USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 24
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Hotchins & Cooper built a foundry in 1856 and employed eighteen men. It passed through several changes of ownership and finally ceased to be.
Thomas Brown was a blacksmith and bell-maker in 1833.
THE POST-OFFICE
was first established in the village in 1830, and Albert Allen was postmaster after Mr. Winchell, whose office terminated in 1832. Chapman Yates suc- ceeded Allen, and George W. Beisel was in a short time in 1842, and then W. O. Austin until 1852. Justin Elliott, W. B. May and C. C. Woodbury filled the years till 1861, when Theodore E. Clapp came in for five years and stepped out till 1868, and is still in the possession of the office-Harwood, Sage and Hackstaff dividing the three years that Mr. Clapp was out. The post-office under Allen, Yates and Austin was kept in the building now oc- cupied by Mr. Austin, west of Hotchins' harness-shop.
The business of the post-office for 1876, was as follows : Stamps sold, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six dollars and sixty cents ; money orders drawn, one hundred and eighty-five dollars and seventy-three cents; money orders paid, two thousand eight hundred and twenty dollars and seventy-one cents ; two hundred and twelve letters are received and dispatched daily, and eight hundred and fifty papers distributed weekly ; twelve mails are re- ceived and dispatched daily. When the office was first established there were two mails per week-one each way over the Chicago road.
C. C. Woodbury committed suicide, while in the position of postmaster, by poisoning, in August, 1860.
66
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
HOTELS.
John W. Anderson kept a hotel, and wanted to sell it in 1834. Pratt kept the American some years, and Dr. Rowley opened the "Old Diggins " after Savery left it.
William Watson, father of the Watson brothers, now in trade in that vil- lage, built a hotel in 1835-6, and kept it for a time.
Daniel Howell succeeded Rowley in the "Old Diggins," and the Sickels' succeeded Anderson in the Anderson house.
The present hotels are the America hotel, Christman & Bisbee, propri- etors; the Railroad eatingh-ouse, by Jacob Bebee, and the Union house, by Charles Schuler, which can accommodate about one hundred and fifty guests.
BANKS.
In 1838, the people of the village had a very narrow escape from a "wild cat " of formidable proportions, but it collapsed before the final "scratch" came, and was a dead, cold corpse in April of that year. The bills were all prepared, but no cashier had the hardihood, at that stage of the proceed- ings, to affix his signature thereto, and so pussy had no claws wherewith to tear the people who had been charmed with soft purring and velvety pats. The first corporation of the village, in 1837, issued "shinplasters," but they did not become sufficiently numerous to be either advantageous or otherwise.
The only banking institution in the village is the Exchange bank of A. Clapp & Son, which sold the amount of one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and forty-one dollars and sixty-seven cents of exchange in 1876.
THE RAILROADS.
The Michigan Southern railroad was completed to White Pigeon by the energy and determination of its inhabitants, the same having been located thereto in 1851. Dr. Elliott was one of the most forward citizens in secur- ing the road, and built the eating-house the same year, under fair promises and agreements of the railroad officials, that, if kept, would have secured to the Doctor a competency, but the promises seemed to have been made simply to be broken, and the enterprise resulted badly.
The road ran up to Constantine in 1852, and soon after a connection was made with the Northern Indiana, as detailed in the Lockport history, and the traffic, which for a time increased, passed on and was distributed all along the route.
The business done at the station in White Pigeon in 1876, was as follows : Freight forwarded, twelve millions six hundred and forty-nine thousand seven hundred and eight pounds, including eleven thousand six hundred and fifteen barrels of flour, and one hundred and twenty-five thousand two hundred and twenty-five bushels of grain. Freight received, five millions eighty-seven thousand and sixty-four pounds. Ticket sales, thirteen thousand three hun- dred and seventy-two dollars and twenty cents. J. W. Sanderson, Esq., the agent of the road, kindly furnishes the above information.
The United States express company has an office at the station, H. J. Davis, agent, and the earnings of the company for 1876, on transportation and collections, amounted to over three thousand dollars.
J. J. Davis and J. L. Davis are engaged in buying grain, and their pur- chases aggregated for the crop of 1876, up to December 31, 1876, one hun- dred and twenty-five thousand bushels.
THE PROFESSIONS.
The first physician in the village was Dr. W. N. Elliott, who located therein in the spring of 1832. Dr. Page and Dr. Hubbel Loomis were on the prairie before Dr. Elliott, and are so named in the township history. Dr. Loomis came to the village after Dr. Elliott, and they formed a co-part- nership for some years. Dr. Parker was a resident in the town in 1831. Dr. Rowley came in 1834, Dr. Josiah A. Cook next. Dr. James W. Mandigo, a student of Dr. Elliott in 1840, is one of the resident physicians, as is also Dr. Elliott. Doctors Ellis P. Fraser and Robert A. Green, homeopathists, are also of the present resident physicians of the village.
The first lawyer to give counsel and advice for a fee, and to practice before the courts of the county, was Neal McGaffey. He was the first resident lawyer of the county, and Columbia Lancaster was the second legal limb. James Eastman Johnson came in 1836, and was followed by Ames, E. V. Mitchell and William Savier, the latter being a resident in the village from 1840 until 1872, when he died. In 1865 Hon. E. W. Keightley opened an office (his first one), in the village, and continued there until 1867, when he removed to Constantine, and was succeeded by D. C. Page, the present lawyer of the village.
The first minister to be settled over a congregation was the Rev. P. W. Warriner, the Presbyterian pastor of 1834, though Revs. Messrs. Jones and
Corey, of the same denomination, had preached in 1830 and before, and Felton and Gurney in 1829.
The first professor of instruction was Rev. Samuel Newberry, principal of the branch of the University in 1837.
BUSINESS OF 1876.
Trade.
Dry Goods-H. E. Fisher.
General Stock-A. W. Murray & Co., S. W. Reynolds, A. Clapp & Son.
Hardware-John Murray, Watson Brothers.
Clothing-R. F. Jarrett.
Drugs and Clothing-Cooper & Mandigo.
Drugs-George C. Brown.
Groceries and Provisions-George E. Salmon & Co., Frederick Buzzell, Frederick Saxe, Jacob Whiteman.
Boots and Shoes-C. Rosenhour, M. Cole.
Millinery-Mrs. McGowen, Mrs. H. Dunwell.
Tobacconists-King & Whitmore.
Agricultural Implements-Loring & Kittle.
Merchant Tailor-John H. McGuire.
Markets-Wimple & Sheaf, William Foster, George Baker.
Lumber-O. P. Arnold.
Grain and Produce-J. J. Davis, J. L. Davis, D. P. Hamilton. Livery-Thomas Cooper, John Driesbach.
Restaurant-Lewis A. Labadie.
Furniture-J. M. Stott.
Harness-John Hotchins-been in business over thirty years; William Boyer.
Manufactures.
White Pigeon Mills-D. P. Hamilton.
Sash, Doors and Blinds-S. T. Wilson.
Carriages and Wagons -- A. W. Wilson, A. J. Fox.
White Pigeon Woolen Mills, established in 1872 by J. A. Rogers-build- ing the first frame school-house, donated by the district to Rogers-George McMilly present proprietor ; two-set mill; knitting work done ; no weaving, though have looms ; twenty horse-power, steam.
Artisans.
Shoemakers-P. O. Bronson, Frederick Kanszler, James B. Crain.
Blacksmiths-George Jackson, Hugh Folger, Isaac Bourne.
United States Express-H. J. Davis, agent.
M. S. and L. S. Railroad-J. W. Sanderson, agent.
Printing Office-J. O'Brien (history of paper elsewhere).
A fair estimate by different and impartial men, citizens of the village, places the capital invested in business in the village at about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
THE SCHOOLS.
White Pigeon made an early move for a superior order of schools. The first one was an ordinary district school taught in the winter of 1830-1, by Neal McGaffey, over Pratt's store, and had a large number of scholars. In 1831 the White Pigeon Academy was chartered, Dr. Isaac Adams, Charles B. Fitch, Albert E. Ball, David Page and Neal MeGaffey being the incor- porators named in the bill. The house was built in that year-a small, frame building, and the schools taught therein for a time, and also for church purposes, and the early courts were held there in 1832. The build- ing is now used for a stable by Lewis Rhoades.
In 1837 the branch of the State University was established in the village, and a building erected soon after, the school in the meantime being taught in the " Old Diggins" by Rev. Samuel Newberry. When the building was completed, Wilson Grey, an Irishman and a brother and afterwards asso- ciate of the editor of the Dublin Freeman, was an assistant.
The school was supported by the State for a time, but the appropriations grew less and less, and finally, about 1846, ceased altogether; and then the building was repaired and fitted up, and a private institution conducted by Rev. C. M. Temple, from 1855-58, and finally abandoned altogether. The town built the house and gave it to the State, but some years ago it was taken down and removed out on the prairie, where the walls that once echoed to the conjugation of Greek and Latin verbs, and the explanations of Euclid's theorems, are mute witnesses of the pailing of the "milky .mothers of the herds," and redolent with the smell of clover blossoms and apple blooms. The first district school-house was built in 1844, of brick, Dr. Elliott being the director at the time. Some opposition had been man- ifested to the building, but the people elected the Doctor, and empowered
67
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
him to build a school-house, and he did so forthwith. The Doctor has ever been a warm friend of the public school, and a zealous and efficient advo- cate of them. The brick school house is now used for a dwelling. Dr. J. W. Mandigo taught a school in Dr. Elliott's office in 1843, during the win- ter. The first frame house was built by the district in 1857. The old Branch was used for barracks during the war. The frame school-house was used until 1872, when the present elegant structure of red brick was erected and the wooden building was donated to J. A. Rogers for a woolen factory, and is so used at the present time. The new school-house is a model for ventilation, convenience and capacity. A hollow chamber, of some two or three feet wide, passes up from the basement to the floor of the upper story- the third-with grates opening into it on every floor, the foul air thus find- ing exit through the chimney-stack, with which the chamber connects; the cold air comes into the same from the basement. The house is heated with furnaces, is fifty-three by fifty-six feet on the ground, of three stories and basement, and has five school and one recitation rooms. It has been in use since 1872, and yet there is not a scratch or stain on the walls, but they are as clean and fresh as when the building was first opened.
The first vote for a union school district was carried September 1, 1866, J. S. Hamilton, John Murray, George G. Depuy, Philip Drake, J. W. Man- digo and John Hotchins being elected trustees. In 1870 the question of a new school-house began to be agitated, and operations were begun in 1872, and the building completed at a cost of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars ; John M. Stott and C. C. Newkirk, building committee.
The school is divided into six departments and eleven grades, as follows : The first primary, grades one and two ;, second primary, grades three and four ; first intermediate, grades five and six ; second intermediate, grades seven and eight; grammar and high-school department, grades nine to twelve. The course of study comprises two years in each department, pro- motions being made on merit. Professor Ploughman, the present principal, has invented a very simple and effective record of attendance, which is kept by the pupil himself, and shows at any hour of the day the standing of every pupil in that particular respect. Professor Ploughman came to the school in 1870, teaching in the old building for a time previous to the build- ing of the new one, and is as popular and thorough as an instructor as he is courteous and modest as a gentleman. His popularity is attested by the fact that every tax-payer in the district signed a petition for his retention as principal, two years ago, when it was feared that the non-action of the school-board was likely to cause his engagement elsewhere.
The cost of the school for the year 1876 is here shown. The school was in session ten months, and three hundred and ten pupils attended it. One male teacher was paid one thousand two hundred dollars, and four females one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars. The total income of the district was five thousand seventy-three dollars and sixty-six cents, in- cluding two hundred and sixty-eight dollars tuition fees from foreign pupils, and one thousand five hundred dollars was paid on indebtedness. The total expenses covered the income. The house and grounds are valued at twenty thousand dollars, four hundred sittings are furnished, five hundred and fifty- three volumes are in the library, and the school has some apparatus.
The graduates of the high school are Katie Millar and John G. Shurtz in 1874, and Hattie Arnold, Livonia Beard and Ella Putnam in 1875. The present corps of teachers are Professor J. G. Ploughman, principal ; Miss Anna West, assistant in grammar school ; Miss Libbie Cairnes, second intermediate ; Mrs. S. E. Ferguson, first intermediate ; Miss Cora E. Fol- well, second primary ; Miss Lina Cairnes, first primary.
School-board, 1876-7-Robert A. Greene, moderator ; J. M. Stott, direc- tor ; T. E. Clapp, assessor ; J. J. Davis, J. L. Davis and Peter Putnam.
A lyceum connected with the school meets every Friday evening in the upper hall, where a social time is had from seven to eight o'clock, and music and literary exercises from then till nine o'clock, under the supervision of the professor.
THE CHURCHES.
Not only was White Pigeon the beginning of civilization in southwestern Michigan, but the beautiful prairie witnessed the commencement of all the arts, amenities and advantages that follow in its train. Trade, manufactures, the church, the school, the State-all had their inception here for the large tract of country ceded by the aborigines in 1821 to the general government. The first merchant, manufacturer, school-teacher, minister and politician, who plied his calling in that section of the territory acquired as above, commenced on White Pigeon prairie, and that between 1827 and 1830. The first religious society formed in that territory was a Methodist class, at Newville, in 1829, as before stated. The second one was also a similar class, formed in White Pigeon village, in February, 1830, with Captain
Alvin Calhoon as leader. The detailed history of early Methodism will be found in the general history of the churches in the county. This class, which was the beginning of the
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
of White Pigeon, of to-day, was composed of the following members : Alvin Calhoon, leader; Alanson Stewart, local-preacher, and his wife ; John Bowers and wife, John Coates and wife, and David Rollins. The first church was built in 1832, and was a small frame building. The Methodist conference was held in it in 1841-Bishop R. R. Roberts presiding; H. Colclaze, sec- retary. In October, 1839, James V. Watson was appointed to this charge, and when his appointment was announced in the conference, he jumped upon a seat and inquired who could show him where his " Pigeon" was. He suc- ceeded in finding not only what he sought, but was instrumental in leading many other anxious inquirers to the Heavenly Dove, before his charge was completed over this church. He became distinguished as a preacher, and was the first editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, of Chicago, and died in that city October 17, 1856.
White Pigeon, in the early days, was the headquarters of Methodism in Southwestern Michigan, and in 1833 the society there was a flourishing one. The historical records of this society have been very meagerly kept, and what facts we have gained of interest have been gathered from other sources than itself. The record of ministers is simply nil. M. H. Dough- erty was over the charge since 1855; S. P. Ferguson, 1875-76, and James Webster, the present incumbent, came in October, 1876. The church, which has been re-built once or twice, is now valued at forty-five hundred dollars, and contains two hundred and fifty sittings. There are fifty-nine members on the church-roll. The Sunday-school, which was organized several years ago, has enrolled one hundred and eighty scholars, Professor Ploughman being its superintendent. The society was first incorporated February 1, 1833, and Robert Wade, Alvin Calhoon, John Coates, Alanson Stewart, Alfred Allen and Peter Beisel elected trustees.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
of White Pigeon was organized August 8, 1830, by the Rev. William Jones, and was the first church of that denomination in western Michigan. The ruling elders of the church were Benjamin Blair, David Clark, Neal McGaffey, James Mathers and James Blair; and besides these were the following members: Mrs. Elizabeth Blair, Mrs. David Clark, Mrs. Mckibben, Martha Waterman, Mrs. Sarah Mathers, Abijah C. Seeley and wife (Jane), Alexander McMillen and Susannah his wife, John and Rebecca Gardner, Hannah McGaffey, Mahala Gale, Hannah Stewart, Mrs. Benjamin Blair, James S. Anderson, Patience McNiel, Francis Jones and Sarah Bronson. These persons came from all parts of the country-as far away as Prairie Ronde, and east, west and south for an equal distance; and many of them afterwards entered into the organization of the early churches in the localities of Elkhart, Constantine, Prairie Ronde and other more distant points.
The first church edifice was built in 1834, and though re-modeled, it has remained ever since the place of worship of this society. The cost when first built, in 1834, was nineteen hundred dollars. It had the first steeple ever erected west of Ann Arbor, and its bell was the first one to call to prayers the pioneers, and whose tintillating tones reverberated in western Michigan. The society was first organized under the statute, January 16, 1833, when Elijah White, Nicholas B. Chapin, Hubbel Loomis, Charles Kellogg, Lewis B. Judson and William Rowen were elected its first trustees. The certificate was sworn to before W. H. Welch, justice of the peace, by David Clark and Mr. Chapin. The regular pastors of the church have been as follows : The first two preachers, Revs. William Jones and Christopher Corey, were not regularly installed, but, as were others in after years, stated supplies ; P. W. Warriner, 1834-39; H. H. Northup, 1841-45; William Fuller, 1845-47 ; Rev. C. M. Temple, 1858-68; L. M. Gilliland came early in 1871, and still occupies the desk. Julius Steel supplied the desk from 1839 to 1841; Mr. Lantz, a German Reformed min- ister, for a time between Mr. Fuller and Mr. Temple, and J. B. Hubbard between Mr. Temple and the present pastor.
A Sunday-school was organized soon after the church was built, but no record exists of its early history or membership. In 1866, and again in 1867, interesting meetings were maintained, and several united with the church. In 1873 there were twenty-five admissions, and in April, 1876, .. fifty joined the church upon confession of faith. The latter work commenced in the Sunday-school in Christmas week, 1875. By request of Superintend- ent Loring, the teachers in the school made a personal written appeal to
68
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
each of their scholars in regard to religious matters, which awakened an interest, and meetings were held all through the winter with the above- named gratifying results. The present membership of the church is about sixty, and the Sunday-school has enrolled one hundred and fifty scholars, and has two hundred volumes in the library.
The present church edifice has three hundred sittings, and is valued at five thousand dollars. The present officers of the church and society are as follows : Ruling elders, Isaac Blue, George K. Loring, J. K. Bothorf, and John Blue ; Trustees, George K. Loring, J. L. Davis, Francis Putnam, J. K. Bothorf and Isaac Blue; Superintendent of Sunday-school, George K. Loring. The first church was dedicated January 1, 1835-Reverends Humphrey, Warriner and Brown officiating; Rev. Warriner was installed as pastor at the same time. A large audience was present.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
of White Pigeon dates its organization in 1843, at Crooked creek, when P. O. Bronson was the superintendent of a union Sunday-school, in which he was engaged for eight years. Debates arose on the question of baptism ; and several discussions were had pro and con, and sermons preached on the sub- ject by Methodist, Episcopal and Baptist divines. When Mr. Bronson came to that village, Dr. Elliott, Mr. Cooper, Dr. Mandigo and others told him if he would get Elder John Sage to preach, they would help to build a church for him ; and thereupon arrangements were made and the Elder came at a salary of eight hundred dollars ; five-eighths to be paid by the so- ciety, and the balance by the church aid association, of Brooklyn, New York. The salary was raised and the church mostly built by the parties outside of the membership of the church, in 1857, under Elder Sage's pas- torate.
The society was first organized in 1854, by Elder Sage, with the following members : Elder Johnson, wife and wife's sister, Mr. Wright (clerk ) and wife, Justin Elliott (deacon) wife and mother, P. O. Bronson (deacon) and wife, Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Kelley, and one other whose name is not re- membered. Of these members, P. O. Bronson and wife only remain in White Pigeon. At the next covenant meeting, held four weeks afterwards, as many more united with the church.
The meeting to raise Elder Sage's salary and take subscriptions for the building of the church, was held in the office of the American hotel. The society was first incorporated on March 8, 1864; J. W. Mandigo, Charles Cooper, and P. O. Bronson, trustees. The old church was sold to the Luth- eran and German Reformed churches in 1867, during which year the present spacious and elegant brick structure was erected, costing twelve thousand dollars, with three hundred sittings, and which is at the present writing (1876) entirely free from debt. The bell weighs one thousand two hundred and thirty pounds net, and cost five hundred dollars. The church numbers one hundred and seventy-six members. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, under Elder Sage's pastorate, and Charles Cooper was the first super- intendent, there being twenty scholars. Edwin Sage, Daniels, Stevenson, Fieldhouse, and Douglas Smith succeeded Cooper; George E. Salmon being the present superintendent. The school now numbers two hundred and twenty-five scholars, and has three hundred and fifty books in its library. Under Elder Emery's preaching, a large number of the scholars united with the church, and in 1875, under Mr. Palmer's preaching, thirty-one joined the church. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Elder John- son was the first one in 1854, and he was succeeded by Elders Cook, Sage, Fish, Emery, Olney, Hill, Davis, Shanafelt, Reis, Russell, Adams, and Hen- dricks, the present pastor.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
in White Pigeon was first organized under the mission of Notre Dame, at South Bend, in 1850, and the early members were Mrs. Dickey, John Welch and family, Widow Queenan, Thomas Hogan and family, George Argos and family, Fenton Hogan, John Hogan, Thomas Kelly, Michael Carty, Judith McGuire and family, John Propst and family, and others. Previous to 1850 services had been held occasionally by Fathers Quentin and Shortus, from 1848 to 1850. Father Rickert was the first priest in charge, but located at Coldwater.
In 1856 the church came under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Detroit. Fathers Schilling and Carley began the collection of money for a building- fund, and in 1871 the present edifice was erected at a cost of one thousand three hundred dollars, and will seat about three hundred persons. Father McKinney succeeded Carley, and Father McKorst, the present priest in charge, succeeded Mckinney. The station is still located at Coldwater. There are two hundred members in the church. A Sunday-school was or-
ganized at the same time as the church, and now numbers fifty scholars, and is under the direct charge of the priest.
THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH
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