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 53
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He also reported adversely to granting the prayer of numerous petitions from Detroit, backed by important influence, asking for a distribution of the public school-fund to sectarian schools, believing such a course detrimental to the true interests of the State, and opposed to the genius of the constitution.
Mr. Moore being thoroughly domestic in his tastes and habits, early pro- vided a home for himself and family, by purchasing a fine tract of four hun- dred and fifty acres of burr-oak openings in Park township, some four and a half miles north of Three Rivers, on which he built, later, a spacious mansion, whose hospitable doors have always swung wide to admit troops of friends, whose voices and merry laughter have echoed through his elegant parlors and beautiful grounds, shaded by the oaks of the original forest, which once covered his entire tract.
From this homestead, Mr. Moore has gone daily to his business at Three Rivers, for nearly forty years, using now for the purpose the railroad, which has built a very neat station-house near his residence, and named it " Moore Park."
In their religious views, Mr. and Mrs. Moore conformed to those of the Presbyterian polity, and united with the church at Danville, Pennsylvania, in 1830, and also, with fifteen others, assisted in the organization of the Pres- byterian church of Three Rivers, in 1837, Mr. Moore being chosen one of the elders thereof, which position he has actively held for thirty-seven years, rarely being absent from his accustomed seat in the sanctuary on the first day of the week.
In the work of building up society by Christian influence and moral rec- titude, he has performed a full and honorable share, and having done much therein, only regrets he could not have done more. Holding to the prin- ciple that giving, enriches, while withholding brings poverty, his bounties and benefactions to public and private charities and enterprises, in religious and reformatory works, and matters of public benefit to the town, have been munificient.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had born to them two children only, a daughter, now Mrs. Kelsey, residing at Three Rivers, and a son, Armitage G. Moore, now, with his wife, residing with his father on the old homestead. But these two children, beloved though they are, could not monopolize the pa- rental love, that swells such hearts as beat in the bosoms of the master and mistress of Moore Park, and it went out unto no less than fifteen father- less and motherless boys and girls from two to twelve years of age, who were from time to time gathered around the family hearthstone, to be nur- tured, educated, and prepared for life's warfare, and when sent out into it, were fairly equipped for its successful maintenance. One only of those thus brought into the family has remained, and of her-a distant relative of Mrs. Moore, Mary Kepler, by name-Mr. Moore bears this testimony, "She has from a mere child identified herself with the family in every respect, socially and domestically, and has exhibited a self-sacrificing spirit, all the more noted because of its rarity.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore passed fifty-two years in the relation of wedded life, and her death, which occurred August 29, 1876, was the first visit the grim messenger ever made to their home.
Mr. Moore pays this tribute to the sharer of his early struggles for a living, his later efforts for a competency, and his successful achievement of an hon- orable reputation and worldly wealth in the days of the "sere and yellow leaf:" "She was truly a help-meet, and to her I attribute much of the pros- perity of my later years. Her influence, in the kindness of her nature, sound judgment and strong common sense, combined with a patient, persever- ing Christian character, gave me a direction and aim in life, which I feel I could not have attained without her." And now, at the age of nearly sev- enty-two years, Mr. Moore daily seeks his lonely, though still beautiful home, the light of which, in his eyes, faded and went out, when its long-time mistress and dispenser of its hospitalities, was carried through its portals by the hands of sympathizing neighbors, and followed by her household and intimate friends, in sadness and tears. But though sadness and loneliness intrude where joy and domesti ccompanionship once held undisputed sway, yet the husband remains attentive to business and to his church obligations, expectant of the summons not long to be withheld, and is
"Only waiting till the shadows Be a little longer grown : Only waiting till the Shepherd Comes and calls and claims His own."
LEWIS MILLER.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Vermont, August 10, 1802. In 1829 he removed to Akron, Summit county, Ohio, where he engaged with his eldest brother, the latter being a carpenter, and the former a painter by trade. He remained in Akron till 1845, when he removed to Lockport township, taking a farm of eighty acres, which he cleared up and improved.
He taught the "young idea how to shoot" for fourteen winters, in the States of Vermont, Ohio, and Michigan. Casting his first vote for John Q. Adams, in 1824, he aided in organizing the Democratic party in 1828, and became an Abolitionist in 1835, then casting the only vote of that com- plexion in Lockport township. He has also taken an active part in the temperancce reform, and all public enterprises of his vicinity. His family consists of six children, five of whom (four sons and one daughter) are living.
GEORGE SCHOCK.
George Schock, son of John and Elizabeth Schock, was born in Wash- ington township, Union county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1819. He remained under the paternal roof until 1840, when he removed with his parents to Thompson township, Seneca county, Ohio, where he worked first for his father at one hundred dollars per year, and subsequently for a stranger at one hundred and fifteen dollars a year. He learned the car- penter and joiner trade, at which he worked for about three years.
On the 20th day of September 1845, he married Lucy Ann Wehr, a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. They reared a family of nine children, namely :
BENJAMIN F., born January 10, 1847.
JOHN, born September 25, 1849.
JOEL, born October 29, 1851.
POLLY, born October 28, 1853.
ELI, born May 14, 1856.
SARAH, born June 10, 1858.
HETTY A., born March 7, 1861.
LYDIA A., born July 2, 1863 ; and
EMMA A., born November 13, 1867.
Mr. Schock has been mostly engaged in farming, although he has devoted a considerable portion of his time to the manufacture of sorghum, and to the raising of poultry. In 1871 he removed to Michigan and purchased his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lockport township, which he keeps in an excellent state of cultivation in addition to attending to his other business.
He is at present, treasurer of Grange No. 178, and also treasurer of Pomona Grange, No. 4, of St. Joseph county. In politics he is a Republi- can, though he has recently affiliated with the Greenback party. In relig- ion, he is a member of the German Reformed church. For a late settler in his township no man enjoys more the confidence and esteem of the people than does he of whom we write. A view of his residence and buildings can be seen elsewhere in this work.
J. F. THOMS.
J. F. Thoms, son of Charles and Julie Thoms, was born in the Canton of Neufchatel, Switzerland, July 28, 1813. His father, an honored soldier in the first Napoleon's army, brought with him into private life a pure and spotless reputation, and unsullied integrity, and he carefully instructed his son in lessons of loyalty, industry, benevolence, and the many virtues of which his life was a worthy illustration.
At the age of four years, his parents and himself, in company with friends, emigrated to America, and landed at Philadelphia, in August, 1817. He remained with them during their residence in Pennsylvania, attending school when the opportunity presented, and assisted his father in conducting the mercantile business at different points where he located.
In 1836, at the age of twenty-three, he came to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he has made a home and many friends by his industry and honorable deportment. He commenced by clearing a tract of land entered by his father, which he subsequently purchased and improved.
March 23, 1838, he was married to Louisa Friedlein. Two years elapsed, and with its experiences came the loss of his wife. March 23, 1843, he was again married to a worthy companion, Miss Eleanor Dough- erty, of Mattison, Branch county, Michigan. A family of four children,
A.C. PRUTZ MAN. - THREE RIVERS .-
WM.F. ARNOLD. - THREE RIVERS . -
D. KNOX, JR. - THREE RIVERS .-
1. F. THOMS. - THREE RIVERS .-
MRS. I. F. THOMS. - THREE RIVERS. -
LEWIS THOMS. - THREE RIVERS .-
MRS. LEWIS THOMS. - THREE RIVERS. -
WM. HULL. - LOCKPORT TP. -
LEWIS MILLER. - LOCKPORT TR -
DWIGHT STEBBINS. - LOCKPORT TP .-
GARRETT SICKLES. - LOCKPORT TP. -
155
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
carefully trained and pleasantly located, contribute to make his declining years his most pleasant ones. .
FRANK J., was born February 3, 1844, and resides in Sherwood, Branch county, Michigan.
ALICE was born December 2, 1847, and resides in Three Rivers with her husband, A. R. Close.
JOHN C. was born May 10, 1852; he also resides in Three Rivers, pros- perous in his chosen vocation.
FANNIE M. was born November 4, 1855, and remains at home contribut- ing to the comfort of her parents in their advanced years.
Mr. Thoms has held various offices of trust, being at different times elected assessor, justice, and commissioner of the corporation of Three Rivers ; is also a member of Friendship Lodge No. 338 of Masons, and Salathiel Chap- ter No. 23. He is also a member of Three Rivers Commandery, and holds the office of treasurer in the three societies. He also served as treasurer in Mount Hermon lodge No. 24, for a period of twelve years.
Mr. and Mrs. Thoms are earnest, active Methodists, and largely contribute to the support of the church of their chosen profession. In politics a Dem- ocrat, he cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren. Mr. Thoms is in every sense a representative man, as his standing, both socially and financially plainly indicates.
In connection with this history is shown a portrait of himself and wife, and we take great pleasure in referring our readers to them, knowing that their pleasant expression is in perfect harmony with this plain record of their well spent lives.
LEWIS F. THOMS.
Switzerland, the land of beautiful lakes, grand mountain scenery and the home of noted patriots, immortalized in song and story, was the birth-place of Lewis F. Thoms. It was here in the Canton of Neufchatel, August 11, 1806, where the dark blue waters of the Lemen reflect the rays of the meridian sun, amid the towering peaks of the everlasting Alps,-emblems of integrity -that the subject of our sketch was born, and was taught those lessons of truth and fidelity, sincerity and virtue, which characterize the man. Kind parents taught him early, lessons of self-reliance and industry,-and the record of his life proves that they have been well observed.
At the age of twenty-two, we find him actively engaged in the mercantile business at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in company with his father and brother. Time passes, and he becomes sole owner thereof, purchasing his father's and brother's interest. Commercial changes, a few years later, cause him to re- tire from trade with reduced means, owing to the failures of many patrons whom he had generously trusted. After honorably adjusting every account, he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, June 7, 1835, and entered land to the amount of twenty-seven acres, in Lockport township. This he cleared and improved, beginning with a log-house, table, chairs and furniture, made with his own hands, in pioneer fashion.
The log-house has been changed for a fine residence of modern style, shrubbery planted, buildings erected, acre added to acre, and the result is a fine farm, and a beautiful home.
On February 10, 1827, he was married to Miss Sarah Baker. A family of six children has been raised, namely :
ISAAC, born December 8, 1831.
GEORGE W., born February 22, 1832.
CHARLES F., born January 18, 1835.
MARY J., born February 19, 1838.
JOHN L., born May 6, 1842; and
JOSEPH, born October 2, 1844.
Two sons, Charles and Lewis, defended their country during the rebellion, enlisting early, and serving with credit in Sherman's army, and at the close of the war were honorably discharged.
Mr. Thoms held various offices in the Methodist church, of which he is a member, and he advocates his political views by voting as a Republican. Andrew Jackson, as candidate for president, received his first ballot. At the advanced age of seventy-one, in good health and mind, Mr. Thoms pre- sents an example of longevity, attributable to his habits of abstinence and temperance; and his pleasant home and ample resources, are sufficient proofs of his industry and success. He is a true friend in the social circle, a kind neighbor in the community, a pious Christian in the church, an affectionate husband, and a kind father at the domestic hearth, and well merits the space that he occupies in this work, with his portrait, as being one of the successful representative men of St. Joseph county.
COLON.
THIS township, which takes its name from the village within its limits near Sturgeon lake, has a generally level surface, but is somewhat broken up about the village, and has within its boundaries an eminence which is called Colon mountain ; not remarkable for its elevation, though it is the highest point in the township-one hundred and twenty feet above the general level. The soil is a sandy loam, stony in portions of the township, but very fertile and productive. Its area includes twenty-one thousand four hundred and sixty-seven acres of land and one thousand five hundred and seventy-five acres of water surface. The land was originally of the oak openings, except in the northwest corner, where the Nottawa prairie comes into the township on section one, and also a small prairie near Levi Mathews' and M. G. Schellhous' locations, on section four.
On the river bottoms heavy timber is found, consisting of oak, walnut, hickory, soft maple, black and white ash, sycamore, etc. Its drainage is good, and it is watered as follows: The St. Joseph river enters the township on the east line of the southeast quarter of section one, and passes by Sturgeon lake, out of the township on the north line of section thirty. Swan creek enters the township from the south, near the centre line of section thirty-three, and runs northerly through Long lake and an arm of Palmer, and enters Sturgeon lake, near the entrance of the St. Joseph, on section two. A little creek rises on the southeast quarter of section twenty, and runs northwardly and westwardly, passing out of the township near the centre line of section
eighteen, and another small one enters the township on east line of southeast quarter of section thirty-six, and runs northwest to Swan creek, which it enters on the section line between the southwest quarter of section twenty- three and the southeast quarter of section twenty-two. Beaver lake, so called from a beaver dam that was once in it, lies on section twenty-eight, and contains one hundred and sixty acres. Lepley's lake lies on the southeast corner of section twenty-seven, and contains forty acres. Palmer lake, so called from a pioneer who settled on its banks, and Sturgeon lake, so named from the fish formerly caught in it, are the largest bodies of water in the township, having an area of about four hundred acres each. Washburn lake also lies within the township and takes its name from a settler on its banks. An- cient mounds and fortifications are numerously scattered throughout the area of the township, and are fully described in the general county history.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Roswell Schellhous came from Ohio in 1829 to Nottawa prairie, and located on what was afterwards included in Colon township. He built a log house, of two rooms, near the present elegant dwelling of William Bowers, which he kept as a hotel, his patrons being chiefly "land-lookers" for some years. His location was on section six.
In 1838 Mr. Schellhous went to Illinois and located near Nauvoo, and
156
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
was afterwards in Missouri, where he made himself obnoxious by his advo- cacy of anti-slavery sentiments.
Lorausi Schellhous, a brother of Roswell, came into the township in 1830, as did also George F. and Martin G., two other brothers, and bought land on sections three and six, Lorausi buying, however, the mill-site on Swan creek, where the present flouring-mill is situated in the village. They re- turned to Ohio, and, during the winter, Lorausi made mill-irons and breaking- plow irons, and in April, 1831, he with his family of five children, (Loran, the youngest, being two years old), George and his family, Martin G. and his family, and George Brooks and his family, in all thirty-one persons, com- menced their journey for their western home in St. Joseph county, and arrived May 16, 1831, at Roswell Schellhous' log-house, where they stopped one night. The next day, though it was Sunday, Lorausi Schellhous took up his line of march again, and coming to his mill-site, built a tent of poles and crotches cut along the marsh, roofed it with bark and slept in it that night, preferring elbow room in such a shelter to the crowded apartments of his brother. He at once commenced the erection of a cabin, and completed it with a shake-roof and puncheon floor and a door made of one of his wagon boxes, ready for occupancy by the next Saturday night, and was living in his own house in a week's time after he arrived on his location. He came in with two wagons, five yoke of oxen, three cows and nine hogs, a sow and eight shoats.
The next week Mr. Schellhous made a breaking-plow, selecting a winding tree for the mould-board, and broke up a garden spot at his own house and six acres on the prairie at his brother Roswell's, on which latter breaking, he planted corn, harvesting a good crop in the fall, and his garden gave him vegetables, broom-corn and melons. His stock came home regularly, and his hogs throve and fattened finely on the mast that had lain on the ground through the previous winter. These persons above named were the first settlers in the territory included in the present bounds of Colon.
Charles Palmer came in from Ohio in the fall of 1831, bought three hundred acres east of the creek, and lived with his family of six children with Mr. Schellhous, until the spring of 1832, when he moved into a cabin of his own.
Mr. Schellhous built a saw-mill in 1832 and got it in operation, bringing his plank from Adams & Kent's mill in Bronson, Branch county.
In 1832, all of the people who came in the year previous, except Lorausi Schellhous, were sick with the fever and ague.
After sawing one thousand two hundred feet of lumber, the water under- mined the dam, which went out, but was replaced, and again washed out during 1832. Then Lorausi sold his location to Martin G., his brother, to raise funds to rebuild his dam again, and so well did he perform the work, that the foundation remains to this day.
In 1832 Cyrus Schellhous, another brother, came in, with their mother, who died the same year.
The neighbors in 1831 were Roswell and Martin G. Schellhous, and Dr. Mc Millan, on the west side of the township in Nottawa, and a trader named Hatch, on the river near Martin's, and George Brooks and George Schellhous.
In 1832, the people went to Coldwater for blacksmithing, to Bingham's on the east end of the prairie, it being a ten days' trip to go and come with oxen.
Mr. Schellhous sold his mill interest to George, with whom he was in part- nership, and in 1835 went to his farm, where he now lives, and built a blacksmith-shop, put in it a turning-lathe and made chairs, spinning-wheels, flax-wheels and reels.
Palmer's daughter, a girl of seventeen years, died during the summer of 1833.
Mr. Schellhous is now eighty-four years of age, in the full possession of his faculties, and with his aged and beloved partner, one year his senior, has lived to see the township which he named, rise from an unbroken forest to one of the principal agricultural towns in the county.
Among the early settlers, we name Comfort and Job Tyler, who came in 1832; Alvin Hoyt and Hopper in 1832, and also Abel Belote, 1832-3. The early settlers came from various localities, but were mostly natives of the eastern states. The Schellhouses and Dr. Mitchell were natives of Vermont ; the Tylers, Farrands, Henry K. (1836) with Phineas and their father (1838), Dr. A. J. Kline (1831), the Bowers, Adam, William and the father, John, William H. Castle (1835), Charles L. Miller (1841), and Dr. McMillen (1834) were New Yorkers; Hoyt, Stebbins, Brooks (1831), and Noyes (1831), and Chaffee (1835) were from Ohio; the Schoefields and Louis A. Leland (1833) were from old Massachusetts; the Eberhards, Wagners, Dr. Voor- his (1836) and John H. Bowman (1839) from Pennsylvania ; the Byces, Danburys and Tellers were Knickerbockers from the Mohawk valley, as
were also the Van Vorsts ; Levi Mathews (1832) was from the land of steady habits-Connecticut ; the Alfords (1830) and Palmers were Buck- eyes ; David King and family were English ; the Clipfells (1839) came from Alsace, and the Borns and Engles were all from the south of the Rhine, near the French border.
THE FIRST FARM
opened, was that of Roswell Schellhous, on section six, and the first crop raised was corn and potatoes. Wheat was not sown until 1830, and but a little patch then, though quite a handsome acreage was sown in 1831, and reaped in 1832.
The first entries of public lands in the township were made in 1830, as follows: The north half of the northwest quarter of section six, by John Foreman, June 4; south half of the northwest quarter of section six, by Roswell Schellhous, June 26; northeast quarter of section six, by George F. Schellhous, September 30; and north half of the northwest quarter of section three, by Martin G. Schellhous, October 27. No other entries were made until the next year.
In 1873 there were two thousand six hundred and thirty acres in wheat, which produced thirty-four thousand seven hundred and two bushels, and one thousand six hundred and seventy-six acres in corn, which yielded forty- nine thousand one hundred and fifty-five bushels. There were also produced that year in the township thirteen thousand nine hundred and seventy bushels of other grain, seven thousand two hundred and five bushels of potatoes, one thousand four hundred and fifty-three tons of hay, seventeen thousand four hundred and eighty-four pounds of wool, one hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and sixty-nine pounds of pork, sixty-one thousand seven hundred pounds of butter, fourteen thousand and forty-five pounds of dried fruit, and eight hundred and thirty-five barrels of cider. Three hun- dred and sixty-four acres in orchards yielded nine thousand four hundred and forty bushels of apples, and thirty-two bushels of pears, valued at four thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars. There were owned in the township six hundred and fifty horses, two mules, four oxen, five hundred and five cows, four hundred and eighty-seven head of other cattle, nine hundred and forty-two hogs, and four thousand one hundred and twenty sheep.
In 1876 there were twenty-one thousand one hundred and seventy-two acres of real estate assessed for taxation, which were valued by the super- visor of the township, Ansel Tyler, a son of the former worthy and honored citizen, Comfort Tyler, at three hundred and fifty-eight thousand two hun- dred and fifty-five dollars, but which the board of supervisors increased to three hundred and sixty-five thousand one hundred and thirty-eight dollars, in their equalization of the entire assessment of lands in the county. H. K. Farrand bought, in 1837, the last tract of government land left unsold, at ten dollars per acre.
THE LEADING FARMERS
of the past and present, in Colon, have been, and are, as follows: Comfort Tyler, who was one of the tidiest of farmers, and whose old homestead is occupied by a worthy successor, his son Ansel; Adam Bower, who succeeds his father, John, on the homestead, to which he has added many broad acres; the farm now contains between four and five hundred acres, on which Mr. Bower has erected the most extensive and elegant farm-dwelling in the township; Gilbert Liddle, who owns four hundred acres; Martin G. Schellhous was an extensive land-owner and farmer in his day; Henry K. and Phineas Farrand,-the latter on the old homestead of his father, Joseph Farrand, who bought the original Brooks location on the bank of Sturgeon Lake; William H. Castle, James Scott, M. P. Thurston and William Tyler.
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