USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Having satisfied himself as to the exact location of lake, river and harbor, and having determined upon the site for the village, Dr. Van Raalte, in January 1847, returned to Detroit to collect his little band. During his absence he had procured work for the men at St. Clair, where a steamboat was being built. His own family had re- mained at Detroit. That same month they packed up and proceeded via Kalamazoo, to Allegan, where they met with great hospitality, especially at the hands of Judge Kellogg. After remaining here for a few days making the necessary preparations for their outfit, the party started for Black Lake. The women and children remained at Allegan with the exception of Mrs. Grootenhuis, who volunteered to be the cook for the party. They were again accompanied by an Indian guide and Judge Kellogg. Mr. Geo. Harrington, Sr., also came down with them and drove the ox-team. This trip from Alle- gan to Rev. Mr. Smith's house was made in one day. Here they arrived, as near as we can ascertain, on the 12th of February, 1847. Rev. Mr. Smith received these men with the greatest of hospitality, and, together with Mr. Fairbanks, aided materially towards fitting these pioneers for the difficult and unknown task before them.
Arrangements had been made at Allegan, through Judge Kel- logg, whereby in a few days they were followed by a party of Amer- icans, who were to remain a while, and teach them how to chop trees, build log houses, and make roads, many of them not even knowing how to connect the ax with the helve. The Indian church, located near Rev. Mr. Smith's house, served as lodging place.
The first work was the opening of a road from Mr. Fairbanks' place to the head of Black Lake. They followed a line running be- tween sections 33 and 34, and 28 and 27, T. 5 N., R. 15 W. At the latter place they found that the cedar swamp was a serious obstacle in their way, and they resolved before proceeding any further to put up their first quarters on the hill near the house of Mrs. Van Der
Haar, on section 28 of same town. Two log sheds were built 16x30 feet, with brush roof. This hill is among the most interesting spots of our early history. Here they lost the first member of their little band; here the first child was born to the colonists, and for a long while afterwards these sheds served as receiving barracks for the new comers.
The women and children who had been left at Allegan, were now sent for, and they also took up their quarters in the log shan- ties. It is but proper and just to mention the favors and kindness bestowed upon these families during their stay at Allegan, and it is not without regret that we have failed to ascertain their names.
During that same winter another small party of emigrants had reached Albany, N. Y. They were advised to come on west, and reached here about the 10th of March, 1847. They numbered some fifteen strong, and among them we find the names of G. J. Hofman, W. Kremer, Plasman, Kolvoort and Slaghuis.
For weeks and months, now, the colonists applied themselves to the making of roads. From the log sheds, the road was contin- ued along the farm of Dr. Van Raalte, through the present city to the head of Black Lake and the "Indian Village," so-called.
The next arrival was also in the month of March. A party of immigrants, numbering nearly one hundred, had arrived at St. Louis, and were anxiously awaiting the development of the colonization schemes then pending in Michigan and in Iowa, not only for their own guidance, but also for the information of the hundreds who were to follow that year. This St. Louis party appointed a committee of three to come out here and prospect, and selected as such, Messrs. T. Keppel, H. Van Der Haar and J. Binnekant, with the understanding that the others were to join them immediately, or as soon as they could, having in charge all the women and baggage. The three men going ahead went on foot from Chicago, arriving in Holland March 17, 1847; the remainder came in a sailing vessel from Chicago to Grand Haven, by wagons to Port Sheldon, where they arrived about the same time that the other three did in Holland. The women remained some days at Port Sheldon while the men went to the settlement to aid in building homes and constructing roads.
The names of this last party were Walter Van Der Haar, Jan Visscher and family, Evert Visscher and family, Albert Bloemers and family, Johannes Visser and family, Jannes Vrieze, Paul Stevas and wife, Mrs. J. Binnekant and Peter Zalsman. At this time there was but one family residing in what is now Holland Township, that of Gilbert Cranmer. In the spring of 1847 Ds. Van Raalte built his house and brought his family from Allegan.
The winter they had just passed was a severe one; the snow had averaged over two feet deep. The supplies during that time, were principally brought in from Allegan. Towards spring most of the colonists began to look up lands and locate for themselves.
Before we break off this part 'of our sketch, we will give the following incidents connected with that memorable winter which they passed in these log sheds. The first child was born in the fam- ily of Mr. Laarman; the second was born in the family of Mr. Jan Schaap. Both were baptized together, by Ds. Van Raalte, in the open air in front of his house. The first death was that of Mrs. Notting; seven others died that winter at the log sheds. They lie buried, as near as can be ascertained, near the barn on the farm of Mrs. W. Van Der Haar. The first marriage was that of Lambert Floris with Jantje Meyerink.
The spring and summer of 1847 brought hundreds of immigrants from the old country, and it was extremely difficult to keep supplied with necessaries of life. What few gold "Willems“ were still scat- tered between them went but a short way to provide for the first wants. Lumber had to be rafted at Saugatuck and floated down all the way along Lake Michigan and Black Lake. Provisions were
9
2
C
@
79
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
brought in and carried on the back for a distance of ten and twenty miles.
As early as the summer of 1847, the colonists commenced to build their log church, and finished it in part, that same fall. The building was located in the southwest corner of the present ceme- tery. It was built of logs, with a shingled roof, and was 35x60 feet. Its location there was in order to accommodate the people settling in the country, and perhaps also owing to the old country idea of hav- ing the church in the cemetery. When, a few years afterwards, the present First Reformed Church was built, it took considerable argu- ment to have it located in the village, where it now stands. The log church was also used for school and public meetings.
From the very beginning the settlers organized a system of public meetings, and the latter constitute a prominent part in the history of the Holland Colony, partaking somewhat of the charac- ter of the historical town meeting in the early history of New Eng- land. The proceedings of these meetings, during the winter of 1848, form a very interesting chapter in this sketch. For, inasmuch as the first township organization did not take place until 1849, and whereas for want of citizenship and the right to vote, the Hollanders were excluded from all active participation in public matters until the Spring of 1851, they relied on these meetings for an expression of their views and a discussion of matters generally. They desired some kind of government in which the various interests represented by them would receive due consideration in the spirit of their immi- gration; hence they resolved themselves, as it were, into a small democracy, governing according to what a majority of them deemed to be promotive of the greatest good to the greatest number. These meetings, known as " Volksvergadering," took cognizance of all the religious, educational, social and public interests of the colony and the people. Roads and bridges were built, church and school organized and provided for, personal grievances settled, labor and wages regulated,
The proceedings of these meetings during the year 1847 are supposed to be lost, at least they are not within my reach. Many incidents of historical interest must have been recorded in that year.
The majority of the colonists who arrived in 1847 and 1848 landed at the mouth of Black Lake. Many of them made the entire trip from the old country here, by water, leaving New York via the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence around the lakes by steamers or vessels. Of the very first lumber brought in, enough was appropriated at the harbor to put up a large building ordered by the " Volksvergadering," as a sort of receiving depot for the accommodation of newcomers. This building was put up just south of the " old channel," under the direction of Messrs. T. Kep- pel, Rensink, and H. J. Hesselink. Mr. C. Van der Vere was ap- pointed agent to receive them and forward them to town. Many of those who arrived then did not remain, but went to Wisconsin and other points.
It was soon evident to the colonists that what little ground had been cleared up during the Spring would not begin to raise sufficient supplies for their support during the next Winter. Hence every cleared spot and old Indian clearing within a range of ten or fifteen miles was explored, and at the public meetings details were organized under some competent man to cultivate them. The Port Sheldon clearings were assigned to Mr. George Harrington, and they were used in this way for two seasons to raise potatoes, corn and buckwheat, the bulk of which was carried in on the back.
Dependent to a great extent upon outside assistance for almost everything in the way of information and instruction, the colonists availed themselves of every opportunity which was offered. Thus it was ordered by the " Volksvergadering " that Mr. R. Schilleman
should go to Saugatuck to inform himself of the American way of fishing. .
In June, 1847, word was sent from Albany that a large dele- gation from the province of Zeeland, under the leadership of Rev. C. Vander Meuler and Mr. J. Van de Luyster, Sr., had arrived, and that after long and serious meditation, they had decided to locate in Michigan. Several long sheds for their reception were put up at the head of Black Lake. They numbered about four hundred, and arrived here in the month of July, coming all the way by water, and occupying the quarters assigned them, where they remained during the balance of the season in tents and sheds. After prospecting and examining the territory east of us, they concluded to locate in township 5, range 14. Thus were laid the foundations of what is now the prosperous village of Zeeland.
The arrivals during the summer began to increase. A sharp rivalry in recruiting had sprung up between this colony and other localities in Wisconsin and Iowa, where the Hollanders were settling. And right here allow me to state that it can never be truthfully said that as far as the present development of this colony and of the Hollanders is concerned, it is no wise to be accredited to either the wealth or the intellectual attainments of the masses whose lots were cast here; but, to the contrary, let it be recorded as history, that the material prosperity, the intellectual development and social ele- vation, which has transferred the immigrant of 1847 into the American citizen of 1876, is due largely to the energy, forethought and general leadership of the founder of this colony.
By this time there was quite a population scattered along the shores of Black Lake. The Indian village, near the southeastern limits of the city, was a prominent landing place. The log houses built by the Indians were of great service to the newly-arrived immi- grants; and, as it appears, there never has been trouble between the Red Man and the Dutchman.
As the colonists increased, the demand for provisions and sup- plies became greater. In view of this fact and the coming Winter, a public meeting of all the settlers, including the Zeelanders, was held, to devise ways and means in that direction. It was proposed to appoint a suitable committee to go East and buy a large stock of provisions, dry goods, groceries, hardware, stores, etc. All the colonists were to contribute, according to what each had left, and thus organize a sort of apostolic stock company. The details how each was to be represented in this company and be secured for his investment, were all agreed upon, and quite a large sum of money was collected-enough to pay fifty per cent. down on a stock of several thousand dollars, and have enough left for another object which we will mention below. All this was resolved upon, ordered to be carried out, and begun. Messrs. B. Grootenhuis and Elder Young, of Grand Rapids, were selected to go to Albany and New York and buy the goods. A store was built near the head of the lake, to sell and disburse these goods. This was called the "colony store." Mr. B. Grootenhuis was appointed general agent, and
served as such for about a year. With the money received from sales, pork and flour were again bought at Allegan, through the agency of Mr. H. D. Post, who was there at that time also getting ready to locate here. Part of the goods bought East remained on the way all Winter, and did not reach here until the next Spring. However, this was only a beginning of the disappointments.
In connection with this supply business and "colony store," it was also resolved to buy a "colony vessel." The object was not only that this vessel should carry on the trade between the new col- ony and other points, and bring in this stock of goods; but it should also be known abroad, and especially in the Old Country, that the colonists had a vessel of their own, to carry immigrants from Buffalo, Chicago, Milwaukee, and other points along the lakes. As
@
80
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
far as we can learn, the purchase was made by J. Van de Luyster, Sr., Mr. Stegenga and Capt. Clausen. The vessel was of 100 tons burthen, called the A. E. Knickerbocker, and bought from Mr. Walton, of Chicago. About the career of this vessel we have not been able to ascertain much, only that it managed to bring over a part of this stock of goods from Chicago; also that it carried over a few of the immigrants who refused to pay for their passage on the broad and general ground of its being a " colony vessel." It failed to give satisfaction to those whose money had been invested in the enterprise, and she was subsequently sold to outside parties. It ran one season and was sold.
But to return to the store business, Mr. J. Van De Luyster, Jr., succeeded Mr. B. Grootenhuis as agent or manager of the " colony store," and in the course of the year following, amidst all sorts of troubles, complaints, alleged irregularities of one kind and another, the " colony store " was wound up, leaving the largest stockholders minus their investment.
The first year was in every respect a severe test of the courage and perseverance of the colonists. Sickness among them was fear- ful, and the death-rate became alarming. In some localities ma- larial diseases had broken out, and for a while it occupied about all the time and attention of the able-bodied to attend to the wants of the sick and dying, and to the burial of the dead. Among the colon- ists was only one doctor, J. S. M. C. Van Nus. The services ren- dered by Ds. Van Raalte as physician, in those dark days, are among the many noble deeds clustering around his career as a leader. And how could the condition of the people be otherwise? Think of the causes that led to diseases, and contributed to their mis- ery. A strange climate, a malarious atmosphere, undrained marshes, unwholesome food, and insufficient shelter; want of experience in the nature of their diseases, as in everything else; no refreshments or delicacies for their sick; nothing but the coarsest of victuals, and that without the necessary facilities for preparation or cooking; quacks coming from outside palming themselves off for doctors, throwing upon the hands of the few able-bodied an army of con- valescents, with poisoned systems, aching bones and rattling teeth. We will let Ds. Van Raalte describe these trying days in his own words :
" The difficulties to contend with were many; still, the singing of psalms in the huts and under the bushes was something inexpli- cable to the superficial beholder; with many there was a faith in God, and a consciousness of a noble purpose. * * *
" In the latter part of that first summer our trials reached their climax, for the whole colony became one bed of sickness, and many died through the want of comfortable dwellings and well-prepared and suitable food. Physicians were summoned from abroad, and paid out of the colony funds. The condition was heart-rending and discouraging, and required, in opposition to man's sensitive nature, a painful sternness. Never was I nearer to the point of despair than when I entered those crowded huts and saw the constant mingling of household duties amid sickness and death, and dressing of corpses in those huts where each family was forced to accommodate itself to a limited space of a few square feet. No wonder that we could notice an increase of despairing indifference in that hour of sore affliction. God granted a change! The sick were restored to health.
" The fall was a most beautiful one, and the winter was so extraordinarily mild, that everybody could build and perform out- door labors, and even partake of their meals in the open air. The majority left for the country, and to a great extent the weak and needy remained near the landing-place." * * *
The great mortality of that season among the colonists, had left them with many orphans on their hands, who were promptly taken in by other families and cared for. Their constant increase,
however, led to the building of the orphan house, a project in per- fect keeping with the spirit in which they had started out. One Sunday morning, a few months after the partial completion and occupation of the log church, Ds. Van Raalte suggested to his peo- ple the necessity that something of this kind should be done, and that forthwith. He urged it with all the power and force of lan- guage at his command. The result was the opening of a subscrip- tion list, and the pledging of money, labor and material.
The building was begun in May, 1848. Mr. W. J. Mulder was principally charged with superintending its construction. It was not completed until the year following; owing to various reasons, it has never been occupied for the purpose for which it was built. It was afterwards used for a parochial school, town house and Holland Academy, De Hope printing office, and is now unoccupied. Dur- ing the fall of 1847, the village of Holland was platted. The first surveys were made by E. B. Bassett, county surveyor of Allegan County. The administration and sale of the village lots was placed in charge of a board of trustees elected by the people of the Volks- vergadering, of which Dr. Van Raalte was the head. As members of said board, we find the names of J. Schrader, J. Verhorst, J. Van derveen, O. D. Van Der Sluis and B. Grootenhuis. We cannot go into all the minute details of those early real estate transactions. In their character they partook of the mutual spirit in which all the business of those days was transacted. The price of the village lots was first fixed at $10 and $15, but was soon raised to $40 and $45. This was found necessary in order to obtain funds for the building of church and school, the opening of roads, payments on the land, taxes, support of the poor, salaries of the dominie, doctor and teachers, and divers other purposes.
In 1849, matters pertaining to these village lands, became quite complicated. There was a heavy indebtedness incurred, which had to be met-payments on the land were due, an unpaid balance on that stock of goods of the "colony store" was presented, and many other causes of a financial character led the people to resolve that the village lands should revert to Ds. Van Raalte; coupled with the condition that he was to assume all the indebtedness incurred to date.
The opening of roads and the building of bridges across creeks and swamps, was a tremendous work in those early days, and it occupied about one-half of the time and attention of the settlers. Want of experience was a great draw-back.
In 1847, the State made an appropriation of four hundred acres of land for the building of a bridge across Black River, commonly termed the "Grand Haven Bridge." No contractors could be found to take the job, and so the colonists, as a body, concluded to take the job themselves. How this was done, and in what manner the work was regulated, will be seen from the proceedings of the Volks- vergadering. The work was begun in the winter of 1848, but towards the last the work began to drag, when Ds. Van Raalte and J. Binnekant took the job of finishing it. In the building of this bridge, Hon. F. J. Littlejohn, of Allegan, represented the State.
The post office was established in 1848, and named "Black River." Mr. H. D. Post was appointed post master. The first mafl was a private route from Manlius, the nearest post office, and was brought in once a week. Mr. William Notting was the mail car- rier, and brought it on his back to his house, when his wife would carry it to town. Very soon routes were established to Allegan, Grand Rapids and Grand Haven. The first regular mail carriers and stage drivers were J. Trimpe, Jan Van Dijk, P. F. Pfanstiehl G. J. Haverkate.
The present cemetery was laid out, or rather designated as such, in 1848. Nevertheless, owing to the distance, and for want of
81
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
roads and suitable burial arrangements, during the years 1847-8 many were buried in other localities, as necessity dictated. Besides those buried on Van Der Haar's farm, many were laid at the head of the lake between 3d and 4th Streets, where the old man De Witt lived, who was the first sexton. A few are buried at Point Supe- rior, several were buried at the mouth of Black Lake, on the hills north of the present harbor. The winds, however, so shifted those hills, that years ago these coffins became exposed.
Much that is interesting is centered around the first attempt at manufacturing by the colonists; also in their harbor, the improve- ment of which they considered as of primary interest: the organ- ization of the first churches and their formal joining with the Re- formed Protestant Dutch Church of America, the opening of Schools, the Holland Academy and Hope College, the history of township and city government, the proceedings of the Volksvergad- ering, the settlement of Zeeland and surrounding townships, the early history of Point Superior and of the Indian settlements, the development of our commerce and shipping interests, and many other points of local interest, each constituting its part of the his- tory of this city and colony.
What we wish to call the attention to now, as a sort of a key to the past, is the great extent to which the colonists combined all their interests-religious, educational, political and social-into one, and placed them under one supervision; and how to that same ex- tent the church and its religious interests was secondary to none, but, if anything, was made to underlie the entire network of their existence.
Finally, as we dismiss from our minds the local events of those memorable years, 1847 and 1848, let it be in the words of him to whom we have endeavored to do honor as the founder of this Hol- land Colony :
"And this sweet fruition of independence and full liberty which we so bountifully enjoyed, gave joy and strength to our hearts. Es- pecially was it the pleasure of the Sabbath, the invigorating power of God's truth, the united prayers and associated labor of many neighboring settlements, which gave enjoyment, support and cour- age, and caused us to persevere in a great and difficult undertaking. God's temporal deliverances were many; each settlement and each family has a history of its own."
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871.
Up to 1867 the colony was a unit, and the close of the first score of years the village severed its connection with the township and became incorporated as a city, electing its first officers in 1868. The citizens became metropolitan, roads began to point towards the rising city, and large numbers of citizens of other nationalities be- gan to flock in, increasing the wonderful influx of wealth and pop- ulation. Ease and luxury obliterated the traces of pioneer life. On the 8th of October, 1871, the Sabbath church bells sounded the alarm of fire. For several days there had been signs of fire in the heavens, yet no alarm was excited until noon, when the wind fresh- ened and increased the fires in the vicinity, and by night all were out fighting fire. The churches were closed, clergy and people fought the fire demon's power side by side, but all was of no avail. At 2 o'clock in the morning following the cry was heard that the 3d church was on fire and all hope was abandoned, despair seized upon all. In half an hour the city was a mass of flames, and with difficulty the people escaped with their lives from the fierce heat, the blinding smoke and the tempest of wind. In two hours the work of destruction was complete; Holland was in ashes; 243 houses with 76 business places were consumed. The toil of years was undone, and at first a feeling of despair for the future brooded upon the minds of the agitated sufferers. But this feeling soon
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.