USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 6
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and collect taxes in the district was made to the Legislature, and special mention is made of White River, in the county of Oceana.
Valuation, $1,404,529.66.
In 1854 the township of Blendon was organized-set off from Allendale; first meeting at the house of Booth Perry the first Mon- day in April, 1857.
In January, 1856, Robinson was set off from Ottawa; first meeting at the house of Ira Robinson the first Monday in April.
The records give evidence of a good deal of interest in the location of the county seat, various places desiring it, especially Eastmanville and Ottawa Center.
At the January session, 1857, the board voted to locate the county seat at Eastmanville, and that the question be submitted to the people. In 1858, by a two-thirds vote, they located it (so far as their vote would do it) at Ottawa Centre. In October its rejec- tion by the people is recorded.
In 1859 the supervisors voted to petition the Legislature to organize the county of Muskegon. In accordance with that peti- tion, Muskegon County and all northern dependencies were set off, leaving Ottawa as now. The business between the two counties was amicably arranged.
The first Circuit Court for the county was held at Grand Haven May 28th, 1839; Charles W. Whipple was the Presiding Judge, and Timothy Eastman and Jonathan Ford Associate Judges. No jury was impaneled.
In 1861 Muskegon and other counties were authorized to levy a harbor tax; Muskegon River improvement; Muskegon incor- porated.
In 1863 Grand Haven's name was changed from Ottawa; Hol- land harbor act amended.
In 1864 Grand Haven was authorized to pledge its credit to the railroad from New Buffalo; Muskegon authorized to pledge its credit for a railroad to connect with the D. & M.
In 1865 the Black Lake Harbor appropriation; Holland may aid Black Lake Harbor; Muskegon improvement; Muskegon for constructing free bridge.
In 1866 Oceana T. 12 N., 17 W., and the part of 11 N., 17 W., lying north to White Lake. Blue Lake T. 12 N., 16 W., or- ganized. White Lake-all that part of 11 N., 17 W., south of White Lake and T. 11 N., 16 W, -- organized and called Dalton. Ottawa County allowed two representatives; Muskegon County allowed one representative; Black Lake Harbor appropriation; Holland authorized to establish a rate of tolls for the improvement of the harbor; Laketon organized, T. 10, N. 17 W.
In 1867 Grand Haven City chartered; Holland authorized to resurvey; Spring Lake-name changed from Mill Point; White Hall-name changed from Mears and incorporated.
In 1871 Fruitport-name changed from Lovell; Holton-12 N., 15 W .- organized; the east eighteen sections detached from Norton and added to Fruitport.
In 1872 Grand Haven charter amended.
1876.
In June, 1876, the following were supervisors: Allendale, C.W. Ingraham; Chester, W. H. Harrison; Georgetown, G. Weatherwax; Grand Haven City, G. D. Sanford, W. M. Ferry, and K. Brouer; Holland City, D. te Roller and R. Kanters; Jamestown, W. H. Curtis; Polkton, J. A. Walter; Spring Lake, Hunter Savidge; Wright, B. Laubach; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Crockery, S. Law- rence; Holland Township, W. Diekema; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Robinson, O. A. Whitney; Talmadge, W. Dewitt; Zeeland, J. G. Van Hees; Grand Haven Township, John Mastenbroek. In all 20 supervisors.
29
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
B. Laubach was elected chairman.
B. Lillie and R. K. Heald were superintendents of the poor. The council grants permission to Grand Haven to erect a fire engine house on the southwest corner of the Court House block, but afterwards altered it to the southeast.
The assessed valuation of the county was equalized at $6,558,- 687.
The committee on the purchase of the bridge at Lamont, re- ported against purchasing at $1,000, which was the price demanded by the owner, Miner Hedges, and also against the purchase of the Spring Lake and Grand Haven bridge at $9,000.
M. H. Creager is county treasurer; A. A. Macy, county clerk; The salaries are fixed at, county clerk, $800; treasurer, $1200; judge of probate, $1000.
The late county treasurer, C. N. Dickinson, had left his bonds- men, among whom was John W. Hopkins, liable at this time for over $3.000, and negotiations were going on with a view to settle- ment.
1877.
Peter H. Chappel presented certificate of election as supervisor of Wright, in place of B. Laubach, resigned; and W. H. Curtis, of Jamestown, was elected chairman.
Edgar Babcock, is supervisor of Allendale, in place of Mr. In- graham, removed.
Joos Verplanke is the sheriff elect.
Allen C. Adsit retires from the office of prosecuting attorney. Received for liquor license, $8,203.04.
The officers now are, A. A. Tracy, clerk, J. De Boe, register of deeds; A. Visscher and E. Baxter circuit court commissioners; C. W. Gray coroner; M. H. Creager, treasurer.
The county printer in 1877 was C. H. Dubois, next year it was J. G. Lee, the Herald in 1878, the Holland City News in 1879, 1880 and 1881.
1878.
Supervisors: Chester, W. H. Harrison; Crockery, B. Murray; Grand Haven City, Geo. C. Stewart, G. D. Sanford and H. Brouer; Holland City, K. Schaddelee, D. te Roller; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, J. A. Walter; Spring Lake, A. Bilz; Talmadge, R. H. Pelton; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, J. G. Van Hees, Grand Haven, J. Mastenbroek; Allendale, F. J. Brown; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Georgetown, H. D. Weatherwax; Robinson, A. O. Whitney; Holland Township, W. Diekema.
The auditor general of the State claims about $30,000 as the indebtedness of the county, but the supervisors make up a set-off of over $25,000, and the council by 17 to 3 repudiated the claim as far as the $25,000 was concerned.
Judge Tate enters the office of Judge of Probate, which he still holds. Geo. W. McBride is Prosecuting Attorney.
The committee appointed to search for a deed from the Ferry estate for the Court House Square report their want of success and suggest that the treasurer and clerk try their hands at the business.
At the October session, S. M. Sage appears as Supervisor of Jamestown, and G. Van Schelven as second Supervisor for Hol- land City, and G. Parks and B. D. Safford for Grand Haven City.
After 4 ballots A. O. Whitney was elected chairman.
$200 reward was paid to the Sheriff of Columbus, Ohio, for the apprehension of Peter Schilling, charged with the murder of James Naylor, of Georgetown, and one-half the expense of the trial was borne by Kent County.
The equalized assessment is $5,994, 524.
F. F. Archer, of Lamont, is licensed for five years to ferry across the Grand River.
1879.
The Supervisors are, Allendale, J. E. Blake; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Chester, G. F. Porter; Crockery, H. W. Cleveland; George- town, H. D. Weatherwax; Grand Haven City, Sanford, Pfaff and Safford; Grand Haven Town, J. Mastenbroek; Holland City, L. Sprietsma and G. Van Schelven; Holland Town, W. Diekema; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, E. Thayer; Robinson, Jas. W. Knight; Spring Lake, H. W. Pearson; Talmadge, J. W. A. Turner; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, C. Van Loo.
After 31 ballots C. Van Loo was elected chairman.
Adam Wagner's license for a ferry at Eastmanville was renewed for five years.
Assessed valuation equalized at $5,937,180.
The County Treasurer reports as having received $51, 511, in- cluding $3,838 as cash on hand.
There was appropriated for the general fund $8,500, salaries $3,800; poor fund, $2,500; insane, $1,700; State $13,727, making a total of $30,227.
The sureties of C. N. Dickinson, late County Treasurer, were released on payment of $500.
1880.
The Supervisors are: Allendale, E. Babcock; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Chester, G. F. Porter; Crockery, S. Lawrence; George- town, H. D. Weatherwax; Grand Haven, H. Saul; Holland, W. Diekema; Jamestown, G. Avery; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, E. Thayer; Robinson, J. W. Knight; Spring Lake, C. M. Kay; Talmadge, R. H. Pelton; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, C. Van Loo; City of Grand Haven, G. E. Hubbard, C. F. Pfaff and C. N. Dickinson; City of Holland, E. Van Der Veen and G. Van Schel- ven.
W. N. Angell elected Superintendent of the Poor for three years.
Equalized value of the county placed at $6,417,320.
Bradford Velsey was granted a license to ferry across Grand River at Lamont.
The liquor special tax returns produced $6,123.
1881 -- 1882.
The Supervisors are the same as in 1880 except A. Kronemeyer, for Georgetown; W. C. Harper, Robinson; A. A. Tracy, G. D. San- ford and B. D. Safford for Grand Haven City; K. Schaddelee and John Roost for Holland City; John Sehler, for Chester; W. F. Kelley for Wright.
C. Van Loo was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
The committee recommended the dismissal of Mr. C. W. Lillie, keeper of the Poor House on a charge of cruelty to one Sarah Coye, which was adopted, although W. N. Angell and B. Lillie, the Su- perintendents, reported that there was no such ill usage nor inhu- manity to inmates as would justify the removal of Mr. Lillie.
Assesed valuation, $6,316,619.
The Sheriff of the county is John Vaupell, and deputies G. M. Huntley, P. Weatherwax, M. M. Clark, T. M. Reed, F. E. Murray, John Pennoyer, and Peter Koning.
The constables that received fees in June, 1881, are A. Wolt- man, W. H. Finch, B. O. Goodrich, C. J. Pfaff, A. Romayn, M. M. McLean, A. Koning and M. P. Stegenga.
The Justices receiving fees are: C. T. Pagelson, T. F. Howe, J. V. B. Goodrich, C. M. Kay, H. D. Post, Jas. Teneyck, George F. Richardson, John Rice, A. P. Stegenga. W. H, Finch is cor- oner.
30
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
STATISTICAL.
The following statistics, which we have gleaned from the U. S. Census of June 1, 1840, relating to Ottawa County, which then in- cluded Muskegon, may prove interesting to the reader. According to the returns the whole number of inhabitants was 208. Of horses and mules there were 4, neat cattle 12; no sheep; 13 swine; no wheat, rye, corn, oats or barley raised, or at least returned; 100 bushels of potatoes raised; no wool nor dairy products, and only 193 tons of hay. The manufactories consisted of 12 saw mills, with an invested capital of $103,500.
OTTAWA CO .- U. S. CENSUS, 1850. .
According to the U. S. Census of 1850, Ottawa County (in- cluding Muskegon) returned 1128 dwelling houses, 1134 families, 5,587 inhabitants. The value of the real estate owned was estimated at $580,890. There were 204 occupied farms; 4,914 acres im- proved. The live stock consisted of 90 horses; no mules; 538 milch cows; 287 working oxen, and 837 other cattle; 192 sheep, and 1349 swine. The produce for the preceding year was:
Wheat
3,814 bush.
Rye
262
Indian corn
24,264
Oats
3,549
Barley
55
Buckwheat
553
Potatoes
9,808
Wool
1,166 lbs.
Butter
30,935
Cheese
2,100
Hay
1,507 tons
Maple Sugar
42,365 lbs.
The value of orchard products was $219, and of home made manufactures, $1,256. Some enterprising individual had gone heavily into the cultivation of clover seed, and the total amount re- turned for the county was one bushel.
There were 24 saw mills-11 water and 13 steam-with an in- vested capital of $144,030, and with an annual product of 49,320,000 ft., valued at $307,480. There were no flouring mills, and the aggregate of all kinds of manufactures, mills included, was as follows: Capital invested, $153,540; No. of hands employed, 323 males, no females; value of annual products, $337,548.
The estimated value of real and personal estate according to the assessor was $435,856; according to the assistant marshals, $671,178.
STATE CENSUS, 1864 .- OTTAWA COUNTY.
According to the State Census of 1864 the population of Ottawa County was as follows:
Allendale
298
Blendon
276
Chester
1,034
Crockery
574
Georgetown
918
Grand Haven
1,576
Holland
2,777
Jamestown
708
Olive
413
Polkton
1,242
Robinson
126
Spring Lake
844
Talmadge
1,093
Wright
1,584
Zeeland
1,693
Total,
15,156
The total number of acres of taxable land was 191,112; num. ber of acres improved 46,101; number of acres sown with wheat 8,656.
The number of saw mills returned were 24 steam and 6 water power, which produced 25,683,000 feet of lumber. The number of persons employed was 341, and the amount of capital invested was $179,260.
The number of bushels of produce raised the preceding year was, corn, 103,774; wheat, 87,885; other kinds of grain, 56,207; potatoes, 69,814; tons of hay, 15,923; lbs. wool, sheared, 25,726; lbs. pork, marketed, 243,640; lbs. butter, 269,038; lbs. cheese, 23,367; lbs. sugar, 210,753.
Of live stock there were 2,058 horses; neat cattle, other than oxen or cows, 4,767; work oxen, 1,778; milch cows, 4,552; sheep, 10,557; 4,698 swine, and 8 mules.
The manufactories were, flouring mills, 2 steam and 3 water; one brewery; no oil mills or distilleries, and no mines worked. There were also six steam and one water power manufactories of other kinds.
There were 2,763 dwelling houses.
OTTAWA COUNTY-1870.
The population of Ottawa County in [1870, by townships, was as follows:
Allendale 799
Blendon
718
Chester
1,405
Crockery 1,125
Georgetown 1,474
Grand Haven 558
Grand Haven City
3,140
Holland
2,354
Holland City 2,324
Jamestown
1,612
Olive
612
Polkton
2,416
Robinson
406
Spring Lake
1,836
Talmadge
1,451
Wright
2,077
Zeeland
2,343
Total, 26,650
Of the total population there were, native born, 9,025 males and 8,452 females; foreign born, 5,025 males, and 4,148 females. There were 53 black, 31 mulatto, and 7 Indians.
There were 3,658 voters owning property, and 1,358 without property; total, 5,016.
The total number of acres of improved land in farms was 82,902; wood land, 106,886; other improved, 13,227; cash value, $7,333,58. Value of farming implements, $125,377. The value of all farm products during the preceding year was $1,761,981; forest products, $78,419; home manufactures, $4,930; maple sugar, 80,739 lbs.
The live stock on farms was estimated at horses, 4,328; mules and asses, 57; milch cows, 6,452; working oxen, 1,328; other cattle, 5,632; sheep, 15,001, and swine, 7,828; and the total live stock was valued at $1,044,948.
The products during the year ending on 1st June, 1870, were as follows:
Animals slaughtered
. $156,271
Wool
50,738 lbs.
Butter
597,842 "
6
31
Cheese
11,000 bs.
Milk sold
3,450 gals.
Orchard products
$48,360
Wine
552 gals.
Market garden products
$6,390
The farm products for the same year are estimated as follows:
Wheat, spring
348 bush.
Do. winter
217,919
Rye
5,807
Indian corn
212,675
Oats
166,124
"
Barley
12,333
Buckwheat
9,638
Tobacco
nil
Peas and beans
1,978
Potatoes
252,912
Hay
23,521 tons
Clover seed
24 bush.
Grass seed
42
Hops
8,302 lbs.
In 1870 there were 32 mills, 28 steam and 4 water power, in which the wages paid amounted to $152,096, and in which the cap- ital invested was $477,700. The total products were lumber, 70,700,000 feet; lath, 3,100,000 pieces, and shingles, 1,200,000; the total value of all being $2,108,325.
The manufactories of flour, meal and feed were 2 steam and 4 water mills, with a total of 19 run of stones. These ground 57,000 bushels of wheat, and 12,960 bushels of other grain. The capital invested was $103,800. They produced 10,132 barrels of flour and 89,200 lbs. of meal and feed, the total value being $157,590.
There were three foundries and machine shops, with an invested capital of $8,700, the total value of the products being $15,550. There were six tanneries, producing $125,000 worth. The total number of manufacturing establishments was 171, in which $862,- 620 capital was invested, the whole products being valued at $2,781,867.
The religious denominations of the people were represented by 57 organizations, with 38 edifices, with a seating capacity of 10,620, the church property being valued at $147,850.
There were 83 public schools, with 54 male and 98 female teachers, and 2,941 male and 2,998 female pupils. The total in- come amounted to $47,242. There were 593 libraries, with 41,566 volumes.
There were 8 weekly newspapers published, viz., Grand Haven Herald, Grand Haven News, Grand Haven Union, Spring Lake In- dependent, Grundwet, Hollander, Hope, and Watcher.
The total value of real and personal property is given at $11,123,310, and the whole debt of the county and minor munici- pality was $57,650.
It cost the county $5,842 to support 97 paupers, of whom 38 were native and 59 foreign. The number of paupers on June 1st, 1870, was 10 native and 13 foreign. There were 11 persons con- victed during the year preceding.
STATE CENSUS OF 1874.
The population of the County of Ottawa according to the State census of 1874 was 29,929 of whom 15,789 were males and 14,140 females. The population of the several townships was as follows:
Allendale 762
Blendon
639
Chester
1,397
Crockery
1,124
Georgetown
1,464
Grand Haven
677
Grand Haven City 4,363
Holland 2,716
Holland City
.2,469
Jamestown
1,806
Olive
1,257
Polkton
2,267
Robinson
528
Spring Lake
2,345
Talmadge
1,475
Wright
2,064
Zeeland
2,576
The total amount of taxable land in 1874 was 334,773.22 acres, and of improved land 87,033.12 acres. The total number of farms was 2,930, containing altogether 205,744 acres, or on an average 70.21 acres each. Of these in 1873 there were devoted to wheat 14,450 acres and to corn 12,072 acres. The farm products for 1873 were as follows;
Wheat
217,594 bush.
Corn
347,692
All other grain
336,638 «
Potatoes
166,387
Hay 26,190 tons
Wool
56,901 lbs.
Pork marketed
365,240
Cheese
14,799 «
Butter
650,860
Fruit dried for market
4,581 «
Cider
289 bbls.
Wine
1,410 gals.
Maple sugar made in 1874
208,447 lbs.
ORCHARDS, &C.
The land devoted to fruit and garden vegetables was, rejecting fractions of acres, as follows;
Apple, peach, pear, plum and cherry orchards 5,089 acres.
Vineyards.
116
Raspberries
82
Strawberries
109
Currants and gooseberries
13
Melons and garden vegetables
280
The quantity of fruit and garden vegetables raised in 1873 was as follows:
Apples 39,494 bush.
Peaches
761
Pears
310
Plums 52 4
Cherries 424 «
Grapes 3,773 cwt.
Strawberries
3,944 bush.
Currants and gooseberries 1,298 «
Melons and garden vegetables 14,096
The total value of all such fruit and garden vegetables was es- timated at $74,056.
The live stock of Ottawa consisted of the following: 4,691 horses; 66 mules; 1,171 working oxen; 7,878 milch cows; 7,404 neat cattle, other than oxen and cows; 6,316 swine and 16,456 sheep.
There were 6 flouring mills, 4 steam and 2 water power, with 14 runs of stones. The capital invested was $65,000, and the pro- duct was 17,000 barrels of flour, valued at $147,500.
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
6
32
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
There were 42 sawmills, 40 operated by steam and two by wa- ter, with an invested capital of $2,342,500. These sawed 153,215,- 000 ft. of lumber, valued at $2,004,500-there was only one shingle mill, which cut $3,000 worth.
The aggregate number of manufacturing establishments, in- cluding those already mentioned, was 88, of which 68 were operated by steam and 4 by water, and 16 without either water or steam. The capital invested in manufacturing was $2,745,600, and the an- nual products were valued at $2,852,400.
U. S. CENSUS, 1881.
Cereal production of Ottawa County as returned at the census of 1880.
ACRES.
BUSHELS.
Barley
1,104
25,621
Buckwheat
696
8,439
Indian corn
18,830
610,442
Oats
10,030
317,935
Rye
1,242
14,978
Wheat
31,054
657,750
PRESIDENTIAL VOTING.
1840-Harrison
81
Van Buren
88
1844-Clay
42
Polk
116
1848-Taylor
143
Cas3
269
Van Buren
43
1852-Scott
363
Pierce
756
Grand Haven City
4,861
Holland Township (New Groeningen, 46)
3,064
Holiand City
2,620
Jamestown Township
2,066
Olive Township,
West Olive Village 33, 5
1,601
Douglas
1217
1864-Lincoln
1845
McClellan
1536
1868-Grant
2441
Seymour
1857
1872-Grant
2630
Greely
1163
O'Connor
110
1876-Hayes
3401
Tilden
2620
Cooper
70
1880-Garfield
3284
Hancock
2019
Weaver
784
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.
No. One, consists of the cities of Grand Haven and Holland, and towns of Grand Haven, Holland, Olive, Robinson, Crockery and Spring Lake. Population 16,857.
No. Two, consists of the towns of Zeeland, Jamestown, Blen- don, Georgetown, Allendale, Talmadge, Polkton, Wright and Ches- ter-Population 16,274.
RAILWAYS.
It is remarkable that as long as the Indian traders remained, little or no effort was made to improve the highways; all followed the zigzag Indian trails which traversed the country in every direc-
Total.
32340 29929 26650 15156 13077
The following report of the committee on equalization adopted June 1881 is a fair exhibit of the wealth of the county and its sev- eral towns and cities.
TOWNS AND CITIES.
NO ACRES.
REAL ESTATE AS EQUAL- IZED.
PERSONAL ESTATE.
TOTAL.
Allendale
17 450 00
$121 651
$10 580
$132 231
Biendon
22 389 77
116 916
8 713
125 634
Chester ..
22 184 81
380 424
44 440
424. 864
Crockery
20 573 38
140 698
38 616
179 314
Georgetown
22 59 254
345 708
37 437
383 145
Grand Haven City-1st & 2d wards
876 00
174. 932
543 625
713 557
Grand Haven town
18 319 00
81 827
5 450
87 277
Holland City.
650 00
226 387
75 373
301 760
Holland.
33 038 26
414 586
38 260
452 846
Jamestown
23 223 40
403 370
47 074
450 444
Olive.
27 756 54
182 158
18 326
201 484
· Polkton
26 899 00
453 095
50 945
501 040
Robinson
24 991 27
75 190
6 590
81 780
Spring Lake.
11 179 50
288 523
154 925
443 448
Talmadge
22 674 62
404 249
38 630
442 879
Wright
22 368 00
499 230
65 200
564 430
Zeeland
22 736 88
465 350
99 080
564 430
Totals
341 508 49 4 016 600 1 400 019 6 316 619
POPULATION 1880.
Allendale
1,074
Blendon Township
785
Chester,
Lisbon Village, 83.
1,703
Crockery,
Spoonville Village, 56.
1,240
Georgetown, (Jenisonville 87)
1,815
Grand Haven Township
642
Hale
59
1856-Fremont 1392
998
1860-Lincoln
1414
§ Cooperville 645,
2,688
Robinson Township
439
1
Talmadge Township,
(Lamont Village 261)
1,506
Wright Township,
(Berlin Village 270)
1,922
Zeeland Township,
(Zeeland Village 484)
2,715
SUMMARY OF POPULATION.
TOWNSHIPS.
1880
1874
1870
1864
1860
1854
1850
1845
Allendale
1074
765
799
298
245
196
168
Blendon
639
718
276
381
85
Chester.
1703
1397
1405
1034
721
500
216
Crockery
1240
1124
1125
574
396
275
247
Georgetown
1815
1464
1474
918
973
457
196
133
Holland.
3064
2716
2354
2777
1991
985
1829
2620
2469
2324
Olive.
1601
1257
612
413
317
642
677
558
1576
1359
684
350
Grand Haven City
4861
4363
3140
2416
1242
1222
570
430
321
Robinson.
439
528
406
126
128
Jamestown
2066
1806
1612
708
519
204
72
Spring Lake.
2384
2345
1836
844
743
655
268
98
Talmadge
1505
1475
1451
1093
1145
746
545
Zeeland.
2715
2576
2343
1693
1467
912
Wright
1922
2064
2077
1584
1520
868
521
298
6809
4835
1200
-3d & 4th wards
1 705 50
141 306
116 750
258 056
Polkton Township,
Eastmanville 188
§ Ferrysburg 411,
Spring Lake Twp.,
Spring Lake Village 1,372
2,384
Holland City
Grand Haven
Polkton
2688
2267
Chester Village, 420, )
§ Nunica Village, 297,
Buchanan
Ottawa Village 22, -
C
HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
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tion. The great trails were down the river, along the lake beach, and along the valley of the Black from Grandville.
But the white settler changed all this; he immediately set to work to straighten and shorten the highways. In 1836 -- 7 the road from Grandville to Bronson village (Kalamazoo) was laid out, and also one from Grandville to Black River.
The Port Sheldon and the Muskegon roads to Grand Rapids were laid out in 1839, but little was done to make them fit for travel until 1854.
Between Grand Haven and Spring Lake the bridge is still in the hands of a company, who charge toll even to foot passengers.
The roads in the county are, owing to the nature of the soil, which is either sandy or sandy loam, in most instances in a good condition.
The first railway in Ottawa County was that now known as the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee, built in 1857 -- 8, and which extends from Detroit to Grand Haven across the Lower Peninsula, connected by a line of first-class steamers of the Goodrich Trans- portation Company with Milwaukee, thus forming one of the quickest routes to the Northwest. The road is 189 miles in length, is pros- perous and under excellent management. It was the beginning of an era of railway progress when the first train entered Grand Rapids on July 10, 1858, and Grand Haven the same year.
This road enters the county from Grand Rappids in a westerly course, crossing Wright, in which is Berlin Station; then across Polk- ton, in which is Cooperville Station, into Crockery with Nunica Sta- tion; thence through Spring Lake and Ferrysburg to Grand Haven.
The history of the railroads of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties is but another evidence of the tendency of the age towards the con- solidation of smaller concerns into a huge and powerful consolidated company-the Moses' rod plan of swallowing up the weaker. We are indebted for many of the following particulars to Mr. F. A. Nims, of Muskegon, who aided in bringing about the present com- bination of clashing interests, uniting them into one harmonious whole, more profitable to the stockholders and affording the people better service.
The year 1868 saw the first railway in operation, the Muskegon & Ferrysburg, a distance of about fifteen miles; with L. G. Mason, President; F. A. Nims, Secretary and Attorney, and Major Davis, S. R. Sanford, A. Rodgers and others as Directors.
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