USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 46
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JAMESTOWN.
This town was set off from Georgetown and organized in in 1849. At the time it appears there were only 13 voters in the township. Their names were: Monsieur Brown. his son. James M. Brown, Nathan W., Charles and David Richardson. James Skeels, James and James M. Cronkright, George D. and Augustus Donnelly, S. L. Gitchell, Andrew Frieze, and Andrew Frieze, Jr.
Of these were elected: Supervisor, James Skeels; Clerk, James M. Brown; Treasurer, James M. Cronkright; Justices. G. G. Donnelly, Charles Richardson, James Cronkright. Nathan W. Richardson.
Raised $125 for contingent expenses.
The first settlers were the Cronkrights, father and son, who entered in 1843. In 1844, came Monsieur Brown and his son : S. L. Gitchel, Andrew Frieze, Nathan and Charles Richardson and perhaps, one or two others.
The pioneer Cronkright is still resident. Monsieur Brown died in Wyoming in 1865.
Jamestown was sought for its soil alone, being perhaps the best agricultural township in Ottawa county. It probably would not have been reached in the course of settlement as soon as it was, had it not been for the fact that the really desi- rable lands nearer the river had been taken by speculators.
The early settler must have a small head and retreating
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forehead, if he does not look out for the best land. After set- tlement has given value to timber, and made location desira- ble, it will do to take land of inferior, or even poor quality. But when the best timber is a nuisance to be got rid of, when the man has to forego all the comforts and appliances of civil- zation, and do that work which is to give value to the region around, he cannot afford to take poor land. Besides, if he has common sense, he will realize that in future time that first rate land makes the first rate farm, and that the owner of an A No. 1 farm, with his sleek cattle, and his dozen stout boys and rosy girls around him, is abont as independent a nabob as the country affords. If he is not " monarch of all he surveys," he is monarch of broad acres that he has redeemed from savage wilderness, and he has a right to feel himself a noble- man. - The novelist, Cooper, with his world-wide reputation, prided himself on being the owner of a farm. "There is no property," said he to the writer, " that is so respectable to own, as a farm." Cooper was right. To be the exclusive owner of a piece of God's earth has dignity in it, especially if it has that fertile soil, that will roll up the bank account. But after all there is not much dignity in being the owner of poor land. It savors too much of poverty and its twin sister-humility. " I haven't but an acre of it, and am not so poor as you think I am," was the answer of a Pennsylvanian to the man who told him, " the more such land a man had the poorer he was."
But coming back to the town. The early settlers were obliged to bring their provisions, etc., on their backs from Grandville, or on hand-sleds, on account of the swamps. There were plenty of deer, and other game abounded. So abundant were deer, that one man (a Mr. Hermit) killed 86 in one winter.
They had their diversions, their gala-days being " logging bees " and log house raisings. A logging bee is the glory of the new settler. Five or ten acres have been chopped and burned. Invitations are sent to all, far and near. They come, the sturdy yeomen, with their teams; and the bonny lasses come, too. Emulons to ontdo each other, they go at the logs and brush with a "Hip! hurrah! " and log heaps arise like the
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work of magic. The " mysterious" circulates; and all feel the inspiring effect of " mystery." Long before night the field is cleared; and all adjourn to the house where bright eyes are ready to greet them, where the pigs are smoking on the table, and the abounding et ceteras of rustic good cheer. The "fun " in the field has given an appetite that soon sweeps the board. And then comes the good time of social hilarity, which we, poor slaves of etiquette, know nothing of. Why, there is more enjoyment in one logging bee than in twenty fancy balls, or fashionable parties-enjoyment higher, purer, and really more desirable. There is soul in it, and people love to realize that they have a soul.
No school was in the town until the summer of 1851. The first was kept by Miss Elizabeth Rates.
The pioneer preacher was Elder A. B. Toms, a Free Will Baptist.
But one church edifice has been built in the town-that of the Dutch Reformed. The Free Will Baptists, the Methodists and the Disciples have organizations, but no buildings.
In the winter of 1873-4, an event occurred over which a mystery still hangs: the disappearance of the town treasurer, C. C. Pratt. Whether he was murdered, or ran away, is mat- ter of opinion.
Like most new rural towns, Jamestown has left little for record. Probably the most important event is putting the drain through the long swamp, a part of which is in that town. This is revealing the invaluable worth of those detested lands. The Drain Commissioner has opened a mine of wealth. It is now for the people to work it. It is found that these drained swamps yield fabulous crops, especially of onions. All experience so far demonstrates that mud (not peat) swamps are land in its perfection; and in time many will be the bene- dictions showered on the Drain Commissioner, whose assess- ments are apt to be met by many a grumbling curse. Why, man, your swamp with a good ditch through it, is worth five times as much, acre by acre, as your dry land. It has for ages been the reservoir of fertilizing matter, drawn from the land around; and is an inexhaustible region-a mine of fer-
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tility. Happy is its lucky owner. Oh! I wish I owned some of it!
TALMADGE.
Talmadge was constituted a town by act of Legislature, in 1838, and consisted of T. 7 and 8 N., R. 13 W. The first meeting was at the house of Wm. Stoddard, April 2d, 1838. At the organization of the town, there were elected:
Bethuel Church, Supervisor; Israel V. Harris, Clerk; Abram Hatch, Silas G. Harris, Ira H. Maxfield, Alonzo D. Yeomans, Justices.
The record does not show the number of voters, but from them the following names are gleaned:
Edward Dalton, Daniel Angell, Jotham Baxter, Allen Stod- dard, Thomas B. Woodbury, Harrison Hunter.
The vicissitudes, as it regards size, through which Talmadge has passed, are:
In 1839, the town was enlarged by annexing to it T. 7 and S, R. 14 W.
Since then, by the organization of new towns, and the gell- eral arrangement of territory so that the river shall divide no town, the present shape and size of the town was reached in 1847.
By common consent, A. D. Yeomans and Allen Stoddard were the first that settled in Talmadge. They came in 1835. The stay of Yeomans was short. He sold out in 1838, to H. & Z. Steele, went to Illinois, and died. Stoddard lived the first winter in an Indian wigwam.
Ira H. Maxfield came from Clinton county, N. Y., in Feb., 1836. He was a farmer in Talmadge until his death, in 1874. He was a valued citizen; able, patriotic and honorable.
Harlow T. Judson came from Canada in 1836, and settled in Talmadge. He died in 1870.
The other accessions of 1836, as nigh as ascertained, were:
Bethuel Church, Andrew Dalton, Edward Dalton, John Baxter, Victor Harris (Jan.), Lemuel Peake (Jan., '36), Lewis D. Burch, Jotham Baxter, T. B. Woodbury, Daniel Angell, (fall of '36).
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In 1837: Damon Hatch, John C. Davis, - Bromley, Har- ry Steele, Zina Steele.
The gleanings of the early history of the town are meager ; there is little but adventures with wild beasts, among which Mr. Angell made himself a terror, subsisting for many years upon their destruction. Not counting deer, squirrels, bears. muskrats and other minor game, he killed seventy wolves, one of which was a big black one, and one a loup-cervier.
Mr. A., one night, out looking for his cattle, was startled by the cry of a panther near him. He did not see the beast. At that time it was known that two panthers were around, one of which was killed by a man near Crockery Creek, by a well directed ball planted between his eyes. The man startled the panther, who, before determining whether to charge or retreat, placed his paws on a log and looked at the hunter, winking first one eye and then the other, and gracefully swinging his candal elongation. The man, ejaculating one prayer to the devil, ground out the words between his teeth, " You impudent cuss!" and fired. Mr. Panther sprang up, turned more sum- mersets than were ever witnessed in a circus; and, in fact, acted as though he was mad, or at least half crazy. Calming himself by degrees, he lay down and died, apparently with quiet resignation.
This pair of panthers have been traced from Clinton county to Ottawa; where, one being killed, the other was seen no more. It is not known as they did any harm. They scared some people; and in Talmadge one of them lost his life be- cause he must stop and look, instead of promptly acting. Let all wild beasts learn wisdom; and when they meet a man with a gun, charge or retreat, and that instantly.
Soon after the first settlement of the place (for cities were then wonderfully popular), Mr. T. B. Woodbury having a half- section of land admirable for a city, laid out eighty acres of it. The fate of this city was not that of countless others, platted and mapped at about the same time. It became a village, is now a village, and a pretty village, too. Mr. Woodbury in one thing showed that he was a man of taste, a gentleman and a scholar. He run through the village a wide avenue, which is, at the same time, street and park.
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But he, the originator of the village, reaped no benefit from it. He sold out, put his property into a grist-mill; that was burned, and he was destitute. IIe now lives near Fruitport.
The place became known as "Steele's Landing," afterwards as " Middleville," until in 1857, its name was changed by the Legislature to "Lamont." An interesting tradition has been handed down to the present time, that the people of the place were warm in their admiration of the placid dignity of A. Lamont Chubb, of Grand Rapids. He had, in connection with his father, opened a store for the sale of agricultural im- plements. They had seen in front of his store a beautiful road-scraper. It was just the thing they wanted. They feasted their eyes upon it; they coveted it. The village trustees determined in solemn council to buy it, when lo! the treasury was empty, not a nickel there. Still they must have that scraper, even if it cost them the good name of Middleville. Chubb was sounded, and it appeared that though he valued the scraper at its full worth, he valued immortality more. The historian approves his choice, and will himself add a chain to the scraper when any rising village will immortalize his name, by making it theirs. But won't they, by-and-by, sell their name again ?
Having written so much, we sought an interview with Chubb, and having congratulated him on his cheap immortality, he, in his quiet way, with his usnal placid smile and sly delibera- tion, remarked: "Are-you-not-a-little-in-error-in-your-chro- nology? Was - not - the - naming - before - the - giving - of - the- scraper?" The wind was out of our sails. We had armed ourselves with seraper and chain, and had been looking for the village, who for it would give us immortality. What was our chagrin when we learned that these names were given in com- pliment to worth, and were not on sale. We've a scraper and chain to sell cheap. We'd like to see part of our money back again.
The first school in the town was kept by Mrs. Harrison Hunter, in a log house built by Hunter. Among the first teachers was Mr. Barry, who is still a resident, and who is widely known as a logical granmarian.
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The first house built as a school-house is standing still, de- graded into a barn and catch-all. It stands east of the brick church.
The town was named in compliment to Gen. Talmadge, of Dutchess county, N. Y.
ROMANCE IN OLD AGE.
Among the earliest settlers at Lamont, as many of the old settlers in this locality will remember, were Dan Angell and wife, who went there in 1837. They had lived, with the usual happiness and trials, the usual health and illness that befall humanity, in Lamont, till the 5th of Nov .. 1875, when Mrs. Angell died. Her death affected Mr. Angell very much-he loved his wife with a fervor and fidelity which many of the latter-day people cannot realize or understand, and he felt cer- tain he could not long survive her loss. He insisted that he was going to die soon, and that her body should be kept, so that he might be buried at the same time in the same grave with her. His request was granted, and he did die on the 19th, just two weeks after, and both were buried on the 21st in the same grave. Such romance is not often found in these latter days.
FRUITPORT.
Setting off from the Grand River near its mouth, is a body of water, formerly known as the Bayou, but more recently as Spring Lake. It is an uncommonly beautiful sheet of water, with high shores, and every surrounding to make it one of the. loveliest spots in Michigan. Until 1866, it was unappreciated and considered only in its relation to the lumber business. The soil around is a light, sandy loam, resting on clay. The timber was a heavy growth of pine, hemlock, ash, etc. The land, stripped of its timber, was considered nearly valueless. as land of deep sand is generally found to be, and was classed with the "pine barrens," which entail poverty on their unfor- tunate owner.
In the spring of 1866, Captain E. L. Craw, studying the region around Spring Lake, came to the conclusion that it had rare capacities, and purchased a tract of several hundred acres
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on the eastern bank, and immediately set out some 30 acres of peach trees. The result exceeded his highest expectations. The land was found to be admirably adapted to the growth of that fruit and the grape. This gave rise to a good deal of the spirit of speculation. The land, underlaid with clay, that had a real value, gave a high nominal value to the sandy soils in general.
Fortunes were made by raising peaches, and very many, catching the spirit, saw mines of wealth in "fruit lands." Those who supposed spent pine lands near the lake shore were necessarily "fruit lands," found themselves mistaken, and denounced the whole as a humbug. But the fact was patent, that on the shore of Spring Lake, the land was invaluable for fruit. The business increased with fine results on the whole. The crops were almost unfailing until the dread winter of 1874- 5, which caused the faces of the peach-growers to assume a lugubrious elongation. The cold of that winter killed nearly all. But as such a winter had never come before, it was rational to suppose it never would again; and people are act- ing on that assumption.
The village of Fruitport was laid out at the head of the lake in 1868. In the spring of 1869, the foundation was laid for a hotel, intended to be a great concern. In 1871, a well was sunk, which resulted in a supply of mineral waters, which soon made the place famous for its waters. The Pomona House was. opened in July, 1871; and was crowded until the close of the season.
In 1870, the property passed into the hands of a company, The Fruitport Magnetic and Sulphur Springs Company, with a capital of half a million dollars. The Pomona House has been twice burned down, and is now a ruin. The waters of this place, Spring Lake and Grand Haven, have been for some years a great attraction; and the numerous visitors claim that they are unsurpassed as curative agents.
Great hopes are entertained as to the future of Fruitport.
OTTAWA COUNTY.
AS GLEANED FROM THE COUNTY RECORDS.
The county was organized by act of the Legislature, approved December 21, 1837; and at the ensuing township meetings of the three townships which comprised the county, the following county officers were elected:
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Timothy Eastman, Clerk; Clark B. Albee, Register of Deeds; Edmund H. Badger, Judge of Probate; Henry Pennoyer, Sheriff; Supervisors, Bethinel Church, Talmadge; William Hathaway, Ottawa; Erastus Wilcox. Muskegon.
The first meeting of the supervisors was held at the house of Nathan Troop, on the 112h day of April, 1838. Present: Erastus Wilcox and Wm. Hathaway. Organized by appointing E. Wilcox, Chairman, and Timothy Eastman, Clerk.
Resolred, That the courts of the county be held at the village of Grand Haven, until further ordered.
The board of two supervisors then adjourned.
The next meeting was at Troop's house, on the Sth of May.
Business: Extending the time for making up the assessment rolls, and appointing Timothy Eastman to locate a quarter-section of land for the use of the county, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of the Territorial Legislature, approved July 25th, 1836. He was to be accompanied by one or more of the supervisors.
The Register of Deeds was directed to procure suitable books
At the annual meeting of the supervisors, held at the house of Win. Hath- away, the first Tuesday in October, there were present Church and Hathaway -Church in the chair.
Adjourned two weeks. At the adjourned meeting, Oct. 16th, present, Church and Hathaway.
Permission was given to Ed. H. Maey to keep a ferry across Black River Lake two years.
Accounts were allowed to the amount of $123.16, and the Board assessed for town and expenses: Talmadge, $48.50; Ottawa, $631.34; Muskegon, $59.09.
At this time a new order of things was inaugurated-the board of Super- visors being superseded by county commissioners.
The Commissioners elected were Bethuel Church and Saunders Coates. They held their first meeting Dec. 6th, 1838. W. Hathaway, Secretary.
[It may here be stated that an important part of the business of the county was either not recorded, or the record has been lost. No record of the elec- tions is found; and what is here given is either from the records of the super- visors and commissioners, or from the memory of individuals.]
Timothy Eastman is mentioned as being Judge of Probate, November 16th, 1839.
March 24th, 1840, provision is made for a more formal record of the pro- ceedings of the Board of Supervisors, and the succeeding board of County Commissioners.
On the assessment rolls appear the towns of Ottawa, Georgetown, Tal- madge, Norton and Muskegon-five towns.
Assessed value of the county, $352,372.57.
In 1842, George L. Norton, Benjamin Hopkins and C. B. Albee were Coun- ty Commissioners.
April 1st, 1842, the Board of Commissioners adjourned sine die; that is, forever.
The record of the first meeting of the reinstated Board of Supervisors,
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bears date July 4th, 1842. They organized by appointing Benjamin Hop- kins chairman. But there is no record who were the supervisors. The same five towns were represented.
In 1845, six towns are represented, Polkton then appearing.
In 1846, at a not full board, C. B. Albee was directed to build a jail, and to draw on the county for $50, and contingently for $50 more; that is, if the absent supervisors approved in writing; and $100 was subscribed. The absent supervisors approved.
In 1847, Wright appears, making seven towns.
In 1848, White River and Chester-nine towns.
In 1849, Holland, Jamestown, Crockery, Allendale, Spring Lake, and Ra- venna (White River disappears)-fourteen towns.
In 1851, White River reappears.
In 1852, Casnovia; 1854, Blendon; 1856, Robinson; 1857, Olive.
In June, 1851, by the supervisors, the township of Zeeland is set off from Holland, and the first township meeting directed to be held at the church in the village of Zeeland, July 14th, 1851.
At the same meeting, the S. 12 of T. 5, N. 15 W. was attached to Spring Lake.
Valuation, $666.869.09.
Oct. 12th, 1852, Casnovia was set off from Chester, as a separate town- ship; the first township meeting to be held at the house of Alexander Burdick, the first Monday in April, 1873.
. Ottawa county had jurisdiction over all territory north of it. In 1853, the counties of Oceana, Mason and Manistee are complained of, as not paying taxes; and a petition for proper powers to assess and collect taxes in the dis- trict was made to the Legislature, and special mantion is made of White River, in the county of Oceana.
Valuation, $1,404,529.66.
In 1854, the township of Blendon was organized-set off fromn Allendale; first meeting at the house of Booth Perry, the first Monday in April, 1857.
In January, 1856, Robinson was set off from Ottawa; first meeting at the house of Ira Robinson, the first Monday in April.
Jan. 6th, 1857, the township of Olive was set off from Ottawa; first meet- ing at the house of Wm. J. Bakker, the 1st Monday in April.
The records give evidence of a good deal of interest in the location of the county seat; various places desiring it; especially Eastmanville and Ottawa centers.
At the January session, 1857, the Board voted to locate the county seat at Eastmanville, and that the question be submitted to the people. In 1858, by a two-thirds vote, they located it (so far as their vote would do it) at Ottawa Center. In October, its rejection by the people is recorded.
In 1859, the supervisors voted to petition the Legislature to organize the county of Muskegon. In accordance with that petition, Muskegon county and all northern dependencies were set off, leaving Ottawa as now. The business between the two counties was amicably arranged.
The first circuit court for the county was held at Grand Haven, May 28th, 1839; Charles W. Whipple was the presiding judge, and Timothy Eastman and Jonathan H. Ford, associate judges. No jury was impaneled.
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MUSKEGON COUNTY. FROM THE RECORDS.
The first, a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, was held July 18th, 1859, at the office of H. H. Holt. No quorum present. Adjourned to meet at Wheeler & Shuginin's Hall, at 2 o'clock the same day.
Townships represented-Muskegon, by E. W. Merrill; Norton, by Ira C. Smith; Casnovia, by Nathan Whitney.
Absent-Supervisors of Ravenna and White River.
At this meeting the Township of Eggelson was set off from Muskegon: the first meeting to be held at the house of Wm. Sturdifant. The town was named in compliment to Adna, Eggelson, an early settler, county surveyor. and supervisor until 1874, the time of his death. The next day Ravenna was represented by Thomas D. Smith.
Measures were taken to build a jail, with the proviso that it be done with- out expense to the county.
At the January session, 1860, the Township of Moorland was organized; the first town meeting to be at the school-house near Wm. C. Bliss.
The salaries allowed the county officers were: County Clerk, $100; County Treasurer, $50; Prosecuting Attorney, $150.
In 1860, nine towns were represented. White River, Oceana, Dalton, Muskegon. Eggelson, Ravenna, Moorland, Casnovia, and Norton.
The supervisors voted to petition the Legislature to restore Muskegon county to Ottawa.
In 1861 Cedar Creek appearing by its supervisor-10 towns; 1865, Blue Lake and Laketon.
In 1865, the towns of Oceana and Dalton were consolidated, and then divided into three towns-Oceana, Blue Lake and Dalton.
Oceana-12 N., 17 W., and that part of 11 N., 17 W., lying north of White Lake. The first meeting at the school-house in the village of Mears.
Blue Lake-T. 12, N. 16 W. First town meeting at the house of A. E. Kingsley, April 3d.
Dalton-All that part of 11 N., 17 W., south of White Lake, and T. 11, 16 W. First meeting at the school-house on Sec. 13. T. 11, N. 17 W.
Fruitport was Lovell; changed name in 1870, by Legislature.
Montague was part of Oceana until 1874.
Holton was constituted a town, and named in honor of the Hon. H. H. Holt, in 1870.
The court house was built in 1869-70, and was first occupied in August, 1870. The cost was $50,000.
Fruitland was constituted a town in 1870-was taken from the west part of Dalton.
Whitehall was organized in 1874, having been before a part of Oceana.
Oceana ceased to exist in 1874; its territory being divided into the two towns. Montague and Whitehall.
In its early history Muskegon is identified with Ottawa, of which it formed an integral part until 1859, when. upon the petition of the board of supervi- sors of Ottawa county, the Legislature constituted Muskegon a county. It
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consisted then of five organized townships: Muskegon, Norton, Casnovia, White River and Ravenna.
Muskegon, Casnovia and Revenna were properly towns; the rest tempo- rarily organized as such. Casnovia, Chester and Ravenna were agricultural towns-their affinities rather with Kent than Ottawa.
Muskegon came into notice as a lumbering point, and few of those who made investments there in early years, thought of it as good for any- thing else. As late as 1860, the houses and shops were mere shelters; few making any pretensions to elegance or permanency. The hotels were places where the up-river teams could be fed. Muskegon was not thought of or known except as a place for making and shipping lumber. Two-thirds of its territory was considered unfit for agricultural purposes. Different is the feeling at the present day. The people feel that they have a future as well as a present. They do not, as formerly, look upon the sure destruction of the pine as dooming the region to be an uninhabited blackberry field, or an idle wild. Our word "Fruit " is there magical.
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