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 27
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 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
man seemed too plain and unromantic, and therefore they gave to their city the name of the most distinguished character of the great novelist. From that time onward the several additions of Drake, Hatch, Harvey and Allman were named and described as, and conveyances executed for lots in, the several additions to the villages of Sherman or Ivanhoe, as the case might be, until February, 1857, an act was passed by the legislature for the replatting of the original villages and additions thereto, under the name of Sturgis ; and William K. Haynes, William L. Stoughton and E. H. Wallace, commissioners, made such plat, and recorded the same February 5, 1858. But the confusion has been rendered rather worse than before by the appa- rent lapses in title, which occurred by not identifying the original descrip- tions closely with the new plat.
THE FIRST HOTEL
in the village was that of John B. Clarke, situated on the present site of the Elliott house. He was succeeded in the same building by Major Isaac J. Ullmann, who was a well-known character in the county for years. He was a staunch Democrat, and it is told of him that being at a convention he was called to the chair to preside, which position he accepted, and as soon as seated, a member presented a set of resolutions, and began to read them. They were fiercely denunciatory of the Democratic party, and by the time the preamble had been read and the second resolution well begun, the major rapped the reader to order vigorously, and rising, delivered himself of the following: "I taught wen I accepted dis chair I vas in a Temocratic con- vention, but I pelieve it ish noting put all tam Whiggery, und I vill not shtay here." And he didn't, but vacated the place and withdrew from the room. He sold his interest in the village to Backus-who was an eastern man-in the fall of 1833, but the new proprietor did not at once assume the role of Boniface, Mr. Luthur Douglass succeeding Major Ullmann in that line.
Mr. Douglass came to White Pigeon in the fall of 1832, with his family of five boys and one girl,-Alonzo, Orson and Orsemus (twins), Orley, William H, and Lucinda,-the latter being now deceased. In the winter of 1833 Mr. Douglass leased the hotel of Ullmann, and, May 14, was lost on Lake Erie in a sail-boat, while going out to take a steamer in the offing at Erie during a snow-squall. In 1835 Backus succeeded the Douglasses in the hotel business, and the family removed to their farm near Douglass station, on the Michigan, Southern and Lake Shore railroad, in White Pigeon town- ship. Mrs. Douglass was one of the untiring Florence Nightingales of the prairie, who went everywhere, in season and out of season, to care for the sick in the years of distress.
Oliver Raymond built, in 1831, on the corner where Wallace's block now stands, opposite the Sturgis hotel, the
FIRST FRAME BUILDING
in the village, as well as on the prairie, and kept a hotel in opposition to Ullmann. The
FIRST BRICK BUILDING
was probably the block on the southeast corner of Nottawa and Chicago streets, built by Peck and Wallace in 1854. The bricks were made in White Pigeon, in 1851, and when the building was rebuilt in 1874, the material was apparently as good as the day it was burned.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
on the prairie was kept on the Stewart location, on section seven, in Town River township, by Samuel Stewart, the first postmaster ; it was established in 1829, and the mail was brought from Coldwater to White Pigeon via Sturgis prairie, by John Winchell, postmaster and contractor. Afterwards the Stewarts carried the mail and passengers in a democrat wagon until Savery put on his coaches in 1832.
Oliver Raymond was the first postmaster in the village, and he kept the mail of the entire settlement in a single pigeon-hole, which comprised an entire candle-box. The mails came irregularly, sometimes every week, then once in two weeks, again semi-weekly, tri-weekly, and finally every day in each direction, east and west.
Mr. Raymond was succeeded by Judge Sturgis, and he by Philip H. Buck, the latter by Major C. C. Hood, and the major by Captain William Mc- Laughlin, under President Johnson ; the captain was in turn succeeded by Major Hood, who gave way to the present incumbent, Hon. J. G. Wait.
The business of 1876 affords a fine contrast to that of the pioneer days. The sales of stamps averaged seven hundred dollars per quarter ; four hun- dred letters were received and dispatched daily, and one thousand five hun- dred papers were distributed weekly. Seven mails were received and dis- patched daily; postal orders were sold to the amount of eighteen thou-
CYRUS W. RICH.
MRS. CYRUS W. RICH.
RESIDENCE OF CYRUS W. RICH, STURGIS TP., ST JOSEPH Co., MICH.
75
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
sand eight hundred and sixty-seven dollars and one cent ; and orders to the amount of nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars and eighteen cents were paid ; during the same time two hundred and fifty-seven registered letters were dispatched.
The office has been under the entire management, for the past three years, of Miss Nettie P. Plympton, by whose efficiency and promptness the large business of the office is most satisfactorily and admirably conducted.
THE FIRST STAGE LINE
on which coaches were used was Savery's, which began to carry passengers and mails in 1831-2 ; but the Black Hawk scare broke him up by stopping emigration, and for weeks his coaches went over the road with nothing but the mails, not a single passenger being in the same.
The second line was owned by General Brown, De Garmo Jones, and Forsyth, and began to operate in 1833. This line ran four-horse coaches daily over the route between Detroit and Chicago. John Lanrick, now a resident of the village, was driver for the line many years, commencing in May, 1833. From 1836 to 1840 the rush of travel westward was immense ; extras were run every day at times, and sometimes two or three each day ; and heavy mails were transported. In 1839-40, as high as one thousand three hundred pounds of postal-matter have been carried frequently. Pas- sengers were transported at seven cents per mile, and carried rails to help the coaches through the marshes. They were probably transported with anything but feelings of gratitude toward the stage company, notwithstand- ing the liberal charge for transports.
THE FIRST RAILROAD
which gave rapid communication with the outside world to Sturgis was the Michigan Southern, now known as the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore railroad. The energetic efforts of this company and the people to make Sturgis a point are described in the general history of the county. Hon. J. G. Wait was a contractor on this line, and built the depots of the company from Coldwater to Niles, as well as the fencing-in of the right of way. He was also engaged largely in securing the right of way in Branch and St. Joseph coun- ties. All of the liberal-souled people of Sturgis and White Pigeon moved with alacrity and vigor to accomplish the passage of the line of the road as it now is traveled, and succeeded, much to the chagrin of the more northern towns of the county, who, expecting that the line was fixed unalterably through the centre of the county, gave themselves no uneasiness relative thereto, and let the first road of the county slip through their fingers.
However, in after years they made the most heroic struggles and generous offerings to gain the Central, and were successful. The subscriptions to get the railroad south of the centre of the county were thirty thousand dollars. In 1866 the township voted fifteen thousand dollars in aid of the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad, passing north through the county, which was subsequently built; Mr. Wait being largely interested in its success, as also were all of the citizens, it being a competing road and opening up a shorter connection north.
The business of the railroads in 1876 aggregate the following amounts : The Michigan Southern and Lake Shore forwarded twenty-nine millions seven hundred and fifty-two thousand six hundred and eighty-four pounds of freight, and received ten millions three hundred and seventy-one thou- sand three hundred and ninety-four pounds, making an aggregate of freight carried during the year of forty millions one hundred and twenty-four thou- sand and seventy-eight pounds, or twenty thousand and sixty-two tons. Of the shipments thirteen millions eight hundred and thirty-one thousand and twenty-five pounds were grain ; eleven millions thirteen thousand two hun- dred and seventy pounds were of lumber and other forest products, and one million three hundred and ninety-two thousand pounds of live animals. The wheat amounted to two hundred and thirteen thousand one hundred and ninety-five bushels. The earnings of the road were for freight forwarded, twenty-eight thousand five hundred and three dollars and sixty cents ; for freight received, ten thousand eight hundred and ninety-five dollars and eighty-eight cents ; for ticket sales, fifteen thousand six hundred and twenty- one dollars and five cents ; the total earnings amounting to fifty-five thou- sand and twenty-one dollars and forty-three cents-an excess of three thou- sand four hundred and sixty-fi ve dollars and thirty cents over those of 1875. J. K. McKee, the freight and station agent, and T. J. Collins, ticket agent, very courteously furnished the above information concerning the business of the road.
During the same year the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad received forty-four millions thirty-one thousand six hundred and sixty pounds of freight, and forwarded three millions eight hundred and fifty-five thousand
nine hundred pounds, the receipts being largely of lumber. The ticket sales amounted to sixteen thousand one hundred and seventy dollars. Arthur Wait, the agent at Sturgis, gave us the above figures from his books.
The grand aggregate of the shipment and receipt of freight and passen- ger traffic of the railroads in the village is as follows: Total freight for- warded in 1876, thirty-three millions six hundred and eight thousand five hundred and eighty-four pounds ; received, fifty-four millions four hundred and three thousand and fifty-four pounds, or a grand total of forty-three thousand seven hundred and seventeen tons of freight carried during the year. The passenger traffic paid into the coffers of the companies the hand- some sum of thirty-one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one dollars and ninety-five cents.
THE PROFESSIONS
have been ably represented, and still are, in Sturgis, both lay and clerical. The bar of Sturgis are named in the general history of the county. The first physican, as before stated, was Dr. Henry. Dr. Griffith, Dr. Ira F. Packard and Dr. James H. Taft, the latter now deceased, were successors, in the order named, to Dr. Henry. The present medical staff of the village are Dr. Nelson I. Packard and Dr. Putnam, of the regular school ; P. H. Van Vleck, homeopathic; Ira S. King, eclectic, and Drs. Hurlbut and East- man. The first dentist was Dr. Hutchinson. The present professors and operators in dental surgery are W. G. Cummins, D.D.S., who has a most admirably arranged and equipped suite of rooms, in the first brick building built in the village, as before named, in which he employs all of the modern appliances for the rapid and painless execution of his professional duties ; J. W. Beck, D.D.S., also has a pleasant suite of rooms.
The teachers of note are named in the history of the union school, and the clerical profession have honorable mention in the history of the churches. The history of the press will also be found in the general history of the county.
The pride and ornament of Sturgis, to which the people may justly point visitors with commendable self-congratulation for their own efforts, is the
UNION SCHOOL OF STURGIS,
which had its beginning in the pioneer class gathered in the upper room of Mrs. George Buck's log-house, in the winter of 1830, to learn what they could from good old Dr. Henry's teaching. The district (No. 3) was first or- ganized February 10, 1838, while yet the township was called Sherman. Philip Buck was the first moderator, Jacob French the first director, and Jeremiah Dewel the first assessor.
The school taught in the district was not a free school-an assessment more or less heavy being laid per capita on all who sent their children to the school. Nor was it an absolutely free school until September, 1859, when a general tax was levied for all expenses. The first school-house was built in 1833, as before stated, before any district was organized, and while the State was in territorial tutelage.
On the 26th of February, 1838, the people of the district voted to build a new school-house, and changed the site to block forty-three, giving seven- teen dollars and fifty cents for the site, and building the house for two hundred and ninety-eight dollars-the same being a frame structure. The first public money received from the State was in 1839, and amounted to thirty-seven dollars and twelve cents, at which date there were in the dis- trict seventy-one children between the ages of five and seven years; and seventy-nine dollars and seventy-one cents were the total expenditures for the year. Oliver Raymond taught the school the winter term of 1839-40, for twenty-six dollars per month, and boarded himself, but being taken sick, Angus McKerlie filled his contract.
The first teacher in the old log-house could not solve the mathematical problems his pupils presented him, and after a single month he was dismissed, and a Mr. Depue was engaged and " filled the bill." He is now the post- master at Lima, Indiana. Mr. Raymond had for one of his pupils a lad who was called the " long-haired boy," who is now President Graham, of Hillsdale college. In 1849 the school-house site was changed again to a half-acre lot in B. C. Buck's field, the old house sold for one hundred dollars, and one thousand dollars voted for a new one.
In 1852 the school board adopted a series of text-books, including, among the higher studies, Davies' Algebra, Olmstead's Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, Beck's Chemistry, and Cutler's Anatomy and Physiology. The first movement for a union school was made in 1855, under the act of that year, but it was not successful. On the 1st of September, 1859, the people voted to make the school free to all scholars in the district, and raised a gen- eral tax of two hundred dollars for that purpose. On the 26th day of the same month, the district was organized under the statute of 1859
76
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
as a union school district, and the following board of education elected : William Allman, Philip H. Buck, J. D. Cook, W. A. Wright, Jacob Sidner and William L. Stoughton. Seven hundred dollars were voted for school purposes and one thousand dollars for a building fund. The base- ment of the Presbyterian church was temporarily leased, and the higher classes removed thereto.
In 1860, the first year of the union school, the receipts from all sources were one thousand four hundred and forty-four dollars and seventy-seven cents, including one hundred and seventy-three dollars and sixty-six cents received for tuition from scholars outside the district. Eight hundred and sixty-four dollars were paid for teachers' salaries, and three hundred and fifty-two scholars drew public money. The same year (1860) the site for a school-house was changed again to block sixteen, the present beautiful location -two thousand dollars being paid for the same. A brick school-house was contracted for with Z. H. Wallace, for eight thousand dollars, the same when completed and furnished costing ten thousand seven hundred and eighteen dollars. The seating cost four hundred dollars, and the old build- ing was sold for five hundred and twenty-five dollars. The building was completed in the fall of 1861, and occupied the first week of January fol- lowing. On September 7, 1873, a committee, consisting of Z. H. Wallace, E. W. Pendleton and A. T. Drake, was appointed by the regular meeting of the district, and reported October 10, 1875, recommending an addition to the school-house, which report was accepted, and eight thousand dollars voted to carry out the recommendations, and operations at once began, which were completed in the summer following, resulting in the elegant and commo- dious structure, a view of which we present to our readers on another page of our work. It was occupied the fall term of 1876. In November fol- lowing the city council contracted with A. Howard & Co., of Boston, for placing a tower-clock in the main tower of the building, having a dial on each face of the same; and which clock the company guaranteed would not vary fifteen seconds in any single month for five years. The cost was seven hundred dollars. The building is furnished with modern apparatus for heating and ventilation, and its sittings are easy and roomy.
The course of instruction comprises the primary department, including the eighth, seventh and sixth grades-one year of time is to be passed in each grade; the junior department, which includes the fifth, fourth and third grades-the same time being occupied in each grade; the senior department, which includes the second and first grades, and one year in each grade; the high-school department, which has a classic and scientific and academic course. The school has a valuable though not extensive library, and has the beginning of what it needs, good and proper apparatus, philo- sophical and otherwise.
The first graduating class received their diplomas in 1874, the members being William P. Stoughton, scientific course; Virena Morrison, Anna Barrows and Huldah Seeley, English course. The class of 1875 were: Cora M. Wright, Albert M. Todd, classics ; Stella Sturgis, scientific ; Kittie Buck, Frankie Wilson, Albert Chandler, Wallace Weatherby, English literature. The class of 1876, Frederick Buck, Charles Wilson, classics ; Lillie Hamil- ton, scientific ; Charles Barrows, English literature.
The present corps of teachers are: J. D. Williams, A.M., principal ; Mrs. M. A. Hackstaff, preceptress; senior school, W. H. Wheeler, Laura M. Page; junior school, Etta Shepardson, Lillie B. Edmonston and Miss Whitney; primary, Meda E. Lester, Sophia A. Coye and Kittie Buck. Mrs. Hackstaff has been connected with the school for several years.
The present school board are: Levant E. White, director; Charles B. Peck, treasurer; E. S. Mundon, moderator; Dr. N. I. Packard, D. E. Thomas and G. D. G. Thurston, trustees.
What this institution costs the people may be seen from the following exhibit for the year ending September 1, 1876 : Five hundred and eighty-six scholars attended the school, which was ten months in session, and was taught by two male teachers, who were paid one thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars for their services, and nine females, who received two thousand nine hundred dollars for their wages. Two hundred and one dollars and twenty- five cents were received as tuition fees from non-resident pupils-the total resources of the district being fourteen thousand five hundred and sixty-two dollars and forty-one cents, of which fourteen thousand four hundred and fifteen dollars and fifty-eight cents were expended, including eight thousand seven hundred and forty dollars and sixty-six cents for building and repairs. The district board value their property at forty thousand dollars, on which they owe eight thousand dollars.
THE CHURCHES.
The first preacher was Rev. Erastus Felton, the Methodist missionary from Ohio. The first religious services were held in Mrs. Buck's "upper
chamber," a resort for all denominations, orthodox or liberal, who desired to use it. It was free to all, without money or price, and the family always helped to make up the audience. The first church society established in Sturgis prairie was
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
which was organized in 1832 by Rev. Mr. Robinson, of the Indiana confer- ence. The class was composed of one man and seven women, the solitary male member, David Knox, being the class-leader. Five of the females were Mrs. David Knox, Mrs. Rachel Knox (David's mother), Mrs. Betsey Buck (widow), Harriet Brooks and Mrs. Thomas Cade, In 1843 the first church was built on public ground, in front of the old cemetery, where the present Lutheran church is situated, and was afterwards moved across the street and used as a factory. The present edifice was built in 1863, is valued at twelve thousand dollars, has four hundred sittings, and is a neat, comfortable brick structure. The builder of the first church was a man named Nickerson. In 1845 a Sunday-school was organized, Mr. Knox, Hiram Jacobs and A. T. Drake drafting the constitution. Mr. French was the first superintendent, and then Truman Bateman, who was succeeded by William Allman, who has held the position ever since-nearly thirty years. There are now enrolled three hundred and sixty-five scholars, and there are seven hundred and thirty-four volumes in the library. There are two hun- dred members now in the church. The pastors who have ministered unto this flock have been, since Robinson, who served another year (1834), Bab- cock, Young, Peter Sabin, Newell, Beswick, Erastus Kellogg, Todd, John Ercanbrack, Richard Meek, the two Boyingtons, Lee, Lyon, McAllister, John L. Brockway, N. A. Knappen, Welch, Sherman and Worthington. The present pastor is John Graham, a pleasant but firm Scotch gentleman, who has just a spice of the accent of " auld Scotia" on his tongue, and who is an acceptable preacher to the community of church-going people gener- ally. The presiding elders of the Sturgis district have been John Arm- strong (named elsewhere for his ability and patriotism), Richard Hargreaves, Aaron Woods, John Ercanbrack, James T. Davidson, William Sprague, David Burns and - Gillett.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
of Sturgis was organized October 6, 1836, as a conference, composed of Elder Gershom B. Day, moderator ; Abel Crossman, clerk ; Wear Drake, Mordecai Leighton, Thomas Davis, and sisters Elizabeth Day, Roxana Crossman and Lydia and Catharine Drake. January 26, 1837, an ecclesi- astical council was held, constituted of Elder William Brown, moderator ; Elder H. J. Hall, clerk ; William Taylor and L. M. Choat; and the con- ference was formally organized as a church, with the same members as first named, and also Polly S. Ellis and Eunice B. Raymond. The services of dedication were participated in by Elder Brown, who preached the ser- mon from Luke xii, 32, and gave the right hand of fellowship; William Taylor, who gave the charge to the new church, and Choat, who invoked the Divine blessing upon them. The first and present church edifice was erected in 1846, in conjunction with the people at large, and was held several years in common with other denominations; but in 1858 the church bought out the partnership with the world, and now own it exclusively. It is valued at seven thousand dollars, and will seat two hundred and fifty per- sons comfortably. There are ninety members in the church society at present. October 31, 1846, a Sunday-school was organized, and a large class formed, with P. H. Evans as superintendent. The present member- ship of the school is ninety; G. D. G. Thurston is the superintendent, and there are one hundred and forty volumes in the library. The first pastor was Elder Day, the first Baptist preacher in the county, and who was after- wards killed by the Indians in California. He was succeeded by Reverends R. Graham, L. H. Stocker, R. H. Cook, P. Forbes, P. H. Evans, U. B. Miller, E. Curtis, G. L. Stephens, E. I. Fish, A. L. Vail, George A. Amos and L. F. Compton, the present pastor.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
of Sturgis was organized in 1836-7, by Rev. W. Corey, of Lima, Indiana, among the first members being the following : Mr. Wilbur and wife, Elder James L. Bishop and wife, Rice Pearsoll and wife, Mrs. Ransom and Ahira Brooks. The first church edifice was erected in 1858, and is valued at six thousand dollars. It is built of brick, has three hundred sittings, and the society has seventy-five members on its roll. A Sunday-school was organ- ized about the same time as the church, jointly with the Baptists, in whose house the new denomination worshiped for a time. John Taylor and Harvey H. Bresee were early superintendents of the school. There are one
DAN . R. PARKER .
D. R. PARKER.
D. R. PARKER comes of old and respectable Pennsylvania families, his father, John Parker, having been born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1793, and his mother, Elizabeth Seiser, in the township of Linn, Northampton county, February 9, 1800. He was born in Nancy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1818. At the age of seven his parents removed to Livingston county, New York, where they remained about five years, and in 1830 removed to Michigan, and settled on Sturgis' Prairie, in the County of St. Joseph. They embarked at Buffalo, in the steamer Peacock, and when but three miles out an accident occurred-the bursting of the steam-pipe-by which fifteen persons were scalded, fourteen fatally, among whom were Margaret, Lovina, and Samuel, two sisters and a brother of Mr. Parker's. This catastrophe cast a deep gloom over the family, the accident being regarded as an ill omen, fraught with disagreeable consequences for the future; which, however, never transpired, for we find the residue of the family comfortably settled on a fine farm in Section 11, Sturgis township, where they remained for many years, enjoying that peace and happiness, contentment and prosperity, which are the inseparable concomitants of the farmer's life. On the 13th of April, 1848, Mr. Parker took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Mary J. Aikin, and the same year settled on his present farm, in Section 12. Four children were born unto them, of whom three survive. Olive L. was born November 8, 1849; Henry R., born January 9, 1852 ; Franklin L., born April 4, 1853-died September 4, 1856; John H., born March 16, 1855. On the 5th of September, 1856, Mrs. Parker died, after a happy wedded life of less than a decade. This great bereavement was keenly felt by Mr. Parker and his young family, and left a void in his heart which has never been filled. She was a woman of rare qualities; beloved by all her acquaintances and friends; worshiped by her husband and fondly loved by her children, by all of whom her memory is affectionately cherished.
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.