USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Kalamazoo County, Michigan city directory 1869-70 > Part 6
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two daughters, as he often did. Mr. Sheldon, though a large and portly man, was a light and graceful dancer, and withal a great lover of the amusement, and, when the village had gathered there her beanty and her chivalry ( see Byron ), it was his wont to lead out the petite and charming Laura H-, and then-
"On with the dance, let joy be unconfined !"
No place in the territory enjoyed a brighter or fairer famne for social enjoyments than Kalamazoo, or a people who would more heartily dispense their hospitality, and more warmly "welcome the coming, speed the parting guest."
There was no little excitement and amusement in those ear- ly days, too, in the adventures of the chase. Nobler parks than our opening lands were then, or wilder glens than our river mar- gins afforded, were rarely met with, while game of all kinds abounded in profusion. The great number of foxes made fox- hunting a favorite pastime. Among those who indulged in this pastime " with horse and hound," were C. E. Stuart, I. W. Willard, H. G. Wells, G. W. Winslow, A. W. Richardson, L. Vandewal- ker, C. Sherman and others. The favorite hunting ground for foxes was among and beyond the hills where the Michigan Fe- male Seminary now stands. The following story of a wolf-hunt and fight is furnished by the only survivor now a resident of Kalamazoo. H. M. Rice spoken of, has been for many years a member of the United States Senate from Minnesota.
In the winter of 1836-7, a Mr. Sutherland, then living on the east side of the Kalamazoo river, in Cooper, set a steel trap for a fox that was too familiar with his chickens, and the bait attract- ed the attention of a prowling forest wolf. The wolf soon found the trap adhering to one of his fore-feet, and, in disgust, departed with the trap and a chain halter fastened to it. Mr. S., on Sunday morning, going to look for his chicken-thief, saw that he had caught larger game than he set snare for, and that instead of bagging the game, the game had bagged his trap and chain. De- termined not to give it up so, himself and two or three neighbors took the trail and pursued the fugitive up the river nearly to where Sherman's new grist mill stands, then called " Enniskillen," and there the wolf, coming to human habitations, crossed the 9
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river and went into the " big marsh" His pursuers came to the village, and with some others, went into the marsh, started the animal, and followed him down the river into Cooper, and there left him for the night. The next morning our town was all ex- citement : "a large wolf with a steel-trap and chain fast to one fore foot was only three miles from town!" All were cager for the chase. David Hubbard Esq .. soon had " them same hosses that he drove in from Varmount" before his lumber sleigh, and S. W. Bryan, Wm. Murphey. Levi Krause, and one or two oth- ers took seats therein; while Henry M. Rice, Geo. W. Winslow, R. C. Hubbard, Johnson Patrick, and a few others, mounted their horses and collecting all the dog force at hand, including a portion of I. W. Willard's pack of hounds-the two best ones, "Job" and "Pete." being absent (as was their custom, now and then ) hunting on their own hook-started for the field of opera- tions. Good speed was made on the way, except by Patrick, whose nag was an Indian pony, but he arrived in due time. The "varmint" was soon routed from his lair, and made direct for the river. the dogs close at his heels. Arriving at the river, the company formed in two divisions, one to operate on each side of the river, and one division, with the aid of the saddled horses, forded the river the dog force was equally divided. The wolf was soon overtaken, his progress being naturally slow, as the trap or chain would, as the tracks in the snow showed, whip around a tree, and cause quite a delay in his movements; but he would, when hard pressed, make for the river and swim it, trap and all, and thus get clear of the party in chase; but, on reaching the other bank, and striking out, he would soon find the other party, who, by the music of the hounds, were kept posted as to the whereabouts of Vulpes. It was soon found, however, that the horsemen could not act effectually in the chase, and R. C. Hub bard took the saddle horses, and his father the team, back home, leaving the hunters all on foot, except Patrick, whose pony could cross a creek on a log, or creep through the brush and swamp like an Indian. Thus worried, pursued, and flanked, the wolf had all he could do to keep clear of his pursuers, but, neverthe- less, giving them a long chase. Late in the afternoon, however,
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after the wolf had swam the river for the seventh time and saved his life as often, he came out on the back part of the Dan. Arnold farm, and soon after, the two missing dogs, "Job" and " Pete," being out on their rambles, came to the hunters' aid. The deep, base-toned bay of old "Job," and the sweet, clarion notes of "Pete" were recognized the moment they opened. Then it was time the dogs should "push things," and soon his wolfship was driven to cover and barricaded himself among the branches of a large fallen tree. The music at once changed-the running bark ceased-and the dogs, in another tone, plainly indicated that the game was brought to a stand. The men, though some- what scattered, immediately made for the scene of conflict, and on their near approach, out dashed the wolf and broke for the river, near at hand and frozen nearly across at that place, and, passing near Bryan he ran after him, while the "Hutchin's dog," inspired by the example, seized the wolf's flank, and detained him, until Bryan crept up and caught hold of the chain, and rapidly dragged him on the ice to a bunch of alders on the · shore. These were quickly bent down across the wolf by others of the party, and he surrendered without asking for terms. Winslow, who had a piece of bed-cord in his pocket, first muz- zled the prisoner (a very large gray wolf), then tied his hind legs together, leaving room between them for a pole; his fore- legs were also, tied, the trap removed, a pole was furnished by a wood-chopper close by, and Vulpes, placed thereon, was carried on the shoulders of two of the capturing party in triumph to the house of Mr. Arnold. The party on the other side of the river, learning the situation of affairs, went to a crossing place, and soon arrived at the farm-house. A splendid supper was speedily prepared by the surprised though gladdened host, who had everything at hand usually found at that day, for the enter- tainment of his welcome guests, except some "old Jamaica," (" Luke's best " being then unknown ), but this then common lux- ury was easily obtained at the old, well known tavern-stand of Isaac Aldrich on the Plains-and the extremely fatigued sports- men were made very comfortable, and story and song made the hours pass unheeded by, till midnight.
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The next morning, after a good breakfast ( all the entertain- ment being without money and without price), it was deter- mined that Winslow, who was the most "used-up" one of the party, should ride the pony and take the wolf on in front; and the company then set out for Kalamazoo-the pony with his load of man and beast, taking the lead. After a while, there came along a man with a horse and a rough sled, and this was pressed into service, the footmen taking seats thereon. In the afternoon all arrived safe at the Kalamazoo House. .
The next day a match was gotten up for a fight: the wolf versus all the dogs procurable, a game-supper being the wager, persons taking sides as they viewed the chances of success-the match being that the dogs would not kill the wolf in one hour. The field of contest was the vacant ground lying south of Main street, east of Burdick, and west of the alley. There was a good supply of fighting material on the dog side of the question, as well as a good supply of wolf. In due time a ring was formed, the dogs "all present or accounted for," and the wolf appeared in good condition, except one foot, the paw of which was rather girdled by the jaws of the trap. The battle commenced as soon as the dogs were loosed ; for a while it was mere skirmishing on the part of the dogs-they were not used to that kind of game-and several of them became sadly demoralized after get- ting an impression of the ivory of their adversary. Finally, two of the more courageous dogs made a simultaneous attack, and others going to their support, the fight became a fierce one. The wolf, though surrounded on all sides, fought with despera- tion for sometime against the heavy odds, but at last, complete- ly overpowered, began to despair, and show signs of yielding. The crowd, as usual, being for "the under dog in the fight," cried "hold, enough!" and the dogs were taken off. Soon, however, the wolf, getting a rest, was nearly " himself again;" and the dogs, eager for a renewal of the conflict, were again let loose upon him. This fight was not so long as the first, and, after three-quarters of an hour had elapsed from the time of the first encounter, the wolf became perfectly quiet, and the now vener- able Dr. Abbott was called upon for his professional opinion on
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the question of life and death. After feeling the pulse care- fully, and seeming to realize the responsibility resting upon him in the decision he was about to make in the case, he very can- didly gave it as his opinion that the said wolf was very dead.
The evening came in the regular order of events. At the pop- ular inn of Johnson Patrick, at a seemly hour "might have been seen " a " goodlye companie " seated about Pat's bountiful and splendidly furnished tables, partaking of admirably cooked wild game, and choice edibles of all kinds-forming a sumptuous repast. The occasion was a most happy one, and for years after, the great wolf hunt was a pleasant memory to all who took part in it, and the scenes connected therewith.
Among those who should have been included in the list of comers in 1836, are : Dr Browning, who opened the first drug store, (on the site of Neahr's billiard saloon ) Elias Whitcomb (pur- chased share in the mill of Baily ), and Philo Vradenburg. F. W. Curtenius and family came in 1835 (settled on Grand Prairie ). The Kalamazoo Literary Institute was in operation in 1836 ( af- terwards made a Branch of the State University ).
Gen. Justus Burdick came with his family in 1837, and occu- pied a dwelling where Miss Patrick's school is now. David B. Webster, Drs. Stuart, Ransom and S. Axtell, N. A. Balch and Maj. Ezekiel Ransom, with their families, Benj. F. Orcutt, F. E. Woodward, Isaac N. Janes, Leverett Whitcomb, and oth- ers, came the same year. A fatal affray took place that season between two men, named Hannibal and Martin, on Harrison-st., second house south of the railroad crossing. The parties were disputing about a well they had been digging together, when Martin raised a pick or shovel which he had in his hand as if to strike Hannibal, but the latter, being the quicker of the two, struck Martin a blow on the head with a pitchfork handle which he held, and killed him. Hannibal was tried and acquitted, and lived here for a number of years after. The first Episcopal Church edifice was consecrated in September, 1837.
About this time, 1837-8, the " wild-cat " currency epoch was at its height, when the country was flooded with the irredeema- ble issues of mushroom " banks" and every cross-roads had its
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" safety fund " and engraved "promises to pay." Kalamazoo nev- er had one of these financial traps, though she very narrowly escaped the stigma, a bank having been organized and the bills printed but the institution never went into operation. When this bubble burst, as it soon did, ruining thousands of too-confi- ding people, the reaction was very great. From the height of speculation, extravagance, monetary profusion, and apparent prosperity, everything fell to the zero of apathy and despair, and at once the times seemed put "out of joint." Money dis- appeared, and the era of " dicker " commenced, and continued for years; produce brought but small pay-wheat selling as low as 37 cents per bushel. This condition of things continued for a long time, and the growth of the village was slow. The village and country was very sickly in 1838, three-fourths of the mem- bers of all the families being sick. Horace Mower, Geo. L. Gale, George Colt, Dr. E. N. Colt, Lucius L. Clark, Hiram Underwood, Hiram Arnold and L. W. Whitcomb came that year. M. N. Joy, at that time established here the first hardware store in Western Michigan ( sold out in 1845 to Allen Potter ); the Court House was commenced-J. Burdick contractor, E. R. Ball builder-and finished the next season. A number of new houses were erected in the village, four of which were on Burdick-st. A race-course was among our institutions then, " run " by Sargeant, Holman, and others; it commenced in the centre of Lovell-st, at the Bur- dick street terminus, and swung around a mile circle of the grand plaza of level ground now partly embraced in Bleycker's addition to the village. It was the scene of much " sport " for a year or two. A whig paper, the " WESTERN BANNER," was started in 1838, and died out after an existence of three or four years. Arnold & Sheldon went into business in the spring of 1839; the following winter Gen. Isaac Moffatt became a partner. In 1845 Prentiss S. Cobb purchased Sheldon's interest; the new firm, the next year erected the first steam grist mill ( on the site of Allcott's warehouse ), and, in 1849, a distillery and saw mill, on the corner of Burdick and North-sts. The store they occupied was built in 1840, on the site of Thos. S. Cobb's store. Mitchell Hinsdale, Charles Gibbs, Elkinah Walter, Israel Kellogg, Frederick Rice,
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and others, were counted among the population of Kalamazoo in 1839, then numbering about 400.
The year 1840 is memorable here for the "hard cider cam- paign," and for the removal of the Indians. By a treaty made by Gov. Cass with the Indians, some years previous, they were assigned to reservations, until 1840, when, by the stipulations of the treaty, the Government was to provide them homes west of the Mississippi. Gen. Hugh Brady, as commander of this mili- tary district, was instructed by the War Department to gather and remove these Indians as provided, designating Kalamazoo as the point of rendezvous. In the month of September they commenced coming in, and encamped on the corners of Burdick and Ransom streets. Col. Thomas A. H. Edwards was employed to gather all those north of this place. Nearly all of the Indians came in peaceably, but some had to be hunted and run down by horsemen. They were all very loth to leave the country they had occupied so long. The chiefs and principal men urged Gen, Brady not to send them away until they could hear from Washington, they having forwarded their protest to the Gov- ernment against the removal. The response from the War De. partment was to the effect that the removal must be made, and by the 10th of October all. Indians, except those belonging to the missions, and those owning land in their own right, had as- sembled here, and on that day departed on their long march. Whatever may be said as to the justice of this act, there is no doubt but their removal was devoutly wished for by the whites.
David S. Walbridge came here in 1841, and commenced pur- chasing wheat, paying money for the same, and shipping it from the mouth of the St, Joseph river to Buffalo. His operations here at that time were of immense benefit to the farmers through- out this part of the State, and to the village itself, for a little money then passed through many hands and accomplished great results. Before Mr. Walbridge returned to Buffalo in the spring of 1842, he rented the grist mill of Elkinah Walter ( built in 1840 by the father of James A. Walter ), then standing on the site of Merrill & McCourtie's present flouring mill. Heremoved here with his family the same year, and for several years occupied
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a house on Portage-st., built by Caleb Sherman, now owned by Mrs. Longbottom, For many years he was the principal dealer here in wheat and flour. His line of boats, running from the very door of his mill to the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, and thence to Buffalo, carried all the produce, wheat, flour, etc., up to the time the Michigan Central Railroad was completed to Kalamazoo. Many of our pioneer farmers attribute their first success to Mr. Walbridge's enterprise and liberality, in advancing them money on growing crops, and otherwise aiding them when money was most needed.
There were but few events in the history of our village from 1840 to 1846 worth recording. The growth in size and popu- lation, was slow yet apparent and steady. In 1844 the number of people in the village was about 1,500, and in September of that year the first number of a new weekly journal, the "MICHI- GAN TELEGRAPH," made its appearance. with "Henry Clay and Frelinghuysen " at its masthead. It was published by Henry B. Miller, and edited by himself and Geo. Torrey, Sr. The town be- gan to look like a growing place, and to attract enterprise and capital by reason of its beauty and resources. The country also improved more and more abundantly as the times grew better. By degrees new stores, manufactories, buildings, schools and churches, sprang up, streets were improved, and something like the shadow of its bright future fell upon the vision of the little village and encouraged it on its way.
On the second day of February, Anno Domini, 1846, the trains on the Michigan Central Railroad commenced running regularly from Detroit to Kalamazoo. From that day the "forward move- ment" in the prosperity of our village is dated. Mills, ware- houses, manufactories, stores, associated capital and enterprise, churches, colleges, seminaries, schools, asylums, halls, marble blocks of stores, palatial residences, paved streets, railroads, & well ordered and well governed city ( without a public debt ) and a happy prosperous people, are among the results that have fol- lowed that event and filled the intervening years with busy scenes. Each year has outdone its predecessor in progress, until
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we come to the busiest and grandest of any era in its history, that of 1868-which gave us a tidal wave of prosperity.
The patriotism and loyalty of Kalamazoo was fully and unre- servedly shown during the period of the Rebellion. This coun- ty furnished for the Army of the Union 3,111 men, more than one thousand of which were furnished by this town. This vil- lage was the rendezvous of some ten regiments and parts of reg- iments. The events and incidents of this glorious episode in our history are too fresh and vivid in the recollection of our peo- ple to make more than a passing notice necessary.
The increase in the number of the inhabitants of Kalamazoo during the year 1868, has been very large, and altogether un- · precedented. The extent and character of the buildings erect- ed, and enterprises carried into execution are superior, and indi- cate enlarged views and increased wealth of our business men. Among some of the most prominent of the business blocks erected during the past year, are the following : O. M. Allen's, and Messrs. Green & Woodham's, on Burdick-st. ; Messrs. Ben- nett and Cramer's, Bassett & Bates', Chase, Chapin and Jones', and the handsome store erected by Wm. A. Tomlinson, on Main street. The elegant and princely residences of Dr. Mottram, and Messrs. Nathaniel A. Balch, Ransom Gardner, Henry Gil- bert, Dr. Stillwell and others, and the handsome stables of Mr. Stephen S. Cobb, Dr. Mottram and Henry Gilbert, Esq., are evidences of the liberality and taste of their owners, and are valuable contributions, rich gifts of beauty and worth to the village, adding new charms to the manifold attractions of Kals- mazoo. The new Methodist and Catholic Churches, very fine edifices, are nearly completed. The new jail, built during the past season at an expense of over $40,000, is nearly ready for use, and is a model of its kind.
The Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids Railroad has ncarly completed its march northward to Grand Rapids; start- ing from Kalamazoo last spring, and extending rapidly to Plain- well, Otsego, Allegan, Wayland, and is now within whistle, of the Valley City. The ability and energy which has charac- terized the management and prosecution of this work has been
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truly admirable, while the success of the road has been very great. The company have erected a large elevator, ware-house, and depot buildings on Porter street, near Main, and a side-track to the Michigan Central Railroad depot.
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company have been pushing the work on their line during the past year with the intention of putting the entire road in running order from Fort Wayne to Cedar Rapids at the earliest day practicable. Their road-bed is nearly all finished, and a portion of the road is in operation. The work of the Company has been checked here by the opposition of some of our citizens, which has occasioned some delay in its progress. But before another year ends, this important road, it seems probable, will be one of the most im- portant and popular of our travel and freight-carrying lines.
From present appearances the year 1869 will prove a more prosperous one for Kalamazoo than the one just passed. Work is already in contemplation which will give employment to many hands, and add much to the wealth and resources of our village. The future of this town seems bright, and is full of promise. The one thing, most needed, for our growth into a place of larger wealth and importance is the improvement of the extensive water-power afforded by the Kalamazoo River. But even with steam-power our wants might be much better supplied than they now are. There is hardly a point in the State that offers better inducements for the investment of capi- tal in manufacturing enterprises than Kalamazoo; for it is the seat of a rich, thriving and populous agricultural section of coun- try ; it is now a railroad centre, and is abundant in material for manufacturing purposes. Our citizens should lose no opportun- ity to foster and advance this important interest. It is believed, too, that if proper and liberal efforts should be made, the machine shops of the several railroads passing through here might be located at this place, adding greatly to our population and means of wealth.
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SCHOOLCRAFT.
Sketch of the History of Schoolcraft Township and Village, in the County of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The history of the origin of any community, the names of its pioneers, their habits and character, and the leading events and circumstances of the early settlement, are always matter of just and rational interest to their descendants and successors. The means and material for this information insensibly disappear as time passes, and now, after the lapse of forty years since the settlement of the prairies in the south part of the County of Kalamazoo, the number of those who shared in the toils and privations, in the hopes and expectations of those early days are few indeed.
From such as remain, from the recollections of the writer, and from such authority as is now accessible, the facts contained in the following brief sketch have been obtained.
Prairie Ronde, so called by the early French voyageurs and hunters, is much the largest and finest prairie in the State, con- taining, with what is known as Gourd Neck Prairie, which is merely an eastern limb of the same, separated by a narrow, marshy ravine, about 2,700 acres. The township line between Schoolcraft and Prairie Ronde townships extends north and south through the entire length of the prairie, which is about co-terminous with the townships on the north and south, divid- ing nearly in the centre a natural grove of timber, standing isola- ted in the prairie, containing ( originally ) about 300 acres. It is on this prairie, just east of this grove, that the village of School-
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craft is located; and, it is remarkable that the recorded plat. with its explanations, contains nothing whatever defining and fixing its locality, except the phrase : " East of the Big Island on Prairie Ronde." The same omission occurs in the recorded plat of the village of Marshall, which is among the early record» of Kalamazoo County, to which the County of Calhoun was then attached for judicial purposes.
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