USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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passed away, and with heads stout and brave they prepared for future trials and triumphs.
THE INDIANS.
Joseph Wakazoo's band of 300 Ottawa Indians were on the pay roll of the United States agent. Rev. Smith was the Presbyterian missionary, and Isaac Fairbanks, J. P., of Holland, was the farmer who taught them the art of agriculture, and they had some land cleared and planted in corn. They had a village three-fourths of a mile below Holland City, of which no traces now remain, as their structures were simply bark shanties and an old frame church. In 1848 they removed to Little Traverse and their empty huts were used by the Hollanders until better could be had. The Indians were chiefly Ottawas and the priest visited them periodically. They were generally quiet and orderly.
HOPE COLLEGE,
on a beautiful rising ground, is a noble institution of which not only the Hollanders should feel an honest pride, but all classes of citizens should regard as an important factor in the improvement of society. It is the only institution of the kind in western Michigan, and being central to population of 300,000, with close and rapid communication by land and water, it offers educational advantages of a high order. In 1843 the general synod of the Reformed (Dutch) church began a move- ment for training western young men for western work, and the emigration of the "Colony of the pilgrims" from Holland to Ottawa Co. led to further agitation of this subject by the Synod. Dr. Isaac N. Wyckoff was sent to Michigan to investigate the situation of affairs, and in 1850 Rev. Dr. John Garretson made an official visit to the Holland colony, and upon his return to the East drew up a plan of a High School whose object should be "to prepare sons of the colo- nists from Holland to be educated in Rutgers, and also to educate daughters of said colonists, etc."
In pursuance of this plan, active measures were taken for the establishment of the school. Dr. Van Raalte, to whose Christian zeal and undaunted industry the college owes so much, and whose memory is precious to all friends of Christian education, donated five acres of land for a site, and Dr. Garretson devoted himself to the work of getting the school started.
To transmit to successive generations the story of the hardships, sacrifices and holy patience of these godly men, who endured and suffered that posterity might enjoy a blessing, is a duty not to be neglected; and in the enjoyment of the rich blessings of the present the illustrious examples of devoted heroism and sacrifice in the past should not be lost sight of.
In October 1851 the school was begun, and placed in charge of Elder Walter T. Taylor, of Geneva, N. Y. He was assisted by a son and two daughters, and remained two years.
In 1853 Mr. Taylor resigned and was succeeded by Rev. F. C. Beidler, of South Bend, Ind. It was in this year that the first plan of the school was changed somewhat by the General Synod taking the school under its care, and committing it to its Board of Educa- tion. When Mr, Taylor entered upon his work in 1851 the only school in the place was an ordinary district school, and to this he added the germ of the ecclesiastical academy, but it was found that this plan could not be successfully continued, hence the change in 1863.
Rev. Mr. Beidler continued in charge of the school until 1855, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Van Vleck, a graduate of the theological seminary of New Brunswick, N. J. Mr. Van Vleck was a scholar of marked ability, and his administration was attended with a good degree of success.
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
In 1857 Holland Academy was separated from the public school, and the Synod appointed a Board of Superintendents, consisting of a minister and an elder from each Classis in the Synod of Chicago, to conduct examinations, etc.
Up to 1851 the five acre lot donated by Dr. Van Raalte, was the only property of the school. At this time the needs of the school demanded a building. Dr. Van Raalte made three tours East for the purpose of collecting money for building, and succeeded in rais- ing $12,000, which was expended on a three story brick building 50x40 feet. The building was constructed under the personal super- vision of Mr. Van Vleck. The building still remains upon the college campus and is used as residence and dormitory.
In 1859 Mr. Van Vleck was obliged to resign his position on account of ill health. He was succeeded by Rev. Philip Phelps, Jr., of Hastings-upon-Hudson, N. Y. Mr. Phelps began his work with thirty-three students, and among the first things he did was the work of classification. It was during this year that the campus was en- larged by the addition of eleven acres, making in all sixteen acres.
In 1860 a building to be used for a dwelling house was erected, and in 1862 a gymnasium was built. The building is now used for a chapel. In this year the first college class was organized.
In 1868 a more complete Board of Superintendents was organ- ized by the General Synod, to consist of two ministers and one elder from each of the Western Classes. In 1864 two new professors were added to the corps of instructors, Rev. T. Romeyn Beck, of Chicago, and Rev. P. J. Oggel, of Pella, Iowa. The same year a plan was inaugurated for raising an endowment fund of $100,000. In 1865 the work of raising this money was undertaken. Another teacher, Rev. John Mason Ferris, of Grand Rapids, was added this year.
In 1866 Hope College was incorporated, and the first college class of eight members graduated in July of this year. The college Faculty was organized with Rev. P. Phelps, Jr., D. D., as President, Rev. P. J. Oggel, Rev. T. Romeyn Beck, Rev. Charles Scott, Rev. Cornelis E. Crispell, as Professors, and Cornelis Doesburg and H. B. Gilmore as Tutors. The same year the Faculty were author- ized to give instruction to a class in theology.
In 1867 two new buildings were erected, and Rev. C. E. Cris- pell was appointed Professor of Theology by the General Synod.
In 1869 the theological department was regularly constituted by the Synod, aud its Faculty made up from the clerical teachers in the College. Near the close of this year Prof. Oggel died.
From 1859 to 1867 the affairs of the college were not inter- rupted by any special event. The prosperity of the institution was good, and the people of Ottawa County gave to the school a good degree of support.
In 1867 Dr. Van Raalte donated the College 70 acres of land within the corporate limits of Holland, and thirteen more were pur- chased. In 1869, 837 acres at Point Superior, on the north side of Black Lake, were purchased. Toward the payment of the last tract James Suydam, of New York, donated $5,000. The object of this purchase has never been clearly apparent, as it has been a burden rather than a help to the institution. Of late, however, an effort has been made with some success, to dispose of a portion at least of this unfruitful possession.
In 1877 the College was found to be heavily in debt, and the theological department was suspended. So much money had been invested in land and in the publication of De Hope and printing of- fice, that the op rations of the College were crippled. In 1878 the affairs of the College were investigated by the General Synod and it was found to be over $30,000 in debt. A committee was ap- pointed to receive the resignations of the faculty and to reorganize the Council or Board of Trustees. The Board was reorganized under a new constitution. The former professors were reappointed
with the exception of Drs. Phelps and Crispell. Rev. G. H. Man- deville, D. D., of New York, was appointed President with special charge of the finances, and Rev. Charles Scott, D. D., Vice-Presi- dent and acting executive officer.
In 1880 Rev. Mr. Scott was appointed to succeed Mr. Mande- ville, and is at the present time at the head of the College. Nearly one-half of the debt has been paid, and during the present year it is hoped that the balance will be liquidated.
The suspension of the theological department was a severe blow to the friends of the College, but unfortunate as it may have been, was an unavoidable circumstance. In 1878 females were ad- mitted to the institution. The present number of students for the year 1881 was one hundred and ten, which is a very flattering in- crease. Under the present wise and careful management of the College, it is enjoying a good degree of prosperity and is certainly deserving of encouragement and support. It should be a source of pride to its friends in Ottawa County that such an institution has endured and surmounted the obstacles that beset its early history, and has attained to such a degree of excellence and prosperity.
THE ACADEMIC FACULTY.
REV. T. ROMEYN BECK, D. D.,-Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages and Literature. In charge of Logic and the Ele- ments of Criticism.
REV. CHARLES SCOTT, D. D.,-Professor of Chemistry and Nat- ural History. In charge of History, Mental and Moral Philosophy, and Constitutional Law.
CORNELIS DOESBURG, A. M.,-Professor of Modern Languages and Literature.
WILLIAM A. SHIELDS, A. M.,-Professor of English Language and Literature, and of Rhetoric. In charge of Latin with the Freshman Class.
GERRIT J. KOLLEN, A. M.,-Professor, of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. In charge of Political Economy. Business manager of De Hope.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL FACULTY.
Prof. Cornelis Doesburg, Prof. William A. Shields, Secretary of the Faculty; Prof. Gerrit J. Kollen, Henry Boers, A. B., teacher of Latin, etc., in the Preparatory Department; John H. Kleinheksel, A. B., teacher of Mathematics, Greek, etc., in the Preparatory De- partment. The Professors assist in this department as they find opportunity. Rev. D. Van Pelt, in charge of Sacred Literature, and of the religious instruction of the students.
REV. CHARLES SCOTT, D. D.
Rev. Charles Scott was born Dec. 18, 1822, at Little Britain, in the township of New Windsor, Orange County, N. Y .. and was the second son of Alexander and Miriam (Buchanan) Scott, both of Scotch-Irish descent. Francis Scott, the grandfather of Alexander, came to America from Longford, Ireland, in 1729, with Col. Charles Clinton, and after marriage with Eleaner McDowell, settled as a farmer at "Blaggs Clove," Orange County. Robert Buchanan, the grandfather of Miriam, immigrated about the same time, per- haps a little earlier with his father James, and settled on a farm ad- joining the "Clinton Place." This is a well-known historical spot- the homestead whence came Gov. George Clinton, Gov. James Clin- ton, and the still more celebrated Gov. De Witt Clinton, the origina- tor of the Erie Canal (Clinton's Ditch.)
Alexander Scott was also a farmer in moderate circumstan- ces, and hence Charles enjoyed only the advantages of a common- school education in the country. He succeeded, however, in fitting himself for college, and in Sept, 1840, became a freshman at Rut- gers, in New Jersey. The same year he was appointed to a cadet-
HOPE COLLEGE, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN.
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
ship at West Point, but declined. He graduated in July, 1844, with the highest honors in a class of twenty-four.
Starting out with a design of travelling into Mexico and South America, Mr. Scott engaged to spend the winter of 1844-5 as pri- vate tutor at Adams Run, near Charleston, S. C. Here in the "Pine Land," he was converted to Christ in the spring of 1845, and the religious profession which followed gave a new sense of duty and changed the whole tenor of his life. Remaining at Adams Run until the beginning of 1847, he then opened a school or academy at Aiken, S. C., a noted health resort among the hills near the river Savannah. The undertaking proved a success, and during the sec- ond year the number of pupils steadily increased. But coming to the conviction that he should prepare for the gospel ministry, he transferred the school to a friend in Nov. 1848, and entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, at New Brunswick, N. J.
While thus teaching in South Carolina, Mr. Scott had several flattering invitations to take charge of Academies, and in 1848 was offered the presidency of a female college in Georgia. He was thrown into association with several of the leading men of the State including Governors Hammond and Aiken, and Senators Calhoun and Butler. Had he continued to reside in the south, he had every prospect of a career gratifying to a young man's ambition.
After licensure by the Classis of New Brunswick, in June, 1851, he accepted a call to the Reformed Dutch Church of Shawan- gunk, in Ulster County, N. Y., and was there ordained by the Clas- sis of Orange, Sept. 9, 1851. This church had existed for more than a century, and the house of worship and the parsonage, both of stone, dated from 1750-53. The congregation was very large and pastoral labors severe, but the charge (and it was a pleasant one) continued for fifteen years with mutual satisfaction. About three hundred were added to the communion of the church. In all religious or benevolent efforts for the good of men, whether in Coun- ty or Township, the pastor and his people were ever found ready to cooperate.
When the great civil war of 1861 burst upon the Republic, he became active in support of the Union, and although a Democrat in the midst of a Democratic community, no locality in the country gave better proof of patriotism and loyalty. Among the volunteers from his congregation, the death-roll numbered thirty-seven. When the "Bureau of Military Statistics" was organized, after the end of the conflict he was appointed for Ulster, and served in that capacity until his removal to the west.
In 1865, arrangements had been made for the incorporation of Hope College, at Holland, Mich., as the western institution of the Reformed Church. In December of that year Mr. Scott, with no application or knowledge on his part, was elected professor of Mathe- matics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy therein. Resigning therefore his charge at Shawangunk, he removed to Holland in Sept. 1866, and entered upon his new avocation. By request, however, he accepted the Professorship of Chemistry and Natural History in- stead of the Chair originally designated, and has continued in charge of that branch of instruction up to the present time.
In 1866, the General Synod of the Reformed Church author- ized the introduction of Theological instruction into Hope College and in 1869 constituted a Theological Department, which continued until 1877. In this Department Prof. Scott was appointed by Synod "Theological Lector" in Church History, Church Government and Archeology. At the same time he also lectured to the college classes on History.
In 1878 a change was made in the constitution and manage- ment of the College. Rev. Philip Phelps, D. D., resigned the Presi- dency and was succeeded by Rev. G. Henry Mandeville, D. D., of
New York City; with Prof. Scott as Vice-President in actual charge of the administration, and of the Chair of Mental and Moral Philos- ophy.
The finances of the Institution were very much embarrassed, the annual income had failed to meet the expenses; a large debt had accumulated and it was no easy matter to overcome all obsta- cles to success. But the new President labored faithfully in the east, seconded by prudent cooperation in the west, and for over three years the current expenses of the school have been promptly met, while the debt will soon be liquidated. The average number of students has also been upon the increase. In July, 1880, Rev. Dr. Mandeville resigned his office, after a service of two years, and Prof. Scott was thereupon elected in his place. Since no professo- rial duties were dropped, the cares and responsibilities thus falling upon him as the acting executive officer, have been burdensome and unremunerative, but these four years from 1878 to 1882, must ever be regarded as a turning point in the history of Hope College.
In June, 1875, Prof. Scott was elected President of the General Synod, and in the same year he received the honorary degree of D. D. from the University of the city of New York. He has re- ceived other appointments, &c., which it is not necessary to men- tion.
In July, 1850, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Maria R. Stelle, the daughter of Peter R. Stelle, Esq., of Piscataway, N. J. Their present residence is on 9th Street, Holland. Of their children six survive, viz .: Henry P., city editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette; Gertrude E., wife of Rev. Daniel Van Pelt, of Hope Church, Holland; Charles B., assistant of Charles A. Ashburner, Esq., superintendent of the second survey of the Pennsylvania coal fields, Philadelphia; Alexander W., druggist, Grand Rapids; Edward B. and Maria E. still at home. In private life he has been esteemed by his fellow men, and in business matters would rather sacrifice his own inter- ests than prove negligent of any trust put into his hands.
MANUFACTURES. The largest establishment of any kind is the
CAPPON & BERTSCH LEATHER CO.
In connection with the leather interest which has grown to such pro- portion, it will be well to state that the first tannery was erected by P. F. Pfanstiehl, being composed of several log buildings and located near the site of Central Wharf Warehouse.
In 1857 Messrs. Cappon & Bertsch became convinced that a tannery would pay; their capital consisted largely of two pairs of willing hands, perseverance and economy, and thus commenced in the old log building.
In 1863 they erected a new building 44x72 where their present tannery now stands. Soon after an addition of twenty feet in width was made, making 64x72 feet, all of which, together with a large amount of bark was consumed by the fire of October 9, 1871, mak- ing a total loss to the firm of $70,000 and no insurance. After this terrible blow, Messrs. Cappon & Bertsch, nothing daunted, com- menced rebuilding, and the next season saw a new building erected. A year later a large drying house was built, and new improvements have been added, until at the present time, the largest tannery in the State has taken the place of the shanty and old house of 1857.
The establishment at the present time (1882) is made up as follows: on 9th Street a building 405x66 feet in size is used for the vats, 380 in number, and the tannery proper.
The bark room and leaches occupy a building 220x66 feet. The engine house 24x50 feet, contains the machinery that furnishes the
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
motive power for the several buildings, the engine is of fifty horse power.
The drying house, fronting on 8th Street, is 40x125 feet in size, and five stories high. The first story is devoted to packing, rolling and splitting sole leather. The second story is where the finishing of the upper leather is done. Harness leather on the third floor. The fourth and fifth stories are used as drying lofts. The building is furnished with an elevator. The bark "houses" which consist of large piles of bark are on the west side of their lots, and extend for two blocks. They use annually from 5,000 to 6,000 cords of hem- lock bark, costing about $6 per cord. The company employs, on an average, ninety men, and with a capital of $200,000, do a business annually of over a half million dollars. They secured the gold medal for manufacturing the best non-acid sole leather in the United States, competing at New York city in 1880. Mr. J. Bertsch has charge of the purchasing of the hides and selling the leather at Grand Rapids, while I. Cappon takes charge of the tannery, assisted by John Ny- land foreman in the tannery, and P. J. Doyle foreman in the curry- ing shop.
HOLLAND STAVE FACTORY
was built in 1859 by Pfanstiehl & Backes, burned by the fire of 1871, and re-built in 1880 by Joseph Fixter, of Milwaukee, who still op- erates it. The main building is 24x50, surrounded by additions 16 feet in width. There are six buildings each 6x50, containing steam boxes, dry kilns 42x22, ware house 24x60, sheds 100x20, cooper shop 16x30, all of which is situated on River Street, between 5th and 6th, being furnished with a side track. The machinery consists of a heading machine, stave cutter, heading planer, jointer, circle and heading lathe for butter tubs, etc., and propelled by a thirty horse power steam engine. This factory employs about twenty-five men, and does annually about $75,000 of business. James Koening Su- perintendent.
THE BUTTER TUB FACTORY
on River Street, at the foot of De Witt Street, was formerly a saw and shingle mill. In February 1880, G. Van Putten & Co. rented the mill and put in the necessary machinery for manufacturing but- ter tubs. Subsequently G. Van Putten sold his interest to J. Van Putten, and now the firm is J. Van Putten & Co. The machinery, consisting of a turning lathe, a bottom lathe, a planer, a stave saw, splitting saw, two cross-cut saws, a piercing saw and heading saw, is propelled by a forty horse power steam engine. The factory employs about twenty-five men and does a business of over $50,000 annually, using 900 cords of bolts.
HOLLAND MANUFACTURING CO.
was organized June 20, 1881, more especially for the manufacture of Palmer's Self-regulating Windmills, capital stock $10,000, and bids fair to be one of the leading interests in Holland. Present officers are J. Roost, President, J. Kuite, Vice-President, H. D. Post, Secre- tary, H. Walsh, Treasurer, J. R. Kleyn, Director.
THE TANNERY OF GEO. METZ'S JR.
was established in 1870, employing twenty men, and doing a busi- ness of $150,000 annually. The tan house, 245x50 feet, contains 150 double vats with a capacity of seven tons per week of sole leather. The several houses are a dry house 40x60, containing elevator and two sole leather rollers, engine house and bark room 30x55 feet, sheds that cover the leaches 20x150 feet, hide house 30x50 feet.
PHOENIX PLANING MILL,
on the corner of River and 10th Street, was built in 1871 by H. W. Verbeck & Co., and purchased in May 1879 by R. E. Werkman & Co. who still operate it. Besides being general dealers in lumber they are manufacturing doors, sash and blinds, moldings, etc. The ma-
chinery, propelled by a twenty-five horse power engine, consists of two planers, a planer and matcher, a re-sawing machine, a tenoning machine, a sticker shaver, a scroll saw, two rip saws, a cut-off ma- chine and panel raiser. The mill employs ten men summer and winter, doing a business of about $20,000 annually.
HOLLAND CITY GRIST MILL,
located on 8th Street, is a three story building 58x26, with an addi- tion, of 58x14, was built in 1874 by Geerling, Becker & Co. In 1877 Becker & Beukena purchased the interest of Geerling, and still own and operate it. The mill contains one four feet buhr, one three and a half feet, and two three feet buhrs, propelled by a sixty-five horse power steam engine, and turns out daily twenty-five barrels of flour besides doing custom work.
PLUGGER MILLS,
.consisting of a saw and grist mill, are the oldest in this locality. The saw mill was built in 1851 by P. Den Blyker, grist mill was built in 1856, and purchased in 1869 by Pauels, Van Putten & Co., who still own them. The building for the grist mill is a three story structure 46x60, and operates four run of four feet buhrs, propelled by a forty horse power engine, with a capacity of 200 bushels of wheat and a like amount of feed each twelve hours. The saw mill, 30x50, is run by a separate engine of thirty two horse power, with a capacity of 15,000 feet daily.
HOWARD'S SAW MILL,
situated on the north side of the lake, on section 30, was built in 1856. In 1866 it was purchased by John Van Dyk and operated for a year, when John Roost became a partner. In 1879 Fillmore Bird obtained Mr. Roost's interest and the firm is now Van Dyk & Bird. The machinery is run by a thirty-five horse power engine, with a ca- pacity of 15,000 feet in twelve hours.
W. H. BEACH'S GRAIN ELEVATOR,
near the depot, is a building 44x32, so constructed on a side hill with an elevated driveway that wheat can be unloaded and easily spouted into the car. It has a capacity of 5,000 bushels, and was built in 1879. Mr. Beach has also a warehouse near by, 20x32, for coarse grain with a capacity of 2,000 bushels.
FLIEMAN'S WAGON AND BLACKSMITH SHOP.
This establishment employs some ten men, and turns out some sixty wagons and carriages, besides cutters, sleighs, etc. Size of wagon shop is 24x30, and of the blacksmith shop, 24x60. Paint shop occupies the second story.
HOLLAND CITY FOUNDRY
was built in 1859 by W. H. Deming, who still owns it. The main building is 20x36, other buildings 22x32 and 22x36. A five horse power steam engine is used for propelling the machinery necessary for finishing work.
BOONE & CO.'S SAW MILL
is located on section 23, between Holland and Zeeland, and was built by the present owners in 1866, burned out in 1871, rebuilt, again burned in 1877, and again rebuilt. The machinery is run by a forty horse power engine and has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lum- ber each ten hours. In connection with the mill they own two steam tow tugs, plying on Black River and Lake.
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