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 35
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CROP STATISTICS.
In 1874 there were sown five thousand one hundred and eighty-five acres of wheat, against four thousand two hundred and fifteen in 1873, and there were two thousand three hundred and nine acres of corn planted in 1874. The crop of 1874 yielded forty-one thousand nine hundred and seventy- seven bushels of wheat, seventy-one thousand two hundred and thirty-three bushels of corn, nineteen thousand three hundred and forty-two bushels
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
other grain, five thousand and forty-eight bushels potatoes, one thousand three hundred and eighty-four tons of hay, fourteen thousand and thirteen pounds of wool, two hundred and two thousand seven hundred and sixty- two pounds pork, forty-one thousand two hundred and forty pounds butter and cheese, nine thousand five hundred and eighty-two pounds dried fruit, and eight hundred and eighty barrels cider. Three hundred and thirty acres in orchards and gardens produced nineteen thousand one hundred and eighty bushels of apples and five hundred and sixty-four bushels of other " truck," valued at seven thousand five hundred and fifty-four dollars. There were owned in the township six hundred and seven horses, seven mules, four oxen, four hundred and eighty cows, four hundred and eighty-four other cattle, one thousand two hundred and sixty-six hogs and two thousand five hundred sheep-three hundred and two less than in 1873.
THE VILLAGE OF CENTREVILLE.
The original plat of Centreville was surveyed and laid out, acknowledged and recorded, November 7, 1831, by the proprietors-Robert Clark, Jr. (a government surveyor), Electra W. Deane, Daniel B. Miller and Charles Noble. It was located on the east half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-five, and east half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-four, township six, range eleven, and on west half of the northwest quarter of section thirty, and west half of the southwest quarter of section nineteen, township six, range ten. In consideration of the location of the county-seat on the plat, the proprietors of the village donated to the county, in aid of the county buildings, fifty-six lots and the public square,-the court-house, when built, to be located on the latter. Clark was the real man in the pro- prietorship, and acted as attorney in fact for his coadjutors, by virtue of a document recorded in Liber A, page two hundred and thirty, in the regis- ter's office at Centreville.
THE FIRST HOUSE
was built by Columbia Lancaster on a lot just north of the public square, which the original proprietors had given him for services rendered. It was not much of a house, and only served as a shelter for him while out on his frequent hunting expeditions. It was made of rough logs, the site of the village being originally heavy oak openings, and had neither door, window, nor floor.
In June, 1832, Thomas W. Langley, a gentleman in the manufacturing line in Philadelphia, but on a tour westward in quest of his health, came to White Pigeon with a party from Detroit, who were on a prospecting tour. Hearing of the location of the county-seat at Centreville, he inquired where it was, and was informed by Lancaster, who was at the time teaching school in White Pigeon, and who also offered to pilot him to the site on the next day or two, when his school ended for the week, which he accordingly did. After viewing the location he returned to White Pigeon, and on Monday came back alone and looked the ground over again ; he returned direct to Monroe and bought the interest of the proprietors, Clark and Deane, and also the location of H. W. Foster, who was engaged in putting up a saw-mill one-half mile east of the village plat, the whole purchase covering three- fourths of section thirty, in Nottawa township. Making arrangements for the continuance of the work on the mill, Mr. Langley returned to Philadel- phia for his family, consisting of his wife ; Mrs. Hartley, afterwards Mrs. Adams Wakeman; five sons, William B., Joseph L. F., De Witt C., Thomas C. and Washington E., and one daughter, Susan B .; a nephew, William L. Hirst, and two colored servants, William Bell and Anne Williams,-the first of their race to find in St. Joseph county a home. Buying a stock of goods well assorted for the pioneer trade, in New York, he shipped them via the Erie canal and the lakes to the mouth of the St. Joseph, and, together with a set of mill-irons and his household goods, took passage from Troy, New York, on a line-boat for Buffalo, and from the latter point to Detroit by steamer, bringing also from Buffalo horses and wagon, with such house- hold goods as were necessary. The mill-irons, the nephew and the ser- vants were transported to Centreville,-Mr. Langley and the rest of the family coming through to White Pigeon in one of Forsyth's coaches, char- tered. expressly for the party. The roads had to be cleared in many places, the limbs of trees cut off, Hog creek made fordable, to let the coach through the woods and marshes, and in and out of the creeks and rivers.
The party arrived without broken bones, though badly used up, at White Pigeon, September 25, 1832, and at Centreville, October 3, William B. Langley,-then a boy of some fourteen years or thereabouts,-piloting the caravan of goods, servants, proprietor, family and carpenters from White Pigeon, mounted on the pony which had been over the ground several times before. When the party arrived in view of Lancaster's cabin, the grass,
which had been growing rankly therein all summer, was plainly visible to its future inmates, and gave them a sudden and uncomfortable idea of pio- neer trials and privations in the very outset. The ladies were given full and exclusive possession of the cabin, after the grass was mown down, and the men and boys camped under the trees. The next day business began in earnest in the village of a single family ; a door was put in the cabin, a frame building began for a court-house, and also a frame blacksmith- shop. A double log-house, with seven rooms, was begun on the 4th and finished with floors, doors, windows and a chimney, and occupied on the 13th of October. The court-house building, twenty by thirty feet, now stand- ing on the corner diagonally northwest from the public square, and length- ened out somewhat, was the
FIRST FRAME HOUSE
in the village, On the 19th of February, 1833, there were in the village eight good frame buildings, one small and one large log-house, comprising the frame blacksmith-shop (twenty by thirty), the court-house, and six private dwellings. The double log-house was afterwards sold to A. C. Stewart for hotel purposes, and the frame blacksmith-shop fitted up and enlarged for Mr. Langley's family residence, and which he subsequently opened as a hotel, for which purpose it was used many years. A new blacksmith-shop was put up on the corner of the block next north of Dr. Trowbridge's present residence, being the second block north of the main street running east and west through the village, and north of the street leading to the railroad depot.
This shop was erected with marvelous celerity. On Tuesday morning the materials were growing in the woods, and Thursday night the shop was done and shingled, the forge up, and a horse had been shod. On April 1, two blacksmiths were at work in the village; the mill, one-half mile east, was in operation, sawing and gristing; and mail twice a week was received.
Three couples had been married in the village, of its residents, before April 8, and a month later the capital of the county had a population of one hun- dred souls-eleven families besides the unmarried men ; and thirty-six lots had been sold to parties who were under contract to put up a good frame- house on each purchase, under penalty of forfeiting half of the purchase money.
In 1833 the courts were held in Centreville, and the board of supervisors held their meetings there; the county jail had been erected; hotel accom- modations were fair; a school had been taught (a private one), public worship had been maintained for several months, and the village was as- sured of both a " local habitation and a name," to go down to posterity with whatever of honor or disgrace the future might bring. The first important thing in the history of a county-seat, aside from a place to hold courts, was a decent place to feed and rest the attendants on the sessions of the same, and Mr. Langley set about providing for that important functionary, the landlord, who was Alanson C. Stewart. He leased and opened the double log-house as
THE FIRST HOTEL
in Centreville. It was built near the present site of C. H. Starr's barn, and opened to the public in December, 1832; but Mr. Stewart did not remain . in it, and Mr. Langley opened his own residence in April, 1833, as a hotel, with Julius A. Thompson as landlord, who remained but a short time, finding he did not know how "to keep a hotel." Mr. Langley himself then took the helm of affairs and managed the hotel until about 1836, when he sold the property to Alexander V. Sill, now, and for seventeen years, the post- master at St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois. Mr. Sill kept the house in a very satisfactory style until 1840, when he sold his interest, and removed to Illinois, where he has since remained. 'This building stood on the site of the fruit-canning and batten-factory, which burned down in December, 1876. One Mr. Fish built the St. Joseph House, and was bought out by Langley & Talbot, who began, in 1837, the erection of the "Exchange," which was completed by Langley, Talbot retiring. It was noted all along the road between Detroit and Chicago for its architecture, its balconies being sup- ported by pillars formed of burr oak logs, unbarked. E. J. Van Buren was the first landlord, and kept the house in 1837-9, and Charles H. Knox kept it in 1840, or later. Mr. Langley kept the Sill house at different times. Dr. Cyrus Ingerson kept the Mansion House previous to 1840. The only hotel now opened in the village is a brick building, built by I. A. J. Metzgar, and leased by W. S. Beardsley, who is a popular host with the legal fraternity and traveling public generally. Mr. Beardsley pays close attention to the com- forts of his guests, keeps a quiet, orderly house and is well patronized.
WILLIAM B. LANGLEY
MRS. WILLIAM B. LANGLEY
VIEW LOOKING NORTH.
N
VIEW LOOKING EAST.
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM B. LANGLEY, NOTTAWA, STJOE CO, MICH.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THE FIRST MERCHANT
in Centreville was Niles F. Smith, who bought the stock of goods forwarded by Mr. Langley from New York, while the same were in transit, Smith obliga- ting himself to sell the same at retail in Centreville. The transfer was made to Smith November 28, 1832, and the goods opened for sale about Christmas, between which time and the 20th of February one thousand six hundred dollars worth of them passed over the counter in legitimate trade.
Dr. Johnston and C. H. Stewart opened a large stock of goods in 1833, and afterwards leased or bought the mills at the east of the village, and re- moved their stock there in 1834. A hotel was also kept at the mills, and Harvey Cady, who came to the village in 1835, was the host thereof in 1837. In 1834 Captain Philip R. Toll, of Schenectady, N. Y., and his family, con- sisting of his wife and sons, Isaac D., and Alfred, and three daughters and two nephews, Philip R. Toll and Charles H. Toll, came to Centreville and began an extensive mercantile and manufacturing business, which he continued until 1838, when he removed to Fawn river, and continued his flouring and milling operations there for many years. Charles H. Toll was a partner in Centreville, and he and Philip R. Toll were most able and effi- cient aids in the various business enterprises carried on by the firm. They leased the mills, and operated them in 1836-8. They sold a large amount of goods; they brought shoemakers and tinsmiths, and kept them busy, too. G. Lansing Outhout, of the best blood of the Knickerbockers, a graduate of Union College, and a man of high culture, was also associated with Cap- tain Toll. Isaac D. Toll was then a boy of seventeen to twenty years old, and a gay lad. He is credited with getting up the first dance in Centre- ville, in 1836, and it is not a difficult thing to believe that the statement is true, for he was the leader of the young men of his day in the village.
Langley and Talbot were in trade in 1837, and the Talbots-the heads of the house being John W. Talbot and George-have been in trade there in various lines ever since. The old house bears an honorable record for jus- tice and integrity, and its mantle has descended on worthy shoulders-its representatives of to-day. Three of the family emigrated to Texas some years ago, and one of them was elected to the position of State superinten- dent of schools.
Henry C. Campbell is an old merchant in the place, and has been post- master for the last sixteen years. Calvin H. Starr came to the village in 1835 or 1836, and has been closely identified with its interests from that time to the present. He was a young unmarried man, but has built himself a fine resi- dence, married a St. Joseph wife, and has been one of its trusted citizens for years. His taste ran counter to that of many of the villagers in regard to the condition of the public square, he desiring it to remain in its natural state so far as the large oaks were concerned,-while the others desired to " clear" it off. This they did, and now frequently admit the correctness of Mr. Starr's views. The day was hot when the " clearing" began, and before all the larger trees were sacrificed the laborers were worried out, and so here and there on the square stands a remnant of the forest, very tantalizing to one in a hot day, when he remembers that once the square was an elegant park of just such growth.
C. D. Bennett and J. W. Spitzer are both merchants of several years' standing, and now engaged in trade in the village.
MANUFACTURES.
The first manufacturing done in the village was blacksmithing, Mr. Lang- ley bringing in the " kit," and furnishing the shop and hiring the smith, in 1832. E. C. White was the first resident smith to own and operate his own shop in 1833. De Mott, a blacksmith, was noted for his skill in hardening mill-picks. Mr. Day was the first tinsmith, and Combs & Son the first shoemakers, and came in and worked for Captain Toll in 1834-7. A. E. Massey had a tin-shop afterwards in 1840. John P. Van Patten and George Stone came in with the Tolls also, and were carpenters. Melvin Brown, still a resident of the village, with his son Eldridge, was the first cabinet-maker, and opened a shop in 1834. Thomas Studley was a shoemaker, and settled on the prairie in 1832, and Morris Early and A. Murray were early carpenters in the village in 1832-3. Munger and Ruggles were the millwrights of the village at the same time. William Russell, a brother-in-law of A. V. Sill, was the first gunsmith. Deacon Henry W. Hampson was one of the leading builders of the village for years. He came in 1833 with Willett Disbrow, who was also a carpenter. Dunbar & Clarke were the first wagon-makers, though Mr. White worked at the trade before their advent into the village, in 1839. Tyler & Bryfogle succeeded the first-named firm. James and Frank Dresler were the first harness-makers, and were succeeded by Thomas and William Case. Lazarus Eberhard was the first tailor to ply his trade in the village. Harvey Cady made the first barrel in 1837, the first church-
bell in 1842, and the first drum in 1837, in the village. The bell he forged from a steel bar. Mr. Cady also kept the first livery-stock for hire, begin- ning with a single horse and buggy in 1837-8,-continuing the business twenty years, and ending with ten fine horses and "rigs."
Joseph L. Buel and his family came to Centreville in 1834, and he fol- lowed his trade of a carpenter for years, his son Cyrus (whose wife is a daughter of John W. Fletcher, and the first white female born on Nottawa prairie), succeeding to the business.
Walter G. Stephens was probably the earliest carpenter in the village, and came permanently in 1832, being married on Christmas of that year. He built the first brick house in the village. He was the first jailor, too, of the county after the jail was built at Centreville,-previous to that time a sapling, near Sheriff Taylor's house at the grand traverse of the St. Joseph, doing duty oftentimes for a lock-up.
In 1847 Gibbs, Dille & George E. Gurnsey built and operated a pottery, and made good ware for two or three years.
The first flouring-mill in the village was built by George Talbot and Henry D. Cushman in 1851, the dam being built by Mr. Langley, and the power sold to the firm. The mill was furnished with three run of stone, was burned in 1856, and rebuilt soon after by Brokaw & Hoffman, and is now owned by D. D. Antes and Samuel Kline. Its work, in 1876, was twenty thousand bushels of wheat floured, besides the custom work of one hundred bushels of grain per day. The sales of the firm, in flour and wheat shipped, aggregated ninety thousand dollars and over.
The foundry of William Allison was built in 1868, and has been operated by him ever since.
The Centreville Knit Goods Manufacturing Company organized for active operations in 1873, on January 4, with Harvey Cady, president; Edward Talbot, secretary, and Daniel Stewart, treasurer. John C. Joss and Henry C. Campbell were chosen to the latter positions soon after, and have occupied them ever since. The company built their extensive works in the north part of the village, and furnished them with the most complete and latest- improved machinery, and operated them successfully for two years; but un- fortunate litigation has intervened, and the splendid and valuable property has lain idle for more than a year. It is, however, kept in good condition, and whenever the lawyers get through with it, it will be ready to start up immediately. The investment amounts to about seventy-five thousand dollars, and is held by stockholders.
The Centreville Fruit-Preserving Company organized January, 1874, with David D. Antes, president ; J. C. Joss, secretary ; L. A. Clapp succeeding to the latter position subsequently. In June, 1875, after running the season of 1874 on its original business, machinery for the manufacture of cotton-batting was put into the building also, and was operated a portion of the time in that line; and was so operating (and successfully) when it was totally de- stroyed by fire in the early part of December, 1876, entailing a loss of eighteen thousand dollars on the stockholders, without any insurance.
Messrs. Dockstader Brothers owned and operated a carriage manufactory adjoining the batting-works, which had been in existence some few years, and was also burned.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
of Centreville was organized January 22, 1873, with C. T. Chaffee, presi- dent; Edward Talbot, cashier, and Henry S. Platt, assistant cashier. L. B. Hess succeeded Mr. Platt as cashier, and is still in the position. D. F. Wolf succeeded Mr. Chaffee as president, and was himself succeeded by L. A. Clapp, who fills the position at the present time. The present board of directors are L. A. Clapp, George Keech, Jr., John C. Joss, E. D. Thomas, John I. Major, John Yauney, Wm. W. Jones. The last quarterly statement of the bank, dated January 20, 1877, shows the following condition : Its loans and discounts were seventy-two thousand nine hundred and sixty-six dollars and thirty-four cents. There were due from other national banks and reserve-agents twenty-three thousand eight hundred and forty-four dollars and fifty-nine cents. Its real estate, furniture, &c., were valued at fifteen hundred dollars, and there was cash on hand and in the United States treasury to redeem its circulation, ten thousand one hundred and seventy dollars and fifty-three cents. Its outstanding circulation amounted to forty- four thousand three hundred dollars, which was secured by fifty thousand dollars in United States bonds deposited with the United States treasurer. Its capital-stock paid in and surplus funds and undivided profits amounted to seventy thousand four hundred and fifty-six dollars and thirty cents. Its individual deposits, subject to draft or certificates, stood at forty-three thou- sand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars and sixteen cents.
The American express company keep an office in that village, George Keech, Jr., being the agent. During the year two hundred and forty-three
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
packages, aggregating sixteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-one pounds, and three hundred and seventy-four packages under twenty pounds each, were received and forwarded, and money-packages disposed of simi- larly, including collections, valued at forty-one thousand one hundred and fifty dollars.
THE POST-OFFICE
was first established in the village, March 2, 1833, and Mr. T. W. Langley appointed the first postmaster, he providing for the transportation of the mail from White Pigeon out of his own pocket, if the receipts of the office did not cover its cost. The first mail was brought from White Pigeon, April 25, and was continued tri-weekly by Langley until July 5, when Savery, the contractor on the route from White Pigeon to Kalamazoo, left it and took it up. Mr. Langley held the position until 1840; C. Bronson, 1841-44; Samuel Chipman, 1845-48; A. E. Massey, 1849-52; Samuel Chipman (again), 1853-60; Henry C. Campbell, 1861-77.
The business of the office has trebled since 1860. It was as follows during the year 1876 : Fourteen hundred dollars in stamps were sold ; one hundred and twenty-five letters per day received and dispatched; eight hundred and fifty-three registered letters dispatched ; six mails received and dispatched per day ; and seven hundred newspapers distributed per week, including one hundred dailies and three hundred and fifty county papers.
THE RAILROADS
of the township do not touch the village,-the Grand Rapids and Indiana running through the eastern part of the township, and the Michigan Central Air Line running nearly a mile north, but the latter is the station for the village, and where all its business is done. ,
The Grand Rapids and Indiana was the first road to enter the township and received fifteen thousand dollars therefrom to aid in its construction, be- sides the individual assistance rendered.
The Michigan Central railroad was built through the township in 1870-1, and received a donation from the town of twenty-five thousand dollars, be- sides other assistance from the village residents.
Oscar Waters, a young lawyer of Centreville, was the first agent, and is now holding the same position on the road at Battle Creek. The present agent and telegraph operator is H. W. Hayes, who has very kindly furnished the following statement of the business of the station for the year 1876 : There were forwarded four millions four hundred and eighteen thousand five hundred and forty-two pounds of freight, and one million four hundred and twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and thirty-six pounds of the same received.
There is employed in business in the village at the present time about two hundred thousand dollars capital.
THE BUSINESS OF THE PRESENT
is as follows :
Dry Goods-J. W. Spitzer.
General Merchandise-C. D. Bennett.
Hardware-Talbot & Worthington, R. N. Avery.
Groceries-H. C. Campbell, E. W. Talbot, John Lucas, Chris. Elser & Co.
Drugs, Stationery, &c .- Geo. Keech, Jr., E. D. Thomas. Essential Oils-Wolf Brothers and Keech.
Harness and Trunks-Charles O. Gregory, H. D. Westcott.
Millinery and Ladies' Furnishing Goods-Mrs. H. M. Davis, Mrs. S. E. Blanchard.
Boots and Shoes-Louis Klesner, Louis Booth, C. H. Thomas,-one of the oldest in the county.
Tailors-D. D. Ashley, E. Davis. Markets-Holt & Hasbrouck, Lyman Putney.
Jewelry and Watches-George Richards.
Live Stock-John S. Major.
Nottawa Hack-line-B. A. Wells.
Livery-Joseph P. Dockstader.
Eggs and Butter-J. B. Quivey.
Agricultural Implements-D. D. Antes, H. A. Hecox.
Insurance-L. A. Clapp, C. H. Starr, John D. Antes, James Eastman Johnson.
Drayman-John Wilson.
Steam-Threshers-Samuel P. Kline, John W. Schermerhorn-both in the township.
Hotel-W. S. Beardsley.
MANUFACTURES.
Flouring-Mills-Kline & Antes.
Foundry-William Allison.
Book-bindery-A. Beerstecher.
Furniture, &c .- C. Cummins.
Gunsmiths-F. Beerstecher, Isaac Platt.
Carpenter-shops-Thomas R. Shaffer, C. R. Buel, Charles F. Beerstecher, Platt & Emmons, J. D. Bonner, George Yauney, David Overfield, James Belote.
Wagon-shops and Blacksmiths-George Thoms, Clarence Culver, Charles Loop, George H. Dexter, George H. Knapp, Daniel Drescher.
Cooper-George Morrison.
Barber-Professor Jennings Hyatt.
Masons-A. O. Bishop, W. G. Bishop, James Wilson, W. H. Keeney, (in township).
Dressmaker-Mrs. Haight.
THE FIRST ROAD
that was laid into Centreville was one from the Branch county line in 1832, William Connor, Henry Powers and J. W. Fletcher laying the same out on the line since adopted by the State road. Hog creek was then very high, and the line of the road has been changed somewhat since.
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