USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 12
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"And shall I shrink to bear the cross ? He bore the cross for me."
Floundering at night in a swamp, or lost from the trail his soul still clings to the "promises;" and, wearied in body, he
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meets those to whom he bears his message as the ambassador of heaven to lost and sinful souls.
Those pioneer Methodists, like Frieze, were no silk stock- ing gentry, who, standing in enshioned pulpit, will gracefully close their eyes and address a beautiful prayer to an admiring congregation. No, like Jacob, they wrestled with the Almighty, and would not let him go. They had no quartette to whom was delegated the singing. They sung because their burning souls must pour themselves in song. The people listened, not to be entertained by a finished sermon, but as sinners, wel- coming the message of salvation. Those were the times when the preacher was heard; when they believed what was preached, and when there was a welcome to those who brought good-tidings to the sin-sick souls, longing for peace. Alas ! Methodism is not what it was; and hence its waning power.
The first to " pass over Jordan" in Otisco, were Clarissa Fisk in June, 1841, and Eliza Stocking at about the same time.
In the cemetery at Cook's Corners, may be found a reminder of how strong are the bonds holding together an aged couple, who were married not to be divorced even by death. Of such it is no uncommon thing, " that one in life they are one in death." These are the monuments of " Dea. Dimmick Ellis, aged 81," and his wife lies by his side, having survived three weeks. Again, in the same cemetery, we find Noah and Nancy Rich, dying the same year. Often, full often, is it seen that it breaks the heart-strings when the companion of long. long years, is taken away. Earth affords no anchorage. The lone one languishes a day, a week, or a year, and rejoins the lost one. The first persons the writer ever saw buried, were an aged man and his wife, in one broad grave. Forty years from that time, their son and his wife were buried in the same manner. Perhaps there are few cemeteries that do not tell the same story-an old couple who were one in soul, and all to each other.
And since we are in Otisco cemetery, and thinking of wedded life, we will look at the monuments of Alva and Jane Moe, where one survived the other twenty-eight days. We are glad to record any evidences that people have souls.
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But we will come back to these pioneers:
Daniel Horton, removed to Iowa, 1850, where he and his little boy were drowned while crossing a river.
Nathanial Horton, left for Iowa at about the same time. Geo. W. Dickinson, lives at Grand Rapids.
. Patrick Kelly, came with Dickinson as a hired man-a good- hearted Irishman. He made a good farm for himself and a good name. Ile now lives in Orleans.
SMYRNA.
Near the southern border of Otisco, on the Flat River, is the pretty village of Smyrna.
Operations were commenced there in 1843, by Geo. W. Dickinson, Calvin L. Smith and Gilbert Caswell; who built a mill. Smyrna is now a village, that centers around its mills. There are a saw mill, grist mill, sash, blind and door factory, planing machine, furnace, five stores, etc., and 300 people.
There are two churches-Baptist and Congregational.
The following brief sketch of the history of the Baptist church in Smyrna, is from N. G. Chase:
"Rev. Amos Chase, of Ada, preached occasionally, and then steadily to the inhabitants of this place; and was honored by the Master; but Eld. Underhill, of Vergennes, was ministering there at the time of their organi- zation.
The constituent members were only six: James W. Buttolf, Maria But- tolf, Judson Buttolf, N. G. Chase, Lucinda Chase, Wm. R. Douglass.
Several others who were not prepared for membership, soon identified themselves with the number. One-half of the constituent members remain; the others are harvested.
Mr. Underhill became their first pastor. Rev. A. Waterbury soon suc- ceeded him for a short time, when Rev. John H. Rosco became pastor. The pastorate has since been filled by Rev. Messrs. Charles Clutes, A. D. Wil- liams, F. Prescott, L. B. Fish, S. E. Faxon, A. Cornell, E. Wright, and Henry King, the present clergyman.
The labors of these ministers were crowned with success in the baptism of many on a profession of faith; and, other places becoming too strait or una- vailable, the people* arose in the might of an unseen Arm, and built a neat little church edifice in 1868. Present membership, 63."
The Congregationalist Church in Smyrna was organized March 21st, 1868,
* Mr. Chase's modesty left out the fact that he himself did one-half of it. The two acts are just characteristic.
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with seven members: George C. Spencer and wite, Oscar F. Mann and wife, Abijah Rich, Mrs. D. B. Hippough and Mrs. Jerome Stoughton.
COOK'S CORNERS.
This is a snug little villags on the plain, with its tavern and its store. It has long been noted for its hotel, where the young and the gay have often met, and "forgot to go home till morning." There Cook, the genial landlord, has spread the bountiful board, and gathered the beautiful dollars. We inst sadly state that since the above lines were written, Cook has been gathered to his fathers, and there seems to be some- thing missing at the " Corners."
" There is a reaper, his name is Death, And he has a sickle keen."
KIDDVILLE.
This little village is also in Otisco. It has its history, its present reality, and its expectations. Here (historically) Dick- inson built the first saw-mill in the town. Here (present fact) they have a railroad station, with a fine depot; and they have mills, stores, etc .; and here (prospectively ) a snug village must be. The principal proprietor is James M. Kidd, of Ionia.
BELDING.
This village, towards the northeast corner of the town, is likely to be the "city;" for here they have capital, determina- tion and pluck, and, withal, a grand water-power.
In early times-the date lost in antiquity-Lucius Pattison made a beginning at what is now Belding; dammed the river. dug a race, and put up a saw-mill. The place did not amount to much until June, 1871, when a company, composed of Da- vid E. Willson, Wm. A. Luther and Robert M. Willson, pur- chased the water and twenty acres of land of Wm. A. Knott. The only improvement was a grist-mill, which they did not purchase. They paid $10,750.
They commenced operations immediately; built a saw-mill. At the same time they purchased a one-fourth interest in 80 acres of land adjoining, paying $2,000. In company with Milo M., Hiram II. and Alva N. Belding, they platted the
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most of the 80 acres. The first year they built the saw-mill- capacity 50,000 per day. A sash, door and blind factory is owned by Fargo & Gooding.
The head of water is twelve feet-not now using but eight feet. The power is not one-third used.
The village has now 400 inhabitants, with the usual busi- ness of a country village, in addition to what rests on the water-power. A branch railroad comes there. The company own ninety-five acres of land across the river, which they are intending to plat. There is a good graded school, with two teachers; two churches-the Christian and Baptist.
The Christian Church was organized in 1844. The pioneer members were Geo. A. Phillips and wife, Mrs. Boynton, Mrs. Stokes, Erastus Jenks and wife, Richard Ellis and wife; Alva Thompson, wife son and daughter. The next year the Rev. Wilson Mosher became its pastor, and continued in that relation until his death in 1873. They have held their meetings in school- houses and halls, but propose soon to build a church at Belding. Present pastor, David E. Miller. Number 35.
KEENE.
The following account of the "settlement" of Keene was furnished the publishers of the "Ionia County Directory," by a well posted citizen of the town. The author of this book, on visiting the town, ascertained that, with a few minor cor- rections, the report was correct, and that but little more could be gleaned. With his thanks to Mr. Dillenback, we gladly avail ourselves of the results of his inquiries.
Keene is inhabited by a "peculiar " people; whether "sanctified and set apart" is not known, but this much is certain: the town is not like other towns. In other towns there is a mixture of saints and sinners; farmers, mechanics, merchants, professionals, etc., but here they are all of one sort-farmers. It is not certain that they are not as religious as the people of neighboring towns, but as yet they have neither priest nor church of any kind. It may be that some jovial sons of Bacchus may there be resident, but this much is true-the town has neither tavern nor grogshop. A low whisky-hole was once set up, but it died of delirium tremens or starvation, and no sneaking scalawag has ventured on an-
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other. The town has never had a store or mill. The people, with the exception of one blacksmitli and a rake-maker, are all farmers The reason of this seems to be, it is encom- passed with villages on its borders. On the east, at no great distance, is the city of Ionia. Just on its southern border. across the river, is the village of Saranac, and on the north, just on the line, is the village of Smyrna. In these are the churches where the Keeneites worship. They have eight chances to find their own order in Saranac; three in Smyrna, and still more in Ionia. There they go, and having helped build and sustain these, they are not so green as to build churches in the town; having no need of them. They can go to mill at either of the aforementioned places; and also they can there find a mechanic, and can buy their tobacco, and the thousand and one things civilized desire may call for ; and there, too (if they have the pass-word), they can get their whisky. So we will not call the Keeneites a forlorn and forsaken people. If you look at their farms and houses; contemplate their " lowing herds," their " bleating flocks," and their "grunting swine," and then take a look at the well-fed owners, quietly sitting before their doors, smoking the pipe of peace and in- dependence, you will be disposed to envy them their peaceful lot. Far from all " middle-men," and other intermeddling characters-such as lawyers, ministers, doctors, shoemakers, and the like-happy, thrice happy, Keene.
" No base mechanic enters here; No intermeddling lawyer near, To spoil our heartfelt joys."
Keene was out in the woods, out of the pale of civilization, until late in the fall of 1837, when two young men from Mon- roe county, N. Y., discovered it, took a liking, built a man- sion, 10x16, and went to chopping. Their names were Orran Owen, and Charles Hickox. Edward Butterfield and Cyrus Rose discovered their tracks and followed. They commenced work February, 1838. Butterfield soon brought in his family. and is recognized as the first settler. Rose moved in the next . December.
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In 1838 were added, Philip Monk and his son, James Monk, Canadians; Morton Reynolds, also from Canada; John Follett; John Conner, from Oakland county; James Chrysler (Cana- dian); Samuel Wells, from St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and and Dexter Cutter. Of these, Mr. Butterfield died in 1846, Mr. Hickox in 1870 ; Mr. Conner was killed by the falling of a tree, in 1852.
In 1839, Philip Monk, James Baird and Elijah Sprague were added to the settlers; David and Stephen Shaul; also Jennison Henry and Simon Heath, John L. Covert, Elijah Sprague and family; Wi. Lott, Thomas Beattie, with Nathan- iel, his son, and his son-in-law, Joseph Brown; Prindle Hub- bel and Robert Taylor. There may be error in the date of the advent of some of these:
" Oblivion comes careering on, In the still fresh track of time."
Wm. Lott kept the first, the last, the only shop for the dissemination of poor whisky to thirsty, besotted, brutish men, who forget why they are not swine.
Thomas Beattie came not as an adventurer, to make a home for himself; he was an old man, who came with his son, and long since has gone to his rest.
Hubbell died where he had lived, about 1855.
Mr. Brown was killed by the running away of his oxen.
Philip Monk, came an old man. He died about 1860.
Charles Hickox was never a permanent resident. Died at Greenville, 1873.
Jennison Henry was killed in '51, by a falling tree.
Of those mentioned, several eventually found themselves in Saranac or Boston; of these were James Baird, Cyrus Rose, Samnel Wells, James Monk. John Follett, James Crysler.
John L. Covert moved to Vergennes, where he still lives.
Simon Heath left Keene for Ionia, where he died about 1857.
The brothers Shaul, went back to Canada.
Mr. Baird died in '64, and Mr. Sprague, in '63; Mr. Monk in '63.
Robert Taylor is long since dead.
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It will hence be seen that but few of the original settlers are in the town of Keene, or have lail their bones in her soil.
We must go back a little on the track of time and record the event of 1538; when, on the ever memorable May 17th. the glad parents-Morton and Alvira Reynolds-welcomed the first baby, their baby, to the town of Keene. The few resi- dents shouted the news from hut to shanty. " They're a baby at Reynolds'!" Nothing was thought of but Reynolds' baby. " Have you seen the baby ?" The house was besieged by the young and old, cach anxious for a peep at the dear little new one. Old Father Monk gave it his blessing; to which Mrs. Butterfield added a cap, and Owen a cradle. True, this ac- count of their doings is all apocryphal; the record and tradi- tion merely showing that a baby was born. The rest is what is supposed to have been done; the historian not being willing to believe they were a Impish set of humans, withont human souls. They had souls, and therefore they welcomed the " baby " and jubilated the event; and now and henceforth that jubilation is history.
The first death in the town, was that of Mary, the wife of Robert Rose.
The pioneer wedding occurred in 1840, when Alvin Butter- field led to the altar-no. Esq. Dexter's-Miss Plena Phipps. Now we do wish that those who make history, would write it. Now here is all we know of that great event -- the names and the date. It is one of the four great events of life-the most important of all. To be born, married, divorced, and die, are the events in a life history. The first and last are inevitable to all. The second and third how few escape; or, driven by their strong impulsions, attempt to avoid ?
Did you ever attend a primitive wedding? We cannot describe this one, for we have already told all we know; they were married. But we can describe a backwoods wedding. A bushel of doughntits is fried, wild turkeys or ducks are cooked, blackberry pies baked, and a jug of " be joyful" brought from afar. All, for a cirenit of miles, are notified, and in due time appear at the log house. Bascom, with his wife and children have come five miles on an ox sled. Simpson has come on his
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horse, with his wife behind him. Elnathan has come on foot, dressed in his best, leading his intended, the fair Roxana, by the hand, or gallantly carrying her on his back across the intervening streams. Obadiah, with no girl, is there alone. For the style of marrying, see "Lyons."
Then comes the feasting, the dancing under the trees, the kissing of the bride, with the freely expressed wishes of the guests-prominent among which is the hope that the happy pair will not long be alone. Hope has given wings to imagi- nation, and visions of sons and daughters appear-unfashion- able articles now-a-days, unless with the " foreign element." But recollect, we are speaking of the days of primitive sim- plicity, before fashion came round. The few maidens present (for they are a scarce article in the woods) are looked at fondly by the bashful swains; and, with averted eyes, seem to think of nothing but the new-made bride. Sly minxes they are; they all want Obadiah, but he does not know it. He feels that he is the gawkiest young man of the whole, and is aw- fully jealous of Peter.
But the time comes when they all must go. Esq. Smith tells Dan and Roxana they can ride with him; he has no one but his wife. They thank him, and say they can go on foot. The Esq. did it just to test them. He recollected that he was young once; and how easy it was then to walk, espe- cially on a moonlight evening.
The new couple go hand in hand to the cabin prepared; and, with bright hopes for the future, begin life together. The bride has a kettle, two chairs and a table for furniture, and her young heart is pleased with these. Bravely they struggle to make for themselves a fortune and a home. Where stood their little log house, you may now see the house that tells of taste and wealth; and there the little grand-children come at Christ- mas, to hear grandpa tell his bear stories, and to cat of grand- ma's pies and cakes.
Keene was a part of Otisco until 1842. Its limits have since twice been changed. The name was given by E. Butter- field, from his native town in New Hampshire-a practice of which the historian does not approve.
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The first election was held at the house of Nathaniel Beat- tie, on Monday, April 4th, 1842, at which thirty-nine votes were cast; and the following persons received the honors of the highest offices:
Asaph C. Smith, Supervisor; Cyrenus Day, Clerk; Samuel Wells, Treasurer; John L. Covert, Joseph W. Sprague, Aaron Hardenburg, Zacheus H. Brower, Justices.
.A post-office was established in 1845; A. C. Smith, P. M.
Miss Ruth Hunt was the first school teacher-the date and place not reported. The first school house was built in 1842, where the Potter school-house now stands.
The fine bridge across the Flat River was built in 1869.
The first settlers squatted on lands that were a reservation. and had never been in market. They joined in the general conspiracy against the "speculator "-a movement which made it unpleasant for any one to bid against a pre-emptor.
The inhabitants of Keene have generally got rich by attend- ing to their own business. They have looked well to their schools, and have furnished little business for the lawyer. " Vive la simplicite rurale ! "
ORANGE.
This town has given little to record, except its settlement and organization. Its independent existence commenced in 1845, when it was set off from Portland and Berlin. The first town meeting was at the house of Dean W. Tyler. At its organization the principal officers were:
Alexander K. Hall, Supervisor; John Brown, Clerk; Myron J. King, Treasurer; Adam A. Lewis, Dean M. Tyler, Alexan- der Dalziel, Justices.
The settlement dates from 1836; and those who have the honor of being the first settlers, are Seely Arms and Benjamin Brand. Mr. Brand built a honse-the first in town-entirely of wood and bark, without a nail.
In 1837 Thomas Marsh was added; and in 1838, Ira F. Levalley, Dean M. Tyler, his sons, Dean and Isaac, and his son- in-law, John Brown, George Jourdon, and Samuel Grinnells.
In 1839 came in David Kenny, with five grown-up sons, three of whom the next year brought on wives.
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For 1842, we find S. W. Badger; and for 1843, James Humphreys.
The settlement at first was slow, as some other towns had the reputation of being more desirable land, and so Orange was neglected until the first feverish rush of emigration and speculation was over. Calm, sober, second thought, in after years, settled it steadily, and it was found that Orange had as good land as Otisco or North Plains. The fact was made patent in the settlement of the Grand River Valley, that a man. accustomed to Eastern lands, was no judge of land in Michi- gan. The first selected lands were often the poorest in the region. Not a few of the earliest settlers have told the writer that their selections were the very poorest they could have made. And, let me say, that the best land is still slighted. One good citizen of Orange complained to the writer that " great damage was done to the town by the statement in the directory," that the town had a considerable amount of marsh land. Now one acre of that despised "marsh" is worth the best three acres of upland in the town. If you don't believe it, drain and clear one of those swamps, and then grow fat and rich on the surprising fertility of it. Afraid of the work, are you? It is not so much work as to subdue the same value of dry land. Give a man of spunk a good marsh, and in after years you will see his jolly cheeks fairly hanging down with fatness, and his old leather pocketbook will be bursting with greenbacks. Bankers will touch their hats to him, and his townsmen will elect him " supervisor."
My farm shall have just 10 acres of upland on it, the rest shall be frog pond. People put their thumbs on their noses and wagged their little fingers, when Governor Crapo selected for himself 1,000 acres of frog pond for his farm. The same persons, passing by few years later, could only gape in blank astonishment, when seeing that on that 1,000 acres there was hardly room to stack his crops. So, if you have a mud marsh on your farm, don't feel insulted if anybody notices it, but blandly intimate that you are going to drain it after harvest.
Benjamin Brand was a worthy Dutchman, quietly pursuing the even tenor of his way. IIe recently died.
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Seely Arms was a respectable, but not prominent man. Ile resided in Orange until his death in 1865.
Thomas Marsh, in a good old age, and enjoying a compe- tence, is where he did battle with the forest, or harmlessly chased the deer.
Dean M. Tyler's course in Orange was short. He was the man looked up to, the few years he stayed. He was killed by a falling tree, in 1848.
Is it not a little surprising that so many of the pioneers were killed by falling trees? Men do not now get killed by them in Michigan. No, it is not surprising. They came from the open country, and knew not the dangers of woodland life. There is no safety or caution which is not the price of death. A few have to be killed to teach carpenters and masons to build their staging's. Once in a while a man has to be torn limb from limb, to show men that there is danger in revolving shafts or driving belts. Once in a while a man has to be cut in two to teach people to have their eyes open, and their thoughts about them, when around one of those death-dealing circular saws. Now and then one must be blown up or shot, to teach people that gunpowder is an article that will bear watching. But there is one danger that fails to give its note of warning, al- though it has been instructively dealing in death-the danger in coupling cars. Deaths uncounted have failed to teach the lesson they intended. I ask no patent for the invention; but no more of those accidents would occur if the railroad was fined $100,000 for every such accident. Fear would inspire the proper cantion; and a man might couple cars all his life, and die of old age. But why this preaching, and what is its lesson? Learn where is the danger; habitually fear that dan- ger, and you are safe. You will not be killed by a falling tree; you will not ent your foot, and you will not be blaspheming by talking of " inscrutable providences."
Of Tyler's sons, one-Dean-soon moved to other parts; the other-Isaac-still graces Orange by his presence, and long may he wave!
John Brown was a leading man of fine business capacity; manly, pions, and honorable; had a good deal to do with town
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affairs, for the people felt their interests were safest in the charge of men who knew the distinction between right and wrong, and who also were possessed of that too rare article-u conscience. He died in 1860.
George Jourdon, his hard work over, now lives in Port- land; rich enough, if he does but know it, and as happy as good dinners and a jolly soul can make him. He can spin yarns about old times, and shake his fat at the remembrance. When you see him, just ask him to tell some of his hunting stories; especially, about his chasing a bear in the night, with nothing on but his shirt-tearing through brush and over logs. until shirt was gone, still chasing bruin, until the varmint was treed and shot; and you will laugh, too. The fact is, Jourdon was educated in the Calvinistic faith, and believed in " perse- verance."
David Kenny was killed in a few years by a tree. One of his sons soon died; the others moved away. A very respecta- ble family.
The venerable Elder Chatfield was the first preacher in Orange. This pioneer of the Gospel in Ionia county, super- annuated, died at Portland.
Like most quiet, orderly country towns, Orange has but lit- tle history. No startling circumstances have horrified the community; and the town being born, has quietly, peacefully grown to maturity. Things have gone on in the regular channel. They have courted and married; and children have been born to them. They have changed a savage wild into fields, waving with grain; have built and adorned their beanti- ful homes, until Orange is a fine rural town. And yet it has no history but a " bear story." Just as though the town it- self was not an engraved history, of which each stroke of the ax was a letter. But a history, written on the earth is one thing -history in a book is quite another. The book takes no note of the everyday events, when these everyday events are all that is truly real.
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