USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 10
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But, would you have thought it? Since writing the above we have visited Boston. As, with soul filled with sweet sen- timentality, we came in sight of the rose-embowered cottage, our disgust was ineffable at seeing a new, painted house in close proximity. Our indignation ventedl itself in unspoken wickedness, when we thought of so much fine writing and sen- timent spoiled-rendered utterly inappropriate and useless.
Well, he never will enjoy himself in the new concern; and what was written in full belief in his bucolic simplicity, shall stand as written, to remind him of what he should have done.
But Mr. Talent is not the only one who has disappointed fond hopes and expectations. The writer, himself, must plead guilty. A fond mother built a castle in the air. She looked forward to the time when her son should grace a pulpit; but the graceless yonth was too intensely human to be a divine. " Sie transit," et cetera.
The pioneer school in Boston was kept by Miss Susan A. Church, in a log school-house on the farm of Edson English. She is now Mrs. Elbridge Williams, of Boston.
The first birth in the town was that of Betsy Ann Gould,
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Oct. 29th, 1837. Mrs. Gould is sure she is not mistaken in the date, as she was there herself. Betsy Ann is now Mrs. Albert Aldrich, of Boston.
The first boy who honored Boston by choosing it as his birth-place, was Henry Hess, son of Diocletian and Lydia HIess. September, 1838, was the time. His birth-place was a tent made of quilts.
We might tell of an embryo city, laid out by Robert Hilton and James Hoag, on the clear stream that empties at Saranac. A saw-mill was there built by Hoag; and prophetie vision pictured a thriving village, with that as a center. They felt that if no village was there, there was a fine place to put one. They platted and mapped it, and called it " Waterville." Alas, for hopes! Waterville only existed as a map and a saw- mill; and Saranac, at the month of the stream, sprang up be- cause it could not help it. Another proof that not men, but circumstances, change the sites of towns and villages.
The township was organized April, 1838. First meeting at the house of Worcester English.
C. S. Hooker, Supervisor; Jesse Williams, Clerk; C. S. Ilooker, Worcester English, Moses M. Gould, Timothy White, Justices.
In 1849, the part of Keene south of the river, was added to Boston.
In 1869, Saranac was chartered as a village, and Wm. Mer- cer elected President.
The village contains about 800 people, has a superabundance of churches-no less than eight. Its pride are its school house- which cost $13,000, and is an honor to the brains of the peo- ple-and their fine iron bridge across the Grand River. They have a fine, but not large water-power, which runs two saw mills and a flouring mill. A stave factory was put up in '66. There are also an oar factory, and other minor concerns. Seven doctors there attend to the ills of the body, and four lawyers to the mental and pecuniary evils of the region round about; while the worshipers of all kinds and names, in the towns around, have here their spiritual center.
In the cemetery is a monument showing how fearfully the
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late war visited one family-the family of Lewis. Three brothers-Royal P., Daniel L., and George S. Lewis-all died in the war.
Another monument records the tragic death of Nelson Beck- with, who perished in the flames of his burning house, in the vain attempt to resene his little son, Dec. 28th, 1862.
The churches are: Baptist, brick church, 1870; Episcopal Methodist, wood; Episcopal, wood, 1859; Free Methodist, no edifice; Wesleyan Methodist, wood, 1874; Congregational. wood, 1873; Seventh Day Advents, no building; Evangelists, no building; Spiritualists no building-all in the little village of Saranac.
At this place we will speak of Wesleyan Methodism, and shall do it in the language of Elder D. A. Richards, of Saranac:
" In accordance with your request, I cheerfully undertake to give you sneh items of interest, relating to Wesleyan Meth- odism in Ionia county, as are at my command.
" Wesleyan Methodism was introduced into Ionia county abont 1845. Among the first preachers who visited this county were Rev. R. D. Howe, of Orleans, recently deceased, and A. W. Curtis, who yet lives-a venerated father in Israel. There are organizations at present in Berlin, Easton, Sabewa, Campbell and Saranac, numbering some one hundred and fifty members. They have a church edifice in Berlin, and another in process of erection at Saranac. There are at present two ministers residing in the county-Rev. B. W. Backus, of Berlin, and myself."
EASTON.
In treating of the early times at Ionia, that place was con- sidered as a center of settlement. It was considerable time before the present town lines were established. When they were established, the territory covered by the Ionia settle- ment, formed itself in the three towns-Ionia, Easton and Ber- lin. The city of Ionia is close upon the borders of the town- ship. A considerable proportion of what is written of the Ionia settlement belongs to Easton. Hence, in giving to cach
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town its dues, there is necessarily some repetition. Easton was identified with Ionia until 1843, when it became an inde- pendent town. Its first township meeting was held at the tavern of Simon Welch. April 3d; at which time and place it was organized, with the following officers: Supervisor, Thomas Cornell: Clerk, Sanford Yeomans; Treasurer, Erastus Yeo- mans; Justices, Malcom MeLaughlin, Thomas Cornell, Daniel S. Brownell, William Fleming.
The settlement of the town commenced in the spring of 1833, by Erastus Yeomans, spoken of in connection with the Dexter colony. He located in that part of Ionia which is now Easton, and where he now (1875), in venerable old age, is still resident.
ITis family consisted of himself, wife, and seven children- three sons and four daughters. Judge Yeomans was appointed postmaster of Ionia in 1834, and held that office until 1840. He was subsequently one of the county judges for several years; always a leading man, highly respected for his intel- lectual and moral worth. Two of his sons died young; the other, Sandford A., has long been one of the most enterprising and successful business men, a public man, holding various offices in the town and county. He was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention in 1867.
The Cornell family, spoken of in connection with Ionia, be- longed to Easton. There were three sons, Daniel, Thomas and Alfred, all still living. Daniel has never had a family. Thomas is on the original homestead; has long been a public man; was first Clerk of the town, County Treasurer, County Surveyor, etc .; one of the men the people delight to honor. Alfred is known as a Baptist clergyman; at present pastor of the church in Portland. Still he is in his Master's service, with good years of work, as we hope, remaining before him, and enjoying in an eminent degree, the good will and respect of the community where he long has been an efficient laborer. For nineteen years he was pastor of the Baptist Church, in Ionia.
Dexter Arnold and family located on Sec. 13, in 1835. He had four sons-Aaron, Walter D., Wm. D., and Irving. Wal- ter D. has for many years been a member of the firm of Rich
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& Co .; a thorough business man; and enjoys that reputation which is won by sterling integrity. William D. is a farmer; has several times been supervisor. The other sons did not remain as permanent settlers.
Without attempting to particularize the years, the following may be given as the earlier settlers of Easton:
George Case, B. G. Barber, Jared and Thomas II. Conner. Ezra Winslow, Elisha Doty, John North, Calvin M. Rice. Chauncey Stebbins, and their families; James Crawford (un- married); Simeon Welch came in 1835, and located on Sec. 19; Richard M. Bishop, in 1836, on Sec. 8. In 1857, Mr. Bishop was accidentally shot while eating his dinner on a log in the woods, where he was chopping; the hunter who shot him supposing him to be a deer. Joseph Barker located on Sec. 17, in the spring of 1837. George W. Dexter, with a family of eight children, in 1838, located on Sec. 20. He died in 1848, and six of his children died in the short space of three years-two of them drowned at one time. One of his sons is still a resident. Win. Muselman came in 1837, and located on Sec. 7, and Wm. Fleming in the fall of 1838. Stephen Dexter and family-wife and. three children-came from Washtenaw county with his brother, Geo. W. Dexter. and settled on Sec. 20, in 1838. But two of this family are now living-a son and daughter.
William Winslow came to Ionia in 1835, and soon be- came a resident of Easton, locating on Sec. 14, where he still resides. His father, Ezra Winslow, came soon after, and died in 1842. William Dildine and Charles came into the town in 1843, and located on Sec. 10. Isaac Finch settled on Sec. 28. in the fall of 1839. Mr. Finch died in 1874.
Mr. George Case, who was spoken of as one of the early settlers, was drowned in 1836, in Grand River, just below the mouth of the Thornapple, while attempting to swim his horse through the stream. He, and Thomas Cornell, Esq., were on their way to Grand Rapids. He lost his life through not knowing the fact that a horse in swimming, should not be strongly reined against the current, but should be mainly left to himself. Reining against the stream is liable to turn the
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horse upon his back, submerging the rider. The same horse had been safely ridden through the same place by Dr. Lin- coln, its owner.
Easton is essentially an agricultural town, with an undu- lating surface. Originally a part of it was timbered land, and a part of it openings. As an agricultural town, it will compare favorably with any in the county.
The saw mill, built by Dexter in 1833, was in Easton. Most of the brick used at and near Ionia are made in this town. The Intermediate State Prison, nominally located at lonia, is over the line in Easton.
The history of Easton is so interwoven with that of the Ionia settlement that there is no separating them. So far as a rural town depends on a city, Easton is as much a depend- ency as the township of Ionia. For a series of years they were one in organization and in sympathy. With different civil relations, they still are one.
Clustering around the little village of Ionia, the first settle- ment was in three towns, as they are now; those who took up land being as much in one as the other.
For the facts embodied in this article the author is wholly indebted to Dr. Lincoln, of Ionia, who has otherwise laid him under obligations, by the aid and kindly interest he has shown in this work In Oriental language, " May his shadow never be less," and may the pioneer doctor and teacher in his de- clining years enjoy the full respect due to kindliness and worth.
NORTHI PLAINS.
Vorth Plains was an outlying portion of Lyons, and its early history is blended with the history of that town.
April 1st, 1844, it was organized as a town, having under its protection the two towns immediately north. That part of the township which lies south of the Maple River was left as a part of Lyons.
The first town meeting, as appears from the town book, was held at the house of Bartley Dunn. The first town officers were:
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Nathaniel Sessions, Supervisor; George Germain, Clerk; Silas Crippen, Treasurer; Hector Hays, Chauncey Conkey, II. V. Lebhart, Nathaniel Sessions, Justices.
In reality, Wm. Sessions was supervisor the first year, as his father, N. Sessions, resigned on account of ill health; and William was appointed. This does not appear on the record. one leaf of which is missing. The name of Wm. Sessions appears as supervisor, with no record of the change.
The number of votes was thirty-six.
Voted that the town officers have six shillings a day for ser- vices: $90 were raised for town expenses, and $10 for the poor.
On the records of the year are found the names of Bartly Dunn, a blacksmith, died 1850, aged 36; Nathaniel Sessions -in a good old age, still living in North Plains; Hector Hays. also still living in the same place: Channeey Conkey, soon moved away; Hiram Brown. Geo. D. Kellogg, Geo. W. Germain, and Major D. Mills, still resident; Baker Borden. moved to Grand Rapids; Moses De Long, Lyman Williams. Lorin Jenks and Valentine Lewis, transient: Henry V. Leb- hart, died at Lyons, 1874; Silas Crippen, died 1832; Jay Olm- sted. died 1868, aged 57; Wm. Sessions, lives at Ionia; John Jennings, lives in Ronald; Caleb Bundy, died 1855; Samuel Staughton. dead; Caleb Crippin, died in Isabel county: Alvin B. Smith, dead; Jolm McKelvy, died 1847, aged 57: Jacob Dunn, dead; Joseph Bundy, died in the army.
The honor of being the first settlers of North Plains is amicably divided between Hiram Brown and Hector Hays. who left Ontario county, N. Y., in October, 1836, with their families, and in company wended their weary way to the wilds of Michigan. They were not without means; each had a yoke of oven, wagon, and a little money. At Detroit they pur- chased extra teams; loaded their families and provisions on their wagons; sent their household goods around the lakes and took the trail for Ionia. It was their intention to have kept together, but the lazier team and heavier load of Hays, made it irksome to Brown to keep back, or for Hays to keep up. At Pontiac Hays told Brown to " go ahead." Brown went ahead.
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and, by arriving four days sooner than Hays, secured the dis- tinetion of being the "first settler." Arrived Oct. 9th.
This journey was one of labor and suffering; streams were to be forded; a heavy snow fell while they were on their jour- ney. Nights were spent camping under trees. They were not used to that style of living, and it is no wonder, if, before the weary journey was ended, they wished themselves back in old Ontario.
Brown arrived at his camping ground in North Plains, Oct. 5th, 1836, and Hays four days later. They camped for a while until they could get themselves log houses, which they lid before winter. They had provisions, young hearts and stont hands, and they went to work. They had neighbors at the south; but in all other directions all was a " hooting wild- erness." "Finny streams," "lowing vales." and "howling wildernesses " are hackneyed terms, which from use have lost their poetic charm. When we recollect that in the wilds of Michigan, the owl was the settler's chief serenader. the term " hooting wilderness " is seen to be singularly expressive and poetic. But let all future writers bear in mind, that the felicit- ons expression is copyrighted.
In 1837, the accessions were: Jay Ohnstead, Nathanial Ses- sions, Moses Dean, Anson D. Glass, Silas Crippin, Wmn. Vance, and Major D. Mills.
Afterwards the filling up was slow for some years. Among those arriving in the succeeding years, we notice, Geo. W. Kel- logg, '39; Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer and sons, Samuel E. Stangh- ton, George W. Germain, John Mc Kelvy, William W. Edmins- ter, Jireh Baker and family, his son Horace Baker, and Bartly Dunn.
The history of this town is not so much its settlement, as of its steady development into fine farms and thriving villages. Its pioneers, Brown and Hays, in a good old age, still live. enjoying the well-merited respect of the people, who have always looked up to them as among their leaders. But few of the other pioneers still add the dignity of their venerable presence to the town. Of many who have passed away, we are sorry to say, no stone marks their grave. We have all
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manner of "associations " now-a-days; would not a " Pioneer Monument Association " be a graceful addition to the number?
Of Hays, it may be said, that if his lazy oxen deprived him of the distinction of being the pioneer of North Plains, he was in another sense the pioneer. He first furnished futted beef to the citizens of Grand Rapids. That is an event of too much importance for the historian to pass over. He had raised a yoke of steers; but in their development one of them grew up the most ungainly brute that ever disgraced a farm- so big that he could not be matched, and so ill-shaped that if he had been mated with his equal, Hays did not wish to be branded as their owner. . What was to be done? " I will fat him," said Havs; and he did it. He fed him a year, took him to Grand Rapids, and sold him. There several clubbed to- gether, bought the monster, paraded him, deeked with ribbons, through the streets, while a herald announced his slaughter the next morning. The morn of sacrifice came. Each denizen of the village came for a piece of the " big ox." They had eaten nothing before but beef "fatted lean " on browse and marsh hay. Such a smacking of lips as there was there that forenoon was a joy to witness. The universal greeting was: "Did you have some of the beef ?" "Wasn't it delicions?" So great was the rush to the slaughter-house, that by eight o'clock in the morning, nothing was left of the meat but the tail and half the liver. Nothing was heard during the day but praises of the beef. It was a day long to be remembered by the residents at Grand Rapids.
When Hays returned home, he sat down to figure on his " big ox," and the result was:
Ox Dr.
Cost of first four years. . $50 00
Feeding five tons of hay at $S per ton . 40 00
100 bushels of potatoes at 20 cts. per bushel . 20 00
75
" corn at 30 cts. per bushel.
22.50
Marketing 5 00
$137 50
Cr. cash on sale
56 00
Clear profit $81 50
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" Well done, ox! Henceforth be thon identified with the corporeal system of the citizens of Grand Rapids, and I will enjoy the profit of thy living identity."
. Historically, North Plains has the advantage of a tragedy. which is still shrouded in mystery. In the spring of 1838 the settlers and community were horrified by the murder of the family of AAnsel D. Glass, before mentioned as one of the pio- neer settlers of the town. Public opinion is still divided as to who was the perpetrator. Glass lived four miles from any neighbor. The last known of him he had cut his foot badly on the instep; this was done up by Major Mills, who, with his wife, went there at the request of Mrs. Glass. This was about the middle of March. Judge Brown, out hunting, came to Glass' house, found it partly burned, and saw the partly consumed remains of several persons; he spread the report, and soon an excited crowd gathered. A coroner's jury was empaneled, who investigated the case, but could arrive at no conclusion, except that Mrs. Glass and her two children were murdered. The excitement was intense; Glass could not be found. Some cir- cumstances pointed to the Indians as the murderers, and the fear of the Indians almost paralyzed the people. Cobmoos: and the Indians came to the scene of the murder; they endeav- oring to exculpate the Indians of the Valley, still saying it was Indians' work. An eye witness, Capt. Parks, says that the mien of that chief, as he addressed the Indians there, was of the most impressive dignity. Although his address was not understood by the whites, the eloquence of tone and action was comprehended and felt by all.
No effort was spared by the Indians to allay the fears of the settlers. By every imaginable act of kindness they tried to conciliate good will, but all in vain until the story of the dis- covery of Glass was circulated. Then confidence again re- turned, and the settler, when he bade his loved ones " Good night," did it without fear, and slept in peace.
Four Indians, not belonging to any of the river clans, had been loafing around for some time, and were not seen after the murder of the Glass family. The Indians laid the deed to them. Others believed that Glass was the murderer, and that
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he had run away. No motive can be assigned for the deed being done by Glass; and besides, being crippled by a recent wound, he could not have run away.
Our opinion is, that these Indians got into a quarrel with Glass; took him from his house, murdered and secreted him: then returned and finished up the job by killing Mrs. G. and the children. and firing the house.
It was reported afterwards that Glass was seen and identified ont by the Mississippi river. A warrant for his return to the State was got out, but never served, for the reason that there were no funds in the treasury to pay the expense. A promi- nent man in the county informed the writer that he himself invented the story of the discovery of Glass, to allay the set- tlers' fear of the Indians. No one felt safe. He was satisfied that the Indians of the Valley did not do the deed, and, to re- assure the people, manufactured the story. His name is not here given. Those who know what it is to be afraid of In- (lians, will excuse the fraud. But until the above alluded to man shall see fit, over his own name, to tell his story to the public, the memory of Glass will be coupled with the belief in his three-fold murder.
Mr. McKelvy, who more properly belongs to Lyons, brought the first " civilized hogs" into the Grand River Valley. Those, who have seen the old-fashioned, yellow, long-nosed grey- hound hogs of Michigan, will appreciate this act of McKelvy. Those, who in former times ate "Western pork," know well the difference between a civilized and a savage hog. The hog, unrefined by culture, is a savage beast; lean as a wolf; one-third nose; a sinister, gaunt, long-eared nuisance. Cultivated, he is the noble Suffolk. with his sleek sides stuffed with juicy pork; or the beautiful Chester, whose mild eyes and glossy sides seem smilingly to say, "eat me." What cannot culture do? 'Tis as useful in man as in the hog. Under culture, the old brutal swine, cursed by the Jew; a by- word for slovenly brutishness, is disappearing; yes, has disap- peared. When will culture cause to disappear the british, superstitious, even unhogly, human swine? Alas, it is to be feared that " careful selection" and the knife will never exterm- inate the old kind, as in America they have done with the hog.
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Let us do honor to Miss Sarah Sangster. who first, in a little shanty, kept a private school near Mr. Hays. She was the daughter of a Baptist preacher. and is now, if living, Mrs. Floyd (a widow), in California. This is not the only town that cherishes the name of Miss Sangster. In another part of this book our opinion is freely given of the "school-marms." We will only add here our advice to young men. In looking for a good wife, one who will be a helpinate and a companion. and a wise mother to your children. don't look among the fashion- able Misses (if you have brains), until you have seen the " school-marm."
The preachers who penetrated the town when it was the back-woods, were Mitchell, Chatfield and L. M. S. Smith. (otherwise spoken of). But the one who has the honor of being the first was Nathan Mount.
As an historical event, we might tell of the preparation by the Second Adventists of their "ascension robes" and their waiting for the final trump; but sickened disgust at fanatic superstition prompts to draw the veil. and name neither per- sons nor time. It is sufficient to say there is pity for dupes. scorn for knaves, and contempt for fools. The town has had its Second Advent spasm-hope they learned common sense by it; but vain is the hope. Those whose foreheads "slant back" will have some dear delusion, and will pray about those who cherish " human reason."
In passing, we will say a few words abont John McKelvy. who sleeps in the cemetery at North Plains, but who belonged to Lyons. He brought in the first drove of cattle, and the first seed wheat. In 1838, his son, John, Jr., brought in the first thrashing-machine-an S-horse power-going to Roches- ter. N. Y., for it. The wheat was sold in small quantities to the settlers, for $5 per bushel.
This John McKelvy was a character in his way; a man of strong intellect, of stern integrity; sympathetic and helpful to the needy; energetic in business. and not to be trifled with. IIe served in the war of 1812. In 1827, he settled seven miles north of Pontiac; and, in 1834, moved to Lyons, where he improved a large farm, and secured a handsome property. He
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died in 1847, aged 57. One son of his-Daniel-went to the Mississippi, and was brought back to die. A daughter is the wife of John E. Morrison, of Ionia; and his son and name- sake is a lawyer and farmer in North Plains.
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This John McKelvy can tell you many a good story of those "dear old times." Get him, Hays, Brown, Mills, and the other old sinners-no, settlers-together, their pipes all lit, a good pitcher of cider on the table, and they will spin yarns enough -- all intensely interesting to the actors-to make a book. But gentle reader, a story from the mouth of a living actor in the scene, is one thing; a printed report of it as taken down by a reporter, is quite another. Listen to the aforesaid old fellows, laughing until their jolly old sides ache, as one remembrance after another comes up; you laughing yourself into convulsions in the sympathy of full enjoyment. Then go home and try to write it up. It won't be written. A spirit cannot be caught. Life is made up of common events of the intensest interest to the individuals, but no common event will bear printing. You have worked hard, dear reader; have been a good man or woman; but have you given one line to history! Of most of us good folks, the only record will be on a stone: " Died Dec. 16th, 1879, aged 61 years, 5 months and 21 days and a half." How many a useful career has no more record!
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