USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 17
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The brothers Teeple are still honored residents of the town; they have been among the most prominent citizens; have been looked to as "all right;" and it is still customary to "swear by Teeple."
From 1838, the town filled up steadily and slowly. The date of the advent of each is a matter of little interest; settlers came dropping in, one by one; among whom we note: Zerra Whit- ney, with his four sons -- Peter, Ezra, Oscar and Chester-who arrived in 1841, and originated Whitneyville, long a noted stopping place on the wilderness road between Battle Creek and Ada. Mr. Whitney, Sr., was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and everybody knew him. He died in Wayland, Allegan county, in 1873. These sons of Whitney came with families, and have all either died or deserted, leaving nothing but a name attached to a portion of a town. Well, a name and a fume are all we can leave. How few leave anything. Oscar died in 1848; the others moved to other parts.
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1842 brought Edward D. Gove, from Massachusetts, and he stays in Cascade yet; also. Chauncey Sears, with his two sons, Horace and Austin. The venerable patriarch is still in town. and so is Austin. Horace is in Caledonia. About this time also came Eber Moffit (who died in '68), and the brothers. Michael and Joseph Cronninger, who now live in Caledonia,
The first postoffice was established in 1847, at Whitneyville: Wm. C. White, postmaster. The first quarter's postage amounted to $2.25. For several years the postoffice at Bowne took its mail from Whitneyville; it was carried in a little bag, suspended to a boy's neck. There was then dignity in the office of postmaster. The lofty individual who could put l'. M. after his name, had to live upon the dignity, and not the emoluments of the office.
At this time there were but three occupied houses for six miles south. Eastward for ten miles there was but one settler.
The first school was near Cook's Corners, and was taught by Miss Matilda Hill, in 1840. She was the sister of Perry Hill, of Grand Rapids. The log house built for that school, was burned down in a few years.
Mr. AAickley, spoken of as a pioneer in other towns, was the first to hold meetings in the town.
What is said in connection with the town of Paris, about the cold winter, is equally applicable to Cascade. Three feet of snow falling in November, and the remembrance of that buried by succeeding falls, made an impression on the bones and sinews of the settlers at the time; and on their memories afterwards. But they lived through it, and saved most of their cattle.
A more than passing notice is due to the memory of Asa W. Dennison, who, with his brother Gideon W. (Unele Gid. ), clune in the spring of 1843. Dennison was a man of sterling worth; a leading official man in the town; respected and looked up to. He was killed by a kick from a horse in 1857.
In 1849, the Rev. Eli Prince-a man whom ill-fortune had followed, opened a small store in Cascade village. He was a man of large stature, genial in his nature. public-spirited, true
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and honorable. He identified himself with every good work that was going on. He was unflinching in duty, yet was more led by generous instincts than by the sense of obligation, The children learned to court his smile and gentle word. The people made of him a factotum, for they had learned to look to his ever willing heart in seasons of rejoicing or of sorrow. His life illustrated the beauty of an unselfish soul, true to the pale star of principle. He died in 1862; aged, 65. As in life he sought not himself, so, when dead, he directed that no monument should mark his grave. He lies thus in a ceme- tery, which he gave to the town. But the people of Cascade will not forget where " Elder Prince" is buried.
Cascade village is a small hamlet, clustered around the mills. the central place of the business of the town. The Thornap- ple River here gives a good water-power, which may be made to do more service than at present it is compelled to do. Whitneyville, so called, is not a village, but simply a public house, where in days past it was hoped a village would be.
Cascade does not invest much in the externals of religion. The Catholics have a small church, built in 1856, The Meth- odists, United Brethren and Christians have a foothold, and keep up organizations.
Since the mineral spring fancy took hold of Michigan, Cas- cade has been one of the places, to which the sick have resorted to use the " healing waters." The springs have established a reputation for curing many diseases, and are resorted to by seekers of health. Fashion has not made it a resort, as they have not the facilities for making the place attractive. They have no buildings as yet but a simple bath-house.
One little story of olden times in Cascade is too good to be lost; illustrating the fact that "human natur" among the ancients was as vicious and as simple as among the moderns.
A Mr. S -. , one of those honest, simple-hearted men, that sinners always delight to play practical jokes upon, had a horse, which he wished to exchange for a yoke of oxen. He heard that in another part of the town was a man, who wished to exchange a yoke of oxen for a horse. So he saddled his pony, rode over, and made the bargain. The question now was.
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how to get home the saddle. The man, who now had the horse, told him to put it on one of the oxen ; and to get on himself and ride ; that the ox was used to being ridden. S- saddled the ox and mounted to go home. The ox took to his heels; and there was no mane to eling to. The saddle slipped over behind the ox. dragging S- by the stirrups, to the im- ininent peril of his life. Seeing that death or release must come, by a desperate effort he got free, with a poor opinion of his ox as a saddle beast. Ile said that when he was dragging at the heels of the beast, he promised his Maker, if he ever got out of that serape alive, he would never ride an ox again: a vow which he religiously kept.
CALEDONIA.
Caledonia was organized as a township, May 4th, 1840, at the house of Peter McNaughton. The town at its organiza- tion consisted of what is now Caledonia and Bowne. The first officers were:
John P. McNaughton, Supervisor; Justus C. Beach, Clerk; Norman Foster, Treasurer; J. C. Beach, Loren B. Tyler, Mal- comb P. McNaughton, Asahel Kent, Justices.
One hundred and fifty dollars was raised for town expenses.
The following names of voters are found on the record; and, as a specimen, showing how easy it was "to get office " in carly days, the number of offices, to which each was elected, is set against the name:
John P. McNaughton, 1; Roswell Tyler, 4; Justus C. Beach, 3; Malcomb P. McNaughton, 2; Loren B. Tyler, 1: John A. Campbell, 2; Asahel Kent, 2; Asahel Tyler, 1; Nor- man Foster, 3; Wm. B. Thompson, 1.
All went home with their official honors thick upon them. None of them could put on airs, or refuse to let their children play with those of their neighbors; for they too were officers' children.
The town was reorganized by act of Legislature in 1869.
In 1838, Mr. Asahel Kent conceived the idea of a public house in the wilderness, on the Battle Creek trail. Ile accordingly came to Caledonia, then merely T. 5 N., R. 6
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W., and opened the "Kent House," which soon became famous. And why? There was the jolly landlord, and his smiling dame, ever ready to welcome the weary traveler to a good fire, a smoking dinner, and a home-like. social visit. What though the house was of logs, and the lodgings per- haps a shed,-the welcome was genial, the fare good, and " Kent's Tavern" became an institution where one was sure of good cheer; and where he " stopped again." The viands were not dealt out on the principle, so manifest at some of our restaurants, where each waiter seems to think he is a priest, administering the sacrament. The table was " heaped " with what was good, and the beaming landlord, having cut the meat into huge slices, would say, "Lay to, and help your- selves, gentlemen and ladies; no ceremony here." It seemed to be his delight to feed the hungry. The greater their appe- tites, and the faster his vietnals disappeared, the more beam- ing was his look. He loved to see his guests enjoy them- selves, and the long breath of perfect satisfaction and full- ness, as they withdrew from the table, was music to his ear.
Kent, the bountiful, soon passed away, with many blessings on his head, and his widow (as widows often do) married again. But she didn't leave the house. No. She and her husband, Peter McNaughton, still kept up the establishment, which became as famous as " McNaughton's" as it had been as " Kent's."
This tavern is a thing of memory. The opening of other lines of travel caused the Battle Creek trail or road to be deserted, and the tavern died the death of the righteous.
After a while, one after another, dropped in the settlers who came to live from the soil. Kent had fed the hungry, and lodged the weary; his residence alone breaking the monotony of interminable woods. James Minsy came to raise something to feed himself and children, in 1839. Soon followed Orse- mus Rathbun, Lyman Gerold, Hiram McNiel, Eber Moffit. Peter McNaughton, Levi Tobey, John Sinclair, Henry Jack- son, and Warren S. Hale. The exact date of the advent of cach is not known, neither is it important. Some of them were after 1840. The names already given are probably all
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who were in Caledonia and Bowne, at the time of its organi- zation as a town. For a number of years but few came to stay, thoughi many passed that road, for it was on the " Battle Creek Stage Route." Fancy not, gentle reader, that this " stage route" was a smooth McAdam road, with its toll-gate once in ten miles. It was merely a trail in the wilderness, with here and there an otherwise impassable place made passable. The stage was a heavy wagon, covered with painted cotton cloth. The road was dotted at long intervals by the settler's cabin. There were Gull Prairie, Slater's Indians and Yankee Springs, on the way; as for the rest, it was "timbered lands " and "openings." Yet this was the " thoroughfare " until the open- ing of the Kalamazoo Plank Road, in 1832. Then the genial landlord, Lewis, at Yankee Springs had to go to the Legisla- ture, or be forgotten; for his famous log tavern was deserted Then the McNaughton house ceased to pay. Campau, and the other drivers cracked their whips for the last time; and looked to some business other than driving and tipping over stages, for a living.
Many are the adventures on that route; our own among the number. Among others we note that of our fellow citizen, II. P. Yale. He went to sleep on the way, and in the midst of his pleasant dreams, the stage gave a lurch and landed him, heels up, head and shoulders in the inud. He gathered up the fragments of himself, rubbed the mud from his eyes, and laughed, of course. At another time the driver had the honor, in a dark night, of tipping into a mud-hole, Jolin Ball, Mrs. T. B. Church and her baby Fred. Fred came near being drowned, or smothered in the mud; and then the country would have lost an embryo soldier, who was too proud to accept office, though commissions were thrust upon him; and art would have lost one, whose quaint conceits are a part of the spirit of Harper. Our own adventures on the ronte might be passed, as perhaps of every day occurrence-a simple break-down, where a jolly song by Capt. Parks was cut short at the second verse; and to this day remains unsung. The driver was the same Edward Campan, whose pleasant residence is now where he can overlook the scene of that catastrophe. There he, with
13
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his fair wife-Yankee Lewis' daughter-his cattle and his herds, is a well-to-do farmer; and is happy to welcome to his home those whom he tipped over on the Battle Creek road. Long life to you, Edward! And may your soul never be less open, of your home less blessed.
We must, at one fell swoop, come down to 1846, when a man arrived, who "meant business ;" who, seeing the fine water- power afforded by the Thornapple river, determined to monopolize that power; and to a great extent he did. Where he saw power, he purchased the land. His name was William H. Brown. Among his doings was putting up the first saw- mill; and, in company with W. S. Hale, the first grist-mill; around which has sprung up the village of Alaska. Brown laid out the village in 1866.
This Mr. Brown had an adventure, which, at the time, he wished he was well out of. Returning in the winter from his possessions in Caledonia to his home in Middleville, in a night of darkness and storm, he got lost. In the snow he lost the trail; and had no way but to leave his pony to its instincts. But he soon found himself sinking into that sleep which is the precursor of death from cold. He dismounted, and walked backward and forward until morn- ing, to keep himself alive. With the coming of light, he trusted to his horse; for he, himself, had no idea of direc- tion. His horse took him to Green Lake. There he was tracked, and found by those who searched for him, expecting to find him dead. We are not told what vows of reform he made in this dismal journey, but it is presumed that they were many and sincere. Neither are we told that he had any evil ways to reform. But how natural it is in trouble to think over all our sins, promising reformation, if spared, with time effectually to repent. Who ever knew of a blaspheming repro- bate, who did not pray and promise, when he saw death look- ing him right in the face? And who ever knew the halter to press the neck of one who had not reformed and become a a saint? What a good thing is danger to bring sinners to their knees! A pious negro woman had in vain tried to make her little woolly-headed sinner of a son say his prayers. But
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the reprobate would sing " Jim along Josy," instead of, with eyes closed and clasped hands, saying " Now I lay me down to sleep." She had exhorted him, whipped him, prayed at him. scolded him, and taught him to say his prayers; but he wouldn't pray, and she was forlorn. One day she heard him screaming, and running to the door, she saw the old cow had him between her horns. butting him against the fence, and he was screaming in his fright "O Lordy! O Lordy!" She clapped her hands with delight, and said "Bress de Lord! the old cow has brought him to his prayers," and left the cow to finish his conversion in her own way. History does not tell whether Johnny became a saint; but it is to be presumed he did; and that he was swung into heaven at the end of a rope.
The village of Alaska has been mentioned as an ontgrowth from the enterprise of Mr. Brown. It is where it may be con- siderable of a place, and it has already made a fair beginning. The water-power is first-rate, and is capable of further develop- ment. The water can be used several times in a short distance. As years pass on, Michigan will turn her attention more to manufactures, and then the Thornapple will be dotted with Yankee notion factories; and Alaska do business in a thousand of the gimcracks that are the wealth of the land of wooden nutmegs and steady habits.
There is a Baptist church at Alaska, and a Methodist church in the central part of the town.
The G. R. Valley Railroad crosses the sonthwest corner of the town. A small village is there, which has made a begin- ning in the way of using the power at its disposal.
On the farm of Ed. Campan is a noted beaver-dam, which once made a pond of several acres. The dam is in two parts: one eighty and the other sixty yards in length. Its height was apparently three feet or more. By the rotting of the material, and the trampling of cattle, it is now a simple ridge of carth, a foot or more in height. It is built on a spring marsh. Near the middle of the dam is a kind of island of solid earth. Taking the height of the dam on that, and where at the ends it is on solid earth, the general height must
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have been about three feet. This great work of beavers is not near as long as the one in Tyrone, but it was a " big thing" for so small animals to build.
CANNON.
Until 1846 Cannon was identified with Plainfield, being in no haste to assume independent existence. Its population at that time was near 300. The village of Cannonsburg had been named before; and the town took its name from the founder of the village. The Legislature gave the name Churchtown, which the town never assumed, but organized under the self-assumed name of Cannon, the first Monday in .April, 1846. The first meeting was at the house of Cornelius Slaght; 64 voters.
Supervisor, Andrew Watson; Clerk, Henry H. Worden; Treasurer, Louis D. Dean; Justices, Harlow T. Judson, John Bishop, Demas Hine, Jarred Spring.
Settlement commenced in the town in 1837. Andrew Wat- son and A. D. W. Stout were the first to locate. In 1838, Isaac Tomlinson put in his appearance; and in 1839, Wmn. M. Mil- ler. The real settlement of the town, however, dates from 1840. The few sconts, before mentioned, had opened the way, and this year se tlers in numbers followed, among whom (if they were not the whole) were James Thomas, Ethiel Whitney, Zebulon Rood, Japhet Gilman. In 1841 were added, Henry M. Miller, Ebenezer Smith, Samnel Steele, Oliver Lovejoy, the Rev. Mr. Frieze.
In the few succeeding years we find, Ames Griswold, John Hartwell, James Dockery, Loyal Palmer, Martin John- son, Cornelius Wample, Wm. C. Young, John C. Chapman, Robert Howard, Major Worden, Mindrus Whitney, Thomas B. Young, Sidney S. Haskins, H. E. McKee, John French, brothers Richard, Abram, William and Eli Lewis, Leonard S. Young, Jared Spring, Joseph Lameraux, John Rogers, Smith Bailey, Harrison Pitcher, Philip Thomas, Zeph Adams, Thomas Hall, Norman Aikley, Smith Bailey.
Of these, the monuments in the cemeteries say-Died: William Lewis, 1853, aged 38 years.
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Harlow T. Judson, 1865, aged 62 years.
Hugh E. McKee, 1855, aged 44 years.
Joseph Lameraux, 1858, aged 58 years. Sidney S. Haskins, 1854, aged 47 years. John Hartwell, 1872, aged 77 years.
Demas Hine, 1872, aged 66 years.
The village of Cannonsburg owes its first existence to E. B. Bostwick, who, as agent of LeGrand Cannon, an Eastern man who owned large tracts of land in the town, in 1843, made preparations for erecting a mill, platted a village, and put up a few log houses. This Bostwick has left his name in more than one place in Kent county, and to the credit of Cannon they have given it to one of their beautiful lakes. To manage the business, and build the mill, came Sidney Haskins; Harlow T. Judson as millwright, Samuel Jones as boss of the concern. and Cornelius Slaght. Haskins was the first one who cut down a tree at the place. A log house was built for him and his family. In the spring a small frame building was put up for a store and dwelling (now the back part of Ellis' store). Before that the log store had also been the residence of Slaght and Haskins, and their families, cach having one room. Close quarters, but that was the best the place afforded, and it be- hooved them to be content.
As an inducement to settlers, lots were given to those who would improve them. The blacksmith put up his shop there; the shoemaker came; the carpenter built his house there; a doctor there displayed his sign. A school-house was located there. A lawyer came and looked-thought there were not people enough to make their quarrels profitable to him, and located at Grand Rapids. In fine, a little, sung village scat- tered itself on the hills around the mill and modest store. At present they are left out in the cold by the railroads, those all- controlling directors of the destinies of places. Yet they have hopes from a railroad that is in their mind's eye; and then- and then-they hope to put on airs! They have a fine, steady, but limited water-power, which is capable of being much fur- ther developed. They have a beautiful and varied site; fine, romantic surroundings; and they are not without hope. In
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the village are a good union school-house, a Methodist and a Congregational church.
The aforesaid LeGrand Cannon, after whom the town was named " Cannon," presented the town a cannon, as his thank- offering for the compliment paid him in naming the town " Cannon." And ever since, the inhabitants of Cannon, in all their jubilations, cause that cannon to wake the echoes of the town of Cannon.
"Nevertheless," (as H. W. Beecher said,) the greatest beauty of the town is in her unrivaled lakes. The two-Silver Lake and Bostwick Lake-for their crystal waters and beach-like shores, may challenge comparison with anything of the kind in the world. To see thein is to admire. The shade of Bost- wick cannot but be well pleased that this lake is his memento on earth; and my shade, when I shall have become a shade, would rejoice could the name of the other be called its name and memento. O ye Cannonburgers, cause that to be true, and I will give you a bigger puff than your cannon gives you on the 4th of July. Yes, indeed; I will soar into poetry.
Less beautiful lakes than these are Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine, that so often have waked the poet's song; and a far less beautiful one near Grand Rapids is the pride of the place, a fashionable resort, and the center of their rural pleasures. When that railroad comes along, the lakes of Cannon will not be merely boundaries of farms, places to water horses and to catch fish.
CHURCHES IN CANNON
Congregational at Steele's Corners. Organized in 1847, by Rev. J. Ballard and Dea. Page, with ten members.
Smith Bailey and his wife, Eunice, Parmelia Pitcher, Chloe Scott, Samuel H. Steele and Mary, his wife, - Stone and wife, John Campbell, Harlow T. Judson.
The preachers have been, Revs. Isaac Barker, two years; Geo. Overheiser, two years; Jehiel H. Hard, five years; Daniel Sessions, two years; James Ballard, five years; - Evarts, two years; Danforth Eaton, four years. Present preacher, Wm. Irons, since 1872.
The church, 32 by 48, was built and dedicated in 1853.
Present membership, 51; just having dismissed 15 to form a new church at Cannonsburg.
The Methodist Church at Steele's Corners was first started as a class, in
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1843, of four members: - Johnson and wife, Ebenezer C. Smith and Sally M., his wife. The church, 30 by 40, was built and dedicated in 1853. Pres- ent membership, about 40.
INCIDENTS.
In 1842 or 1843, Mr. Seth Lockwood built a large barn in Courtland. To raise it, it was necessary to muster the whole force of three townships-Courtland, Plainfield and Cannon.
Mr. James Thomas built the first barn in Cannon. When the first bent was partly raised, it came to a dead stand. They could not raise it with the force they had, and they dared not let it down. They made out to prop it where it was. By chance two men came along, and with them as a reinforce- ment, they put it up.
A trip to Grand Rapids was a three days' affair.
In 1840, Mrs. Gilman was confined, Mr. Gilman rode two days to get a girl, in vain. Wherever he went all were sick with agne; general suffering-not well ones enough to take care of the sick. He, while sceking for help, often had to min- ister to the immediate wants of others-to give a cup of water, etc.
"On a circle of stones they placed the pot- A circle of stones but barely nine; They heated it red and fiery hot,
"Til the burnished brass did glimmer and shine.
They rolled him up in a sheet of lead- A sheet of lead for a funeral pall; Then plunged him into the caldron red, And melted him-head and bones and all."
The practical application of the above sublime quotation is mot patent to the general reader, but the shrewdly wise will see it.
COURTLAND.
The settlement of this town is peculiar. A colony of eleven well-educated men in 1838 selected this town as their place of residence. One of their number. Barton Johnson, came ahead as an explorer. The rest soon followed with their families. Their names were: Philo Bears, Barton Johnson,
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Benjamin Botsford, John Austin, Wm. R. Davis, John Bar- low, Alexander Dean, Sabin Johnson, Thomas Addison, Anson Ensign and Iram Barney.
They located their lands contiguous to each other. They organized the town and resided several years alone-a happy, social and moral community. They had enough for fraternity, enough for society, and enough for a school. They were at home in each other's houses, and prided themselves in cach other's good name and character. But the intruding stranger would come in, among whom we have gathered the following: Rice Austin, Loren Austin, Philo Austin, Nelson Miles, Chauncey Parker, Philip Becker, Henry Barlow, David Haynes, John Carlyle, Horace Colby, James Kingin, Jacob Snyder, Morgan Hunting, George Shank, Joseph Davis, Amasa Squiers, Wm. H. Myers, Alman Thompson, Horton Rounds, Nathan Rounds, William Rounds, Lenas B. White, Alfred Stilwell, Calvin Thompson.
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