USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
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P. A. DUCEY, one of the most extensive mill owners at Muske- gon, is a native of Ireland and came to this country in 1850. After spending four years in New York he came to Michigan, and was two years at Grand Rapids. At the breaking out of the war he was in Colorado and enlisted in the Second Infantry. He was in the service four years, and was promoted to Colonel previous to his discharge, "which he received in 1865. After leaving the army he came to Muskegon, and for five years was in the planing mill busi- ness. In 1870 he engaged in the lumber business with John Tor- rent, the firm being Torrent & Ducey. In 1878 the Torrent & Arms Lumber Company was organized, of which Mr. Ducey is treasurer. In the spring of 1881 the Ducey Lumber Company was organized, of which Mr. Ducey is president. Mr. Ducey is a man of great industry and has worked his way along until he has become one of the most extensive lumbermen on the lake.
FRANCIS A. FISH, engineer at the mill of the North Muskegon Lumber Company, came here from Montague in the spring of 1881 to take his present position. He has been employed in lumber mills for twenty-three years, twelve of which he was at Montague. Mr. Fish served in the war as a member of the 15th Illinois Regi- ment from 1861 to 1862.
JOHN GARVEY, JR., was born in Kenosha, Wis., and has been a resident of Muskegon for thirty years. In June, 1881, Torrent & Arms opened a new store at North Muskegon and Mr. Garvey has been in charge from that time.
JAMES HAWKINS, village Marshal of North Muskegon, is a na- tive of Canada. In 1874 he came to Muskegon from Detroit, and from that time until elected Marshal in the spring of 1881, he was engaged at mill work. He was the first Marshal elected under the village charter.
WILLIAM J. HAWKINS, foreman at Farr's mill, North Muskegon, has been a resident of North Muskegon nine years. Prior to com- ing here he was engaged at steamboating for several years. He has worked in Farr's mill since 1875, and foreman since 1878.
JOHN HOY is in charge of F. S. Farr's store at North Muske- gon. Came to Muskegon from Saugatuck, Mich., in 1874, and has been in his present position since 1879.
W. T. Hoy, M. D., in charge of the drug store of Farr & Co., North Muskegon, is a native of Spain and came to this country in 1825. He was engaged in the practice of medicine for several years at Saugatuck, Mich., and in 1873 came to Muskegon and continued in practice until the summer of 1881 he took his present position. Dr. Hoy was in the army as surgeon of the 3d Mich. Cavalry from 1863 to 1865.
ROBERT HOY, foreman of the Storr's mill, came to Muskegon seven years ago and has been engaged at mill work. He has been in the Storr's mill four years and has been foreman since Sept.
ROBERT MCLEAN, saw filer, in charge of the circular saws at Torrent & Arms' mill, North Muskegon, has been filing for seven- teen years, and in his present place since the spring of 1881.
JOHN MERCIER, saw filer at Storr's mill, North Muskegon, came to Muskegon from New York State and has been filing twelve years. He began in his present place in the spring of 1881.
D. A. MINER, saw filer, in charge of the gang saws at the mill of the North Muskegon Lumber Company, has been in his present position since the mill was started in the spring of 1881. He has been engaged at mill work since 1862, and has been filing in mills on the lake since 1870.
E. C. MISNER belongs to the rank of enterprising young lum- bermen of Muskegon. He is a native of Grand Haven and came to Muskegon from Casnovia in 1870. He at once engaged in inspect- ing and shipping lumber, and continued at that business until the organization of the Ducey Lumber Company in the spring of 1881, when he became connected with the company and elected its Secre- tary and Treasurer. The company's office is at North Muskegon, and Mr. Misner devotes his time and energies to the duties of his office.
DR. ZERAH MIZNER, practising physician and druggist of North Muskegon, was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1829, came to this State in the Fall of 1836, first to Lenawee County, and the following spring to Grand Rapids, where after a stay of six months he moved on to a farm in Plainfield, but after a time returned to the Rapids. In 1848 he first set foot in this county at White Lake and also at Duck Lake, working for Charles Mears in the lumber woods. In 1853 he returned to Plainfield, but in four years re- turned to White Lake for three years and went back to Kent Coun- ty. From Sept 3, 1865 to the fall of 1881 he was a resident of Whitehall, when he removed to North Muskegon, where he does a large business in preparing proprietory medicines as well as with his drug store and profession. He is highly respected by all who know him.
SAMUEL POLAND, saw filer, in charge of the circular saws at Farr's mill, North Muskegon, came to Muskegon from California, and has been filing since 1860. He has been in his present place since 1878.
CHARLES SMITH, engineer at Torrent & Brown's shingle mill, North Muskegon, is a native of Sweden and came to this country in 1879. Before coming to this country he was engineer on a steam- boat. He has been at his present place since the mill was started. 1881.
GEORGE TARRAND, of North Muskegon is a native of Canada. In 1867 he came to Muskegon from Wisconsin and engaged in lum- bering, which he has continued. He was a member of the lumber firm of Torrent, Brown & Co., which was formed in the spring of 1881. In the August following he sold his interest and retired from the firm.
LARS NELSON, filer, in charge of the gang saws at Farr's mill, North Muskegon, has lived in Muskegon since 1863, and has been filing since 1865. He has been in his present place since 1878.
JAMES E. SOVACALL is a resident of North Muskegon, where he
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
has resided since 1876. He makes a business of furnishing fishing parties on Bear Lake with boats, fishing tackle, &c.
W. D. THAYER, saw filer, in charge of the circular saws at the French mill, North Muskegon, is a resident of North Muskegon, and has been filing on the lake for fifteen years. He has been in his present place since the spring of 1880.
R. E. TRIPP, painter, North Muskegon, came from Chicago in 1881, and started in business as a general house and sign painter. He was engaged at decorative painting for many years in Chicago.
CHARLES VAN SICKEL, saw filer, in charge of the circular saws at Torrent & Brown's shingle and lumber mill, North Muskegon, has been filing at Grand Haven and Muskegon for eight years, and in his present place since the spring of 1881.
in 1859 Egelston was severed off, and in 1865 Laketon, which included what was afterward Lakeside, was set off, and the town reduced to its present limits. In 1859 and again in 1862 Hon. E. W. Merrill was Supervisor, Hon. H. H. Holt in 1860, 1861, 1863 and 1864, and again in 1868 and 1869. In 1865 S. B. Peck was Supervisor, in 1866 and 1867 A. V. Mann.
Muskegon township consists of a great deal of sandy land, and also considerable wet, marshy land-the property of the Booming Company, lying between Muskegon River and Cedar Creek. Here are the Sorting Grounds of the company, of which we present an illustration.
There are, however, in Muskegon some fine fruit farms, and land so near the great city must constantly increase in price.
MUSKEGON BOOMING CO'S SORTING GROUNDS.
WILLIAM McLEAN, saw filer, in charge of the gang saws at Tor- rent & Arms' saw mill, North Muskegon, has been filing for thirteen years on the lake, and in his present place since the spring of 1881.
MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP.
Our remarks on Muskegon Township under this special head- ing must be necessarily brief, as the history of the township is con- tained in that of the city with which it was municipally united un- til about twelve years ago. In 1870 for the first time Muskegon city sent representatives to the County Board of Supervisors, apart from the township. These were W. P. Odell from the First Ward, and J. H. Landreth from the Second. The first Supervisor of Mus- kegon Township apart from the city was Freeman S. Farr, in 1871 W. F. Storrs, and in 1872 and 1873 Wm. Smith, since which John Hall has represented it continuously.
Muskego or Muskegon was one time a town of extensive pro- portions, but first Norton including Fruitport was taken away. Then
· In 1881 this township's share of the county tax was $1073.83. Its population increased from 545 in 1874 to 924 in 1880, The Clerk in 1881 was James A. Robinson; Treasurer, Geo. Jolman; School Inspector, E. F. Martin; School Supt., Joseph U. T. Musk- tzot; Justices of the Peace, H. D. Hazen, J. Hall, G. Arms, E. D. Wilson and F. Young.
SOLOMON PUFFER, farmer in section 3, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1850, came to St. Joseph county, Mich., in 1859, and thence to Muskegon Township shortly after.
JOSEPH GUNN, market gardener, owns 15 acres in Muskegon, and 115 in Norton. He came to Grand Haven in 1864; born in Baden, Germany, March 23, 1830, and came to New York in 1854. He is patriotic and wished to enlist during the late war, but was refused on account of disability.
SAMUEL MOFFATT is perhaps the most extensive fruit grower in Muskegon, and his farm is in section 32, township 10 north, range 16 west.
MARTIN VAN DER LAAN, is a native of Holland, who came to Muskegon in 1869, and is a fruit grower and market gardener of a ten acre plot in section 32.
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
DERK DE VRIES, market gardener of 40 acre plot, came from Holland in 1863, and purchased his place in 1880.
MICHAEL CROWLEY, of town 10, range 17, was born in Ireland, and is an old resident of the township, being engaged in market gardening.
WARREN T. MARTIN, retired farmer, came from Chicago with Captain Havens in 1856, when Muskegon was but a hamlet, and endured the hardships incident to pioneer life in those early days. He enlisted in the 28th Reg. Co. "C", remaining during the entire war, and having secured an ample reward for his labors he, with his worthy spouse, is now enjoying his well-earned repose.
WILLIAM SMITH was born at Pettinain, Lanarkshire, Scotland, December 3, 1836. In 1859 he immigrated to Mono Township, Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada. He moved to Illinois in 1865, and to Muskegon in May, 1868, and has continued to reside here
Lakeside was formed, the first meeting being held at A. V. Mann & Co's office; J. W. Moon, A. M. Allen and F. H. Smith were ap- pointed the first Board of Inspectors. The Supervisors have been A. G. Smith, 1875; H. V. Riffenberg, 1876-77; John W. Moon, in 1878; L. G. Morgan, in 1879; Geo. Tillottson, in 1880; J. W. Moon, in 1881; P. P. Mizner, in 1882.
The Justices of the Peace in Lakeside in 1881 were Edward Miner, S. C. Moon and James O. Allen.
The Clerk in 1881 was A. N. Fowler; Treasurer, Reuben G. Duel; School Inspector, Henry McEvillie; School Supt., J. C. Mo- Glue.
The population of Lakeside in 1880 was 1,702, but it is largely increased since then. It stands among the most populous towns in the county, and united with Muskegon city forms a representative division of about half the population of the county. The school
MANN & MOON'S MILL.
since then, following the dairying and fruit growing business. He has served as Supervisor, Treasurer, Clerk and School Inspector of Muskegon Township. Three years ago he took a trip to his native place.
LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP.
This, although by far the smallest town in the county, ranks among the best in wealth, population and progressive advancement. It consists of part of section 28, and sections 34 and 35 of the township of Muskegon, of which it formerly was a part. The boundary line on the north is the channel at the mouth of the lake and on the south is the town of Norton, and on the east Muskegon Township
This township was a portion of the territory of Muskegon Township set apart as Laketon, which was organized in 1865, S. A. Brown being first Supervisor, and the union of Laketon and Lake- side was continued for nine years, during which time considerable dissatisfaction arose in the sections now forming Lakeside, as they were isolated by the lake from Laketon, and were a mere gore, nat- urally a portion of Muskegon. This dissatisfaction resulted in 1874 in a petition being signed by A. P. Horton and 37 others to set apart these sections. John Ruddiman and 22 others sent in a con- tra petition, but the former prevailed, and in 1875 the Town of
population in 1880 was 437. It contains three villages: Lakeside, which has recently had a postoffice named Ryerson established in it; Bluffton, with about 700 population and Port Sherman at the Mouth.
The principal feature of all these villages is, of course, the mills, which have already been described. A. V. Mann & Co. have been largely instrumental in the building up of the pretty village of Lakeside.
The Postmaster, MR. A. W. FOWLER, has been a resident of the place for thirteen years and has been prominently identified with its growth and business interests. After coming to Lakeside he was employed in the mills and for five years was foreman of A. V. Mann & Co's mill. In 1874 Mr. Fowler engaged in the mercantile business, and when the postoffice was established at Lakeside in 1881 he was appointed postmaster and now conducts the office in connection with his store.
Among the other prominent residents WILLIAM W. WHEATON, livery-man, Lakeside, is one of the enterprising young business men of this growing place. Mr. Wheaton was born and has always lived here. In the spring of 1879 he put up a large barn and stable and engaged in the business of conducting a general livery and boarding stable. He is doing a large and prosperous business.
F. B. PILLSBURY, Deputy Collector and Post-master at Bluffton, is a native of Maine, and came to Bluffton in 1872. 1n 1878 he
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
was appointed Post-master and Deputy Collector, both of which of- fices he still holds. He is also engaged in the mercantile business.
W. W. POMEROY, of Bluffton, is a native of Connecticut, and came to Bluffton in 1871 to take charge of the lumber interests of Kelley, Wood & Co. In 1877 the firm was succeeded by Geo. E. Wood, of Chicago, and Mr. Pomeroy has remained in charge of the business.
Bluffton is an important shipping point for lumber, and there is considerable complaint that the Customs Officer has been removed from there involving a journey to Muskegon on the part of vessel owners. Port Sherman at the Mouth has already been alluded to under the heading of Muskegon as a summer resort. At Port Sherman besides the large mills of C. D. Nelson & Co., there are the Sherman House, the Light House and the Government Life Sav- ing Station established in 1878. In 1850 there was but one house here, that of Fred. Drixilius, but there were there some 400 or 500 Ottawa Indians. The Sherman House, a wooden structure accom- modating about 30 guests in summer, was built by Captain Fuller in 1874, and is crowded during the summer season. Guests from Chicago, St. Louis and other cities enjoy there fishing, boating, bathing and the lake breezes.
CAPT. FULLER, proprietor of Sherman House, was born in Jef- ferson County, New York, in 1827, and has spent 33 years on the water. He married in 1850 Miss J. Farley, of Watertown, and has three sons and one daughter. The Captain is also a tug owner, and came to Muskegon in September, 1867.
MARTIN BURDGE, shop-keeper, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1816, and came to Illinois in 1836, being by trade a cabi- net maker, and also going into keeping boarders at Port Sherman in October, 1850, and has been there ever since, being engaged in fish- ing, hotel and store keeping. He married April 3, 1842, Phoebe Caroline Hawley, of Lockport, N. Y., and has lost his four children, and two by adoption. Mr. Burdge is a very interesting gentleman to meet, being full of reminiscences of his early days, especially of the Indians, with whom he held friendly relations, his Indian name being Mish-e-tone, or the bearded man.
CAPT. H. EASTMAN, of tug Kingsbury, was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1836, and came with his parents to a farm in Lake, Ill., and thence to Southern Wisconsin. When 18 he took to sailing on the lakes, and has made it his life work. Once he was laid up eighteen months, from breaking his leg by a fall from the mast head. He came to Muskegon in 1864, and has been in the tugging business ever since. He married in February, 1868, Ruth A. Eddy, of his native county, and has two sons, Carl E., born September 25, 1869, Floyd K., born September 2, 1880.
The light house is kept by H. L. Warren, who was appointed for his gallant and meritorious services in the navy during the last war on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Mr. Warren is a native of New England, and has spent most of his life on the ocean as a sailor. He is respected by all who know him, and attends to his duty punct- ually and satisfactorily.
LAKETON TOWNSHIP.
This township is well surrounded by lakes on all sides but the north, and has one lake three miles long wholly within its borders. It consists of Town 10, north, and mainly Range 17, west, with a small portion of Range 16. It varies from one mile wide in the east to four in the west, its average width from north to south being under three miles, and contains less than half a regular township. Green's Creek runs south into Muskegon Lake, through the middle of the town, and Bear Lake lies along the southeast quarter.
The main traveled road runs through North Muskegon south of Bear Lake, and along the north shore of Lake Muskegon to the Mouth. But another leading road runs northwest toward the shore of Lake Michigan at Green's Creek, whence it passes Duck Lake.
The C. & W. M. Railway crosses the eastern line, and a branch of the same is being carried through North Muskegon along the north shore of the lake to the mouth at Port Sherman.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
We have already spoken of the early settlement by the Ruddi- mans at the mouth of Bear Lake, where the old flour mill stood, and of Moulton's great vineyard on the peninsula. We may add other names as early settlers, J. Cowles, on section 14, in 1862, M. Cowles, on section 11, in 1863; I. F. Black, on section 3, in 1865; C. Culver, on section 2, in 1862; A. Horton, on section 12, in 1863. When Henry Buys came to the county in 1863 the land was in a state of nature; there were no roads or bridges and but few settlers, and the forest was so dense that on cloudy days housework had to be performed by the aid of candle light. He owns now 500 acres of excellent farming land in and around section 11.
To show how lately settlement in Laketon has set in, we may mention that when I. F. Black came in 1865, he had to undergo the hardships of a backwoods pioneer before he could secure his present fine fruit farm on section 3. Geo. L. Christy, on section 4, settled in 1864, and ran the first steam ferry on the lake in 1862. Riley Clemons, who has an excellent fruit farm, settled in 1868. Mrs. Mary Cowles, with her late husband, settled on section 11, in 1864; T. P. Cowles settled in 1871; J. C. Draper and John Fenner in 1865; I. R. Hallock in 1868; Joseph Houston, on section 1; and Joseph E. Plewes, on section 5; Chas. Willings, on section 9, all in 1866. James M. Robinson, on section 12, is one of the very earliest settlers, coming in 1864. A. R. Williams who has been Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, settled in 1867. Napoleon Wilson, an ex- tensive fruit grower, settled on section 6 in 1866.
MUNICIPAL.
This township was originally a part of Muskegon until 1865, when it was set apart with the territory now comprising Lakeside, which was set off in 1865, since which time it has had its present boundaries. The Supervisors have been: S. A. Brown, 1865-6-7; J. Ruddiman, in 1868; A. P. Horton, in 1869-70-71; Alpheus G. Smith, in 1872-3-4; A. P. Horton again in 1875-6-8-8-9; in 1880 C. N. Storrs; in 1881, D. J. Gates; and in 1882 C. N. Storrs again. The Clerk in 1881 was G. Hubbard; Treasurer, G. D. Farr; School Inspector, A. Waldron; School Superintendent, R. R. Cockburn; Justices of the Peace, Geo. Hubbard, I. F. Black, Wm. Wells.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ISAAC F. BLACK, son of Rev. John Black, was born in North- umberland County, Ontario, Canada, in 1846. He emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1865, settling the same year in Lake- ton. In 1867 he married Miss Laura T. Bidwell, of Adrian, Mich., by whom he had five children, four of whom survive. He is a Jus- tice of the Peace, and is largely engaged in farming and fruit grow- ing, and owns a fine farm in section 3, T. 10, R. 17, west. When he commenced work on his land, not a tree had been cut, and he experienced all the inconveniences incident to a new settler.
LACHLAN BURNS, fruit farmer, was born in Watertown, Wis., in 1853. In 1870 he moved into this State, and came to Muskegon in 1875, and settled on section 14, Laketon. In 1878 he married
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
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Miss Minnie Cowles, daughter of Joel Cowles, one of the oldest settlers in the township.
HENRY BUYS was born in Schenectady County, N. Y., in 1818; moved in October, 1837, to St. Joseph County, Mich., where, in 1844, he married Miss Hannah Stowel, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living at this time. In 1863 he settled on section 11, of Laketon, and now owns about 500 acres of fine farming and fruit land.
GEORGE L. CHRISTY was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1832, and went to Chicago with his parents in 1844. At the age of 16 he left home and engaged in sailing for seventeen years. After an interval in the lumber woods he again returned to a sailor's life, and built a vessel called the Greyhound, one of the swiftest crafts that ever sailed the lakes, which he sailed to Chicago in 1860-1. In 1862 he ran a ferry boat across Muskegon Lake, and built the first steam ferry boat on the lake. At the end of the season he sold out, and that winter married Miss Odell, of Cedar Creek. In 1864 he took a homestead in section 4, Laketon, where he still resides.
RILEY CLEMONS was born in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1821. In 1853 he came to Michigan, and after living in Calhoun, Hillsdale and St. Joseph Counties successively, settled in section 1, Laketon, in 1868. He is the father of eight children, and has three times married; first in 1843, to Mary J. Davis, of Allegany County, N. Y., who died in 1864; second in 1846, to Charlotte Cowgill, of Hillsdale County, who died in 1868; and lastly in 1869, to Mary E. Brooks, of Hillsdale County. He has an excellent fruit farm, and is_ highly spoken of by his neighbors for his integrity.
MRS. MARY COWLES, widow of the late Melvin Cowles, was born in Steuben County, Ind., in 1843, and in 1861 married Mr. Cowles, and moved to St. Joseph County. In 1864 they moved to section 11, T. 10, R. 17, N., Laketon, where her husband purchased a farm and where she still resides. In 1877 Mr. Cowles died, leaving four children.
JOEL COWLES was born in Oneida Co,, N. Y., in 1806. In 1818 he moved into Delaware Co., O .; thence, in 1844, to Steuben Co., Ind .; and in 1863 he came to Muskegon Co., where he has been engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1830 he married Miss Pris- cilla Smith, of Delaware Co., by whom he had six children. In 1846 he lost his first wife, and in 1851 he married Miss Elizabeth Wilkins, who was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1829. In 1876, in commemoration of American Independence, he planted an elm tree, which is flourishing as he hopes his native country will flourish.
T. P. COWLES was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1842; moved to Steuben Co., Indiana, in 1855; thence to St. Joseph Co., Mich., in 1864, where he married Miss Ursula Engle, by whom he has two children, a son and daughter. In 1871 he moved into Muskegon Co., and settled on Section 14 of Laketon, where he engaged largely in all departments of farming and fruit growing.
JONAS C. DRAPER was born in Hillsborough Co., N. H., 1814, and in 1816 moved to New York State with his parents. In 1856 he moved to St. Joseph Co., Mich., having the same year married Miss Caroline C. Powers, of Chatham, Columbia Co .. N. Y., by whom he had six children, five of whom survive. He settled in Laketon in 1865, and experienced all the hardships incident to set- tling in the wilderness.
JOHN FENNER was born in Germany in 1841, and emigrated with his father, Michael, to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1848, and thence to Laketon in 1865, settling on Section 14. In 1862 he enlisted and served over three years. In 1870 he married Miss Catharine Lockman, of Ottawa Co. His farm is one of the best in the town, and adapted to any kind of fruit or grain.
IRA R. HALLOCK, born in Laporte, Ind., in 1855. After the death of his mother he lived with his uncle, Riley Clemons, of Lake-
ton, and came with him to this section, in 1868 settling on Sec- tion 7, Muskegon. He is largely engaged in fruit culture. In 1881 he married Miss Mary M. Huff, of Muskegon.
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