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 45
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In the spring of 1831 Mr. Cathcart came to White Pigeon prairie, to look for a location; and finding one that suited him, purchased it of Judge C. B. Fitch, in the southeastern corner of the present limits of Constantine town- ship. He returned to Pennsylvania for his family, with whom he came to St. Joseph county and settled on his purchase, where he remained until 1860, at which time he sold the land (which he had brought from a wild, un- cultivated tract to a well-tilled and productive farm, by his own efforts and those of his children and partner) and removed to the village of Constantine, where he has ever since resided. He also bought other lands in Constantine township, of the United States, the same fall he came in with his family. In
1835 he was elected supervisor of the township of White Pigeon, then com- prising the present township of White Pigeon, Florence, Constantine and Mottville, and was re-elected in the year 1836. In the spring of 1839 he was also elected one of the three county commissioners, who took the place of the board of supervisors, and drew the two years' term ; at the end of which the office was abolished, the supervisors coming in again. In the fall of 1839 he was elected to represent the county in the lower house of the General Assembly of the State.
In politics Mr. Cathcart is, and has always been, a Democrat. His relig- ious views are in consonance with those of the Presbyterian faith, of which church he has been a consistent and zealous member for fifty-four years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at White Pigeon, from his first coming to the county until 1840, since which time he has been a dea- con in the church of that denomination in Constantine.
He was again married on the 19th of September, 1871, to Sarah J. Baldy, who died September 9, 1875. By her no children were born to him, and she now rests in the cemetery of White Pigeon, whither this old farmer of St. Joseph county of forty-six years, is looking serenely and calmly-to be gathered by and by, like a sheaf of corn fully ripe, beside the loved ones of his own home, who have gone before him.
Mrs. Cathcart, the former wife of Deacon Cathcart, united with the Pres- byterian church in Pennsylvania in 1822, her husband uniting therewith the year following.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
129
LONGACRE-CO
GEORGE BLANSHARD.
George Blanshard was born at Barlow, in the parish of Brayton, York- shire, England, on the 4th day of August, 1799. In early life he followed agricultural pursuits, his father having been a respectable English yeoman. On May 8, 1820, he married Mary Gale, daughter of Rev. Henry Gale, D. D., vicar of the parish of Escrick, near the city of York. This union was blessed with issue, three sons and one daughter, namely :
JOHN, born February 8, 1821.
ELIZABETH, born December 7, 1823.
CONYERS, born July 21, 1824 ; and
HENRY GALE, born December 2, 1826.
These were all born in England, and accompanied their father to America, whither he emigrated in the year 1836. He first temporarily settled on the east end of Pigeon prairie, in Constantine township, and afterwards perma- nently, on the west end of the prairie in the same township. Here he remained for almost fifteen years, when he removed to the village of Con- stantine, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred suddenly on the 17th day of February, 1876.
Mr. Blanshard is described by those who knew him well, as an honest, quiet and unobtrusive gentleman, who always discharged, with unfaltering fidelity, every obligation he incurred. By careful investment of his savings and great frugality he accumulated considerable fortune, which at his death, amounted to eighteen thousand dollars, in money and securities. He was sorely afflicted with deafness, and in consequence, possessed some pecu- liar characteristics, which to strangers oftentimes assumed the aspect of eccentricities. To his family he was kind and indulgent; and though hav- ing a strong preference for solitude, yet his house was ever open to his friends.
This sketch, with the accompanying portrait of the deceased, was inserted in our work by Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, wife of Stephen P. Miller, of Mott- ville township, and only daughter of the late George Blanshard.
.
NORMAN HARVEY.
Among the foremost men of Constantine, Norman Harvey stood, for a gen- eration. Coming to the township in 1833, when it was an unbroken wil- derness, he lived to see it change to a region of finely-cultivated farms, and where, when he first came, a few straggling log-houses played hide-and- seek amidst the woods, he helped largely to build a thriving, bustling village. Mr. Harvey was born in Rupert, Bennington county, Vermont, June 23, 1807. His father (Ephraim Harvey) was a farmer, and a native of the same State. His mother was Pamelia Harwood (of a well-known Vermont family), who still survives, and is now residing in Constantine, in the ninety-fourth year of her age. Mr. Harvey's opportunities for an edu- cation were something more than common-school privileges, he having at- tended the academy at Salem, New York ; and in his younger days taught school during the winter months of several years. In 1828 he was united in marriage to Rhoda, daughter of Seth and Rhoda Moore, of Rupert, and, in 1833, with his wife and two children, removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he began the life of a pioneer, and cleared up a farm of four hundred acres, about two and a half miles north of Constantine, on which he resided for twenty-two years. His political sentiments were those of the Whig and Republican parties, and though not an office-seeker, he filled acceptably to the people the positions of supervisor, justice of the peace and other minor offices, for several years. Probably there were but few who felt more interested in the settlement and prosperity of the county than himself. He removed to Constantine village, in 1855, where he was actively engaged in business of various kinds,-such as farming, milling, manufacturing, real-estate, and mercantile operations. He was also one of the founders of the First National Bank of Constantine, of which he was a director until the time of his death, which occurred April 17, 1866.
Mr. Harvey united with the Congregational church at Rupert, Vermont, and after his removal to Michigan, was an attendant and supporter of the Reformed church of Constantine.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey were as follows : Charles Merritt, Seth Moore, Lyman Reuel, Delia Salome, William Sheldon, Norman Henry, Rhoda Pamelia, Daniel Martin, Seth Moore, James Mark, William Wallace, and Cephas, of whom four sons and a daughter survive,-Norman Henry, Daniel Martin, James Mark, William Wallace, and Delia Salome (now Mrs. George I. Crossette).
Mr. Harvey was emphatically domestic in his habits, and devotedly attached to his family. His genial disposition secured him a large circle of friends, while his readiness to assist those less favored by fortune than him- self, is well known.
130
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
HON. EDWIN W. KEIGHTLEY.
Edwin William Keightley was born in the township of Van Buren, county of La Grange, and State of Indiana, on the 7th day of August, 1843. His parents, Peter L. and Elizabeth ( Winter) Keightley, emigrated from Lincolnshire, England; the former in the year 1831, and the latter in 1828, and in 1836, soon after they were married, located on the farm in Van Buren township where the subject of this sketch was born, and where they have since resided.
Edwin received the rudiments of a common-school education in the dis- trict where his parents still reside, from whence he entered the Valparaiso Collegiate Institute, and from thence entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor ; graduating therefrom in March, 1865, at the age of twenty-one years.
On April 24, following, he opened a law-office in White Pigeon, St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he remained for two years, laying the foundation of an excellent future practice. During his residence in White Pigeon he interspersed his legal duties with those of the editorial function, ably con- ducting for two years the publication of the White Pigeon Republican, a staunch advocate of Republican views and policy.
In 1867 he removed to Constantine, and entered into a law partnership with Judge S. C. Coffinberry, which terminated in 1869, mutually and pleasantly. At the close of this partnership Mr. Keightley opened an office in Constan- tine for the prosecution of his increasing practice, and at the election of 1872 the people called him to the position of proscuting-attorney for the county of St. Joseph, which position he filled with signal ability until January 21, 1874, when he was appointed by Governor Bagley, judge of the fifteenth judicial circuit, comprising the counties of St. Joseph and Branch, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon. R. W. Melendy. In the spring of 1875 both political parties-Republican and Democratic-united in the nomination of Judge Keightley, and elected him to the same honor- able position for a full constitutional term of six years.
In the campaign of 1876, the Republican party in the fourth congres- sional district of Michigan made the Judge their candidate for the lower house of Congress, nominating him on the first formal ballot by a handsome majority in the convention, and afterwards making it unanimous. The wis- dom of their choice was seen by the very flattering majority of two thousand three hundred and eighty-six votes the Judge received in the district, over the vote for the candidate of the combined Democratic and Greenback parties.
On the 14th day of July, 1868, Judge Keightley married Mary Mitchell, an estimable lady, and the daughter of Thomas Mitchell, a long-time resident of Constantine, and closely identified with its manufacturing and material interests.
The fruits of this union have been two bright and active children, a daugh- ter, who died at the age of little more than a year, and a son, George, now three years old.
Judge Keightley has been an ardent Republican in politics, and his speeches in the canvass of 1876 were of no small moment in working up the splendid majority he himself, and the general State and National ticket re- ceived throughout the fourth district.
The estimation in which Judge Keightley is held, by the people where he is best known, is shown by their calling him to the various positions above named; and the following resolution, passed by the bar of the fifteenth cir- cuit, at Coldwater, January 22, 1877, will tell how kindly the legal fraternity bear him in memory :
" Resolved, That the honesty, ability and impartiality with which Judge Keightley has uniformly performed the difficult and perplexing duties de- volving upon him as circuit judge, reflect the highest honor upon himself, and merit our entire confidence and hearty approbation."
Judge Keightley's congressional term will commence March 4, 1877.
HEMAN HARWOOD
Heman Harwood was born in Delaware county, New York, June 21, 1810. Emigrated to Ontario county, New York, in company with his parents in 1822. He had fair common-school advantages for those days. In the spring of 1831 he emigrated to Constantine, St. Joseph county, Mich- igan, and in the following year served in the Black Hawk war. In the summer of 1835 he returned to Ontario county, New York, and in the month of September, 1835, he was married to Miss Rebecca Fisher, of Gor- ham, Ontario county, New York, and the following spring (1836) returned to Constantine and settled on Broad street.
His family consists of his wife and three sons, all of whom are good, re- spectable citizens. Mr. Harwood's occupation has been principally farming, although at present he is somewhat occupied with one of his sons in the mill- ing business. In politics, he is found among the Republicans, and in religion, has been a worthy and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal church, for more than forty years. The portraits of himself and wife may be found in another part of this work.
FLORENCE.
IF THE eye of man ever looked upon nature in more beautiful mood and aspect than she exhibited to the first settlers in the territory now included in the township of Florence, it hath not been revealed to the historian, to what portion of the earth he must go, to find the record of such vision. The original burr-oak plains, which comprised the greater portion of the area of the township, were in the summer, indescribably lovely. Level, and devoid of undergrowth, the plains covered with a sparse growth of old oaks, the grasses most luxurant, the florwers most brilliant and fragrant-the scene was enchanting beyond the present conception of those whose eyes never rested upon the charming landscape.
Neal McGaffey, Esq., who was the member of the lower house of the General Assembly, in 1837, from St. Joseph county, was so delighted with the pleas- ing prospect afforded by a drive in the elegant park, that he gave the most appropriate name then to be found, to the new township, and named it after the queen of the sea, Florence.
Even now, when the old oaks have given way before the axe of the pioneer, and the flowers have disappeared before the waving cereals, one gets glimpses of the old-time beauty and loveliness, with which nature arrayed her- self in the days of the pioneer, when the wild deer in herds fed upon the
plains, and wild turkies strutted and called to their broods, when the part- ridges drummed in their coverts, and the wild bees stored the sweets of thou- sands of flowers, of varied hue and beauty.
The soil is a rich sandy loam, free from stone, and highly productive ; adapted to the successful culture of the cereals, corn, mint and fruit. Its drainage is effected by the Fawn river, the only stream within the limits of the township, which rises to the dignity of a river, and which enters the same on the south line of the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven, and runs north and northwest, passing out near the southwest quarter of section nineteen. A little creek rises near the west line of the southwest quarter of section twelve, and meanders southward, losing itself in the Fawn, near the west line of the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven. Klinger's lake lies partly on sections thirty-five and thirty-six, and partly on adjoining sec- tions in White Pigeon township.
THE PRESENT AREA
of the township comprises about twenty-two thousand five hundred acres ; three full sections (thirty-four, thirty-five and thirty-six ) being set off to White Pigeon, by reason of a large and impassable marsh lying between the south-
HEMAN HARWOOD.
CONSTANTINE, ST JOSEPH CO., MICH
MRS HEMAN HARWOOD
HALSEY CASKEY.
EDMUND BEAM.
FLOWERFIELD
MOTT VILLE
.
131
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
east corner of the township and the balance of the township, compelling a detour nearly to White Pigeon village, by any one desiring to go to the centre of Florence from those sections. The original prairie formerly included in the township boundaries, was about twelve hundred acres.
THE ENTRIES OF PUBLIC LANDS
were first made in the township, in the year 1829, seventeen being made in that year, and ten in the year following. The first three entries were as follows : the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, by John Martin, of Monroe county, Michigan, August 20; the east half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion thirty-two, by John Croy, of Marion county, Ohio, August 24; the west half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-two, by Leonard Cutler, Sep- tember 7. In 1876 there were twenty-one thousand four hundred and nine acres assessed in the township for taxation, valued by Norman Roys, the su- pervisor of the township, at three hundred and seventy thousand and sixty- five dollars; about one-third, or one-quarter, of its real value. The farms, in 1874, averaged one hundred and twenty-seven acres each.
EARLY SETTLERS.
David Crawford, and a man by the name of Martin, came from Monroe, Michigan, and took up a permanent settlement on section thirty-two, Florence township, in the spring of 1829.
In October of the same year, Alvin Calhoon came in with his wife and one child, and settled on section thirty-two. Jeremiah Lawrence took up a transient residence in Newville, then a small settlement located two miles east of White Pigeon, in 1829, and removed to Florence in 1830, where he afterwards resided for many years.
In 1832 Norman Roys settled on his present farm, on sections five and six, where he has remained for forty-five years. John Howard came into the township in the spring of 1832, and settled with his family on section six. He lived with his wife fifty-seven years, and died in 1875, at the age of ninety-three years.
Elisha Dimick arrived in 1833, and took up his permanent residence on section seven. He was also accompanied by his family.
George Pashby, Sr., with his wife and two children, first settled on section twenty, in 1834, and subsequently moved to the farm now occupied by his son, George Pashby, Jr.
John Hagerman settled on the farm now occupied by his son, William Hagerman, on section eighteen, in 1836.
Among other early settlers were William H. Roys, John Peek, William Geible (now of Constantine), the Stears family, Giles Thompson, John Hull, Oliver P. Arnold and others. Henry Levison is a heavy farmer, owning seven hundred and seventy-four acres, six hundred of which lies in a body.
THE FIRST WHEAT SOWN
in the township was by David Crawford, in the fall of 1829 ; Alvin Calhoon, and Jeremiah Lawrence, each sowed twenty acres the following year.
THE FIRST CORN
was planted by the same parties in the spring of 1830.
THE FIRST ORCHARD
was planted by John Coats on the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, in the spring of 1831.
THE FIRST LOG HOUSE
erected within the present limits of Florence township, was by David Craw- ford, on Pigeon prairie, in the spring of 1829. It was similar, in general, to all the primitive habitations of the pioneers.
THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE.
As to who erected the first frame house, considerable doubt exists ; we are of the opinion, from what information we were able to glean on the subject, that the frame of the present residence of Norman Roys, was among the first regular frames erected. John Peek had a small wooden structure erec- ted by one A. C. Fisher, who is said to have been the
FIRST CARPENTER
who made his home in the township. The house was put up between sunrise and sunset, one fine day in the year 1837.
THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE
in the township, was the one erected by Stockton Anderson in the year 1845. It stood on the farm now owned by Moses Walters, on section seventeen.
THE FIRST TAVERN
was kept in the log house of Elisha Dimick as early as 1833, on the home- stead farm. He kept it until almost 1840. William Telfer, with his father and sister, located on the Centreville road, and kept a hotel known as " Providence Green."
THE FIRST BLACKSMITH
in the township was John Peek, who erected a smithy in 1836. The shop consisted of a board building, and stood a little north of the present resi- dence of David Boyer.
THE FIRST PHYSICIAN
who practiced in the township was Hubbel Loomis, M. D., of White Pigeon, and his partner, Dr. Elliott, who still practices, being one of the oldest prac- titioners in the county.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
established in Florence township was kept at the tavern of Lyman Bean, in 1840; it was, on the completion of the Kalamazoo division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad, removed to Florence station, where it has since been kept by John Ruggles. Bean drove into the county the entire distance from Maine, with four horses, in 1834.
PEPPERMINT STILLS.
For many years the manufacture of peppermint has been a leading enter- prise of Florence township. The first distillery erected in the township, was by Reuben and Otis Matthews in 1837. In the spring of that year they procured of Calvin Sawyer, who had just arrived from Ohio, a few roots, which they planted on the farm now owned by Joseph Brown.
They commenced distilling early in the year 1838. This was the nucleus around which subsequently developed a great and lucrative business.
In 1876 the entire product of the township amounted to four thousand pounds of oil; to make which, required the yield of almost three hundred acres.
Among the heaviest operators are William H. Roys, William Hagerman, George and Frank Roys.
BURYING-GROUNDS.
The first regularly used burying-ground in Florence township, was that now adjoining the Methodist Church, which was first used for the interment of Rev. Edward E. Adams, October 31, 1836. Mr. Adams was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion. Among the early settlers buried in it were, Mrs. Minerva Wilson (daughter of Rev. Adams), Decem- ber 9, 1838; Rebecca Thompson, October 28, 1839; Jeremiah Lawrence, October 28, 1840.
There was another burying-ground located on the farm of John Peek, and first used as such in 1841 for the interment of Elsie Peek, daughter of the donor of the land. It is situated on section fifteen.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
This question, not being definitely answered by any of the old pioneers now residing in the township, was referred to Mrs. Altha Lawrence (widow of Jeremiah Lawrence, one of the earliest settlers of Florence), who is now residing with a daughter at Ypsilanti, from whom we received the following reply :
" My first recollection of a wedding in Florence township is of one which occurred in a log school-house, as there were no churches then. The parties were John Phelps, and Leafy Wilder; and the ceremony was performed by Rev. Leonard B. Gurley. This was about the year 1831."
FIRST BIRTH.
The first birth in the township, was that of Wolcott H. Lawrence, fourth son of Jeremiah and Altha Lawrence, who was born November 27, 1830.
THE FIRST DEATH
was that of an Englishman by the name of Burnham, who came in the early part of 1831, and died during that year.
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The first school-house erected in the township, was a log structure which stood near the present school-house belonging to district No. 1, and was built in 1836, and known as the Roys' school-house. A frame house was built about the same time on the prairie in what is now district No. 2. Among the early pupils who attended the former, were the Peeks, Dimicks, Lawrences, Calhoons, Loomises, Fitches, and the son and daughter of George Pashby, Sr. Jeremiah Lawrence was the first director, who procured Par- melia Whited as teacher.
4
132
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The above-mentioned houses were both erected while Florence yet consti- tuted a part of the original township of White Pigeon. The former was designated district No. 11, under the old organization.
On the 17th day of October, 1837, a meeting of "the board of school direc- tors for the township of Florence, town seven south, range eleven west," was held, at which it was
" Ordered, that a school district be laid off, containing the west half of section number four, and sections five, six, seven and eight, to be known as district No. 1.
" Ordered further, that sections fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and the east half of section seventeen, and the northeast quarter of section twenty, the north half of section twenty-one, the north half of section twenty-two, and the northwest quarter of section twenty-three, be known as district No. 2.
" Ordered further, that sections twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty- one, thirty-two and thirty-three, be known as district No. 3.
" Ordered, that the board adjourn the meeting.
"Signed : Giles Thompson, Mathew Rowen, Norman Roys, school inspec- tors. Florence, October 17, 1837."
The following is from the report of the school inspectors, dated October 18, 1842, and shows the number of scholars in each district organized as above, with the number, also, of district No. 4, which was formed in 1840:
District No. 1, whole number of scholars between five and seventeen years, thirty-nine : district No. 2, whole number of scholars between five and seven- teen years, fifty-eight ; district No. 3, whole number of scholars between five and seventeen years, forty-three; district No. 4, whole number of scholars between five and seventeen years, thirty-two,-making a total of one hundred and seventy-two scholars.
The amount received from the superintendent of public instruction for the year 1841 was forty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents.
In 1876 there were seven schools taught in the township in as many school-houses, four of the latter being built of brick and three of wood, and valued at seventy-five hundred dollars. The houses afford three hundred and sixty-six sittings, and there were three hundred and forty-three chil- dren in the township of the requisite school-age, three hundred and thirty of whom attended the schools, which were in session an average of eight months during the year ending September 1. There are two hundred and thirty-six books in the district libraries. Seven male teachers were em- ployed, and paid one thousand one hundred and forty dollars for their ser- vices, and nine female teachers received three hundred and fifty-four dollars and eighty cents for their work. The total expenditures for the year were two thousand five hundred and ninety-one dollars and eighty-five cents.
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