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 40
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THE FIRST SCHOOL
taught in the township was in the winter of 1830-31, by Thomas Charlton, in the basement of Niles F. Smith's store.
The first "school ma'am" in the township was probably Miss Rhoda Churchill, a daughter of Dr. William Churchill, and afterwards the wife of William F. Arnold. She taught a school on the edge of the prairie, about one mile from the village, in the summer of 1832.
The first school on Broad street was taught in 1836, in a school-house built that year. A lady taught the school, and had ten pupils.
The statistics of schools in 1876 were as follows : There were schools taught in ten different districts, one of them being the union school of the village. There were seven hundred and ninety-three children in the township between
five and twenty years of age, and eight hundred and twenty-one scholars attended the schools, which were taught on an average of eight months during the year. Seven male teachers were employed, and paid two thou- sand four hundred and ninety dollars; and twenty females, who received two thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars and fifty cents. The total income of the districts for the year ending September 1, 1876, was eleven thousand four hundred and fifteen dollars and six cents, and the total expended was ten thousand three hundred and sixty-three dollars and four cents, including three thousand six hundred dollars on bonded indebtedness. There are eight hundred and seventy-five volumes in the library of the town. The township owns ten school-houses, valued at forty-four thousand five hundred dollars, with nine hundred and fifty sittings.
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY
organized in the township, outside of the village, was a Methodist class, on Broad street, consisting of eight members, with O. F. French as leader. Reverends Ercanbrack and Todd formed the class.
Another class was formed in 1840, or thereabouts, at North Constantine, and a log chapel built soon after on the present site of the brick chapel, and meetings were held therein until 1849-50, when the brick chapel was begun, under the pastorate of Rev. N. L. Brockway, but was not completed until November 10, 1863, during the pastorate of D. K. Latham. It cost twelve hundred dollars.
The Broad street class and its appointments were discontinued on the organization of the North Constantine class, the members of the former going to the latter class, and to the village. This brick church is the only church-edifice erected in the township, outside of the village.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The present constituted township of Constantine was organized in 1837, having been previously included in the township of White Pigeon. Its geographical limits were confined to that township, numbered seven south, of range twelve west of the principal meridian, on maps of the gov- ernment surveys. The township took its name from the village, which was laid out in 1831, and so named at the suggestion of Niles F. Smith, the first merchant to locate in its precincts.
THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING
was held April 3, 1837, at the school-house in the village. Dr. Watson Sumner was the moderator, and Thomas Charlton the clerk thereof. The following officials were chosen for the discharge of the various municipal trusts growing out of the new sovereignty, to-wit : John G. Cathcart, super- visor ; W. C. Pease, clerk; justices of the peace, Heman Harwood, four years; W. C. Pease, three years; William Cathcart, two years; Horace Metcalf, one year ; Norman Harvey, A. R. Metcalf and William H. Adams, assessors ; John Bryant, Ozias F. French, Alex. S. Shepherd, commissioners of highways; Erastus Thurber, constable and collector ; Heman Harwood, John A. Appleton, overseers of the poor; Watson Sumner, Heman Harvey, Allan Goodridge, school inspectors ; Lyman R. Lowell, constable; Heman Harwood, John S. Kean, fence-viewers ; Erastus Hart, poundmaster.
The meeting voted in favor of the county borrowing money to erect public buildings, and appropriated one hundred dollars for the poor, and levied a bounty of five dollars on wolf-scalps taken from large wolves, and three on prairie wolves, and declared a rail-fence five feet high of "good sound rails," or a board fence four and a half feet high, were lawful fences. On May 15th day, the highway commissioners laid off five road districts and agreed with the Florence commissioners for the separate jurisdiction of specific por- tions of the town-line road. In 1838 the bills for 1837 were audited for town expenses, and amounted to one hundred and eighteen dollars and sixty-five cents. In 1842 the town raised three hundred dollars to repair the bridge over the St. Joseph at Constantine. This bridge was built in 1835, the building committee, Isaac J. Ulmann, secretary, advertising in the Michigan Statesman, issued at White Pigeon, under the date of Decem- ber 1, 1834, for proposals to build the same for a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars, and to be completed in one year. In 1843, the taxes of the Bank of Constantine were returned unpaid forty-three dollars, and no property could be found whereon to levy to make the same, and the board of town auditors instructed a committee to inquire into the reason of such return by the collector.
In 1848 Governor Barry was commissioner of highways, and Hon. Joseph R. Williams inspector of schools. In 1849 the people voted ninety-eight against, and fifty for license, and in 1850 voted eighty-two for license and fifty-eight against.
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MRS. O. C.M.BATES.
O. C. M. BATES.
RESIDENCE OF O. C. M. BATES , CONSTANTINE TP. , ST. JOSEPH CO. MICH.
115
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In 1854 hogs, cattle, sheep, horses and mules were restrained from run- ning at large, and in 1855 somebody had a grievance, and so influenced the vote of the people that they prohibited hens and chickens from scratching in anybody's lettuce-beds except their masters. In 1863 the town assumed the bounty raised by individuals for volunteers. In 1869 the
NEW IRON SUSPENSION-BRIDGE
was voted for, and thirteen thousand dollars appropriated to build the same. It was built that year, and fell, in December into the river and, was rebuilt the following winter or spring with a double-chain support, two arches and a single span. May 27, 1869, the people of township offered the Michigan Air Line railroad company fifty thousand dollars as a loan if they would build their track through the township, but the company declined the tempt- ing offer and went through Fabius.
The town officials, since the organization of the township, have been as follows: Thomas Charlton was appointed justice of the peace for " Meek's Mills" in 1831, and held the position until May or June, 1836.
Supervisors-John G. Cathcart, 1837-39; A. L. Driggs, 1840-44-1846- 48-49-54-56; John Bryan, 1845; Charles H. Hopkins, 1847 ; W. C. Pease, 1850; Henry T. Steele, 1851-53; C. S. Engle, 1852; Thomas Mitchell, 1855; John Harrison, 1857-1866; Hiram Lindsley, 1867-69; Aaron Howard, 1870, 1872-76 ; E. H. Sheldon, 1871.
Town Clerks-W. C. Pease, 1837-1844; Franklin Wells, 1845; Wash- ington Pitcher, 1846 ; Albert Miller, 1847-49; Clinton Doolittle, 1856-58, 1862-63-65-69, 1871-72; David E. Wilson, 1873-76 ; George Palmer, T. T. Gurney, And. I. Palmer, T. C. Langley, Millard F. Thayer, L. T. Hull, Lyman Harvey, German Brown, John C. Joss, Charles M. Morton amd John W. Stevens have each held the office one year only.
Justices of the Peace-W. C. Pease, 1837-1852; Heman Harwood, 1837-41 ; William Cathcart, 1837-42; Horace Metcalf, 1837 and 1856-60; J. Eastman Johnson, 1838-42; A. R. Metcalf, 1840-1855; Peter F. Put- nam, 1841-1853; Henry T. Steele, 1851-59; Charles R. Millington, 1852- 56-1864-72 ; Hiram H. Harwood, 1857-1865, Levi T. Hull, 1857-63 ; E. H. Sheldon, 1863-77 ; Hiram Lindsley, 1866-73; Samuel P. Rockwell, 1870-77 ; Theo. Rumbach, 1875-77; Robert M. Flack, 1876-77 ; Thomas Harrison, 1873-77.
OLD RECORDS.
Thomas Charlton was the first justice of the peace in the township, having received his appointment from Governor Porter in 1831. For five years he never kept a docket, but kept his record of cases on slips of paper, and for convenience sake (?) put the slips into a barrel promiscuously, and whenever a particular paper was wanted, turned the contents of his one " pigeon-hole" upon the floor, and, " pawing" them over until he found the paper he wanted, put the rest all back again as before, into the barrel, whither the one wanted went as soon as it was used. The first entry made on the docket by him is dated April 25, 1836, but there is no hint, from beginning to end in the entry, that the matter treated of was heard before him, or, for that matter before anybody. The only case on the docket tried before him which shows, of itself, that it was tried by him, is a criminal examination-which incidentally states that the parties appeared before "Esquire Charlton" for examination. His signature does not appear once on the record, and but once in connection with it, and that is on the inside of the front-cover where he assigns his costs, taxed on the docket, to E. Thurber, and has attached his signature.
The first suit entered is one wherein Elias True was plaintiff and Samuel H. Abbott defendant, summons issued April 25, 1836, returnable May 2. The account filed by the plaintiff amounted to thirteen dollars, and after de- ducting ten dollars and thirty-eight cents for "drag-teeth, beatle-wedges and rings, and also for horse-shewing, hay and oats for horces," the court ren- dered judgment for the balance of the account and one dollar and seventy- five cents costs, and the judgment was subsequently paid.
On the 7th of May, 1836, a suit is docketed, The United States vs. Richard Pearson, and Mrs. Pearson his wife,-and, on complaint of Johnson Patrick, made against the defendants for larceny, a search-warrant was issued and returned on the 9th, and, with the body of Mrs. Pearson, brought into court. The writ was endorsed: " Search made May 7, 1836, nothing found secreated-ten dollars delivered to me by Mrs. Pearson, which she said Mr. Pearson sent to her-further served, May 9, by searching the person of Mrs. Pearson and her daughter Susan Pearson,-not any money found except a pocet piece of Susan's-bro't the body of Mrs. Pearson before Thomas Charl- ton, Esq. for examination." There were six witnesses sworn, and Mrs. Pear- son was discharged.
On the 9th of March, 1839, the Bank of Constantine brought eleven suits against as many different parties on notes, mostly Sturgis men, on which Esquire Pease rendered judgments, and the same were subsequently paid.
THE FIRST ROADS
surveyed and laid out in the township, were done by the White Pigeon authorities.
On September 4, 1830, a road was surveyed by Robert Clark, Jr., from White Pigeon north to McInterfer's prairie, which begun at the north bor- der of the Chicago road, township eight, between ranges eleven and twelve. On the 7th there was another road surveyed by Clark, commencing at the corners of sections thirty-two and thirty-three, township seven, range eleven, on township line between townships seven and eight, range eleven, and run- ning to Chicago road west of St. Joseph river, and near the crossing at Mottville, and running past Klinger's " old mill," nine miles.
On July 6, 1831, a road was surveyed by Mathew Rowen under the di- rection of Alvin Calhoon and Daniel Read, highway commissioners, " begin- ning on the northwest border of the St. Joseph river, nearly opposite Meeks' mill, at a thorn tree," and from thence runs north and northwest to west boundary of St. Joseph county, six miles, fifty chains and thirteen links."
July 12 a road from Mottville to Meeks' mill was surveyed, and Septem- ber 10, 1832, the road from Young's prairie to Mottville was laid out.
May 5, 1833, a road was surveyed from the north boundary of White Pigeon township south to Meek's mill, beginning at the corner of sections one and two, township six, and sections thirty-five and thirty-six, township seven, range twelve, west, thence south to the river opposite the mill.
Broad street, so named in 1840, and ever since known by that title, was first worked in 1832, but partially, however. It is now three miles long, a perfect air line, four rods wide, and in the summer season a most lovely and charming boulevard. It is much frequented by the towns-people of Con- stantine on pleasant Sunday-evenings. Most excellent farms lie on either side of this avenue, and some of the best farm-houses in the township are found here, notably those of O. C. M. Bates and Samuel Gibson.
POPULATION.
In 1838 Constantine township had a population of eight hundred and forty-two souls ; in 1850, the souls had multiplied and increased until they numbered one thousand four hundred and ninety-six. In 1870 the increase had brought up the population to two thousand four hundred and four per- sons, forming five hundred and twenty families, with but five hundred and nineteen houses to live in. One thousand two hundred and one of them were males, and one thousand two hundred and three females.
In 1874 the State census showed the population to be but seventeen more than four years before, and one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight were males, and one thousand one hundred and sixty-three females. Just what kind of legerdemain was used to transform twenty-three females into their male opposites does not clearly appear-accepting the trite saying that "fig- ures won't lie" ; four hundred and fifty-two of the gentlemen were married, and one hundred and sixty-one were not, and never had been, who were over twenty-one years of age; four hundred and fifty females were " keeping house " for their lords, and two hundred and eight of their sisters were en- joying their independence of household cares and responsibilities. Twenty- five males and sixty-nine females were widowed or divorced. Four hundred and thirty-six men were subject to military duty, and one hundred and ninety- nine exempt by age, six of them being over seventy-five and under ninety years of age. Five hundred and three ladies were of the marriageable age, and two hundred and twelve were over forty years, and eleven were over seventy-five years of age. There were six hundred and twenty-three boys under twenty-one years of age, one hundred and fifty-one of them too young to go to school ; and four hundred and thirty-seven girls under eighteen years, one hundred and twenty-two of them being under five.
THE POLITICAL SENTIMENTS
of the people may be gathered from the way they deposited their ballots at the presidential elections : in 1840, Harrison polled eighty votes, and Van Buren eighty-four: in 1844, the Whigs cast one hundred and six ballots, the Democrats one hundred and eighteen, and the Liberty men seven ; in 1848 the Whigs cast ninety-nine, General Cass, Michigan's "favorite son," received one hundred and twenty-one votes and the Free Soilers drew into their net sixty-nine ; in 1852 the Whigs gave General Scott one hundred and fifty- three votes, the Democrats cast one hundred and thirty-nine votes and the Abolitionists numbered twenty-two; in 1856 the Republicans cast two hun- dred and fifteen votes, and the Democrats one hundred and thirty-three ; in
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116
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1860 the Republicans gave Lincoln two hundred and sixty-nine, and Doug- las received one hundred and eighty-one votes ; in 1864, Lincoln received two hundred and sixty-seven, and Mcclellan one hundred and ninety ; in 1868 the Republican vote was three hundred and forty-three, and the Demo- cratic two hundred and fifty-seven ; in 1872 Grant received three hundred and twenty-eight, Greeley one hundred and forty, and O'Connor "a few, that is, eight"; in 1876 Hayes received three hundred and thirty-two votes, Tilden two hundred and sixty-seven, Cooper five and Mr. " Scattering " two.
What the people paid for the privilege of self-government in 1837 and 1876 is here shown : The assessment of property in the township for the year 1837 amounted to one hundred and seventy-four thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine dollars, on which the sum of seven hundred and twenty-eight dollars was levied for taxes for State and county purposes, besides the ex- penses of the township for schools and otherwise.
In 1876 the assessment of real-estate for taxation amounted, as lis ed by the supervisor, to six hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars, which amount was reduced to six hundred and thirty-five thousand and seventy- six dollars by the county-board. The personal assessment stood at one hun- dred and seventy-five thousand six hundred dollars; total eight hundred and ten thousand six hundred and seventy-six dollars. On this assessment an amount of four thousand one hundred and forty-one dollars and twenty- six cents was levied for State and county purposes, divided equally between the two objects. The township taxes, including schools and the corporation taxes, would swell the grand aggregate to fifteen thousand dollars probably.
THE VILLAGE OF CONSTANTINE.
The first and original plat of the village of Constantine was surveyed and laid out in August, 1831 (at which date there were five families only on the site), by Judge William Meek, who settled on the site of the plat, the east half of section twenty-three, township seventy south, range twelve west, in 1829, and built the first house thereon, a log-cabin of the usual primitive style of construction, and cleared off and plowed a few acres the first year. Mr. Meek was attracted to the spot by its advantages for a manufacturing point, being shown the location by Leonard Cutler, then, in 1828, living on White Pigeon prairie.
Judge Meek began the erection of a saw-mill in the winter of 1829-30, on Fawn river, or Crooked creek, just below junction with the St. Joseph, and in the spring, before he had completed the saw-mill, he constructed a rude dam, and a ruder wheel and stones, and commenced to grind grists, the same having been entirely completed in twenty days,-Hugh Woods, who came in with Judge Meek, being the mill-wright. This pioneer mill is de- seribed at length in the county history in the chapter on manufactures.
These mills gave the little hamlet a name abroad, throughout the settle- ments of Cass and St. Joseph counties, and it was known for years after- wards as "Meek's mills," the more romantic and high-sounding name of Constantine, given to it at the suggestion of Niles F. Smith, being ignored by the early settlers, especially those of the sister and rival colony at White Pigeon, who, occasionally, when asked by emigrants of the whereabouts of Constantine, were totally oblivious of any such place, but on a more minute description being given of the desired point, at once brightened up, said, "Oh ! you must mean Meek's mills!" The traveler in search of Constantine, in the flush days of 1836, had an elaborate, lithographic ground-plan of the village, which, on bond paper, appeared to be "no mean city," like Tarsus of Apostolic days ; but when the looker for corner lots and speculative in- vestments arrived in the centre of the city of his dreams, he was still in the woods, and its greatness was still in the keeping of its inhabitants, and its life lay all before it.
Niles F. Smith was the first man who opened a store in the place, and he built a little frame building on the banks of the river, on or near the present site of the store of Barry & Eacker, at the south end of the bridge, in 1830. He built also his dwelling at the corner of Washington and Water streets, and afterwards opened it for hotel purposes.
Isaac J. Ulmann came to Constantine in 1832-3, and entered into partner- ship with Smith, but the firm dissolved April 27, 1834, as appears by the notice to that effect in the Statesman of that date.
John S. Barry engaged in the mercantile business in Constantine in 1834-5, dissolving his connection with J. B. Willard, in the same line in White Pigeon, in July, 1834. Mr. Barry remained a citizen of, and engaged in trade, in Constantine, until his death in 1870, having been in the meantime elected to the State senate for three terms, and as governor three times, the latter distinction of three terms having been conferred upon no other citizen of Michigan. Governor Barry's whole life was identified, as it were, with Con- stantine's prosperity, and his integrity and financial ability were great and
important factors in the development of the Constantine of to-day. He was largely interested in the Michigan Southern railroad, and entered into the management of the company when its stock was quoted at a nominal figure, and by his economical and judicious management of its affairs, raised the commercial value to such a point that he and many others amassed great wealth thereby.
The Statesman of August 1, 1834, says Constantine had "three stores, a good grist- and saw- and shingle mill and several mechanics." W. A. & W. T. House, twin brothers, were one of the mercantile houses, and advertised to buy wheat at the Constantine mills at fifty cents per bushel, but a few days later changed their " ad," knocking down the price three cents. Mr. Meek built a second saw-mill in 1835, and improved his water-power, and the village was assuming a thriving, bustling aspect. Major Ulmann brought in several large stocks of goods prior to 1840, when he removed to Wisconsin, where the old veteran is still living.
Albert E. Massey came to the village in 1834, and opened trade ; he remained until 1840, when he was elected county clerk, and removed to Cen- treville, engaging in trade and publishing until 1852, when he removed from the county. Elias True, a carpenter, came in 1831; he was a highly- esteemed citizen and useful man in the community. Samuel Teesdale and Abraham Miller came in 1835 from White Pigeon, and began wagon- making, the first in the village, Miller doing the blacksmithing. H. and A. R. Metcalf came in 1834, and were prominent among the early citizens for many years.
There were, in 1835, about three hundred inhabitants in the village. In 1836 three large stores were built by the House brothers, Major Ulmann and William H. Adams, and filled to their utmost capacity with finely-assorted stocks of general merchandise and groceries. Adams & Appleton occupied one of them with groceries and a fine stock of liquors and cigars. The Ap- pleton of this firm, John A., became afterwards a member of the famed publishing-house of Appleton Bros. In 1836, also, came Charles L. and Albert Miller and opened a fine stock of dry-goods, next west of Barry's store, the latter still standing near the original site thereof. The Millers re- mained in trade for some two years, and then removed to Colon, where a son is still engaged in business. Charles L. Miller was elected probate judge in 1856, for a term of four years.
Allen Goodridge and A. E. Massey were in trade that year, the former advertising in the Republican, published then in Constantine, thus : " One thousand pounds codfish, and one hundred pounds high-scented Maccaboy snuff." Whether the thousand pounds were high or low scent does not ap- pear. This year Constantine indulged in great expectations and built many fairy " castles in Spain."
The Republican was edited by Daniel Munger, and he advertised the village extensively. The steamboat Constantine began to be projected, and her stock was offered for sale. W. T. House & Co. had two shares they would sell if any desired to purchase, and their keel-boat Constantine was busy carrying away produce and bringing back merchandise.
The manufacturers were busily engaged, and were: William Reid & Co., carriages and wagons ; A. & W. Pentland and Henry Gibler, blacksmiths ; P. E. Grover, fanning-mills ; Benham, Doolittle & Co., saddlery ; Samuel Abbott, same line; Christian Kuch, furniture ; and Reed, Teesdale & Co. (Benham), plows. The merchants were as before named. W. T. House & Co. advertised for bids to build a mill with six run of stone.
Railroad and canal meetings were held and the advantages of inter-com- munication with the rest of the world glowingly set forth; Congress and the Secretary of War were memoralized, and the domestic legislature invoked to extend a helping hand to the development of untold wealth and prosperity lying dormant, but ready to spring forth at the slighest provocation.
Meek, Sumner, Hoffman, House and Cathcart were moving spirits in the commercial conventions that discussed, to the Constantine of 1836-37, the important measures of rapid and easy transportation by lake, river and land. Massey wanted two hundred thousand feet of lumber at once, and House wanted one hundred and fifty thousand feet more, sooner.
Munger & Cowdry catered to the intellect in books and stationery, and Drs. Sumner and Baldy ministered to the ills of the body in drugs and med- icines. Harvey Hunt added to his American hotel, dining- and ball-rooms forty feet long, in time for the national holiday, and his hotel then occupied sixty-six feet on Water and forty-four feet on Washington street.
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