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 68
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SCHOOLS.
The first school in Fawn River was taught by Miss Jane Moe, a daughter of Captain Moe, and now the estimable wife of James Johnson, Esq. She held sway over her youthful subjects, numbering about fifteen, in a log cabin on the northern bank of Sweet lake, in the year 1835, and received for the instruction she imparted to the then rising generation a monetary compen- sation of about one dollar per week. The first school-house in the township was in district one at Freedom, in 1836, and was a log building, formerly used as a residence, but purchased by the school authorities for their use. The second was a frame building, erected in 1839, in district number three, at Fawn River village. The first meeting of the school inspectors of the township was held April 28, 1838, at which time they "set the bounds" of districts numbers one, two, and three. The first examination of teachers on record was held November 21, 1844, at which time D. L. I. Flanders re- ceived a certificate of competency to teach in district one. December 21, the same year, another examination was held, and Jonathan W. Flanders and Cyrus Lindsley received certificates. Lydia Flanders and Wealthy Green- man were the next who received authority to teach, which was given the next spring. The school statistics for 1876 are as follows: There are five school-houses in the township, one of brick and four of wood, which are valued at four thousand dollars, and which contain two hundred and eighty- five seatings; two hundred and seventy-five children between the ages of five and twenty years. One hundred and ninety-seven attended school an average of over eight months each during the year ending September 1. 'Three male and seven female teachers were employed and paid one thousand two hundred and fourteen dollars for their services. The total resources of the town for school purposes yielded an income of two thousand and fourteen dollars and ninety-one cents, out of which an expense account was liquidated aggregating one thousand nine hundred and eight dollars and sixty-eight cents, leaving a balance in the treasury of one hundred and six dollars and twenty-three cents. There is no union or graded school in the town, although in district number three, Fawn River village, sometimes two teachers are employed at one term. District number five has a bonded debt of six hun- dred dollars, which is the only school indebtedness in the town. The school taxes for 1877 amount to one thousand seven hundred and fifty-six dollars and sixty-one cents.
A CEMETERY,
located on a little rounded summit on the bank of Sweet lake, a most charm- ing spot, was the first burial-place for loved ones gone before, occupied in the town, and it is believed that Mrs. Bartholmew, the pioneer wife of Joseph Bartholomew. the mother of three brave sons in the war with Mexico, two of whom died there, was the first to be buried there. Mr. Sweet and several of the old citizens were also buried there, but no stone or other permanent mark has ever been put up at the graves, and they are now covered with a vigorous growth of young oaks, and not a vestige of the resting-places of the dead can now be seen.
MANUFACTURES.
The first manufacturing done in the town was the burning of lime, by James Johnson, in the year 1835; the raw material being raised from the marl beds which underlie the waters of the small lake on the southeast
quarter, section eight. He built his kiln on the side of the bluff forming the eastern bank of the lake, and burned his lime after the marl was moulded into bricks and sun-dried. It was of a most excellent quality, and he sup- plied the country for miles round about with it, and did a prosperous business for many years. Many of the walls made or finished with this lime are in good preservation at the present writing. The manufacture of lime from this source has ceased since the introduction of railroads, as other points can furnish a cheaper article. Thomas Cade had a brewery on Cade's lake in 1836, the old malt-house standing on the bank of Sweet's lake. Leonard & Wasson succeeded Cade, and afterwards John Hiney purchased the estab- lishment, and changed the business to the distillation of whisky. A good story is told in connection with Hiney's business, by Hon. J. G. Wait, of Sturgis. When one of the earlier churches was' about to be built in that village, Mr. Wait was one of the solicitors for subscriptions, and he ap- pealed to everybody for help, Hiney with the rest. Hiney, thinking to " bluff" the solicitor, said he would give a barrel of whisky. "All right! Put down your whisky," said the solicitor, at the same time presenting his list, and Hiney responded. The next day Mr. Wait drove up to the distillery and rolled the "ardent" into his wagon and brought it home and manufac- tured it into vinegar, turning the cash value of the article over to the build- ing committee, much to the edification of the people.
A Mr. Freeman built a small flour-mill and distillery on Fawn river in 1840, on section sixteen, and afterwards sold it to Warren F. Lee and broth- ers, William and Nathaniel.
A large business was transacted there with mercantile accommodations by Mr. Lee (sometimes called the governor), his brother William, and after- wards by Messrs. Clark & Peck. The mill was subsequently burned to the ground, and the site remained vacant for several years until 1869, when Wells & Grinnell bought the site and rebuilt the mill, fitting it up with the best and latest improved machinery, and sold it to B. F. Trimmer, who sold it again, in 1874, to W. D. Johnston, the present proprietor and operator of it. It has three run of stones, and does custom work exclusively.
THE FIRST TAVERN
was built by Ebenezer Sweet in 1835-6 on the southerly bank of the lake, to which the landlord gave his name, and on the Chicago road, at which time that trail was the great thoroughfare between Detroit and Chicago. It was built of logs, and was a place of resort for the men and boys of the whole country side. Justices' courts and sometimes town meetings were held there, and races and disputes without number were decided at times in a manner that sent the participants to their homes not a little worse for the encounter. These scenes were a natural outgrowth of society in a new country, and they passed away in time to give place to a higher and better civilization.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
established on Sturgis prairie was located within the present limits of Fawn River in 1829, on the northeast quarter of section seven, and Samuel Stewart was the first postmaster. He and Hart L. Stewart had the contract for carrying the mails between Niles and Detroit, and they put on a democrat wagon, and conveyed passengers also, before the stage lines were put on the road. After the post-office was removed to the village of Sherman (Sturgis ) an office was established at Freedom, and F. A. Tisdel was appointed post- master. In 1844 the post-office was removed to Fawn River mills, and Isaac D. Toll appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by his brother Alfred Toll. His successors were C. F. Moore and Calvin Marble. The present incumbent is Mr. Derrick S. Buck, who was appointed by President Grant in 1873. The first mails were received at Freedom daily by stage. Afterwards, when the railroad brought them to Burr Oak, from which point Fawn River was supplied, they came irregularly, about twice a week. In 1874 Hon. I. D. Toll obtained a daily mail from Sturgis, which the town still enjoys. About one thousand letters pass through the office every quar- ter, and fifty-five newspapers are distributed per week.
BIRTHS-MARRIAGES.
The first child born in St. Joseph county opened his eyes to the light of day in Fawn River township on the southwest quarter of section six. David Sturgis, a son of Judge John Sturgis, is the person who has the honor, and was born February 11, 1830. Solomon Hopkins, a son of Richard Hop- kins, was born the next year and in the same house.
The first marriage in the township was that of John W. Fletcher and Sarah Knox, a daughter of Jacob Knox, the ceremony being performed by Samuel Stewart, Esq., a justice of the peace, on the 18th day of September, 1831. This was the first marriage in the county of actual residents.
MRS. JAMES JOHNSON
JAMES JOHNSON.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES JOHNSON, FAWN RIVER TP., ST JOSEPH CO., MICH.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The township of Fawn River was organized and its boundaries assigned by the legislature at the session of 1838. The name struck the minds of the legislators as peculiarly charming, and more especially as the area was little more than half of the usual size of townships. Columbia Lancaster was in Detroit at the time, and took charge of the presentation of the application for the organization of the town, but the petition being delayed somehow, the committee reported for the organization before its reception, and Lan- caster wrote Captain P. R. Toll that if the people did not wish to be organ- ized, they could easily become disorganized. The first town-meeting was held by appointment of the legislature at the tavern of F. A. Tisdel at Free- dom, April 2, 1838, Edward Swan being the judge, and Benjamin D. Good- rich the clerk thereof.
The following is a complete list of the officials then chosen to set the machinery of the new sovereignty in motion :
Edward Swan, John P. Van Patten, James McKerlie and Freeman A. Tisdel were elected justices of the peace for the terms of one, two, three and four years, respectively. James McKerlie was elected supervisor; Isaiah Sweet, clerk; Nicholas Goodrich, W. W. Plumb and Horace W. Fields, constables ; Jonas Waters, John O. Swan and George McKerlie, assessors; Horace W. Fields, collector ; Charles Moe, Jonas Waters and John P. Van- Patten, commissioners of highways; F. A. Tisdel, Isaiah Sweet and Jonas Waters, school inspectors ; Charles Moe and Att Wood, overseers of the poor ; Ebenezer Sweet and Isaac Culver, fence-viewers, and John O. Swan, Archer Mathews and John Houstin, overseers of highways for districts num- bers one, two and three, respectively.
The record does not state how many votes were cast, but there being twenty-eight offices to distribute, and eighteen of the electors drawing all of the prizes, it is pretty fair to presume that there were not many more voters than officers elected. Some of the recipients of the people's favor did not value it sufficiently to qualify for the performance of the duties of the offices to which they were elected, and, on May 3, a special election was held, and Edward Swan chosen assessor ; Ebenezer Sweet, collector, and Thomas Cade, fence-viewer.
The town has been represented on the county board of supervisors from its organization to the close of the present year (1876) as follows : James Mc- Kerlie, 1838 to 1841; Att Wood, elected in 1839, but who did not serve ; Freeman A. Tisdel, 1840. Heman Leonard was elected in 1842, after Knauer had declined to serve, but becoming restive under the weight of official cares, he resigned, and Isaac D. Toll, then a young man of twenty-three years, was appointed to fill the vacancy, in February, 1843. This, with the assessorship in 1840, was the commencement of the public life, since so full of honorable distinction of one whom the people of St. Joseph county, irre- spective of party, have, and still do, delight to honor. Mr. Toll was elected in April, 1843, and was continued in the position until 1847, when he was absent in Mexico. After a single term held by John Hiney, he was again elected in 1848, 1850 and 1851, Josiah Knauer intervening in 1849. After his absence from the county, in the national service for eight years at Wash- ington, in the United States Pension and Patent departments, he was again elected in 1863, and held the position continuously till 1869.
Sylvester Treat was elected in 1852, and was succeeded by Jonathan W. Flanders the next year, who gave place to Edward Osborn, who held the office five years. In 1859 Alfred Toll, a brother of Isaac D., was chosen, and again in 1860. In 1861 and 1862 Francis Green was the head official of the township, and Henry Driesbach succeeded I. D. Toll in 1869. William Rippey in 1870-71, and John Dunlap in 1872, held the position, and then Otho Moe was called on to bear his share of the official burdens of the town- ship, and did so worthily for three years, giving way to I. D. Toll in the centennial year, and for reasons that will be apparent by a reference to the action of the State board of equalization in reference to the assessment of St. Joseph county in 1876, and for five years to come, he representing the county before said board.
The justices of the peace who have held their courts in Fawn River since its organization are as follows : Tisdel, McKerlie, Van Patten and Swan were elected at the first town-meeting, as before stated. Tisdell held the position three years, and then was elected in 1842 and the year following. McKerlie held the office till 1845, and was elected again in 1846 for four years more. Van Patten held but a single term of two years, and Swan but one year. In 1840 J. H. Hard was elected for a single term, and in 1841 Ebenezer Sweet was chosen for two years, but did not hold his commission for reasons here- after given, and Isaiah Sweet was elected to fill the vacancy, and also W.W. Plumb was elected to fill a similar vacancy in Tisdel's office for a similar cause. The Sweet-Plumb dignity closed with the expiration of the term in
1843, and Philander Wilcox was elected that year, and again in 1846. In 1844 Francis Flanders was elected and held the magisterial scales in equi- poise for sixteen years, from 1844-48 and from 1851-63. In 1845 David Knauer was elected for four years, and J. C. Richmond in 1847. In 1848 E. H. Pride secured the judicial ermine for four years, W. N. Lewis for three, and J. P. Wilson for two. In 1849 Sheldon Williams, familiarly known as " old Shell," was elected for a term of four years, and Francis Green began his judicial career, which only ended with the incoming of the present year; he having held the position twenty-seven consecutive years. In 1850 J. P. Wilson secured the prize for four years, and Sylvester Treat was treated to but a single year, it being the first town-meeting under the new constitution ; but at the next town-meeting Mr. Treat was commended for a full term of four years. In 1853 Warren F. Lee began a term which lasted till 1861, and in 1854 Harvey Hatch was given the chance of four years on the bench at Fawn River. In 1855 James Johnson was elected, and in 1858 Sellick St. John. Albert Scoville in 1859, David E. St. John and Thomas J. Grant in 1860, and Amos Fish in 1861, successively, were chosen to the position. In 1862 David St. John, R. I. Welch and Samuel Parker were elected, and Welch again in 1863, and Parker in 1865-66, and again in 1875. Daniel Stewart and Albert Moe were chosen in 1865, and J. W. Botsford in 1866. L. Eckerson in 1867 and John W. Mankin in 1870, successively, received the judicial baton, the latter being re-elected in 1874. In 1873 there were three successful competitors, Henry Driesbach, Amasa H. Johnson and Joseph Zink. In 1874 Derrick S. Buck was elected, and Michael Rommel brought up the rear in 1876.
The office of town clerk has been filled as follows : Isaiah Sweet, 1838-39; Josiah Knauer, 1840-41. A perfect shower of the people's favors rained upon Mr. Knauer in 1842, he being elected supervisor, town clerk, school inspec- tor, assessor, and overseer of highways; but the weight of honors thus thrust upon him was distasteful, and he declined them all but those of inspector and overseer, and James A. Hopkins was elected town clerk at a special election on April 26.
Eben Sweet was clerk in 1843, and Edmund Kean the year following. He was succeeded by John C. Richmond in 1845-6; and W. N. Lewis, Warren F. Lee, William Betts, H. Betts, John Oliver, Harvey Loomis, Sidney Marble and Isaiah Manes each had a single year in the office from 1847 to 1854 inclusive. Then Claudius Cæsar Cummins held the position two years ; and during the years 1857-8-9, Dr. D. L. I. Flanders inter- spersed the official courtesies of the office throughout his researches and practice in materia medica, and compounded boluses and official notifica- tions with equal zest. The doctor was succeeded in the clerk's office by his father, the old 'Squire, for two years, and then R. I. Welch came in for three years, and L. Eckerson and T. W. Selover each had two years' income from the emoluments of the office-Thomas W. Buck being sandwiched between them in 1867.
James A. McLauchlan was elected in 1870, and has held the position ever since, and it is to his courtesy that we are indebted for the means of gaining much of the foregoing official information. Colonel I. D. Toll has held the office of superintendent of schools for the past two years, that office having been created in 1875.
EARLY RECORDS.
A few excerpts from the early records of the town will be of interest here to show how the pioneers were accustomed to discharge their official duties. At the first town-meeting the people laid a bounty of two dollars on all wolves killed in the town, and at the second, held at Captain P. R. Toll's house, in 1839, their charitable feelings found expression in the levy of twenty dollars for the relief of the poor. The next meeting was held at landlord Sweet's house, thus distributing the honor or profit which might accrue from the gathering of the people between the three most public places of the town.
In 1841 Esquires Sweet and Tisdel having taken out licenses to sell ardent spirits in their taverns, their commissions were held to be voided by the statute which forbid any court to be held in a bar-room or other place where intoxicating liquors were sold ; and Isaiah Sweet and W. W. Plumb were elected to fill the vacancies, as before stated.
In an adjoining town in Branch county, Esquire Bronson, also a landlord, avoided such a decision in his case by an ingenious and convenient system of transferance of his franchise to a nephew, one Bial Potter. When the justice had a case on the docket for trial he would transfer his interest in the " wet grocery" business to the nephew, who would immediately proceed to take the stock in the bar to another room in the house, which being done, the following colloquy would take place between the past and present
202
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
retailer : The Court-" Bial Potter?" "Here, your honor." " Is this room a bar-room?" "No. your honor." "Then let the cause on the docket be called for a hearing ;" and the cause was called and disposed of, whereupon a re-transfer of the franchise was effected, the " ardent " re-appeared in the accustomed place, the awful solemnity of the place of justice was swept out of doors, and Boniface, with his apron, took the place of Blackstone, with his wig.
Esquire Ebenezer Sweet, after the first voidance of his commission, adopted a similar expedient, and sold his fixtures and stock to Amos Mal- lory, and his brother Isaiah held his courts, whenever required, in the room thus vacated pro tem.
The town authorities had invested in five ballot-boxes, which were deemed by the electors to be superfluous by at least four of the number, and at a special election in June, 1841, they voted that four of them should be sold at public auction,-which being done, forty-eight cents net cash was received for them, which sum (as the clerk was careful to note) was paid over to the treasurer on the 13th day of November of that year.
In 1842 the people voted that the supervisor should have no assistants in assessing the property of the town for taxation, and in 1845 they voted that the county had no need of fire-proof county offices. In 1846 there were forty-eight votes for, and six against, granting licenses to sell liquor.
In 1844 they voted a bounty of half a dollar on red-fox scalps, and in 1845 they revoked both wolf and fox bounties, but in 1847 the "varmints" had become so troublesome that the bounty was not only restored, but increased to three dollars on wolves, and one dollar on foxes. In 1851 fox scalps were considered less valuable, and a quarter of a dollar was discounted from the price of 1847, but the market continued to decline, and in 1852 they were quoted at only fifty cents. In 1853 the market had improved, and seventy-five cents were freely offered for them, and a new article of commerce appeared,-the Mephitis Americana, for whose head-covering a York shilling was offered. Under this stimulus, before the year was over, eight of the "striped kittens" had ceased to taint the air, and commit depredations on the " gude" wife's poultry-yard. In 1854 the vote was one dollar for sly old foxes, and twenty-five cents for " little foxes." Whether this distinction was made by reason of the propensity of the " little foxes" to "spoil the tender vines," or because of the creation of a new industry in the farming of foxes, the record does not state. The market fluctuated for the next few years, running as low as one shilling only for a red-fox scalp,- after which there are no further quotations.
In 1852 but four persons thought a new jail was necessary in the county, and eleven thought not, and so voted.
In February, 1864, the question of offering bounties for volunteers was voted on and carried,-two hundred dollars being given for the quota of 1863, and one hundred dollars for that of 1864. It was carried sixty-nine for to one against. Similar votes were had in August, 1864, and January, 1865, and one hundred dollars offered for recruits, and the general expenses attendant upon the procurement of such recruits to fill the quotas of the town under the various calls for troops, were voted to be raised by a general tax. In 1865 three hundred dollars and over were, in some instances, paid.
MARKS AND BRANDS.
Lemuel Graham's mark for his stock (which, with that of his neighbors, in 1838, ran at large and roamed where they would) was a "slit in the end of the right ear," and Tisdel had the same mark on the left ear. Jason Thurston and Orlando. Griffith divided a "square-crop" between them, of the right and left ear, respectively, and David Knauer made a "square- crop" on both ears. W. W. Plumb's mark was "two slits in the left and one in the right ear ;" John Houstin put a "V;" A. Worden a round "O," and C. Ballou "two slits" in the right ear.
THE DOCKET
of Josiah Sweet, justice of the peace, exhibits the following entries, being the first three suits entered thereon : April 23, 1839, F. A. Tisdel confesses judgment on a note in favor of Lorenzo Griffith, for seventeen dollars and fifty cents, and Att Wood became security for a stay of execution. However, the execution was finally issued October 2d, the same year, and the amount thereof made March 2, 1840. On May 6, 1839, Philip R. Toll brought suit against Nicholas Goodridge on a charge of kleptomania, the immediate objects of his propensity being a clevis and pin, and a certain stick of tim- ber, to which charge the defendant interposed his plea of "not guilty," and wanted a jury of his peers, whereupon came James McKerlie, Casper Reed, Isaac Culver, I. N. Barker, Minard Miller and Eben Foster, and they non- suited the plaintiff, from which verdict and the judgment of the court thereon, the said plaintiff then and there appealed to the circuit court. The
defendants seemed to be more in favor with juries than plaintiffs, for the next suit, George Foster versus Alvin Gates, for the right of property, was decided for the "under dog in the fight." On May 23, 1840, Gabriel Brad- ford complained of Joseph Sagar for an assault and battery. Sagar wanted a general assize, whereupon Justices Sweet, Tisdel and Bishop (the latter of Burr Oak) sat as a court and called a jury, who said the defendant was not guilty, "after hearing the evidence in a convenient position," as the entry of the court says.
The court of Esquire Sweet used to be the scene of many interesting for- ensic displays, in which Hon. John B. Howe, of Lima, Andrew Ellison, of La Grange, and other distinguished luminaries used to participate, and in order to make it still more interesting, the juries rarely agreed.
VALUATION OF PROPERTY.
In 1840 there were assessed in Fawn River township eleven thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven acres of land, with the improvements, at thirty thousand two hundred and thirty-nine dollars. The best building was F. A. Tisdel's, valued at seven hundred and fifty dollars; the second, Isaac D. Toll's, five hundred dollars ; then L. L. Graham at four hundred dollars, and Richard Hopkins next, at two hundred dollars. There were sixty-seven horses valued at one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five dollars ; seventy- four oxen and steers at one thousand one hundred and eighty-four dollars ; sixty-seven cows and heifers at five hundred and twenty-two dollars, and twenty-nine carriages and wagons at seven hundred and three dollars, making the total valuation of personal property four thousand six hun- dred and thirty-four dollars, and the total assessment of the town thirty- four thousand eight hundred and seventy-three dollars; the total taxes levied that year in the township amounted to two hundred and fifty-seven dollars and nineteen cents. There were forty-seven resident tax-payers that year in the town, and one distillery and two taverns were rated for specific taxes.
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