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 73
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RESIDENCE OF RICHARD DAUGHERTY, PARK TP., ST JOSEPH CO., MICH
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215
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
who erected his log-cabin in the fall of 1834, and made formal entry with his family as soon as the stick-chimney was finished.
Mr. Ulrich was born in Maiden Creek township, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, in the year 1801. He removed from there to Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and there married Elizabeth Leech, a lady three years his junior, and who is still living, having raised twelve children in the fifty-two years which she has been his faithful wife. They started from Danville, Pennsylvania, with a double team, and at the expiration of seventy-two days, landed on the bank of the St. Joseph, on the present site of Three Rivers. They experienced the usual hardships and vicissitudes incident to an extended journey in those days. As an evidence of the tediousness of their traveling we may mention that on the occasion of their crossing the Black Swamp, in the Maumee region, it occupied the major part of a day to travel two miles, and cost them seven dollars to do it. Provisions were reasonably plen- tiful when they reached their destination in Park township, but in 1835, that complicated malady, the fever and ague, took possession of the settlement, and the provisions became less and less, until the settlers had to exist princi-
pally on barley bread while awaiting the annual crops. Mr. Ulrich relates how he paid thirty dollars for ten bushels of barley, which he had to procure at Prairie Ronde, then grown to be a considerable settlement. He took his barley to Three Rivers, where existed a miniature grist-mill, sarcastically yclept the " coffee-mill," the stones of which were only twenty-two inches in diameter. This mill was owned by Hezekiah Weatherbee. There, while waiting for his grist, a man from a distance offered him thirty dollars in gold for one half of his barley-meal, which liberal offer necessity compelled him to decline.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
Among those who were contemporaneous in point of settlement with 'Squire Ulrich, were Jonas and Leonard Fisher, George Leland, Samuel Moore, (who is now the oldest living settler in the township, being in his ninetieth year ; he settled on section nineteen near the present village of Moore Park); George Wilson settled on the east half of the southwest quarter of section twenty-five, in the year 1835, Michael Hower came in 1835, Isaac Mowrey settled on his present farm in 1836, Simeon L. Frost on the west quarter of section thirty-six, and John Boudeman on section thirty-four, in 1835. John Hutchison entered a large tract of land in section twenty-seven, -- where his widow, a daughter of John Kraeder, a miller at an early day in Three Rivers, now resides,-in 1836; John Lomison settled parts of sec- tions twenty-six and twenty-seven, entering a quarter of a section, and settled on the southwest quarter of section thirty-six ; J. D. Brown also came in 1836; McDonald Campbell came into the township in 1837, and settled in section thirty-five. In 1838 Alexander Frazier,-the third oldest of the surviving pioneers-came in ; also Jacob Bannon. Andrew Reed settled on his present farm on section thirty-five, in February, 1839.
GAME.
The early settlers depended largely on game for food, and Mr. Ulrich avers that he shot one hundred and five deers and three bears the first year of his settlement.
FIRST WHEAT SOWN.
The first wheat planted was a three-acre field, cleared and sowed by Mr. Ulrich in 1835; it turned out wonderfully smutty, being of almost equal parts of wheat and smut, so that before grinding it had to be washed.
THE FIRST ORCHARD
set out in the township was one by Isaac Mowrey, in 1836, on"section thirty- five, his old homestead.
IMPROVED FARM-MACHINERY
was introduced as follows : Reaper and mower, first by Alexander Frazier, 1842 (?). First threshing-machine, Hower & Stole. Separating-thresher brought in and used by Aaron Hagenbuch of Constantine. First seed-drill, Frederick Dentler.
FIRST IMPROVED STOCK.
The first blooded stock was introduced in Park township by Edward S. Moore, president of the First National Bank of Three Rivers, in 1850. It consisted of a Balco bull, cow, and calf, bought of the Ohio Shakers. Andrew Y. Moore was an extensive raiser of stock on Prairie Ronde also.
The most extensive raiser of thoroughbred stock at present is Richard Dougherty, whose merino sheep and short-horn (Durham) cattle would re- flect credit on any professional stock-raiser in the county.
THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE
was built by Michael Hower, on section twenty-seven, in 1835. The first brick dwelling was built in the township by Charles Macomber in 1851; Mr. Heinbach built one in 1853.
The first blacksmith was Jacob Bannon.
THE FIRST SAW-MILL
was built on section twenty-four by Harvey Kinney in the fall of 1838. It was run successfully until the proposal to lay out the village of Parkville, which was first talked of in 1847, but not consummated until some five years afterwards. In that year (1847), however, the present saw-mill in Parkville was built.
FIRST BIRTH.
The first white child born within the present limits of Park township was Madison J. Ulrich, who was born December 6, 1835.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
There exist no records by which we can determine definitely the first marriage, but 'Squire Ulrich informs us that he married a man by the name of Fairchild, a non-resident, who came with his intended bride a distance of twenty miles to have the knot tied, and paid the 'Squire ten dimes as a marriage-fee. This was in 1835. Amos Reed and Ann Hower were married in 1837.
FIRST DEATH.
The first death occurred in the family of Harvey Kinney, and was that of one of his little sons. J. M. C. Ulrich died August 24, 1839.
FIRST CEMETERY.
The first regularly laid-out cemetery was the one now located on the north- east quarter of section thirty-five, on land donated by Isaac Mowrey and wife. It was organized under the name of the "Society of the Park Burying-Ground," on the 25th of August, 1852. The first officers were Isaac Mowrey, presi- dent; Isaac F. Ulrich, secretary; John Lomison, treasurer ; Andrew Reed, sexton. The first interment in the ground was that of William Ballow, in 1845. This was prior to the organization of the cemetery-board, the ground having been used as a burying-place some years previous. Among the promi- nent citizens buried there are Amos Reed, Joseph Sterling, James Foster, John Weinberg, John Boudeman, George Leland and wife, and others.
FIRST PREACHER.
The first preacher who held forth in Park township was a circuit-rider of the Methodist persuasion, by the name of Kellogg, who flourished in the year 1837.
AN EARLY TAX-RECEIPT.
"Received from Isaac F. Ulrich, of Park township, three dollars and fifty cents, being his town, county, and State tax for the year 1839.
"P. HOWER, Collector."
BEAVER-DAM.
The remains of a beaver-dam exist on the farm of Philip Casper, on the northwest quarter of section twenty-five. Several skull-bones and pieces of timber have been found, at various depths, during excavations for ditches and other similar operations.
FIRST SCHOOL.
The first school taught in the township was held in a shoemaker's shop belonging to John Troy, in 1837, and was taught by a Miss Kimble, who resided near the Kalamazoo county-line.
THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE
erected within the limits of the township was in the fall of 1838. It was built by contributions of labor and materials by the settlers. School was taught in it for the first time in the spring of 1839, by Isaac J. Ulrich. Among the first scholars were Robert Dougherty, Franklin Lomison, Findley Campbell, L. W. Ulrich, Andrew Leland, William Kimble, George Troy, Sarah Pellett and others, in all about twenty-six. This old log-building answered the educational requirements of the southeastern part of the town- ship until 1848, when a frame structure was erected about half a mile north of where the log-house stood. This remained until 1874, when the present neat and commodious brick building was erected, constituting the fractional school district number eight of Park and Lockport townships. It cost eighteen hundred dollars, and is noted as having furnished more scholars who have made their mark in the field of education and science than any school-dis- trict in this or neighboring townships.
The township was divided for school purposes in 1839, at which time five districts were made. There are now seven whole and three fractional dis-
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tricts in the township. No records of the early history of the schools exist. I. F. Ulrich was the first school-director.
THE FIRST FRAME SCHOOL-HOUSE
in the township was built in district number one, and the first brick school- house was huilt in district number four on section two. in 1871. In 1876 there were eight school-houses, two of brick and six of wood, affording three hundred and seven sittings, and valued at eight thousand six hundred dollars. There were schools taught in them eight months during the year ending September 1, 1876. There were three hundred and ninety-eight children in the township of the legal school-age. Eight male teachers were employed twenty-five months, and received for their services one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight dollars, and eight females received four hundred and fifty- five dollars for thirty-seven months' work. The districts paid out in total expenses for the year two thousand eight hundred and forty-eight dollars and ninety-eight cents, including seven hundred and ninety-four dollars for repairs and indebtedness.
THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
The class of this association in Park was first organized about the year 1849, under the labors of Rev. George Doll, with the following members : Peter Bloom and wife, Leander Weinberg and wife, John Weinberg and wife, and Jacob Schraeger and wife. In 1853 the first Evangelical church was erected in Park, on Walter B. Love's farm, who donated a half acre of land for a site, on section twenty-one on the southeast quarter thereof. The church was twenty-four by thirty feet, a frame building, and cost four hundred dollars. In 1859 there was a parsonage built on Peter Bloom's farm, about thirty rods east of the church, sixteen by twenty-four feet, of wood, costing three hundred and twenty dollars, Mr. Bloom being the con- tractor. In 1869 the second church was built on the site of the old one, both the first and second one being known as "The Emmanuel Church " of the Evangelical Association. The second one was of brick, thirty-eight by sixty feet, on the ground, and cost five thousand dollars. It has a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty to five hundred. It was dedicated by Rev. Bishop J. J. Escher.
The first trustees of the old church were Peter Bloom, Leander Weinberg, and John Hulben. The present trustees are Peter Bloom, William Werner, and Samuel McCracken.
Sabbath-schools were organized and kept in both churches from their build. ing until the present, during the year, except the winter, the congregation being scattered widely apart. William Schafer is the present superintendent, and the church numbers one hundred and thirty-one members.
The ministers who have had charge of the Park class and church are as follows : Reverends George Doll, M. Hoehn, George Kissell, Philip Porr, John Walz, G. M. Young, M. Alspach, G. Klopfer, Peter Burgener, P. Swille, Peter Roth, Reuben Riegel, C. S. Brown, E. B. Miller, T. N. Davis, P. Wiest, S. Copley, J. W. Loose, Alonzo Russell, B. F. Wade, and the present pastor, J. H. Keeler.
The Park class was the first one of the Association organized in the county, and its first church the first house of worship erected by the denomination therein.
THE FIRST REVIVALS
of the Methodist Episcopal church were held in the log school-house built in 1838, and the beginning of the society now in Parkville was here in this house, Jonas Fisher and Esquire Ulrich being the prominent converts.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
.
In the original constitution of the townships of the county, Park formed a part of Flowerfield township, and remained such from November 5, 1829, until 1838, when township five south of range eleven west was set off and erected into an independent township named Park.
The first town-meeting was held at the house of Mr. Hutchinson, in April, 1838, and the new government set in motion by a full roster of officials, of which we give the important ones and those who have since filled these positions.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Clerks-Juba E. Day (1838), Robert Campbell, John Lomison (ten years), James Hutchison (three years), J. W. Childs (three years), George W. Hutton, Samuel B. Schranger (two years), A. H. Kester, Nathan Osborn, William M. Reed, Daniel Pfleegor ( twelve years), George W. Osborn, Frank C. Dentler (five years), B. W. Cornell, George M. Campbell, present in- cumbent, appointed to fill vacancy.
Supervisors-Edward S. Moore (1838, two years), Juba E. Day, John Sickler, W. Woodruff (four years), George Wilson, Nathan Osborn, John
Lomison, James Boutewell, John Sigler, James Hutchison (fourteen years), A. J. Schoonmaker (two years), George W. Osborn (nine years), Daniel Frazier, Daniel Pfleegor to fill vacancy.
Justices of the Peace-Isaac F. Ulrich (1838, twenty years), Edward S. Moore, John Sickler, Juba E. Day (two years), Hiram Suyland, James Boutewell (eight years), Nathan Osborn (eight years), William Adams (twelve years), A. J. Schoonmaker (sixteen years), John Sickler (eight years), John Lomison, Jeremiah Smith, S. W. Ulrich, Adam Gentzler, Andrew Perrin, Hiram Schoonmaker, Jeremiah W. Bunn, Sterling F. Harding, to fill vacancy, George Dale, F. C. Schrauger, F. C. Dentler, L. H. Fort, J. W. Salisbury, L. W. Ulrich (two years), L. H. Fort (full term), George W. Osborn.
THE FIRST ROAD
was surveyed in the township July 30, 1836. It ran through sections one, twelve, thirteen, twenty-four, twenty-five and thirty-six, and is now vacated, except that portion running through sections twelve and thirteen.
ASSESSMENTS AND TAXES.
In 1838 the first assessment of the township was made for taxation, and returned fifty-five thousand eight hundred and twenty-three dollars, and the tax-levy thereon was two hundred and eighteen dollars for all purposes.
In 1852 the assessment amounted to sixty-four thousand four hundred and seven dollars, and the taxes to one thousand three hundred and forty dollars and two cents.
In 1860 the assessment was placed at four hundred and nine thousand four hundred and eighty-one dollars, and the taxes were two thousand six hundred and seventy-four dollars and ninety-two cents.
In 1870 the assessment was returned at eight hundred and twenty-two thou- sand and ten dollars, and the taxes amounted to eight thousand seven hundred and forty-eight dollars and twelve cents.
In 1876 the assessment, as returned by the county board of equalization, stood at four hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and seventeen dollars on real-estate and seventy-five thousand and ten dollars on personal property, and the tax-levy was as follows: State and county purposes, one-half to each, two thousand four hundred and seventy-seven dollars and twenty-two cents; township, including schools, two thousand seven hundred and thirty- nine dollars and sixty-one cents-a total tax of five thousand two hundred and sixteen dollars and eighty-three cents.
THE CROPS.
In 1873 there were harvested three thousand nine hundred and twenty- two acres of wheat, which produced fifty-four thousand four hundred and thirty-six bushels, and one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two acres of corn, which yielded forty-seven thousand and fifty five bushels. There were also produced three thousand and sixty bushels of other grain, five thou- sand four hundred and seventy bushels potatoes, one thousand five hundred and seventy-five tons hay, twelve thousand one hundred and twenty-six pounds wool, one hundred and eighty thousand and ninety pounds pork, forty-three thousand one hundred and fifteen pounds butter, eight thousand two hundred and eighty pounds dried fruit, and seven hundred and nine- teen barrels cider. Four hundred and seventy-five acres in orchards pro- duced sixteen thousand and sixty bushels of apples and ten bushels of pears, valued at three thousand four hundred and seventy-two dollars.
MANUFACTURES.
One flour-mill, one saw-mill and one woolen-mill employed ten persons and a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, which manufactured two thousand barrels flour, two hundred thousand feet of lumber and other pro- ducts,-all valued at fifteen thousand dollars.
There were owned in the township, in 1874, five hundred and thirty-two horses, two oxen, four hundred and eighty cows, four hundred and thirty- seven other cattle, one thousand five hundred and four hogs, and two thou- sand one hundred and thirty-six sheep. The clip of 1873 was taken from two thousand six hundred and fifty-five animals.
There were assessed in 1876 twenty-two thousand one hundred and sev- enty-two acres of land, valued by the supervisor of the township at four hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and seventy-five dollars,- about one-third of its real value.
POPULATION.
In 1850 there were eight hundred and twenty-five inhabitants in the town- ship. In 1860 there were one thousand one hundred and twenty-one, and in 1870 there were one thousand two hundred and seventy-six, of whom
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MRS JOHN HUTCHINSON
JOHN HUTCHINSON.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN HUTCHINSON, PARK TP., ST JOSEPH CO., MICH.
JOHN LOMISON.
MRS JOHN LOMISON
RESIDENCE OF JOHN LOMISON, PARK TP, ST JOSEPH CO., MICH.
217
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
six hundred and fifty-three were males, and six hundred and twenty-three females.
In 1874 the State census returns show but one thousand two hundred and twenty-seven persons, of whom six hundred and forty-five were males, and five hundred and eighty-two females. Of the former three hundred and eighteen were over twenty-one years, one hundred and ninety-three being under forty-five years; one hundred and twenty-two did not exceed seventy- five years, and three were between seventy-five and ninety. Of the females three hundred and twenty were over eighteen years, two hundred and seven of them being forty years and under; one hundred and twenty-one under seventy-five years, and two over that age. Three hundred and twenty-seven boys and two hundred and fifty-two girls had not arrived at their respective majorities of twenty-one and eighteen years.
THE POLITICAL BIAS
of the community of Park will be seen by the way they deposited their ballots at the presidential elections. In 1840 the Democrats cast forty-four votes, and the Whigs thirty-two. In 1844 the Democrats polled fifty-eight votes, the Whigs thirty-seven, and the Liberty men eight. In 1848 the Democrats polled sixty-eight votes, the Whigs twenty-six, and the Free Soilers thirty-six. In 1852 the Democratic vote was eighty-eight, the Whig thirty-nine, and the Abolition fourteen. In 1856 the Democrats cast one hundred and twenty-one votes, and the Republicans one hundred and fifteen.
The vote of 1860 stood one hundred and thirty-five Democratic, and one hundred and thirty Republican ; and in 1864 the same vote stood one hun- dred and forty-three and one hundred and fourteen respectively, and in 1868 one hundred and seventy-five and one hundred and thirty-eight respectively. In 1872 the Democratic vote for Mr. Greeley was ninety-two, and O'Conor five; and the Republicans polled one hundred and twenty votes. In 1876 the Democratic vote was one hundred and six, the Republican one hundred and eight, and Mr. Cooper, the Greenback candidate, had forty-nine votes.
PARKVILLE VILLAGE.
The village of Parkville was laid out on a piece of land in section twenty- four, purchased by Luther Carlton of N. H. Taylor, in 1851. The village plat was surveyed by James Hutchison, and the first lot purchased by Mary King for ten dollars, in 1851. It is located on section twenty-four.
THE FIRST POSTMASTER
was Samuel Schrauger; the present incumbent is George Dunham.
THE FIRST STORE
was built and kept by Adam Kester in 1853. The same building is used as a store by Emanuel Boudeman.
THE FIRST CHURCH
was the one erected by the Presbyterians in 1860. It is a frame-building, of a very neat appearance and commodious in extent.
The village now contains three stores, three churches-denominationally classified as follows : One Presbyterian, one Methodist Episcopal, and one Advent. (The latter was erected in 1861, the first members being Harvey Kinney and wife, Andrew Hafer, Oran Bovee, J. H. Alrich, Aaron H. Adams and Mary Sidler. No church organization now exists.) One grist- mill, one woolen factory, one saw-mill, one tavern, one common school, and two blacksmith's shops. The population of the village (by actual count) is one hundred and forty.
BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN 1876.
The mill and factory, including the purchase of wool and grain, fifty thousand dollars (estimated); store business about fifteen thousand dollars.
THE WOOLEN-MILL
was erected by Schellhous & Carlton in 1851. Mr. Carlton retired from the firm, however, before the actual business of the factory commenced. The amount of manufactured goods turned out in 1876 was about ten thousand dollars.
THE GRIST-MILL
was built in 1853, by Reed & Huffman. It subsequently passed into the hands of David Brown, who operated it until 1867, when it was purchased by Frede- rick C. Dentler, by whom it is now conducted. The amount of merchant work in 1876 was two thousand five hundred barrels ; that of custom work, fifteen thousand bushels.
PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first services under the ministry of the Presbyterian church were held in the old school-house, which stood about two miles south of the village of Parkville, by Rev. Albert H. Gaston, in 1843.
We copy the subjoined list of articles paid Mr. Gaston for his pastoral labors during the year 1844, from Mr. John Lomison's memoranda, by whom they were paid :
To 4} pounds of tallow, at 10 cents per pound $ 45
To 2 bushels of oats, at 20 cents per bushel 40
To 12 bushels of oats, at 20 cents per bushel 2 40
To 2 bushels of wheat, at 50 cents per bushel 1 00
To hauling one load of goods from Marshall 3 50
To 7 pounds of butter at 12} cents per pound
87₺
Total $8 62}
Services continued to be held in the place above designated until about 1850, when most of those who were accustomed to worship there united themselves with the church at Three Rivers. In 1854 steps were taken for the regular organization of a Presbyterian church at Parkville, as the an- nexed "minutes" will show :
"Previous notice having been given, a meeting of the trustees of the Pres- byterian church of Three Rivers and the Reserve was held at Parkville, Jan- uary 11, 1854, whereupon L. E. Schellhous was called to the chair, and E. S. Moore, clerk of the session, acted as secretary.
" Resolved, That the bequest of the late Samuel Fisher (of Park town- ship) in his will appropriating a sum of money for 'the purpose of erecting a Presbyterian church edifice in Parkville, or within two miles distant,' shall be located at Parkville. .
" Resolved, That the trustees of said church or society proceed immediately to draw the money so appropriated, and apply the same to the erection of said building, and that a committee be added to act with the trustees as a building committee, and that L. E. Schellhous, Charles Ackenbach, and J. F. Williams, M. D.,* be said committee. '
" Resolved, That the trustees, together with such committee, be authorized to solicit additional aid for the purpose of enlarging the amount already bequeathed for said building, and then the plan shall be so proportioned to . the amount raised."
The first trustees of the church were John Lomison, John Troy, A. C. Prutzman, J. E. Kelsey, Burden Hix.
In 1858 several members were dismissed from the church at Three Rivers for the purpose of effecting the organization in accordance with the meeting above mentioned. The church was, therefore, regularly organized in 1858, and the building completed in 1860. The first members were John Lomison, John Troy, O. H. P. Blue, John Hutchison, Jacob Jones, L. H. Fort, with their wives and families; Mrs. Jane Campbell, Mrs. Charlotte Blue, Mrs. Sarah McCracken, Mrs. Ann Campbell-in all, twenty souls. The present membership is thirty-five.
The elders elected at the first meeting were John Lomison, O. H. P. Blue, John Troy. The first pastor was Rev. A. G. Martin, and the present (occa- sionally officiating) minister is Rev. William A. Masker, acting pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Three Rivers.
PARKVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
From the records of the Methodist Episcopal church of Parkville, now in the possession of Richard Dougherty, we learn that the society was organized in the year 1844. We subjoin the early minutes, as subscribed to by one Peter Sabin, with all its legal verbiage:
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