USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 7
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OTHER LUMBERING POINTS.
The two great points in the county for lumbering are those we have already described, Muskegon Lake and White Lake. In com- parison with these the lumbering in the rest of the county is infin- itesimal, and is yearly growing less. The great mill of Blodgett & Byrne, at Holton village, has been removed. There is Abbot's mill in Moorland, Ferry's mill at the mouth of Black Lake is doing a little yet, the historic mill at Duck Lake is silent, the Silver Creek mill of the Daltons is doing very little, and the same may be said of all other parts of the county. Portable mills are set up here and there, but they soon use up the supply and have to move to pastures new. To the list of mills still operating we may add that of Slo- cum's of Casnovia.
EARLY HISTORY.
We premise the early history of Muskegon County by giving a few salient dates of most important events prior to the erection of Muskegon into a separate and independent county in 1859.
In 1671 an envoy of the French King met the Indians at Sault St. Mary and solemnly took formal possession of everything from Montreal west.
In 1759 Montcalm, the French General, was defeated and killed and Quebec was captured by the British. In 1763 Canada, which then included Michigan and the Northwest, was ceded to Great Britain, and for eleven years Michigan, like the rest of the territory, was under military rule.
In 1774 Michigan was made a constituted part of the Province of Quebec, and a lieutenant governor was appointed at Detroit.
In 1783 it became a portion of the United States, whose inde- pendence was recognized.
In July, 1796, possession of the territory was given by the British. It was now organized as a part of the northwest territory, Gen. Austin St. Clair, Governor, 1776. Wayne County now was organized. The Northwest Territory consisted of all Michigan, northern Ohio, part of Illinois and Wisconsin, with the capital at Cincinnati.
April 30, 1802, Michigan became part of the territory of In- diana, Gen. W. H. Harrison (Tippecanoe) Governor.
In 1805 Michigan was organized as a territory, General Wm. Hull first Governor.
Aug. 17, 1812, Hull surrendered Detroit to the British, but Oct. 13, 1813 Gen. Cass recaptured it.
In 1836 Kent County was organized with Clinton, Ionia and Ot- tawa Counties attached. At this time Ottawa of course included Muskegon. 1837 Ottawa County was organized with three towns, Ottawa, Talmadge and Muskegon. 1838 the State road from Grand Rapids to Muskegon was commenced, and again in 1845 work was done on the roads to Muskegon River, and to Muskegon Lake. In 1846 Dalton was attached to Muskegon, in 1849 Ravenna was organ- ized, in 1852 Casnovia, and in 1855 Norton.
June 15, 1836, Michigan became a State, and January 27, 1837, she was fully admitted.
In 1821 the Indian title south of Grand River was extinguished by treaty.
Up to 1817 Wayne County had all of Michigan under its juris- diction. In that year Monroe County was formed; Macomb, 1818; Oakland, 1820; St. Clair, 1821; Lenawee and Chippewa, 1826; Cass and St. Joseph, 1829; Kalamazoo, 1830; Ottawa, 1836; Mus- kegon, 1859.
In May, 1836, when Martin Ryerson arrived on Muskegon Lake as clerk to the Indian trader Joseph Troutier, he found him- self in an unbroken wilderness, and almost in solitude as far as his fellow white men were concerned, the only other white man being a Frenchman named L. Badeau, an Indian trader, sent by Rix Rob- inson, and who made Muskegon his home. So attached did Mr. Ryerson, who then was a mere youth of eighteen, become to the Indians, that he learned their language and customs thoroughly, and as he says at one time, he almost hated to see the face of a white man. He became an expert Indian linguist, and was much beloved by the aborigines. When he arrived Owoniscum was the Chief of the Ottawas, but lie died the same year, 1836, and was succeeded by Kenewegisheks, who also died some years after at Muskegon.
The only roads at this time were
INDIAN TRAILS which were not long used by the whites. There was one trail how-
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
ever, up the river on the south side, which crossed at a dam on Ry- erson's farm sixteen miles up the stream, and then ran on the other side of the river to Croton, whence there was another well used trail to Grand Rapids. There was of course the beach trail along Lake Michigan, which ran north along the beach until it reached Black Creek, which it crossed about a mile and a half from its mouth, and it cuts across Muskegon Lake about half a mile west of Ruddiman's old flour mill at the mouth of Bear Lake. There was never very much of a trail to Whitehall, but there was one to Burying Ground Point, on White River. The trail up the Muskegon River was the only way by land for trappers and lumbermen to go up.
THE FIRST ROAD.
The first road out of Muskegon was made by Martin Ryerson in 1847, at his own expense, as in those days if one wanted a road there was no use in asking any public bodies to make it, as these hardly had yet any existence. Put your own shoulder to the wheel was the motto of those primitive times. Mr. Ryerson, ac- companied by his Indian, ran a line and corrected it, and sent a gang of men to cut it out all the way from Muskegon Lake to Ra- venna, where it joined a road already cut out from Grand Rapids. The road to Ravenna has since been considerably shifted. Previous to this the only way to Grand Rapids had been along the beach to Grand River.
The first wagon was introduced by Theodore Newell & Co., in about 1838 or 1839, and that was the only wagon on the river until 1844 or 1845. Martin Ryerson purchased it, and it used to be keep- ing "Lent" half the time. He was very thankful when any one greased it before returning.
The first lumber sold above Muskegon was in the year 1842 by Rose & Hyde, the price paid being $5 per thousand feet, and the purchaser one William Lay, of Chicago.
The first logs cut and put afloat into the Muskegon was done by Merrill & Page and Lloyd & Place, at Mill Iron, in the winter of 1840-41. Mr. Merrill yet resides at Bridgeton, in Newaygo County.
The first logs cut above Mill Iron, was done by John A. Brooks during the same winter, ten miles above Croton. He drove them down to the Flats-Newell the purchaser, there took them in charge and drove them into the Muskegon Lake.
In 1850 the first siding machine was put into J. Robinson's mill, where Torrent & Arms now is, and was manufactured by Israel E. Carlton, then of Pt. Huron, but afterwards an honored citizen on White River.
THE OLDEST RESIDENT.
It is claimed that Mrs. Julia Bohne, residing on Ontario St., is the oldest settler living in Muskegon, and the first white woman that set foot on this soil, and that Geo. B. Woodbury is the oldest male settler. Mrs. Bohne is widow of the late Charles Bohne, came here with her first husband, Thos. W. Dill, in 1837. She is still hale and hearty after a 45 years' residence on Muskegon River. She came with her first husband from Chicago by steamer Columbus, to Grand Haven, and started in a canoe to the mouth of Muskegon Lake, when the men not understanding how to manage such a craft, came near swamping, and Mrs. Dill decided to go ashore and walk thirteen miles to the mouth of Muskegon Lake. She went on alone with their son, G. W. Dill, aged 6 years, and her little daughter Marilla (now Mrs. N. Campbell, of Wisconsin), aged 4 years. She says she felt rather timid .on the lonely road when she saw Indian wigwams here and there, but she found them to be abandoned by their former occupants, and she was soon rejoined by her husband and the others who had had to take the canoe back to Grand Haven. After crossing the outlet of Black Lake in a canoe, the party arrived at Pt. Sherman, where they stopped all night at Henry Pennoyer's
boarding house, and then canoed up the lake and river opposite to what is now Newaygo village. There were then a few white men here, Lasley, Badeau, M. Ryerson, and a few others. She lived one year at Newaygo, then at the "Dam," and then at "Mill Iron Point," eight miles up the river, and for a whole year never saw the face of a white woman. She has resided many years on Terrace St., Muskegon.
S. R. SANFORD'S STATEMENT.
Among the early settlers is Samuel R. Sanford, who, although over three score, is still hale and active, and keeps up his reputation as a walker, which, when he was sheriff of the county in 1858-60 gained him the appellation of the Walking Sheriff. He came from Grand Rapids on the Muskegon River in December, 1848, at the "Dam," which derives its name from a jam of floodwood which ob- structed navigation until cleared away, which was done before 1848. It is just beyond the limits of Cedar Creek, and near where Bridge- ton now is. Muskegon in 1848 was a very small straggling village. There was the Lasley mill, now Stimson & Co.'s, also Ryerson & Morris', which sawed 10,000 or 11,000 feet in twenty-four hours, and the former had about double the capacity, being a double mill. Lumber was selling then at what was considered a good rate $8 or $9 per thousand. The mill where White, Swan & Smith's now is, which then belonged to Lloyd & Place, had just been burned down. Lumber was then of the best quality, as nothing was cut but what was clear, no log was cut above the branches. The cut of that time was about equal to the cuts of the mills now for board and strip or selected logs. At this time lands had not been located, and each mill put in its own logs. There was considerable trouble for this taking of logs, with the Government officials. The mill-owners placed their shanties where they could get three requisites, good water, firewood and timber. They would select forty acres and cut all around it.
In 1849 the California "fever" broke out, and cholera at the same time. The hard times set in simultaneously, and every one was willing to sell out, but nobody wished to buy. 1848 and 1849 were very wet seasons, farms were cheap, and lumber was down. If a vessel load was sent to Chicago it would not bring over $5 per thousand, and that only after the severest culling, a fine, clear board would be thrown out for half price if a split of two feet long were found in it.
The Government, about 1850-1-2, made attempts to stop the plundering of their lands, seized lumber, logs and vessels, arrested the trespassers, taking many of them to Detroit, but finally the matter was compromised, and from that time land was more gener- ally located, the plundered lands among the rest, on which, however, the amount cut was found to be trifling.
The Indians were paid bounties at Grand Rapids until about 1848, they lived by trapping, berrying and basket making. At that time at the head of the lake in the Booming Company's marsh, there were immense swarms of rats, which were killed by the In- dians for their flesh for food and their skins to sell to the whites.
Mr. Sanford bought his mill site at the "Dam" from Joseph Troutier, commonly called "Truckey," a half-breed Frenchman who was one of the earliest pioneers, He was in the early days like Rob- inson Crusoe, "monarch of all he surveyed," and had a trading post near where White, Swan & Smith's mill now stands. In 1848 he appeared to be a middle-aged man, say about 37 years of age, and he died a few years ago at Bridgeton, up the river, aged 70 years. He weighed when in his prime about 175 pounds, and was an active man, about six feet in height. "Alexy" St. Peter, his brother-in- law, also had a trading post on the lake.
The roads at this time being mere Indian trails in a new and crude state, supplies were mainly brought in by water. To
E.W. MERRILL.
MR$ E.W.MERRILL.
BOWLERSTUFF
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RES OF E. W. MERRILL, MUSKEGON, MICH.
33
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
illustrate the hardships of those early days, Mr. Sanford relates that in 1849 he carried on his back from Grand Haven to his mill, about thirty miles, his first saw, weighing about forty-five pounds, his employe, who carried the other, gave out near the ford at the mouth of Black Lake, and Mr. Sanford had to shoulder both the saws, and wade across up to the shoulders. To show the character of the roads he relates that it took him in 1849 a whole day to get his team four miles on the road to Grand Rapids, and the only way he did so at all was by cutting a new road along side of the old one, which was fearfully muddy.
The depression in timber lasted until about 1853, when it began to improve, new mills were erected, and the "hum" of good times set in, lasting three years, and being followed in 1857 by three years of depression, and of course many failures. Mr. Sanford was elected Sheriff of Ottawa and Muskegon in 1847, taking office Jan- uary 1, 1858, and continuing in office until January 1, 1860, and had good opportunity to know how hard the times were. As show- ing how sparsely the county was settled, he says that he collected the taxes in the north half of this county in just one week. The census of 1860, taken by Mr. Sanford, showed 300 at White River, 11 at Whitehall, 40 at Carleton's Mills, and 65 at a point beyond the latter mills. When he visited White Lake he made his home at the Knudsens on the Montague side. Carleton's idea in the divis- ion of the county was to detatch certain towns from the south of Oceana and the north of Muskegon, forming a new county of Oceana with the center at his own mills, which would be the county seat. The southern part of Muskegon was to remain with Ottawa. Had he obtained his desire, he could not have retained the county seat, as it would have gone down to Whitehall or Montagne, where the pop- ulation and wealth have centered.
Mr. Sanford came down to the city and located land on Section 29, for Ransom E. Wood, afterwards purchasing it himself, owning at one time 400 acres in the city. Although over 60 years of age, he is still hale and vigorous, and he still retains that vigorous grip of the hand which none of the early settlers wanted to experience a a second time. He was noted for his rapid gait in walking, going forty miles to Grand Rapids in eight hours, and doing the duties of his office as sheriff on foot, so that he was known as the "Walking Sheriff." His Indian name was "Wabunskindip" or "white head," from the color of his hair.
ELIAS W. MERRILL'S STATEMENT.
Mr. Merrill, one of the oldest representative men of Muskegon, who has lived retired since 1865, makes the following statement:
I settled in Muskegon in 1844; over four years previously Mus- kegon had been organized as a village; the people used to meet and elect officers, and then allow the municipality to become dormant, no taxes being raised. They would get roused up once in a while by a threat to annex them to Spring Lake.
In 1839 the lands north of Grand River known as Indian Re- serve, were thrown open and then advertised. There had been pre- emptions for saw mills as early as 1836.
The first steam mill was where White & Swan's now stands, built by Lloyd & Place of Grand Rapids. It was a water mill, and served a double purpose, as a saw and grist mill. The bulk of the lumber was manufactured at that time up the river at Croton, in Newaygo and at Sand Creek, now Bridgeton. My brother had a water mill up there. Ryerson & Knickerbocker's mill was built in 1844. In 1845 Mear's mill was all there was in Whitehall. The next mill in Muskegon was built by Wm. Lasley, and sold to Chapin, afterwards Chapin & Foss. Mr. Lasley was the heaviest Indian trader north of the Grand River, and died the year after building his mill.
As to the organization of the county the Ferrys were strongly
opposed to it, and the legality of the organization was a question carried to the higher courts. In the north, Carleton and Dalton, representatives of White River and Oceana, were opposed to the formation of Muskegon, and went to Grand Haven, where they were refused seats, and when they came back to Muskegon Board of Su- pervisors they were told that the organization could be proceeded with without them, so their taxes were lost that year. In the Legis- lature the question was hotly debated, the representative from the north, Capt. Dalton, and that of the south, Henry Pennoyer, togeth- er with Senator Ferry, opposed organization, but it was carried by one vote over the necessary two-thirds. But after a while all worked in amicably. Pennoyer's speech on that occasion was a remarkably impressive one. He closed with, "I pray you do not separate, Mus- kegon will soon come back as a pauper to Ottawa suing to be taken back. Why every step you take, you step on nothing but pine knots and sand!"
The meaning of the Indian word " Ottawa" is said by Gov. Holt to be " traders," while " Muskegon" denotes "marshy river" or "wet prairie." On the other hand, Father Van Pamel, of Mus- kegon, believes that " Muskegon" denotes " abundance of fish.". .
The first two-seated carriage brought into Muskegon County was by Alvah Trowbridge.
The first store in that part of Muskegon City known as " Mid- dle Town," was that of Durkee & Truesdell.
In 1855 there were but two mills between Levi Truesdell's store and Pt. Shermin, the B idler and Ruddiman mills.
EARLY HISTORY OF WHITE LAKE REGION.
In April 1837, Charles and Albert Mears, the latter then a boy of fifteen, with two men named True and Herrick, made their memorable journey from Paw Paw to White Lake. The story of that momentous journey is given in the history of White Lake saw mills. It was the means of inducing Charles Mears to enter into his early lumber and land speculations around White Lake and Duck Lake, which have proved such a fortune to Mr. Mears, and which have given an impetus to the White Lake region. Charles came again that fall, and in 1839 built the old water mill, now re- moved, on White Lake, near where the Wilcox company's mill stands. The sloop Ranger, built by C. Mears at St. Joseph, and carrying 15,000 feet of lumber, was the first sailing craft ever on White Lake.
Albert Mears did not return until 1861. T. Stannage, of Montague, John Hanson, and John Barr were at White Lake in 1838. There were Indians at Clay Banks, and Chief Wabiningo and half a dozen lodges were near the mouth of White River. About 1859 C. Mears built a store (D. Leitch's). In 1858 White- hall was platted, and all west of the railway was John Hanson's wheat field. S. C. Hall, now the wealthy lumberman of Muskegon city carried the first mail afoot.
1844. C. Mears builds the old water mill, sells to A. M. Thompson in 1866. Before this the Duck Lake mill was built by C. Mears.
1845. Dalton Bros. build Silver Creek mill up White River; Dalton & Menges buy in 1868.
July 4th, 1846, there was a grand celebration at the Mouth; Hulbert, the hotel-keeper, furnished a salt pork dinner, after which there was a swimming match.
In 1847 Andrew Knudsen came to White Lake.
In 1850 Rev. W. M. Ferry builds a mill at the mouth of White Lake. Scott & Stebbins run the mill and store until 1854. In 1853 White River Township was organized.
34
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
In 1854 Noah H. Ferry arrives in the Fall to run the mill at White River, the former mouth of White Lake .- First post office at White River .- A. A. Caine, post-master-Jewell mill built; sold in 1860 to Heald & Co.
In 1855 the Jewell mill and Storms' hotel were built .- One Hulburt lived at the salt marsh.
In 1861 E. Knudsen built a store and house .- Piers at Mouth built by Ferry .- The first schooner to enter was the " Tel- egraph," which took part of a load .- May 11th Jesse D. Pullman arrives at White River .- Miss Hazleton starts the first school (private) in all White River .- Public schools organized in 1856. -The first settled minister (Methodist) come to White River, (Rev. L. M. Bennett), built a parsonage and stayed two years .-- Rev. McCarthy followed, then Rev. Mills and Rev. G. W. Chapin, brother of Mrs. E. Burrows.
In 1856 Whittaker & Hall built Staples & Covell's old mill .- I. E. Carleton Supervisor, and Rev. Mr. Bennett (colored) treasurer. -- Dr. Wheeler commences to practice at the Mouth.
In 1857 a town meeting was held at Dalton's water mill, White River then including the present White River, Montague, White- hall, Fruitland, Dalton, Blue Lake, Cedar Creek and Holton, what is now eight towns .-- Dalton was elected Supervisor, and J. P. Brown Treasurer .-- Geo. A. Rodgers drowned off Long Point, where he was operating a mill .-- S. J. B. Watson comes to White River .-- Printed tickets first used at elections of old White River Township-N. H. Ferry Supervisor .-- Carleton & Dalton pur- chased the brig Oceana.
In 1858 Whittaker &. Hall's mill was sold to Thompson & Covell. They sell to W. Weston in 1864, and he to Lewis & Hall the same Fall, who sold to Staples & Covell. The latter firm tore the old mill down in 1875 .- Peter Hobler settles at White River. April 19th Geo. E. Dowling arrives at the Mouth .-- Peter Dalton Supervisor, Moody Farman Clerk, and P. Hobler Treasurer. The steamer Comet, with a big excursion from Grand Haven, enters the piers at the Mouth.
In 1858 I. E. Carleton was Supervisor of White River. Muskegon County was organized .-. The towns of Dalton and Oceana organized .-- Whitehall first platted, as Mears .-- In the Fall C. Mears starts a store -- Great races at White River .-- W. H. Woodbury came to the Mouth in the Spring of this year.
In 1860 Whitehall was surveyed by A. M. Hiersch, employed by C. Mears and G. B. Slocum.
In 1861 the post office was first opened, with A. Mears as the first post-master .-- S. C. Hall, on foot, first mail carrier, and Horace Jones in 1861 .-- A volunteer company was formed this Fall with N. H. Ferry Captain, H. Heffernan 1st Lieut., and E. C. Dicey 2d Lieut .- Ferry built the schooner Success.
In 1862 Thompson & Covell start a store in the place known afterward as Bratz's store .-- First hotel, moved by P. Hobler from Har.l Landing.
In 1863 the first church in Whitehall (Congregational) was or- ganized by P. R. Van Frank. The first meeting were held in the old log house.
In 1864 the bridge was built between Montague and Whitehall by W. H. Parks.
In 1865 Franklin & Wheeler buy out Thompson & Covell's store in June, and sell to Louis Bratz in 1866 .- - The first drug store was started by Zerah Mizner this Spring; Ruggles' drug store was started in 1867, Wheeler's in 1868, Sandberg's in 1875, and D. P. Glazier's in 1877 .-- A. A. Cone moves his hotel from the Mouth. -- The first saloon opened by W. M. Simons, the first law office by Duane Thompson .- First practicing physician, Dr. J. A. Wheeler. In 1866 Congress voted $67,000 for harbor improvements.
In 1867 the village of Whitehall was incorporated, and the first telegraph office opened.
The Harbor Company, with a capital of $20,000, was formed in 1869, and Congress having added $45,000 more, White Lake be- comes one of the best harbors on the Lake. The first newspaper- The Whitehall Forum-was printed in 1869 by B. Frank.
In September, 1870, the Booming Company was formed, and in the following October the first train of railway cars enters Whitehall. In December the first bank opens.
The Hon. I. E. Carleton, after a residence of twenty years on White Lake, died on March 28, 1871.
EARLY STAGE LINES.
The first to start anything like a stage or public conveyance from the south into Muskegon was old Mr. Brittain, still a resident of Ferrysburg, who entered on the work of stage driving in the early days of "small things."
Shortly after 1850 Francis Blood, now of Wright, had a stage route from Muskegon to Ravenna connecting with Grand Rapids, and in 1855 Geo. Bradford, now a carpenter on Pine street, Mus- kegon, purchased the stage, and it took in good weather one day to go to Muskegon and another to return. In bad weather, in Spring and Fall, it took twice that time. Mr. Bradford settled in Muske- gon in 1871, with his son Andrew, now of the American Hotel.
Mr. Thomas Merrill, of Muskegon, then of Ferrysburg, was the first to enter upon staging on a large scale, in connection with Thomas Culbert & Bro., of Muskegon. He came to Ferrysburg in 1850, was ten years foreman of Ferry's saw mill, and in 1865 es- tablished a regular mail, express and stage route. The road from Ferrysburg was cut in 1858, being underbushed, but not traveled until 1860. The stage line consisted of five to ten three seated, spring, buck-board wagons, capable of carrying five passengers and the driver. Among the early drivers still residents of Muskegon will be remembered Jack Sharp, F. Wright; Louis Morse (of the Omnibus line) John Currier, and Wm. Flanders, since 1865 fore- man for Mr. Merrill. In 1869, when the railroad was building, the stage used to meet the train, and in 1880 staging ceased with the completion of the railroad. As high as sixty horses were used at one time on the great passenger, express and freight trains. There were three routes to Ferrysburg, the oldest road that by Black Creek, the next was the Telegraph road, which was built by the State; and the best was the Lower road, built by subscription, and partially by the State.
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