USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Kalamazoo County, Michigan city directory 1869-70 > Part 10
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BRADY.
The history of Schoolcraft includes the earliest annals of Brady. In 1842 it was organized as a separate township, after the ex- tinction of the Indian title to the large reservation, a large por- tion of which was included in what is now Brady. Among those who settled in Brady in 1835, were Lorenzo Stowell, a Mr. Anderson, Benj. Tuttle, Bradley Williams, Elisha Doan. Dr. H. A. Baker commenced the practice of medicine in 1838. Mr. Doan erected the first saw mill in the town, on Bear Creek. Nelson Wilcox was the first supervisor. The surface of the township is quite level; the east part heavily timbered, and the west half oak openings-soil excellent and productive. It 15
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has numerous streams of water, chief of which is the Little Por- tage of the St. Joseph. Farms are worth, upon an average, $50 per acre. In the south east part of the township there is quite a large settlement of Pennsylvania-Germans. There are a num- ber of Indian mounds in the town. One upon the farm of Mr. Bradley Williams had an oak tree growing upon it that was two feet in diameter. The mound was opened, and it was found to contain a human skeleton, and the same debris that charac- terize all the mounds. The village of Brady is a smart, grow- ing little place. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad is located through the village and within a short time the locomo- tive will shriek its hoarse refrain through that part of the coun- ty. The village has churches, mills, hotels, manufactories, a good water power, and an excellent farming country around it. There are a number of splendid farms in the town; timber is large and abundant, and several mills are employed in the manufacture of lumber. The post-office is in Brady village. A handsome and spacious hotel also is now nearly completed for Andrew Chard.
The population of Brady township is about 1,800. Its war record is excellent. About one hundred men were furnished by Brady for the Union armies.
MASONIC.
BRADY LODGE, No. 208, F. &. A. M. Instituted December 21st, 1866, by D. D. Duncan, with the following officers : John W. Baker, W. M .; Daniel P. Anderson, S. W .; Eldridge G. Demming, J. W .; Henry Smith, Sec'y; Jacob Krader, Treas .; Isaiah B. Hampton, S. D .; Joseph Lemon, J. D .; Charles Brown, Tyler.
First candidate for initiation was John Downey.
PRESENT OFFICERS :- John W. Baker, W.M .; E. G. Demming, S. W .; Robt. Frakes, J. W .; Albee Norton, Sec'y; Daniel P. Anderson, Treas .; E. A. Strong, S. D .; Austin Martin, J. D .; Jacob Krader, Tyler.
Number of members at the present time 61. Regular Meet- ings, Saturday on or before the full moon. Lodge Room on Main Street, over Ramsdell Bro's Store.
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GOOD TEMPLARS.
BRADY LODGE No. 444. Instituted December 21st, 1866, by D. D. G. W. C. T. Geo. M. Buck, with the following officers : John Long, W. C. T .; Hattie Leland, W. V. T .; J. M. Shafer, W.S .; Edward Cotton, W. T .; May E. Finley, W. I. G .; Chas. Lewis, W. O. G .; Louisa Long, W. A. S; W. P. Beach, W. F. S .; T. H. Wilson, W. M .; Herman Baker, W. Chap .; Sarah L. Leland, W. D. M .; Mary F. Brown, W. R. S .; Mary E. Baily, W. L. S.
Number of members including officers 26.
PRESENT OFFICERS :- M. H. Burr, W. C. T .; Jennie E. Shafer, W. V. T .; C. L. Rood, W. S .; Mrs. E. Smith, W. T .; Celia Corwin, W. I. G .: John Long, W. O. G .; Gertrude Martin, W. A. S .; Eugene Burr, W. F. S .; E. T. Trimmer, W. M .; J. Strick- land, W. Chap .; II. M. Smith, W. D. M .; Elizabeth Smith, W. R. S .; Mrs. M. H. Burr, W. L. S.
Number of members in good standing 82.
Meet on Monday evening each week. Lodge Room over the Store of Taylor & Co ..
COOPER.
The township of Cooper was organized in 1836. It lies on the north border of the county, east of Alamo. It takes its name from the wife of the late Hon. Horace H. Comstock, whose maid- en name was Cooper. The Kalamazoo river flows through the townin a northerly direction, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. Numerous durable streams of water flow into the Kal- amazoo, the principal of which are Silver creek and Spring brook, from the east, and Collar brook from the west; one of the Twin Lakes lies in the south-west corner of the township. In some of the highest parts of the town, water is only attain-
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able by digging to the depth of from 50 to 100 feet. The sur- face of the central and northwestern part is generally level. The river valley, averaging about one mile in width, is low; level, and, in the south part, swampy and covered with timber. Bor- dering the valley and in the eastern and southern parts, it is hil- ly or undulating. The soil in the eastern, northern and north western parts is generally a sandy loam; that of the remainder is more intermixed with clay and gravel. The river bed is most- ly composed of pebbles, gravel and sand. In some parts where the current is rapid it flows over a soft, porus rock formed by the deposition of carbonate of lime, and known by geologists as calcareous tufa. A rocky formation of a similar character is found near the west bank of this river, on land belonging to Mr. James Ferguson. The waters of a spring flowing from a hill- side form a calcareous coating on mosses and other vegetable substances through which they flow. This gradually consolida- ting has formed a soft, porus rock many feet in thickness.
ANTIQUITIES .- On the school section the remains of three an- cient fortifications were found, and near them were two small mounds which, on being opened by the early settlers, were found to contain large quantities of human bones. The fine residence of A. D. Chappel occupies the site of one of these fortifications. A similar mound was also discovered on what is known as the " Governor Throop farm" east of the river. Large numbers of flint arrow-heads and spear-heads are found in the vicinity of these works. The oldest Indian could give no account of their origin.
SETTLEMENT .- The first settlement was made in March, 1834, by Dr. D. E. Demming, accompanied by his brother C. P. Dem- ming. They were from Hinesburg, Vt. They came by the way of the Erie canal and lake Erie to Detroit, thence with an ox team to the farm on which the Doctor now resides, on section one, east of the river. Here he built a board shanty without using a nail, except for the door. The following season he built a framed house, which constitutes a part of his present residence. Allen Smith settled west of the river, on the farm now owned by James Ferguson, February, 1835; he was from Ohio. The following season, Patrick Bunberry, Mr. Mason Mathew and
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Martin Tift, and a Mr. Elsie, settled east of the river, and Joseph Skinner, Ephraim Delano, Jason Parmelee, John Randall, Thomas Drayton, Thomas Chamberlain, Nathan Allen, Nathan Lyman, Henry Babcock, James Goodwin and Barney Earl, settled west of the river. These people were mostly from New York and the New England States. Among the other early settlers to whose industry, energy and perseverance Cooper owes much of its present prosperity and wealth, were-Lewis A. Crane. Truman Averill, Philo Vradenburg, Vilroy Munroe, Ichabod Hart, William Skinner, George Delano, John Walker, Alexander Glenn, Luther Chamberlain, Henry Skinner, Samuel Boyd, Milton Gregory and Elias Easton. The first settlers east of the river obtained their supplies mostly from Comstock and Kalamazoo. Those west of the river from Kalamazoo, Grand Prairie and Pine Creek. Their dwellings were board shanties or the log-houses common in new settlements where timber is plenty ; mostly furnished with clay or stone fire-places and stick chimneys built on the outside. Joseph Skinner states that his wife cooked during the first summer by a fire out doors, built against a stump. The first town meeting was held April, 1837, Dr. D. E. Demming was elected Supervisor ; Ephraim Delano, Town Clerk; and Lewis A. Crane, Justice of the Peace. An incident connected with that town meeting, may here be noticed. Dr. Demming and his neighbor Lewis A. Crane, were returning home, congratulating themselves no doubt on their escape from the perils of Salt river so justly dreaded by politicians, but the Kalamazoo was before them and there was no bridge. The ice had afforded them a safe passage in the morning, but during the day they had been loaded with political honors, these added to the weight of their own physical corporations proved too much for the strength of the ice, and when about " half seas over," it broke beneath their feet, and they were precipitated into the ice cold waters of the Kalamazoo. The Doctor bearing a heavier load than his companion sunk deeper, but after considerable floundering, succeeded in reaching the shore; here he sat down on a log, and proceeded very cooly if not deliberately to divest himself of his dripping garments; having wrung the water from
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these he replaced them on his shivering person, and the two proceeded to their respective homes, fully conscious now that the path of the politician is not only slippery but sometimes dangerous.
The first religious meeting was held at the house of Dr. Dem- ming, in the winter of 1835-6, Rev. Wm. Daubeny, ( Methodist ), was the first preacher. He was ever faithful in the performance of his ministerial duties, received no pecuniary compensation, and his memory is still fondly cherished by the early settlers.
The first religious society ( Methodist ) was organized west of the river in 1836. Their first preacher was a Mr. Williams, he was dressed in a suit of homespun, made up just as it came from the loom
The first school was taught at Cooper Center, by Miss Ade- line Hicks, now Mrs. George IIart, in the summer of 1836. She had about twenty scholars.
The first Post-office was established at Cooper Center in 1836, Barney Earl was the first Postmaster; Joseph Skinner carried the first mail, using his vest pocket for a mail bag, and when this was not sufficiently capacious, used his pocket hand- kerchief for the same purpose. The first mill was built by a Mr. Fitts, on the west bank of the Kalamazoo, east of Cooper Center. Asa Norton kept the first tavern. The first store was kept at the house of Joseph Skinner, Dr. Ransom furnishing the goods. The first bridge across the river was built by sub- scription in 1838, near where Mr. Borden now resides. Dr. Coats, of Otsego, was the first physician. The diseases were mostly of a billious character. John Demming, born Septem- ber 25th, 1834, was the first white child born in Cooper. The first marriage was that of Mr. George Nicholds and Miss Char- lotte Crane, daughter of Lewis A. Crane. On this occasion a Justice in Cooper was called on to tie the nuptial knot, he how- ever courteously but positively declined ; not on account of any thing objectionable in the character or circumstances of either of the parties, for both were highly respectable. His objections arose from other considerations, greenbacks and boots were not as easily obtained then as now, and our justice though now
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among the wealthy men of Cooper had no boots. His manly pride revolted at the idea of officiating at a wedding barefoot, and he reluctantly relinquished the job to some more fortunate dignitary. The bridegroom with the same perseverance that had enabled him to win the heart of the fair pioneer now made application to a magistrate in the adjoining County of Allegan, be of course had no jurisdiction in Kalamazoo; in this dilemma the candidates for matrimonial felicity soon crossed the county line, the justice met them in the woods and the knot was soon tied to the satisfaction of all parties.
CHARACTER, INCIDENTS, &c .- The pioneers of Cooper township were a class of people who had circumstances required it, would have been ready to dare almost any danger, endure any toil, and suffer any privation, for the accomplishment of an important object; and the energy and enterprise characteristic of the citi- zens of Cooper at this time may be attributed in part to the influence of her early settlers. Ephraim Delano says there was not a lazy man among us. Joseph Skinner says, "for a time it was our custom to devote one day of each week to working on the roads." All were considered neighbors within the distance of three or four miles. They were mostly poor or in moderate circumstances, and as mutual dependence conduces to mutual friendship, the settlers were on the most friendly and familiar terms. Women would walk the distance of three or four miles to visit the sick. The business of a Justice of the Peace could not have been very remunerative, and a lawyer would have starved for want of business. Ephraim Delano says he does not recollect but one law suit among the early settlers west of the river in ten years. George Delano states that during eight years service as Justice of the Peace, he did not have a con- tested suit originating in Cooper. A justice would occasionally get the job of fastening a matrimonial yoke on two willing necks, and sometimes then had to take his pay in work or barter. Alexander Glenn married one couple, and took a beetle for pay. Another was paid in splitting rails. The people were generally temperate; even at raisings, liquor was not generally used. The Sabbath was generally observed in a becoming
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manner. The Indians, of whom a few families remained, were very friendly to their white neighbors, frequently supplying them with fish and venison; these they would sometimes ex- change for flour or bread, at other times they would accept noth- ing in exchange, or, as they expressed it, "no swap."
When Ephriam Delano was unloading his first load of goods, an Indian was sitting on his pony, near by, observing him very intently. The next day the wife of this Indian, and three other squaws, accompanied by several children, came, each bringing & piece of venison; these they severally placed on the table, say- ing as they did so "no swap, no swap." Elijah Chamberlain relates that an Indian called at his father's and asked for a piece of bread, Mrs. Chamberlain generously gave him a whole loaf; & few days after the same Indian again called, bringing a fine ham of venison; this he presented to Mrs. Chamberlain saying: " you gave me bread, me give you venison." Ephriam Delano says he never needed to fasten his doors against an Indian. Wolves were numerous, and the settlers sometimes suffered from their depredations. Snakes were not very troublesome, though some- times inclined to be more familiar with the settlers than was desirable; Joseph Skinner and his wife, on returning one even- ing, from visiting a sick neighbor, found a large massasauga coiled behind the door. Of the settlers of 1834 and 1835, Dr. Demming, C. P. Demming, Patrick Bunberry, Joseph Skinner and Ephriam Delano still reside in Cooper. They have lived to see the wilderness converted into well cultivated field's, and the smoky wigwam of the Indian and the rude cabin of the pioneer, give place to the beautiful, convenient residences of our enterpris- ing farmers. Dr. Demming has represented his district in the State Senate, and Barney Earl was the first representative in the Legislature from this town. Where, thirty years ago the wild wolf made night hideous with his howling, the shrill whistle of the locomotive is now heard, as it speeds its thundering way over our trembling valleys, bearing in its train the products of our fertile and well cultivated soil. The assessed valuation of real estate is $250,905, of personal property $70,300. Paid bounties during the late war to the amount of about -20,000, without in-
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curring any debt. The population is estimated ( on the basis of the vote given last November-329 ) at about 1700. Cooper Centre has two churches-Congregational and Methodist, one store, a tavern, blacksmith shop, wagon shop and about twenty- five houses. Two miles west of here, about twenty-five years ago an attempt was made to manufacture pottery, hence the name Jug Corners. Cooper Cemetery, half a mile south from Cooper Center, deserves notice; it is well fenced, bordered by maple trees, and beautifully ornamented with evergreens. Its orderly arrangement, and the care with which it is kept, are creditable to our sexton, D. R. Newton.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Church was organized March 8th, 1843, by Revs. Mason Knappen and Ova P. Hoyt.
The following are the names of those uniting at its organiza- tion, viz .: John Borden and Betsey his wife, Mase S. Borden and Nancy his wife, John A. Borden, Matilda Delano, Fidelia H. Pratt, Wm. Lyman and Susan his wife, Mrs. Eliza Earl and Lydia Hart, Mrs. Laura Blanchard and David E. Demming, A. V. Monroe and Phoebe his wife; the two last on profession.
The whole number uniting with the church since its organiza tion is 150. Of this number 16 have died, 54 have been dis- missed by letter, and three have been excommunicated. Present number 80.
The following is a list of the Pastors of the Church, with the years in which they commenced their pastorates :
1843, Rev. Mason Kuappen. 1847, Rev. - Fuller.
1850, B F. Monroe. 1856, Preston Taylor.
1858, Lucien H. Jones. 1860, T. C. Hill.
1861. Rufus Apthorp. 1863, L. E. Sykes.
1866, Wm. M. Campbell. 1868, John Scotford.
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The present Church edifice was erected in 1856, before that time the church worshiped in the old school house which stood some thirty rods south of the present one.
In 1862-3, the society purchased for a Parsonage, the house and grounds now occupied as such by their present Pastor.
The Sabbath School numbers 100, and has six teachers. Levi B. Fisher, is the present Superintendent.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the township of Cooper was organized at the house of Mr. Joseph Skinner, by Rev. S. S. Williams, in May of 1836, consisting of Mr. Allen Smith, his wife and sister and Mrs. Gregory.
Rev. Mr. Williams was appointed to Kalamazoo circuit by the Indiana Conference in 1835; preached the first sermon in Cooper in February, 1836.
The first Quarterly Meeting in the township, was held in the Bummer of 1838, in the barn of Mr. J. Skinner, Rev. J. Ercan- brack, presiding. It is estimated that on Saturday there were present about two hundred persons, and on the Sabbath about five hundred; twenty lodged with Mr. Skinner over night.
A log school house was built in the fall of 1836, which was occupied by the society as a meeting place, until a more com- modious one was built by the district. The society continued to occupy the school house as a place of worship until the 8th of August last, when they dedicated a beautiful house of wor. ship, 34 by 50 feet, with tower 8 by 12; it is neatly frescoed and furnished with bell and necessary furniture, the whole cost- ing about $4,300. The society now numbers forty-two mem. bers; the circuit own a parsonage, worth $2,000, located near the church. The society bids fair for future prosperity and usefulness.
Rev. Mr. Daubney, a local minister of the M. E. Church, preached the first sermon, on the east side of the river, in Coo- per, in 1838, near Dr. Demming's, where he continued to preach
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for a number of years. Rev. F. Gage was the first travelling minister to preach in this place.
No certain date can be found of the organization of the socie- ty. In 1861 the society numbered but eight members, now there are twenty-four members, with good prospects for the future.
MASONIC.
UNITED LODGE NO. 149, F. & A. M., held at Cooper, Kala- mazoo County, Mich., commenced work under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Michigan, on the 15th of October, 1863, and received its Charter January 14th, 1864.
The first officers were: E. H. Glenn, W. M .; E. S. Wicks, S. W .; Lafayett Hart, J. W .; E. C. Adams, Treas .; J. M. DeLano, Sec .; L. B. Newton, S. D .; N. H. De Lano, J. D .; Joel Lillie, Tyler.
United Lodge holds its meetings on Saturday evenings, the Regular Communications being held on the last Saturday even- ing preceding the full of the moon in each month; and has ever been characterized by the fraternal feeling of its members and the perfection of its work. It now numbers 63 members, and is in a prosperous condition.
PRESENT OFFICERS :- E. H. Glen, W. M .; Lafayett Hart, S. W .; A. Carpenter, J. W., Geo. De Lano, Treas .; John Albert- son, Sec .; C. H. Adams, S. D .; E. P. DeYoe, J. D .; John Holmes, Tyler.
CHARLESTON.
The surface of this township is generally level, in some parts slightly rolling, and is very picturesque and beautiful. From the territorial road north to the river, which flows diagonally
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across the north-west corner, the ground is level, sloping easily to the river. South of this road the ground rises, and is broken into undulations. There is some heavy timber in the south part as well as along the river margins; but most of the town is fine oak openings-on sections 3 and 4, on the road from Augusta, south, are handsome bur oak plains-and a rich productive soil. The town is well watered, numerous streams emptying into the Kalamazoo river, and one of the Portages of the St. Joseph rises in this town. There are seven lakes in Charleston, and about 900 acres of Climax Prairie lap over into its limits. It is one of the best towns in the county for agricultural purposes, having little or no waste land.
The township was settled at an early day, pioneers striking their axe into its virgin forests as early as 1831; rearing their rude cabins in the wilderness solitude, and preparing to let in the light of improvement and civilization. In June, 1831, Wm. Earl, from Western New York, arrived and " took up" 254 acres of land on sections 17 and 20. He was followed, very soon after, by Asa Gunn, who settled on section 15; Wm. Harrison, on section 36 ( Climax Prairie); Lovell and Hiram Moore, 480 acres on section 35, Potter and Wm. Eldred, on section 34 and 35; Robert Burdick and his sons Langford, Charles and Alvin, located on sections 3 and 9; Robert and Joseph Whitford, on section 9; E. M. Clapp, on sections 19 and 30; Dr. James Harris, on section 8; Jabez Rodgers, on section 18; Ambrose Cock and Charles M. Nichols, on sections 10 and 11; Chas. T. Clark, on section 26; T. P. West, on section 11; Abram Ald- rich, on section 18; Joseph Flanders, on section 32; Thomas Mead, on section 1; Wm. and Andrew McClary and their father, on section 17; Daniel and Warren Spaulding, on sections 31 and 29; Henry Pixley, Sherman Wesley, Worden Wells, Wm. Eldred, Aaron Wells, Orlando Miller, John Flint, Moses McClellan, Ansel Shaler, Henry Hopkins and his sons George, John, James, Robert and Albert, the Austins, Ebenezer Flan- ders, Alva Tubbs, James Simons, Martin L. Cole, were among those who had become citizens of Charleston up to 1837.
Mr. Gunn's house, which all old settlers remember, was on
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the Territorial road about one and a half miles south from Cock's corners, was at an early day a lodge for the pioneers seeking a home in this section of the territory. When the Burdicks and Whitfords came with their families in 1833, they all took refuge with Mr. Gunn in the small shanty in which he was domiciled. After they had built their houses and moved into them, one day the shanty of the hospitable Guun was discovered to be on fire, the flames making such beadway with the straw roof, that it would have been useless to have attempted to save it. Whether the fire was the work of an incendiary is not reported, but certain it is that before many days, his friends above named, had replaced the cabin with a substantial and commodious log house, which for many years served as a home for Mr. Gunn and his family. Surrounding this old homestead is one of the oldest orchards in the county, and the writer of this remembers as far back as 1842, the excellence of the great and luscious rare ripes that "Abagail used to gather from the trees, for his delectation, as he trudged by, a ' wee bit bairn,' to the Post-office at Uncle Ora Bush's."
The first Post-office in the township was " kept" by Charles M. Nichols, on section 10. Mr. Nichols first erected a rude log cabin on section 10, on the knoll that appears about half a mile north of Cock's corners, on the road to Augusta; soon after, however, he built a new framed house, on the Territorial Road, on section 11, which was the third framed house in the township. The post-office was here for a number of years, and the residence of Post-master Nichols was, in those days, con- sidered palatial. Mr. Nichols was a man of considerable prom- inence in all local affairs. In 1844 or '45 he removed to Wis- consin. In 1842 the post-office " stage exchange" was removed to Bush's residence, and this place was retained as township headquarters until the Central Railroad was completed to Kalamazoo.
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