USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 11
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MATHERTON.
This is a snug little village, bearing the name of its founder, Asaph Mather, who, in 1844, bought out Beckwith & Co., who, two years before had made a beginning-built a saw mill, etc. It is now a snug little village-such as will cluster itself about the mills.
The place is capable of further development. Of it, Mather has been, and is, the center and the soul; in more senses than one, the "biggest man in town." A steam saw mill was built by Mather in 1873. A school is kept all the year.
HUBBARDSTON.
Under the auspices of the Hubbardston Lumbering Com- pany, and centering around their works, is the snug village with the above name.
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This company was composed of Thomas Hubbard, Noah Hitchcock, Newton W. Taylor, Wilson Homer and Nelson F. Rogers.
They, with a capital of $75,000, laid out the village, and put up mills in 1865. They have a saw mill of 40 M per day capacity, sash and blind works, and are erecting works for the manufacture of various articles from hard wood. The village contains seven hundred inhabitants; a graded school, with five teachers.
The village has three taverns, six stores, one lawyer, two doctors, one foundry, three churches-the Methodist built in 1868, the Congregational in 1868, and the Catholic in 1869. It has also a printing office and newspaper.
The water-power is one of the best in the country, and capa- ble of further development.
In the cemetery at North Plains, may be found another instance of the coincident death of an old couple. Moses Rounds, 1868, aged 75; his wife, Sophia, the same day.
It is to be supposed they were married; that they were imbued with an idea, now obsolete, that a man and his wife are one. Would it not be well if people had not become so much wiser than the original lawyer, who promulgated that idea. My hat came off at this grave. I know not who they were, except they were "Moses and Sophia Rounds;" but between them there certainly was one soul.
RONALD.
The following account of Ronald is mainly from an article prepared by the Rev. John Van Vleck, and published in the " Ionia County Directory." Mr. Van Vleck is an oldl resident. and speaks of what he knows. The language of Van Vleck is not used, but we are happy to acknowledge our obligations to him, and to Mr. Dillenback,, who has kindly consented to onr use of the article.
Ronald was first broken into in the spring of 1837, by George Younger and Joshua Shepard. Shepard's location is now the county poor farm. He did not survive but a short time He left a widow and three sons -William, Chauncey and
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Norman, who remained on the farm and cleared it up. Sam- uel Yates had before (1835) settled south of the town line, locating part of his farm in Ronald. Shepard's farm was near the south line.
In the autumn of 1837, came the Rev. John Van Vleck and William Wood, who pushed further north; Van Vleck locat- ing where now is the village of Palo, and Wood on Sec. 19. In the winter following, the father of Van Vleck came on to look; looked, saw and approved, and the next summer moved on with his family. The family consisted of Mathew Van Vleck, his wife, three sons, John, Albert and Peter, and two daughters, Catharine and Sarah. The entire family are still living; the old patriarch is happy, seeing his sons and dangh- ters all around him, enjoying the good things of the world, and the respect of the community, of which they and he were the pioneers. The family secured an abundant supply of land, and have held on upon it.
They had no neighbors for several years; and a journey through the "tangled wilderness" to the abodes of civilization was no trifle. The old gentleman and his wife, on the shady side of SO, in their cosy home in Palo, are biding their time. Intellect is still elear, and though the departure is at hand, con- scious of a life well spent, and proud of the family they have reared, they look not back with regret, and have no fears of being forgotten. The hoary head, which is the crown of a life well spent, has always its veneration, and we reverently take off our hat to the venerable old man and woman, peacefully finishing life's wearying pilgrimage. We do not say "live forever," for it is our hope, in peaceful and honored old age, "to lie down with our fathers." So, when the time comes, when " the wheel is broken at the cistern," and the pulses of life beat without emotion, we hope that loving hands will lay you away where the angel of the resurrection will find you. Be yours a peaceful old age awhile longer. while intellect holds sway, and while life has its charms. When these fail, it is sweet to rest. Who wishes to live, a human nobody-a shat- tered lantern, in which no light is burning ? Benedicite !
Moralizing on old age, we have strayed from Ronald.
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Catharine Van Vleck married George D. Tasker, and now survives as his widow. Their marriage was the first event of the kind in the town. At the rural wedding, an immense wild turkey was a part of the feast; whether served in ancient Spanish style, like the peacock at Don Pedro's feast, "all dressel in fire and feather," tradition does not say. That the fiddler came from Ionia, with his old violin, to start the rural swains and country lasses into the hilarious dance, is not sup- posable-for her brother was a minister; the dance was under the church's proscription; and the violin was banned, excom- municated and abhorre.l. It hat not yet won its place in the churches and at Christian homes, for the good reason that it had kept bad company. Young reader, beware, and take a lesson from the violin. If you are found in low company, you will not find your place in higher. No, they did not have a violin; but the young dominic cracked many a sly joke, that exploded in hilarious laughter. Why, let alone the dominie for waking up a wedding party. Now, they are much like other genial people; but in time past they were just like a bot- tle of champagne-still and long-visaged until the cork was taken out. Then, though long-visaged still, there was an ex- plosive effervescence. We don't say it was in this case; only that this was dominical nature; a fact which proves that grace cannot altogether conquer human nature.
In 1838, Alanson Snow (since dead) came, with a large fam- ily, and located in the middle of the town. His father-in-law, Pangborn. was brought on with them. He was a Revolution- ary soldier; kept alive, as was said, to draw his pension, much longer than there is any sense or propriety in living; alive long years after all show of intellect had disappeared, and almost all signs of even life; dying, at last, over one hundred years old, from mere lack of any oil in the exhausted lamp. To live so is dreadful. Death, thon art not " the king of terrors" to a good old age. Thy presence is welcome, as bringing a peace- ful rest. Why sometimes forget to come when life is a weari- ness and a curse ?
·
Of senses bereft, And all that is dear,
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The little that's left Is out of its sphere. O, is there not sadness In an old man's doom! And say, is it madness That welcomes the tomb ?
The same year came Lafayette Church, now a minister in Gratiot county. He made some improvements and went away. So also came and went J. J. Foote.
In 1839, Stephen and Wellington Page settled in the town, where they held prominent place among the good citizens; they now reside in Ionia.
Eli Soule came in 1840, but left for other parts. Win. Jen- nings came in '42. He now is in Ionia. Joseph L. Freeman and family were added in '43, and the same year Daniel Dodge. His sons say he was not that Dodge whose epitaph-
" He dodged the good, But never dodged the evil; He dodged his best and all he could, But could not dodge the devil,"-
has become classic. No, he was not that Dodge, but another man of another family. That Dodge was a Dr. Dodge, of Thomaston, Maine, and this epitaph, composed by himself, was truly expressive of the character of the old reprobate. The Ronald Dodge was another sort of man; and among his sons were two lawyers, one doctor, one editor, and two teachers. No old bach., like the Dr. Dodge of Thomaston, or such a man, ever raised such a family. Two of his boys-the twins- look so much alike. especially Elvander, that they scarcely know themselves apart.
1845 brought the Mosier family, Geo. Sessions and Phineas Hutchins. Sessions went away after a few years, and, as a consequence, was killed by the caving of a mine in California; a warning to such as desert Ronald.
Alpheus Hawley came in '46-a man who was death on bears. wolves and muskrats, as well as a successful farmer, and valned citizen. He is still resident. His tribute to his coun- try was two sons, who died in the war.
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Slowly the town filled up. In 1846, at the time of its organization, there were 26 voters. At the organization Wm. Jennings had the honor of being the first supervisor.
In 1845, that "Mother in Israel," Mrs. Dodge, organized a Sunday school. This woman died at the residence of lier son, in Ionia, in 1872. The pioneer school was kept by John Van Vleck-only 5 or 6 scholars.
AAbont 1854, Albert Van Vleck, thinking it was too bad for the people to go to Ionia for their matches and tobacco, opened a little store, where he kept those articles; also, calico, sugar, etc. Soon around the store centered the blacksmith, shoe- maker, carpenter, etc. This decided that there was the place for the church, the school-house, and the et ceteras of a country center, and the pretty village of Palo is the result. In honor of the victory at Palo Alto it received its name; a name sug- gested by Van Vleck, and given by acclamation, when the news of that victory first came.
Palo is now a sung country center. Here the Baptists and Methodists have their churches; and here they have several manufacturing concerns, and the usual complement of stores, doctors, mechanics, etc., of a thriving country village. The place has no natural advantages, but is what man made it.
Ronald has its traditions. It once had a magistrate-a jus- tice or an esquire-not learned indeed in the law, but fertile in resources. This dignitary was called upon to weld two into one, which he did to his own and their satisfaction. To his own; for he had been sadly in need of a dollar to send to Ionia for whisky and tobacco; to theirs, for a life of blissful union was now begun. But earthly bliss is often evanescent: Ere twenty days had elapsed, the married couple presented them- "selves again at the justice's house. " We cannot live together," said Obadiah. "I won't live with him," said his charming Sophia. "Can't you unmarry us?" said both together. The justice pondered, and scratched his judicial head; he took down the " statutes," searched them, and ruminated deep and long. IIe found no law to authorize the deed. He thought again-" What man has done he may undo; this is common sense, and should be law." Rising from his
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magisterial chair, he said: "Obadiah and Sophia, stand up, and take each other by the hand; do you solemnly promise to separate, and bother each other no more?" Answer of both: " You bet on that." "Then I unmarry you-get along with you-you couple of greenies; associate with owls and poren- pines; only get out of my sight-git!" And they " got " ineon- tinently and instanter.
Another dim tradition is one, in which the Rev. Van Vleck, a horse, a deer, a fire-brand and a pair of scissors are mixed up. But whether it was that Van Vleck, riding along an Indian trail, saw a deer; and having snatched the remnants of a pole from a burning brush-pile, mounted his horse, pursued, overtook and knocked down the deer with the blazing brand, and then cut his throat with a pair of scissors; or that a deer, riding a pair of scissors, chased Van Vleck, knocked him down with a horse, and ent his throat with a fire-brand; or, that a horse, riding a fire-brand, pursued a pair of scissors, knocked them down with Van Vleck, and cut their throat with a deer, is quite uncertain; antecedent probability is in favor of the first way of stating it; but the tradition is mixed. This much is sure-some such event did happen.
We will follow the fortune and the fate of a few more of the pioneers of Ronald.
Alfred Van Vleck has always lived at Palo. There he is as happy as 1,000 acres of prime land, flocks, herds, money in the bank, and a good name, can make him.
George Younger, was an industrious, hard-working Scotch- man; an honest, sober man. He has paid the debt of nature. Win. Wood, lived in Ronald but a few years; removed to Otisco, where he built a mill. He died at Saranac, about 1871.
Benjamin F. Pew, who should have been mentioned as con- ing in abont 1840, has alternated between Ronald and Califor- nia. He was a " patriot " in the MeKenzie war in Canada; was a prisoner at Quebec. Released, he concluded to let the Canadians do their own patriotism. He has since thrived by attending to his own business as a merchant at Palo. He has been a mighty hunter.
Wm. Jennings, left Ronald; but left behind the regret that
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he chose Ionia. He labored for the good of the community, and had a strong hold on their respect, which he had worthily won. He is now a merchant at Ionia.
Ronald was organized as a town in 1845. Its first officers were:
William Jennings, Supervisor; William J. Clark, Clerk; Royal Howell. Treasurer; John Ransom, Parley Eaton, Chauncey Goodwin, Joseph L. Freeman, Justices.
PALO BAPTIST CHURCHI.
The Baptist Church at Palo was organized March 18th, 1846, with twelve members-seven men and five women. About three hundred have since been admitted by letter or profession. The Rev. John Van Vleck, who was one of the constituent members, was the first pastor, and has served, in all, seventeen years in that capacity.
This church was the first in Ronald; and for several years the only religious society in town. Its growth has been steady and healthy; and a quiet, yet powerful influence for good has gone out from it during all the years of its existence. It has a good frame meeting house-built about 1860. It has now a membership of over 150 persons, and is, under the leadership of its present pastor, Rev. H. A. Rose, likely to continue a prosperous and useful religious society. J. V. C.
The following communication is left to tell the story of Methodism in this region. It is given in the language of the writer. We only wish we had such reports from all the churches as we get from Ronald:
PALO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church consists of three Classes: the Palo, West Bushnell and South Ronald Classes, having a total full membership of one hundred and forty; probationers, twenty.
The present pastor, Rev. Burton S. Mills, receives a salary of $800, and parsonage. $100-8900. The parsonage was built in 1858. In the years 1869-70, a church building, 36 by 60 feet, was erected and furnished with a bell, organ, carpet and furnace, at a total cost of $4,500, and dedicated, free of debt, August, 1870.
Since that time sheds have been built containing ten stalls, and costing $500.
The West Bushnell Class have a neat little chapel nearly completed, cost- ing about $1,500, which they expect to dedicate, free of debt, before the close of the present year.
The first organization within our present limits, was the Class at Long Plains. in the year 1846, organized by the preachers in charge of either the lonia or Lyons Circuit-Revs. F. A. Blades and - Comfort. This is the
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present South Ronald Class, and some of the original members are still living and members of the Class.
In 1854, the Michigan Annual Conference organized the Matherton Cir- cuit, consisting of this and several other Classes. In 1856, Palo Class was added, and in 1861-2 these had increased to ten Classes. In 1862, Palo Cir- suit was formed, and in 1870, consisted of five Classes, two of which in that year were set off to Bloomer Circuit, leaving the charge consisting of the three Classes as they exist at the present time, the oldest being the original " Long Plains Class " of 1846. A. E. HALBERT.
Palo, Nov. 4th, 1875.
ORLEANS.
The history of Orleans is of settlement and growth, with no striking events to render it peculiar.
It was not a town by itself until 1846. The first town meeting was at the residence of Ira Wheeler. The first town- . ship officers elected were:
Gilbert H. King, Supervisor; Seneca H. King, Clerk; Ira Wheeler, Treasurer; Gilbert H. King, Jesse Wood, Guy Web- ster, Gerret Snetiker, Justices.
The first school was kept by a Miss Hewitt, in the chamber ber of a log house.
The first settler was Guy Webster, in the southeast corner of the town, in 1838; he came in March. He was followed in May by Joseph Collins; and soon after by Erastus Higbee in June; and by Asa Palmer and Lorenzo D. Bates in December. Of these, Webster and Higbee are dead. The rest have moved off, leaving Mr. Palmer alone in his glory.
In 1839 a few more came-Daniel Hoyt, who still resides on the land he first purchased; and, by the way, he was the first preacher in the town; Archibald Sangster and Chester Schoffield, both of whom moved away; and Joseph Collins. In Collins' family occurred the first death in the town -- that of his son Joseph, Jr., in the winter of 1839-40. Also in his fam- ily occurred the first wedding. Two young fellows from Otisco, Wm. G. Bradish and Hiram Baxter, being out hunting one day, discovered Collins' charming daughters, as they were picking blackberries. The consequence was that, some time afterwards, Thomas Cornell, Esq., of Ionia was called to the house of Collins, and by him four were made two-that is, if man and wife are one.
.
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We cannot give the date of the entry of others, neither is it important. Orleans was settled at a time when it was only to go one step further.
We have as early settlers the names of Jesse Wood, Alexan- der Howe, Martin Eckart, Gilbert HI. King. Wm. R. Kidd, Wm. Bradley, Samuel Raby, and Joseph C. Green. All of whom are dead. As transient residents, we find Agnus Mc- Pherson, Isaac Harwood, Milo K. Cody, David Courter, Rob- ert W. Kidd, Dewitt C. Hurd, Chester Goss, and Marvin Haight. Of those who came to stay, stayed, and at this writing (1875) are living residents, were Edward B. Post, Richard Hill, Richard Hale. Albert Dorr, Ira Wheeler, Samuel T. Kidd. Warner Wheeler, Thomas Neep, W. Gould, James C. Beach, Seneca HI. King, Lewis J. Holcomb, Charles Chad- wick, Hiram Hall, Adam Bussard, and Joshua Hall. The list above given are reported to have come from 1842 to 1846, inclusive.
A quiet farming town, it has gone on the even tenor of its way; every one, as a general thing, minding his own business; thus engaged. they have prospered. They have only modest churches, and are not overstocked with them. The Seventh Day Adventists have a church; also the Free Methodists, and the Episcopal Methodists. There is a pretty Town Hall-erected in 1871.
Snch is, in brief, the history of this excellent town-no his- tory at all. It is a good place to live in, and the distance from there to heaven is the same as from Ionia. Are we to suppose that because Ionia has her spires pointing heavenward, the people there worship God more devoutly than in Orleans? Perhaps, too, Orleans will build her temples, and decorate her altars. But at present she is content with rural simplicity. That she does not associate ignorance with simplicity, her ten school-houses attest. But still she has no history-long may it be before she has any.
Since writing the above, we have clipped from a paper the following obituary notice:
" Died in Ronald, Dec. 23d, (1874,) Mrs. Lucretia Webster; aged 84.
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"The deceased and her husband, the late Gen. Webster. came to Ronald in 1838. They were the first settlers in the town of Ronald (Orleans?). In their house many an early settler found a hospitable welcome and a temporary home. Few women were so universally esteemed as Mrs. Webster in the com- munity, where she had so long lived, and where she died. She was, in the truest sense of the term, a Christian lady. Attentive to the poor, kind to the sick, and warmly sympa- thizing with the afflicted; an excellent neighbor, a true friend and counselor; she was an invaluable member of society, and has left behind her a name that will not be forgotten."
That is but a part of what was said, but if that is true, and she was your mother, you are not a very bad man. Good and wise women don't raise low families.
OTISCO.
Otisco, then composed of towns 7 and 8 N., R. 8 W., was organized by act of Legislature in 1838. The first town meet- ing was held at the house of Ambrose Spencer. There are no records of the meeting in existence. From the memory of individuals is gathered, that John L. Morse was elected super- visor; R. R. Cook, clerk; Geo. W. Dickinson and II. Horton, justices.
In 1836, five men-Daniel Horton, Nathaniel Horton, Geo. W. Dickinson, Patrick Kelly, and Monson Seely, pushed several miles beyond the bounds of civilization; and, delighted with the appearance of the region, shonted "Eureka!" As neither of them had " college larnin," it is not certain where they got so much Greek. They had been told it was Indian for "Bunknm," but that was an imposition. It means, "I have found it." So the historian was told by a college student. who was airing himself on a vacation, and displaying his knowledge before us-a lot of country rustics-and a college student ought to know. He said that Demosthenes, king of Ethiopia, suspected that he had been cheated by the one who made his crown, and that it was not pure gold. He carried it to Hydrocephalus, his principal wise man, and desired him to
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ascertain if the base metals had been mingled with the gold of the kingly crown. Hydrocephalus long pondered, but scratched his woolly pate in vain. The idea would not come. But one day-weary. dirty and dejected -- he thought to refresh himself with a bath. He ordered his slaves to fill the trough. and laid himself therein. He observed that as he descended into the water the water arose. An idea now flashed into his mind: he could solve the problem of the crown. He leaped from the bath, and without waiting to put on even a figleaf, ran through the streets of Babylon, shouting, "Eureka! Eureka !!
Not exactly so with our explorers. With them it meant "Good, A, No. 1;" and their judgment has been respected until the present day.
Of course they pre-empted land, put them up huts, cut down trees, and made an opening. From their report, it was bruited far and near that " Otisco Plains" was the promised land; and the same year, Rufus R. Cook, Abdel Adgate, John L. Morse and Amos H. Russell came on to see-saw, and stayed. They. in turn, told of Otisco; and the filling up was rapid. Soon Otisco had no land to spare.
Of those coming in 1837 and 'S, we are able to give the names of Ambrose Spencer, Charles Broas, Volney Belding, Thomas Stocking, William Russell, Edward Ingalls, John Shaw, Tiberins Belding, Joseph Fisk, Charles H. Morse, John L. Morse, Robert W. Davis, Loring Benedict, Alonzo Vaughn, Paul Hewitt, James Moon, Moses Collins, Alvin Moe, Gilbert Caswell.
There was everything to invite the settler, and its settlement was more rapid than of any other rural town in the Grand River Valley. This was in a great measure owing to the fact that it was little work comparatively to subdue the " Burr Oak Plains."
The original occupants " squatted " on their land, before it was in the market. They, and the other squatters in Ionia county, banded themselves together by an alliance, offensive and defensive, against that abomination of the settler-the speculator; and swore by the beard of Nebuchadnezzar to wreak summary vengeance on the reprobate, who should dare bid on
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their pre-emptions. One graceless fellow, not having the fear of God or squatter before his eyes, did bid; and the last seen of him, he was all heels; going from Ionia like a streak of blue lightning; a yelling, infuriated score of squatters raising a cloud of dust in his wake. He went back East, very much disgusted with Ionia county.
The first marriages were those of Ambrose Spencer and Evelina Melvin, of Ionia, consummated in Ionia; and that of Asa Palmer and Rosa McDonald, by N. Horton, Justice of the Peace.
The first birth, was a daughter to Amos Russell, (now Mrs. Fales, of Kendallville). The first male child born in Otisco. was the since Senator A. B. Morse.
Otisco, did not long escape the notice of those energetic scouts-the Methodists. While the Episcopalians hold the fortresses, the Presbyterians and Congregationalists do battle in the open field, and the Baptists valiantly defend the coasts and rivers, the Methodists are scouting and skirmishing, wherever there is a lurking enemy, or a single soul in danger.
The first who found a few souls in Otisco was the Rev. Mr. Frieze, who was appointed by the Ohio Conference to patrol from Grandville to Otisco, and manfully he did it. On foot, he traversed the region. He felt that souls were of infinite worth, and, willing to sacrifice self, he, unwearied and unflag- ging, gave himself to his mission. His first sermon was at the house of Munson Seely. Think of it, ye dainty preachers who have taken up the trade to get a living; think of these devoted servants of Jesus, who preached Jesus in log-cabins or under trees, unpaid, except by the still whisperings of a voice within, which said, "It is my master's work: I will glory in doing it." With portmanteau on his arm, as he is wending his way from station to station, the forest will echo with his song:
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