USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 14
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About 1850 a missionary came to preach to them, by name Manasseh Hickey, a Methodist. The Indians were having a drunk when he came, and were disposed to do violence to him. Through the benevolence of a lady in New York, a mission house was built, and by the aid of the people and Missionary Society, implements of husbandry were furnished them, an l a school established.
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When there had been preaching, the chief men would hold a council on what they had heard, and if they approved, the speaker was invited to give them another talk.
The preaching was through an interpreter. The mission- school was taught by Mr. Campton. An educated Indian woman had taught before. Louisa Bogue afterwards taught there. In time Campton became their spiritual leader. Soon the Indians very readily received the instruction of those , who labored for them; and, under their leadership formed a church. The change in their character was great; they took to the practices of civilization; divided their reservation into small allotments; built log houses; cultivated the ground, and tried to live like white folks. The women got the idea of neat- ness; learned to sew, wash, and keep house. They became constant at church, and adopted the dress of the whites. The men became more gallant to the women. They generally adopted the religion that was preached to them; entering readily into the spirit of the church, singing, praying, etc-in fact, became a band of civilized Methodist Indians. They went off to the reservations in Isabel county. Their former teacher and preacher, Campton, is still in Danby, and is happy in the thought that his labors resulted in raising a band of brutified savages to the rank of men. Believing that is the case, we make our respectful bow to Campton, as to one who has done some good in the world; who has lived not altogether for self, but who sought to serve humanity and his God.
Kind reader, pause a moment. Is the world any better for your having lived in it?
In Danby, on the left bank of the river, is a mineral spring, which needs only a little enterprise and the effrontery to tell of marvelous cures of epilepsy, palsy, gout, rheumatism, scrof- ula, etc., and the brazen assurance of a resident quack to make it a famous watering place. It is on the place of Mr. Mills; and the tufaceous deposit from it, which is immense, has been burned for lime. It is a very strong chaly beate water, depos- iting ochre in great quantities. This ochre is a good paint. Were not so many worthless mineral springs cracked up until people begin to see through the humbug, this might be brought
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into notice, which is doubtless equal to any chalybeate spring in the world. But " Vive la humbug!" Springs that are as good as sea-water, are resorted to as to a Bethesda; the water bottled and shipped off, as a life-restoring panacea; while Danby waters, which have health and curative powers in them, are a mud bank by the side of the river.
Were not Danby a pleasant town, the Grand River is very foolish to linger so long in it, meandering, as it does, through eighteen sections of its land before it reluctantly leaves, turn- ing again and again; fondly lingering-loth to bid farewell. No wonder, for 'tis a peaceful town, where are not a dozen sects, pulling each others' hair, but each holier than the rest (in their own esteem). No, that is not Danby. They worship God in a school-house, and have not yet come to that point of civilization where the church is the center of fashion, and a place where, the poor cannot decently appear. Money! money! money! thou Mammon of all ungodliness, why has thon des- ecrated the church? Why hast thou not left one place where rich and poor may stand, each on his individual merit, as a Christian and a man!
It is related of a German king, that, being sick, he set a page to read his prayers. The young man, as he was praying in the name of his king, left out some of the most deeply pen- itential and humiliating passages. The king interrupted, and asked what that meant. The youth said, "I feared your maj- esty would not like it." "None of 'your majesty'-ing here," said the king, "remember we are in the presence of our God. where I am a good-for-nothing, sinful rascal, as well as von. Go on, and give me the worst of it; I deserve it." But I am afraid that when I go to church to show my new coat, I don't look on the humble one whose coat is seedy, as my equal in the presence of the Lord. Perhaps He has a different opinion about it.
IONIA COUNTY HISTORY RESUMED.
The territory, until settled, was for judicial purposes, at- tached to Kalamazoo county. In 1835 the county first had political existence, as a town of Kalamazoo county. When
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Kent county was organized in 1836, Ionia was attached as a town to Kent, and as such remained one year.
As a town of Kalamazoo county, the first meeting was at Generau's, April 6th, 1835, on the right bank of Grand River, one hundred rods or so from the month of Maple River. Philo Bogue, Chairman; Dr. Lincoln, Clerk.
Officers elected: E. Yeomans, Supervisor; Dr. Lincoln, Clerk; Asa Spencer, Collector.
A full board of officers was not elected. The supervisor acted as assessor.
Second meeting at same place.
Ionia county was established by act of Legislature in 1837. At the same time the county was divided into two towns-Ionia and Maple. The first township meeting in Ionia to be held at the house of Samuel Dexter; the first meeting in Maple at the house of William Hunt. (Lyons).
Maple consisted of all the county east of a line dividing the second tier of townships in the middle. The rest of the con- ty was Ionia-or two and a half tiers of townships on the west.
In process of time, towns were formed by cutting off from these. For particulars, see the history of the several towns, and the summary of Legislative action.
There is no important purpose served by tracing all those temporary arrangements, and the subsequent mutations, by which rivers have been made to be township boundaries.
At first the county started her political existence with two towns --- Ionia and Maple. The records of the county are partly not in existence, and those of Maple cannot be found. The records of the doings of the supervisors are missing. What is gathered is from the hook of the county canvassers. and the records of the courts.
The first meeting of the county canvassers was at the house of Asa Spencer, and the result of the county canvass was:
For Associate Judges: Isaac Thompson, 292; Truman H. Lyon, 187; Wil- liam Babcock, 104.
. Judge of Probate: Cyrus Lowell, 116; Wm. D. Moore, 173.
Sheriff: E. W. Curtis, 191; H. V. Lebhart, 93.
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Clerk: Asa Brunnell, 183; Erastus Yeomans, 116.
Coroners: Philo Bogue, 187; Thaddeus O. Warner, 293.
Treasurer: Robert S. Parks, 106; John E. Morrison, 185.
District Surveyor: Buel H. Mann, 220.
Register of Deeds: Mason Hearsay. 102; Adam L. Roof, 189.
In November A. F. Bell was made County Surveyor.
The above shows on the highest vote 293, which is assumed to be nearly the number of settlers entitled to vote. These were scattered in Ionia, Ber- lin, Danby, Easton, Lyons, North Plains, Orange, Otisco, Portland and Ro- nald, and there was one settler in Campbell.
In 1838 there were five towns, whose votes were canvassed, viz: Portland, Maple, Ionia, Boston and Otisco.
The officers chosen were: John Plaice, Sheriff; Lawson S. Warner, Clerk; Thomas Caswell, Treasurer; William Dallass, Register.
In 1840 six towns-Cass having been added-elected: Samuel Dexter, As- sociate Judge; Henry Buston, Judge of Probate; Alonzo Sessions, Sheriff; Abram S. Wadsworth, Commissioner; Osmond Tower, Clerk; John C. Dex- ter, Register; Asaph Walker, Treasurer.
In 1842, Keene appears in the towns represented.
Wm. Crumer, Sheriff; David Irish, Clerk: Asaph Mather, Treasurer; Wm. Dallass, Register.
1843. Fred. Hall, Register of Deeds, and Cyprian Hooker, Sheriff.
1844. North Plains added.
Hiram Brown, Sheriff; Hampton Rich, Clerk; Isaac G. Frost, Treasurer; Fred. Hall, Register of Deeds; W. Z. Blanchard, Judge of Probate; Erastus Yeomans, Almeron Newman, Associate Judges.
1846. Added: Danby, Sebewa, Ronald, Orange, Odessa, Orleans.
Officers: A. F. Bell, Representative; Luke Harwood, County Judge; Vol- ney Eaton, Sheriff; Hampton Rich, Clerk; I. G. Frost, Treasurer; A. F. Carr, Register of Deeds.
1848. Cyrus Lowell, Representative; Peter Coon, Sheriff; Abram V. Ber- ry, Clerk; John C. Dexter, Treasurer; Ethan S. Johnson, Register of Deeds; John L. Morse, Judge of Probate; Lambert B. Barnard, Erastus Yeomans, Associate Judges.
1850. Sixteen towns-Campbell having been added.
J. C. Blanchard, Prosecuting Attorney; C. M. Moseman, Treasurer; E. S. Johnson, Register of Deeds; A. C. Davis, Clerk; Hiram Brown, County Judge; Gilbert H. King, Judge of Probate (to fill vacancy); Asaph C. Smith, Sheriff; Erastus Yeomans, Joseph Boynton, Associate Judges of Circuit Court.
1852. Charles W. Ingalls, Representative; Charles M. Moseman, Treas- urer; Alvin C. Davis, Clerk; Adam L. Roof, Judge of Probate; Thomas Cornell, Register of Deeds; Ami Chipman, Sheriff; John C. Blanchard, Prosecuting Attorney.
1854. C. Lovell, Representative; C. A. Holmes, Sheriff; W. B. Wells, Clerk; A. Williams, Treasurer; H. Hunt, Register of Deeds; Harvey Bartow, Prosecuting Attorney.
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1856. A. Sessions, Representative; C. A. Holmes, Sheriff; W. B. Wells, Prosecuting Attorney; J. L. Morse. Judge of Probate; A. Williams, Treas- urer; A. Cornell, Clerk; Oscar Thompson, Register of Deeds.
1858. Abram Alderman, Sheriff; W. B. Wells, Prosecuting Attorney; E. S. Johnson, Treasurer; Clark O. Preston, Clerk: Julius Jennings, Register of Deeds.
1860. A. Alderman. Sheriff: John L. Morse, Judge of Probate; C. O. Preston, Clerk; Julius Jenner, Register of Deeds; Albert Williams, Prosecu- ting Attorney.
1862. John S. Bennett, Clerk; Joseph Rickey, Register of Deeds; Geo. Ellsworth, Treasurer; Wm. W. Mitchell, Prosecuting Attorney.
1864. Willard Wells, Judge of Probate; J. S. Bennett, Clerk; J. Rickey, Register of Deeds; C. A. Preston, Treasurer; W. W. Mitchell, Prosecuting Attorney.
1867. Sandford Yeomans, County Superintendent of Public Schools.
1868. A. Alderman, Sheriff; W. B. Wells, Judge of Probate; Edgar M. Marble, Clerk: Silas Sprague, Treasurer; Vernon H. Smith, Register of Deeds; B. Morse, Prosecuting Attorney.
1870. Edson P. Gifford, Sheriff; Henry C. Sessions, Clerk; Jolin Morton, Treasurer; Alfred H. Heath. Register of Deeds; E. W. Marble, Prosecuting Attorney.
1871. Charles A. Hutchins, Saperintendent Common Schools; Eb. D. Kelsey, Drain Commissioner.
1872. E. P. Gifford, Sheriff; Wm. B. Woodworth, Judge of Probate; H. C. Sessions, Clerk; John Morton, Treasurer; A. H. Heath, Register of Deeds; E. M. Marble. Prosecuting Attorney.
1873. Wilbur H. Moon, Superintendent Public Schools.
The first term of the Circuit Court was held in a building occupied by Daniel Ball, as a store (now the Granger House). in May, 1837, Epaphroditus (we give the whole) Ransom pre- siding. The only business transacted was to admit to practice Adam L. Roof. The second term was in November. 1837, same Judge, Isaac Thompson associate; grand jury empan- neled. Samuel Dexter, foreman. Cyrus Lovell was appointed Prosecuting Attorney; Charles Smith was admitted to the bar. The grand jury returned several bills of indictment (not speci- fied). It seems that at that early day there was wickedness, or, at least, suspicion of it. The court adjourned, doing no business further, except dismissing a petition to establish a ferry at Generauville. May term, 1838: same Judges; C. Lovell appointed Prosecuting Attorney. First cause, John Lloyd v. Allen Hutchins; default entered against judgment. Several causes were tried, mostly complaints for selling liquor
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to the Indians. One case of divorce was preliminarily acted upon. Here we have the proof that the ancients, like the moderns, sometimes found Hymen's yoke not easy, and his burdens not light. We intentionally refrain from giving the names of the yoked cat and dog, who first in Ionia county ap- plied to the courts, and there ventilated their disgrace and shame.
" State of Michigan v. Wm. A. Burgess; assault and bat- tery." Prisoner pleaded not guilty ; whereupon the prosecut- ing attorney entered a nolle pros. to the indictment, etc., etc.
Mr. Burgess, it is clear you didn't strike him; but he de- served all you gave him. Yon didn't hit him any too hard, the blackguard! Hope the next time he behaved so, you gare him another thrashing.
The first criminal case was that of Lonis Generau, who was convicted of murder in the Kent County Circuit Court, and sent to prison. The second was The People v. Thomas Riley, for forgery. Verdict, not guilty.
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KENT COUNTY.
ALGOMA.
Algoma had existed as a part of God's earth ever since the waters were drained from North America. It had also existed as a part of Plainfield since the organization of that town. As such it remained until 1849, when, by act of Legislature. it was established as an independent town, taking its name from a steamboat, then plying on Grand River. Not that they named the infant town, as many people name their infant progeny, in compliment. They chose the name because they liked the sound. In this they showed they had at least one person of good sense, and poetic taste in the territory to be named. Because it had that one person, it will ever glory in the most musical and poetic name of any town in the Grand River Valley. By the way, that humble servant of the public -the writer of these memorials-is not pleased with the names through which the earlier inhabitants decreed that for all time the people should live in a region and atmosphere of the blankest prose. In the first place, there is a disposition to laugh when one sees a hen-coop protected by cannon. Is there less of the burlesque, when the name "Grand" is applied to a fifth-class river, to a snug little city and a country village? Grand Rapids. Grand Haven and Grandville will never be the theme of song, condemned, as they are, to bear their burlesque and numusical names. Look at the prosaic names given to towns; most of them the name of some man, country, or big city.
Why cannot people feel a pride in originality? And why were not ears tuned to appreciate musical sounds ? A child is born to one, who is conscions of no genius, and he names him John or Patrick; for that is the most common name; and he wishes to be like other folks. Or, conscious of the humble
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origin of his child, he seeks to ennoble him by giving him a name, that somebody has made famous, unconscious of the burlesque. Your humble writer would not do so. No, no! When children are born to him, the alphabet shall be ques- tioned as to its capability for forming musical and poetic words. If applied to to name a town, he would not suggest his own, or any other unnoted name, with the vain idea that the town would dignify the man. Let names die when the sexton has covered the man, if the man has done nothing for which he should be remembered. Don't condemn a town to be a tombstone, to perpetnate some name that should be for- gotten; or to play second-fiddle. Goldsmith has sung of sweet " Auburn," but where is the poet that will ever sing of "New London." To her musical name the vale of Wyoming has be- come classic, grand; but what poet will, or can, give charms to New York, New Jersey, or New Hampshire? So beware, ye imitators; beware, ye toadies!
But returning from this digression, yet withont an apology, for it is the business of the historian to commingle lessons of wisdom with the details of history, which give him the text. The first town meeting was held at school-house No. 3 (Plain- field numbering), April 2d, 1849; Smith Lapham, Moderator.
Offiers elected: Smith Lapham, Supervisor; Wm. Thorn- ton, Clerk; A. L. Pickett, Treasurer; Morgan Allen, John H. Jacobs. John Hamilton, Justices.
Number of voters, 30.
The following statement of the settlement and progress of Algoma is mostly from an article published by HI. N. Stinson, Esq. Let it be understood that while he is to be credited with all that is of any value in it historically, he is not responsible any further. If, in every town, some one, himself an actor, had done as Mr. Stinson has done, this book would have been much more valuable.
The first settler-Wm. Hunter, came from the State of New York, in 1842; and built a log-house. He stayed a year or two. and went away. In 1843, Smith Lapham, from Washtenaw county, bought out Hunter, and settled where now is the vil- lage of Rockford. IIe erected a mill on the left bank of Rogue
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River; and with a few goods, opened a modest store. IIe was soon followed by the Hunter brothers, who built a saw-mill on the right bank, using the same dam as Lapham. They had a sale for their lumber to the new settlers, who were rapidly coming in.
In the year '44. Wm. Thornton, a Vermonter, came in, and erected a machine shop.
In 1845, arrived A. L. Pickett, also from Vermont; Joshua Briggs, from Yates county, N. Y .; John Davis, Benjamin Pettingell, and B. N. Pettingell, his son; all three from Ing- ham county: Henry Iersel and Henry Shank, from Ohio; who located in different parts of the town.
By common consent, the part of the town, centering at the mills, was called Laphamville. In 1845, the people built a shanty and opened a school, with Miss Amy Ann Lapham as teacher.
The same year a post-office was established, with S. Lapham as postmaster; and the same year, the Rev. James Ballard held meetings in private houses. This is by no means the first or the only town, where that now venerable man was the first to herald the gospel. Now he rests from his labors. Age is erceping on; and feeble health has warned him that his days of labor are ended. In years gone by, he was one of those who preached the gospel, but never lived upon it. It is little of this world's wealth, that he has ever received for his preach- ing. Ile worked on his farm for a living; and preached because he believed; loved the service of the Master, and loved the souls of men. Eccentric, perhaps (he always had the name of it), he careil little for this world's opinion. Ile. never asked how much would be paid; but whether it was God's will, and his duty. 'He has ontlived the time, when to be an " Abolitionist " was to be considered " eccentric; " and when clergymen, afraid of losing their salaries, dared not feel, or pray for those in bonds. Where he preached in log-houses and sustained himself, others, well sustained, are preaching in dedicated temples; and he, biding his time, can say: "Now lettest thon thy servant depart in peace." Ballard, perhaps no lofty monument may mark thy resting place; but your name
11
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is engraved in many a heart; and your history is a part of the history of civilization and Christianity in the Valley of the Grand River.
After 1845, the settlement of the town was rapid, and there is no necessity of being particular.
The first marriage in the town was June 22d, 1845, when Isaac Baker and Harriet Lapham joined fortunes, not contemplating divorce. The union was legalized by David C. Gilbert, Esq. The first birth was their daughter Eva, in March, 1846.
The first death was that of Barney Lapham, a native of New York, in 1845.
In 1851. Harvey Porter opened the first public house -- the " Algoma House." It was burned in 1864, and the "Stinson House" erected on its site.
In 1852, Chase and Judson put up the first grist-mill, which, enlarged and improved, is still standing.
In 1859, the village was platted, and named " Laphamville." The same year the Baptist church was erected-the first in the place -- and an addition was made to the school-house.
About this time the " Laphamville Courier" was started by Frank Drew. It was a failure. Wm. Hicks attempted to contime the paper, but could not.
In 1850, Ensly Martin built a foundry, which, vastly im- proved, is in existence.
In 1865, the Methodist Episcopal Church was built.
In May, 1866, the village was re-platted by Mr. Cankin ; incorporated by the supervisors, and named (the Lord knows why) " Rockford." At this time the number of inhabitants was 315.
The first village officers were:
Smith Lapham, President; George French, Clerk; Cyrus Kent, Robert House, M. T. Arbor, J. B. Hewitt. T. N. Bark- er. R. L. Blakeley. Trustees; Richard Briggs, Marshal.
Number of votes, 63.
In 1868, trains first passed Rockford. In 1870, the present school-house was built, costing $20,000. This school-house is the prominent object; and it tells a big story for the place. Schools are civilizers. About some other institutions there is
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diversity of opinion. But that the place where they have a fine school-house. a first-class principa!, and a corps of well- selected teachers-and where the people are willing to sustain them-is a civilized place. People of sense choose to live there. But oh, deliver us from being obliged to live where the school-honse is a mere shed, and where they get the " cheapest " person they can to ran the school. In such places we are apt to find the grog-shop the chief educator; and there we find more politicians than men of brains.
In 1871 a new charter was obtained; the number of votes at the first election under it, was 142. indicating quite a . growth under the village organization.
Going back a little; the growth of the town was slow at first; previous to '44. the only communication with the world outside was by Indian trails. In 1844, the Rev. Isaac Bar- ker eame from New Hampshire, and located in Courtland; cut the first road from the village to Courtland.
In the spring of '48, the first school district was organized. and ealled No. 3 of Plainfield; they voted to raise $200 to build a house; there were then 28 scholars in the district.
In the fall of '48, a meeting of the citizens was held, preliminary to having the town set off from Plainfield. The meeting was at the house of Lapham.
In the fall of 1849, John and Mike Furlong opened the first store. exchanging goods for lumber and shingles, the cur- reney of the region.
In 1850, John Cox commeneed blacksmithing. He became popular and ambitions, and wanted to be Governor; but dis- appointed in his ambition, he shook the dust of Laphamville from his feet, and went where he hoped merit would be ap- preciated.
The pine land attracted speculators, who bought up large tracts, and either held on for prices, or stripped the land of its pine. We need not name those who, without becoming citi- zens, owned large tracts of land. They don't develop a town, and the town has no interest in them. They make or lose some money ont of the places, and disappear.
February 28th, 1861, was a dark day for Algoma. Daniel
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Barber, an honored citizen, started to go to Grand Rapids to pay over to the County Treasurer the tax of the town, amount- ing to something over $600. On the way he was murdered and robbed by William Kingin. Kingin was arrested the same day, and is now serving his life-sentence in the State prison. The whole affair is among the inexplicables. Kingin was not, in common estimation, a bad man. He was going along with Barber, carrying an ax on his shoulder. Falling behind, a thought struck him, and he acted on that thought. With a blow of the ax he split the skull of Barber. IIe hurled the ax into the snow, then rifled the pockets of his victim; went on a little way, and threw the pocketbook into a stream. Remorse took the place of the first frenzy of greed. In the prison he is among the most exemplary of the prison- ers; penitent and self-acensing --- seemingly trying, as far as in him lies, to atone for his one great crime. He is spoken of by the warden as a model prisoner; a moment a fiend, repent- ent for life. Since writing the above Kingin has died.
An incident of early times is well told in a Rockford paper, by Gilbert Lapham, Esq., a lawyer at Lansing. We will let him tell his own story:
"I was one of the oldest inhabitants, and have many lively recollections of old times, in the pleasant village of Rockford. That is, I was there when the village sprouted; and believe I only lacked one thing of being the youngest spront in the place. I think that I and a little red dog, with crooked legs and an oval tail, whose name was 'Don,' killed the first woodchuck, that migrated to the place; and I believe that we, that is, Don and I, knew more of the chipmunks, red squirrels, rabbits, partridges and snakes in the vicinity, than any other man, woman or dog.
I remember that Don and I once set a trap for a woodchuck at a hole in the hill-side. It was a nice fresh hole, and he and I were much pleased and excited at the prospect. The next morning's sun-rise found us at the place, and, sure enough, we had him; for nothing was to be seen but the chain of the trap, drawn as far into the hole as the clog would allow. We seized the chain, and, with a long strong pull, out came the
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