850 an agreement was made with Rev. Mr. Rey- nolds, of the Congregationalist church, who lived at Lamont, to preach each alternate Sunday. The services were held in the school house, and the arrangement was continued through the summer and part of the following winter, he being the' first minister who had a regular appointment. Sleighs were unknown in Muskegon in those days, but C. Davis had a one-horse sled on which was a wood rack which he used occasionally when the snow was deep, in taking the ladies to church, accommodating as many as could stand in the rack.
The first M. E. minister who preached here regularly was Rev. Mr. Bennett in 1854-5.
Rev. J. M. Pratt, of the M. E. church settted in Muskegon as a minister in 1856, and soon after began to make arrangements for building a church. The Methodist church was commenced in the spring of 1857, and was so far advanced that the basement was used in the spring of 1858; but it was not fully completed until the spring of 1859, when the dedication services were held on the 9th day of June, Rev. J. K. Gillett at that time being the pastor. The church, including the bell, cost as appears by the report of the building com- mittee, $11,600.
The first resident Congregationalist minister of Muskegon, was Rev. Mr. Payson, who settled here in 1857, and remained until 1859. In March, 1859, Rev. A. St. Clair located here and began to preach, and the Congregational Society was organized soon after. The services being held until 1863 in the basement of the M. E. church, at the same time the Methodist services were being held in the room above. In 1863 the Congregational church was built, costing about $7,000.
The original Dutch Reform church was built in 1859. This was a small building, and was sold and removed for a school house. The large Dutch Reform church was built in 1865.
The Dutch Reform church on Terrace street was built in 1866.
The Universalist church was built in 1865.
The Baptist church was built in 1871.
The Scandinavian Lutheran church was built in 1865.
St. Paul's Episcopal church was built in 1873.
The Danish Lutheran church was built in 1874.
The first Swedish Lutheran church was built in 1875. This was burned in 1881, and the present one built.
The first Sunday school organized in Muskegon was in 1852, by Mrs. E, W. Merrill, Mrs. J. H. Knickerbocker, Mrs. E. Huginin and Mrs. Chas. Odell. This was discontinued after a time, and a school was organized in 1874 by Fred Bowles, Mrs. Elizabeth Bowles and some others assisting, since which date a Sunday school has been continually in existence in Muskegon. The first church choir in Muskegon was the one connected with the M. E. church, and was organized in 1858. It consisted of Barney Hatch, William
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
Glue, F. F. Bowles, bass; C. W. Davis, tenor; Mrs. C. T. Hills, Mrs. G. B. Woodbury, Mrs. G. W. Hungerford, Mrs. B. Ripley, so- prano, and Mrs. Delia Lacey, alto. Mrs. Hills was the organist, using a melodeon that was carried to and from the school house on each occasion of its use.
POSTAL FACILITIES.
The Muskegon post office was established in 1848, and Geo. W. Walton appointed postmaster. The post office was kept in the old Walton house for several years, when it was removed to the old warehouse building, now standing near Chapin & Foss' mill. Here it also remained for several years, until John B. Wheeler was ap- pointed postmaster, who removed the office to the small building on Water street, the second building north of T. Merrill's livery stable. The receipts of the office for the first year amounted to about $36. Previous to the organization of the Muskegon post office, the near- est office was Grand Haven, where the mail matter for the Muske- gon people was received. There was no regular arrangement for getting the mail from Grand Haven, and it was brought here by persons who might chance to go there, and occasionally an Indian or some other person was sent for the mail. During the first few years after the post office was established the mail was received from Grand Rapids via Ravenna once each week. After a time the mail service was increased to three times per week, wnich continued until 1860, when the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad being completed, a daily mail route was established to Ferrysburg.
THE PRESS.
There was no newspaper published in Muskegon until the spring of 1857, when Chas. Cowan started the Muskegon Journal. It was Republican in politics, and was published weekly in a room in the old Walton house. After a short time Mr. Cowan took in Thomas H. Hodder as a partner, and the firm continued the publi- cation of the paper until the autumn of the same year, when it was discontinued.
The next newspaper was the Muskegon Reporter, which was started in April, 1859, by Fred L. Lee & Co. This was also a Re- publican weekly, and was published until October, 1864, when it was discontinued. August 20, 1864, John Bole started the Muske- gon News, which he published a few months and then sold to Wm. K. Gardner, who continued the publication until March, 1865, when he sold his interest to Ferdinand Weller. The latter soon after bought the press and type of the Reporter office and revived that paper, publishing the two papers. After a time they were united and known as the News and Reporter. In December, 1869, Geo. C. Rice started the Muskegon Chronicle. The Lakeside Weekly was started by Wait & Jndson in 1871, who were succeeded by Chas. S. Hilbourn in 1873, who changed its name to Lakeside Register. In April, 1877, Mr. Weller purchased the Lakeside Register and con- solidated it with the semi-weekly News and Reporter.
The first Democratic paper started in Muskegon was the Mus- kegon Telegraph, which was succeeded by the Muskegon Enterprise and Gazette and Bulletin, the latter being discontinued September 9, 1873.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first physician who settled in Muskegon was Dr. Chas. P. McSherry, in 1849.
The first attorney was Edwin Potter, in 1857; the second attor- ney was Henry H. Holt, in 1858. The latter was elected prose- cuting attorney of Ottawa County, of which Muskegon then formed a part, the same year.
Samuel R. Sanford was elected sheriff of Ottawa County in 1858.
R. O'Harrow was general manager in the mill of C. Davis &
Co. from January, 1854, until January, 1881, a length of time in one position not exceeded by that of any person in Muskegon.
The first banking office in Muskegon was started by Capt. T. J. Rand in 1859. He also erected the building, in 1867, now occu- pied by the Lumberman's National bank, which was the first brick building in Muskegon.
Muskegon County was organized in the winter of 1859, from territory detached from Ottawa County. C. Davis, E. W. Merrill and R. W. Morris were very active in securing the passage of the act, there being a very decided opposition to the measure. The first election of county officers was held on the 4th of April of that year, when James H. Lobdell was elected Sheriff, E. H. Wylie, County Clerk; J. D. Davis, County Treasurer; C. D. Nelson, Registrar of Deeds; Jesse D. Pullman, Judge of Probate; Henry H. Holt, Prosecuting Attorney, and Edwin Potter, Circuit Court Commis- sioner.
The officers entered on the discharge of the duties of their sev- eral offices on the 1st of June following, when the uew county com- menced its existence.
The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held in the office of Henry H. Holt, on the 18th of July, 1859, when E. W. Merrill represented the Township of Muskegon; I. O. Smith, Nor- ton; Nathan Whitney, Casnovia, and Thomas D. Smith, Ravenna. E. W. Merrill was elected Chairman of the Board. The first busi- ness transacted was detaching a part of Muskegon Township and organizing the same into the Township of Egelston.
The Supervisors of the Townships of White River and Dalton refused to meet with the Board, claiming that the organization of the county was illegal and void. I. E. Carleton, the Supervisor from Oceana Township, was afterwards prosecuted for neglect of official duty. A statement of facts was agreed upon and submitted to a jury, which found him guilty upon a special verdict; whereupon Judge Littlejohn, who was the first judge of the County, imposed a small fine. Mr. Carleton then took the case to the Supreme Court -as it was understood he would when a decision was rendered- which sustained the organization, the court being equally divided.
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