USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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THOMAS J. STANAGE, one of the pioneers of Muskegon County, is a native of Virginia, but removed from there with his parents when quite young and went to Ohio, which State has been his home until coming to Michigan. He lived in Logan Co., O., principally, for about twenty years, and when eleven years of age his father,
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William Stanage, was killed by lightning, and from that time he was bound out, but not being able to withstand the hardships which he suffered at the hands of the guardian, he took French leave, and next engaged to work at cabinet making. He remained at that work for a number of years, when he came West and went to following the lakes. He followed sailing about four years, mostly on Lake Michigan, and afterwards settled near his present residence in Mon- tague Township, then known as White River Township, in Ottawa County. He went to work on the place known as the Sargent es- tate, a portion of which he purchased years ago. The only inhab- itants living here at the time he came were Chas. Mears, Daltons and Hulberts, who were interested in lumbering on White Lake. Mr. Stanage has been identified with the growth and history of the county from the earliest records, being here during the organization of Muskegon County, and through the different township organiza- tions, witnessing the general development of roads, manufactories and other improvements up to the present fine condition of the county. He has seen the growth of Muskegon, Whitehall and Mon- tague from a howling wilderness, inhabited by Indians, the nearest mail facilities being at Grand Haven, which was but a small town. The lake beach was the highway for all travel. The timber was unbroken in the surrounding country down to the water's edge; not a mark of the whiteman's axe, except at the little choppings at the water mills above referred to, or except the blazes of the Govern- ment surveyors. The Indians were very numerous, although quite peaceable except upon their occasion of general festivity, when liq- uor conduced to the revelry and viciousness. They brought their maple sugar to the Mouth, where they sold largely to Charles Mears, and sold him Marten skins for their weight in silver as balanced upon the scales. Mr. Stanage was married in the year 1849 to Miss Mary Sargent at the old log house which still stands in the yard where he resides. They were married by Mr. Hulbert, J. P., known to the old settlers as a Justice at the Mouth in olden times. His family consists of four children-three girls and one boy, two of whom are married. They are named respectively, Ida May, Oscar H., Viola C. and Eldora L. Ida May is the wife of Charles Forse; Viola is the wife of Delbert Kimball, who also is a neighbor of Mr. Stanage.
JOSEPH HEALD, lumber merchant and manufacturer, of Mon- tague, was born at Norridgewock, Somerset Co., Me., March 28,1823, and is the son of Joseph and Sabra (Woodbury) Heald. His father from 1818 to 1831 was a prominent lumberman on the Kennebec, owning a sawmill at Skowhegan and a farm at Norridgewock. Joseph was obliged to do what he could for the support of his fam- ily by rafting and running lumber in the Penobscot River in Sum- mer, working in the woods in Winter, and driving logs in the Spring. When eleven years of age the family removed to Eddington where he became its main support, and between 14 and 23 years of age he worked as a laborer at logging and lumber. At the latter age he be- gan on his own account, his mills being at Oldtown and his market Bangor. He continued with fair success until 30 years of age, when he removed to Michigan, settling first at Pt. Huron where in a small way he commenced business. From 1855 to 1860 he was foreman for Messrs. A. A. Dwight and Wm. Warner, of Detroit. In the Spring of 1857, in company with Newell Avery, now deceased, and Simon J. Murphy, of Detroit, he explored White River and its surroundings, traveling up the White Lake to the headwaters of the river in a canoe, the first attempt of the kind, and 1860 formed a partnership with Messrs. Avery and Murphy. The firm purchased about 12,000 acres of pine land on White River, which they had ex- amined years before, and also the sawmill at Montague, where Mr. Heald now resides. The first year they cut 4,000,000 feet of logs, the first ever put into White River above what is known as the flood-
wood and rapids, as it was claimed by the neighboring lumbermen that the logs could not be run down stream; but Mr. Heald's fifteen years' experience had taught him that the floods and rapids could be overcome; in person he superintended the driving of the logs, leaving not one behind. From that time the business has increased with a product of over twenty million feet. Mr. Heald is one of the originators of the White River Log and Boom Company, and has been for a long time president. He has aided materially in the erection of several churches in Montague and Whitehall. He has been Supervisor for three years, was a member of Odd Fellows from 1845 to 1854, at Oldtown; he is a Republican in politics. He mar- ried Nov. 11, 1853 to Mary H. Bailey, daughter of Amos Bailey, of Milford, Me. She died Feb. 1, 1867, leaving three children, all still living. On March 11, 1868 he married Harriet, daughter of Thomas Woodhams, of Detroit, by whom he has two sons and one daughter. Having begun life without a dollar, and with many obstacles to con- tend with, Mr. Heald has acquired a competency by his own exertions, and his success may be attributed to his indomitable energy and perseverence, sound judgment, promptness and practi- cal knowledge of all the details of the business in which he has been for a lifetime engaged.
HEALD, MURPHY & CREPIN's saw-mill, Montague, is the most extensive and the most noted mill on White Lake, the senior part- ner, Mr. Joseph Heald, having done more, perhaps, than any other man to develop the lumbering resources of this region, with which he has been long identified. The present mill was reorganized in 1878, and the machinery from the mill near the mouth was put into it. It has a circular, an upright, and a gang of forty saws. It is the only gang-mill on the lake, and has also two gang edgers and one trimmer. In eleven hours 150,000 feet can be cut, which is the largest amount that can be cut by any mill on the lake. Sixty- three men are employed, and all must be at their posts. The fore- man is Mr. George Heald; Jos. Laroux, circular sawyer; David Laningan, engineer; F. Althaus, saw filer; Charles Cushway, the noted pioneer, sawyer on the upright.
FERRY, DOWLING & Co.'s saw-mill is situated at the head of White Lake, in Montague, and was built in 1866 for a double circu- lar, but in 1881 one circular was taken out and a second set of ma- chinery put in to manufacture lath from slabs and edgings, about 20,000 pieces a day. They also manufacture about 200,000 boom- wedges each season. The manager, who is an indefatigable worker, is the genial George E. Dowling, a member of the firm. The fore- man is R. L. Hardy; engineer, D. Fish; filer, J. Todd; head saw- yer, H. Paul. The mill cuts 50,000 feet per diem, and it takes about 50 men to operate it.
CHARLES HENRY COOK, lumberman and fruit-grower, Montague township, was born in Hillsdale, Mich., May 24, 1846, and is son of John P. Cook. Charles spent four years at Hillsdale College, and received a liberal education. In September, 1866 he came to White River, the same year as his father bought the lovely farm-Lake View-on which he now resides, having purchased extensive pine lands fourteen years before up the river. He married in 1871 Miss Mary L. Martin, of Hillsdale, and has three children: Fannie N., born Oct. 27, 1872; John P., born Oct. 16, 1874; Julia M., born March 30, 1879. Mr. Cook is very active in his habits, and devotes his attention to his extensive lumbering operations and fruit farm. For a description see history of Montague township. Mr. Cook is of a kindly, genial disposition, and is a universal favorite.
HON. JOHN POTTER COOK, of Hillsdale, Mich., was born in Che- nango Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1812, and is eminently a self-made man. He came to Hillsdale in 1837, having the year before purchased property there, and he built there a flouring mill which he ran until 1862. Mr. Cook has at times turned his attention to banking, mer-
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cantile business, and since 1866 he has gone largely into lumbering, in all of which he has been very successful. In politics he has been a steadfast Democrat, but during the war he was a warm supporter of the Union. He has held many public offices and is universally respected. He is the worthy father of a worthy son, Mr. Charles H. Cook, of Montague, whose great success as a fruit-grower is al- luded to elsewhere.
. JAMES H. WILLIAMS, foreman of Cook's saw-mill, was born in Utica, New York, in 1849, and when 16 years old came to Paw Paw, Michigan, with his parents, where he remained one year, and came to Cook's mill in 1869, where he has worked ever since, having been foreman since 1874. He married in 1878 Miss Stella Reynolds, of Montague, but she was removed from earth in October, 1880. Mr. W. is an exemplary young man and respected by all who know him.
The foreman of Cook's Lake View farm is ELISHA D. WELLS, born in Wayne Co., New York, in 1839; came to Blue Lake in 1870; has been seven years with Mr. Cook. Mr. W. is a particularly good judge of horses, of which he has purchased many car loads. He is a veteran of the last war, having enlisted in 1862 in the 9th New York heavy artillery, in the Army of the Potomac, which bat- tery can make the unusual boast of never having lost a gun. After the battles of the Wilderness they were used as infantry. Mr. Wells was in many battles, the last of which was at Appomat- tox when Lee surrendered.
SMITH & FIELDS saw-mill in Montague township, not far from the White River boundary, is a neat little mill erected in 1881, which is on the site of Capt. Dalton's mill burned 1868. Has one circular gang edger, and manufactures lath and pickets, cuts 50,000 feet a day, employing thirty-five men. The machinery was brought from Cedar Springs, Kent Co.
The proprietors are first, G. W. A. SMITH, born in New Hamp- shire, 1832, came West 1870, residing at Spring Lake where he has other interests in lumber, and next, WM. T. FIELD, born in N. Y. State 1837, came in 1870 to Spring Lake. Enlisted 1861 in 3rd N. Y. light artillery, and was along the south-eastern coast at Charleston, etc.
The foreman and filer is JNO. M. JOHNSON, born in Norway, 1846, who settled when fifteen in Wisconsin, came to Muskegon, 1864, working for leading firms. Married 13th November, 1872, Matilda Thurgesson, and has four children.
The engineer is KNUD FURGUSSON, born in Norway, September 29, 1845, and when a few months old came to New Orleans, being about ten months on the voyage, went to Wisconsin, enlisted in 15th Wisconsin Volunteers, and only a boy fifteen, endured a march of 500 miles. Came to Muskegon 1870. Married October, 1871, Amelia Thurgesson, and has two children.
Cook's Saw-Mill, Montague township, was erected in 1866, by John P. and C. H. Cook, and cuts 50,000 feet in 12 hours, having a dou- ble circular saw and gang edger. The mill requires to run by day a complement of 30 men, and there is paid out in wages in the mill and in the lumber camps $300 a day. The foreman of the mill is James Williams.
COOK's Lake View Fruit Farm, Montague township, is the finest · fruit farm in North Muskegon, and is the grandest evidence of what can be done in the fruit belt in North Muskegon, and is the grand- est evidence of what can be done in the front line of this favored county. The farm is situated on the banks of White Lake with a splendid southerly exposure and perfect drainage. The success of the farm may be partly attributed to its location which is peninsular between the waters of Lake Michigan and White Lake. On 80 acres of it are over 9,000 peach trees, mostly bearing; the product in 1881, an off year, being about $4,000. There are forty acres prepared to be set in the Spring of 1882, and a new orchard of 40 acres just
ready to bear. The favorite varieties of Mr. Cook are the Hale's Early and the Barnard, the former being the finest of theearly fruit.
The fault in the cultivation of the Hale is that it is allowed to bear too much, but Mr. Cook cultivates thoroughly and thins three times a season. The Barnard is similar to the Crawford. The product of the farm is chiefly shipped to Chicago by steamers. The soil of the farm is a sandy loam. The system of irrigation is per- fect, and is by iron pipes, which extend over the whole orchard. The farm has also several acres of grapes, trellised on the German plan, some strawberries, etc. The foreman of the farm is Elisha D. Wells.
GEORGE KLETT, harness maker, Montague, was born in Ger- many in 1837, and immigrated in 1853 to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he worked at tailoring for six weeks, then stayed in Buffalo for two years, and went on a farm in Canada. In 1857 he came to Michi- gan, stopping three months at Marshall, and then to Muskegon, eventually landing in Whitehall in April, 1858, where he worked in a saw mill. After a few months absence in Illinois he returned to Whitehall for nine months, when he went three terms to Quincy College, Ill. He enlisted in the 14th Illinois Infantry, and was in five battles: the first of which was Pittsburgh Landing; was taken prisoner in Georgia and held seven months. After the war he re- turned to White River Township and worked a forty-acre farm for nine years. He then returned to Whitehall and had a harness shop 22x70 feet, three stories, on Thompson St., which was consumed in the great fire of '81. He is now in business in Montague. He married in 1864 Miss Varena Markey, who was born in Switzerland in 1847.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
of Montague is a volunteer organization, of which the principal stockholders are: Ferry, Dowling & Co., S. H. Lasley & Co., Burrows & Jones, Wilson & Hendrie, C. H. Cook, Heald, Murphy & Crepin, F. H. White & Co., Mason Bros., M. Dodge & Son, and Partridge Bros. The engine is an excellent one, " Montague No. 1," of Clapp & Jones' manufacture. The hose will stand a pressure of 175 pounds. There are, also, two hose companies and a hand engine.
The organization was effected Oct. 25, 1873, with the following as the first officers :
J. Heald, President; O. R. Goodno, Secretary; Malcolm Hen- drie, Treasurer, and H. P. Dowling, Chief Engineer.
For the next few years D. C. Bowen was President, and H. P. Dowling continued Chief Engineer.
PROPELLERS.
White Lake is favored by the presence of four or five excellent steam barges plying to Chicago, such as the " Tempest," the " T. L. Snook," the " R. C. Brittain," and others. They carry great loads of freight, chiefly lumber, and make rapid passages.
The favorite boat for passengers as well as freight is the " R. C. Britain," commanded by Capt. P. D. Campbell, which makes a regular tri-weekly passage to Chicago, leaving Covell's dock in the evening and reaching the city early next morning. The boat has state-room accommodations for twenty-five passengers, is comfort- able in every respect, and is equal to any for speed and safety. Capt. Campbell is a model captain, being quiet and gentlemanly, and ever at his post. He was born in St. Charles, Ill., July 30, 1850, and in 1852 his parents removed to Stoney Creek, Mich., but in 1860 they returned to a farm in his native place. In 1862 he went to Chicago, and the next year to Muskegon, where he resided until 1877, engaged in tugging. He then went to his brother-in-law in Chicago until 1877, when he removed to Whitehall and engaged
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
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in tugging, having the "Newell Avery." Since 1879 he lias com- manded the " Brittain." He was married Dec. 17, 1874, to Lois E. Allen, of Hampshire, Ill., and has two sons, Ira A., aged five years, and Harvey M., aged three years.
The " Brit.ain" has 130 feet length of keel, 24-feet beam, 8} feet hold, tonnage 184, built in 1878, at Saugatuck. Isaac W. Berd is the popular steward.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALEXANDER BEALS, JR., station agent, Montague, was born at Schoolcraft, Mich., in 1852, and lived there until 1872, when he came to Montague, acting first as assistant at the depot, and has had full charge since March 17, 1875. He married in 1879, Katie Schmidt, of Montague, and has two children; Henry G., born Mar. 6, 1880; the "baby" was born August 17, 1881.
ISAAC W. BERD, steward of the barge R. C. Brittain, is a new resident of Montague, having come from Grand Haven, where he had resided for many years. Mr. Berd is a man of great natural ability and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. He was born a slave in Virginia, at South Sulphur Springs, on Feb. 25, 1842. His family had been from generations inhabitants of the "Old Dominion." His owner's name was Erskine, who sold his mother and part of her children to a Louisiana planter, named Pax- ton, so that Isaac out of sixteen brothers and sisters knew but four of them. He was brought up at Shreveport where Paxton died, and he was sold to one Christian, who took him to the Southern army in the White Star Invincibles. Christian soon died of measles, and at La Grange, Tenn., Mr. Berd joined the Northern army, and came North with Assistant Adjutant General Harland, to Tipton, Iowa, where he resided three years. leading a stirring life, as he had to fight many a stubborn battle with Irish laborers who had a pre- judice against his race, bnt in all he was enabled to triumph, as he was young, active and strong, although uniformly out acting in self- defense. He went then to Oakland, Ohio, where he obtained some schooling, and since then he has chiefly followed the lakes in sum- mer. He was married in Grand Haven June 27, 1869, to Miss An- nie E. Smith, who was an old resident of Grand Haven. They have one daughter, Eva Francis, born Oct. 19, 1871.
ADAM BORN was born in Germany in 1851, came to America in 1852, to Manitowoc, Wis., and in 1868 to White River, still being with his parents, his father's business being vessel loading. Adam learned blacksmithing, and has been for three years in business for himself. He married, in 1876, Elva Wentworth, and has one daughter, Ethel, born July 20, 1879.
MAURICE DOWNEY, dealer in flour and feed, ice and fish, on Ferry St., was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1839, went to London in 1846, and America in 1851. Was two and a half years in Detroit in flour and feed business. Married in 1853 Johanna Whalen, of County Waterford, Ireland, by whom he has six sons and one daughter. After engaging in fishing for some years he came to Grand Haven in 1859, and White River in 1860, till 1865, thence to Detroit till 1873, when he came to Montague. Mr. D. has by industry done fairly in his business.
SETH ELLIS was born in Hector. Tompkins Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1838, where he lived until eighteen years of age, when he re- moved to Genesee County, in this State. After a residence there of about six months he came, in 1857, to White Lake. In July of that year he went to Waukesha County, Wis., and thence in a few months to Rice County, Minn. The next year he returned to Waukesha, where he remained one year and returned to Muskegon County. On Nov. 27th, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F., 1st Bat. 16th
U. S. Infantry, and served bravely for three years in the department of the Tennessee. He was in the stirring battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost and the At- lanta campaign. He was honorably discharged at Lookout Moun- tain, Tenn., Nov. 27th, 1804, and returned to Muskegon. He then went to New York State on a visit, and after returning purchased land in section 25, of Fruitland, which he sold out and removed to Six Corners, Ottawa County. On Feb. 7th, 1867, he removed to section 17, Montague, where he now resides. On May 22d, 1866, he married Miss Jennie D. Kimball, of Muskegon, by whom he had one child, born March 24th, 1868, and on the 5th of April his wife died. In December, 1869, he married Miss Jennie Evan Frank, of Kalamazoo County, Mich., by whom he has three children. Mr. Ellis is one of the charter members of the State department of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has held the office of Commis- sioner of Highways for three years, also Assessor, School Trustee, &c. He is a member of N. H. Ferry Post G. A. R.
MRS. L. J. FARMAN, widow of the pioneer Moody Farman, for many years clerk of the township, was born in New York State, October, 1815, and was daughter of David Mc Nitt. She married Mr. Farman in 1833, settling near Sandusky, Ohio. In 1856 they removed to Montague, which was then included in White River, purchasing forty acres of good land on which they soon made a clearing and built a house, contending with the difficulties incident to settlers in a new country. They had four children, the eldest of whom died in a hospital at Nashville, during the late war, being a Union soldier. Mr. Farman was born in 1811 and died July 18, 1880, leaving his partner to mourn her loss.
DANIEL FISH, for fifteen years engineer of Ferry, Dowling & Co.'s saw mill, was born in Holland in 1838, and came to America in 1849, first to Grand Rapids, going there two years to school. He then went to Eastville, where he continued his schooling. He first learned the trade of his father, who was a blacksmith, but is now a skillful engineer. He married, in 1861, Alice Wild, of New York State, and has three children, Sadie, born April 26, 1863; George M., June 8, 1868, and Fred. H., June 12, 1871.
BELA HARRISON was born in Delevan, Wis., in 1842. At eight years of age went to Chicago, where his parents died of cholera in the summer of 1850. He was then taken by an uncle to McHenry county, Ill., and finally to New York State. After a short time in school he went as a train boy on the railway, and then as cabin boy on the lakes. An ex-Congressman named T. R. Young found him at the Tremont House, Chicago, and took him with him to Mar- shall, Ill., where he remained until 19. He then enlisted in the 19th Illinois Infantry, the " Chicago Zouaves," Col. John Turceline, a Prussian, commander. Mr. Harrison was in the battles of Bel- mont, Stone River, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Pittsburg Landing, and with Sherman "to the sea." He also served in the 60th Ill. Inf., and was mustered out in 1865. He then clerked in a Whitehall drug store. After a time he had a gro- cery store, and manufactured cigars, and worked in a saw mill. He married at Lansing, May 22, 1867, Laura E. White, and has one child, Carrie E., born May 6, 1868, at DeSoto, Wis.
W. H. HULBERT, son of Isaac Hulbert, was born in Edwards Lawrence County, N. Y., in August, 1846, his father being one of the oldest residents there. In the spring of 1867 he came to Mich- igan, and in the following August he returned to his native place, returning the following fall with his family to section 29, of Mon- tague, where he still resides. In 1866 he married Melissa, daughter of Almond Streeter, of Pitcairn, Lawrence County, N. Y., by whom he has two children. Mr. Hulbert is a hard working man, and has made himself a fine property by his industry and economy.
C. H. & N. H. JACKSON were in business in Montague in the
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
grocery line, also handled ties, bark, and telegraph poles, from the spring of 1880 to the fall of 1881, and did a large business, but are not now in business. Charles H. came to Muskegon City in May, 1877. In December of the same year he came to Montague to take charge of D. C. Bowen's store, and on his failure, Mr. Jackson ran the business with Samuel Rabey until from . August, 1878, to the spring of 1880, when his brother N. H. bought Rabey out.
BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON was born on Lake St. Clair on the brig Manhattan, September 22, 1855, his father being first mate; and when navigation closed, his parents went to Colorado, and after a stay of one year, returned to Chicago. In 1870 he engaged as cook on board the Gracie A. Green, which shortly after went ashore and broke up. The following winter he stayed in South Haven. In 1871 he shipped on the Marvin Hannocks as cook; next season shipped on the Painter, and next season went before the mast on the same vessel, which he followed until 1876, when he served on the schooner Mary, of Chicago, which was lost that season. Then he shipped on the John Bean, then on the Elbe, of Milwaukeee, and served his last trip on the Hunter, of Milwaukee, and in 1881 he had a successful experience in fishing.
In February, 1881, he married Miss Eliza C. Kinnison, of White River. About the most dangerous adventure he ever expe- rienced was in the wreck of the "Lizzie Troop," which occurred be- tween Saugituck and South Haven. She was old and broke in two by a heavy sea. The captain and mate and two seamen were lost, two only being saved, and one body never was recovered. Mr. Johnson held on by a piece of the wreck and was washed ashore.
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