USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 47
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HOMICIDE CASES IN OTTAWA COUNTY.
The following are all the cases of homicide which have come before the courts in the county. The information is kindly furnished by the prosecuting attorney, A. C. Adsit, Esq.
Oct. 11th, 1855, Jordon Turpin was indicted for the murder of a man by the name of Fox. in the town of Spring Lake. His trial was commenced on the 23d of October, and lasted four days. He was found guilty, and re- ceived a life sentence. He died in prison.
In 1856, Ebenezer Spencer was tried for murder; found guilty of man- slaughter, and sent to prison for three years.
A case of uncommon interest occurred in 1875. On the 5th of June, 1875, one Wilson Pound, an eccentric old bachelor, residing in North Hol- land, in a little cabin, was missing under circumstances that excited neigh- borhood suspicion, which was directed towards John H. Fuller, Fuller's son, and John S. Watson, who lived near neighbors. The prosecuting attorney ' was informed of the facts, as far as known, and of the suspicions. The pros- ecuting attorney and sheriff went directly to Holland, and after three days' investigation, came to the conclusion that Pound had been murdered, and that John H. Fuller, Melvin C. Fuller and John S. Watson, must have been implicated, all of whom had disappeared.
In the meantime Watson, conscience-stricken, and no longer able to retain the dreadful secret-and not knowing that the sheriff was on his track-came to Grand Haven, and proceeding to the office of the prosecuting attorney, gave himself into the custody of the law; confessed a knowledge of the crime; indicating the vicinity of the spot where the murdered remains of Wilson Pound lay concealed. Mr. Adsit, with Watson in charge. immedi- ately went to Holland, and informed the sheriff, who soon succeeded in ar- resting John H. Fuller. Under the direction of Watson, the body of Pound was discovered, staked down in the mud and water, and covered with weeds and turf, in a marsh at the head of the bay, about four miles from Holland city. The son was arrested a few days afterwards.
523
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
At the October term, the father and son were tried for we murder. The young man was not convicted; his father was sent to prison for life. Wat- son was used as State's evidence, and was released after being in jail about four months. The trial was the most exciting that Ottawa county has ever had, and lasted six days.
The probable motive of the murder was to prevent Pound from being a witness against the Fullers, who were charged with displacing the track of the railroad.
On that charge, the young Fuller was afterwards twice tried, each time escaping conviction. by one dissenting juryman. He stands before the pub- lic, a free, but branded man. Guilty or innocent, he has a heavy load to bear; that is, if he has a sentient soul.
ROBINSON'S PROCLAMATION.
The following, too good to be lost, is taken from the Grand Haven Herald:
In the spring of 1833, the Grand Haven Company had about 15,000 logs in rafts run into the bayou, staked by the shore and called safe by all. But heavy winds sent the logs adrift and the whole marsh was covered with them.
The fact was reported to Mr. Robinson and he blamed the agent of the company somewhat, for the want of attention to the proper securing of the rafts, nor could he be made to believe that the winds and current were such as to break all fastenings. At the request of the agent of the company (W. M. Ferry) he remained at Grand Haven a few days, and while there one Sab- bath morning, a recurrence of wind and current came, and the logs with acres of marsh and weeds rushed to and fro like a maelstrom.
Mr. Robinson called out the men and with boats caught and towed to the shore many logs, which he fastened with ropes and stakes. The work had hardly been accomplished and Robinson was viewing it with satisfaction, when the returning tide caught the logs and again scattered them, against all efforts made by himself and men.
Robinson looked mad. He called to " Uncle Mike " to get out his oxen, and with two yoke he had hauled up on the shore three large logs, and then told the teamster to put up the cattle. To the inquiry " what are you going to do with the three logs you have secured ?" he replied. " I shall put them in Mr. Ferry's cellar and see if I can keep them still there."
That evening, after quite a chat over the occurrences of the day, Mr. R. turned to his office dusk, and in a very short time laid down his pen and handed me the accompanying paper, which I have always carefully preserved. I think it will be of interest to all old citizens of Grand Haven.
T. W. WHITE.
PROCLAMATION AND BLOCKADE.
WHEREAS, There is a bayou situate at Grand Haven (a little speck in the west at the mouth of Grand River of Lake Michigan), said bayou being adjacent to a steam saw-mill now building and nearly completed by the Grand Haven Steam Mill Company.
And whereas, sundry saw logs and pieces of hewn timber were lodged in said bayou for safe keeping, and whereas, for several months past it has been
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MEMORIALS OF THE
the universal and continual practice of said saw logs and timber to take French leave and desert from said bayou, and transport themselves into Lake Michigan, and scattering themselves along the coast thereof, without con- sulting the interest of the owners of said property, and much to their annoy- ance, inconvenience and damage.
And whereas, in the course of human events it sometimes becomes neces- sary for the public good and safety as well as peace and repose of individuals to lay heavy hand on certain outrageous movements and aggressions, and severely rebuke and punish the perpetrators and aggressors, and in order to restrain and prevent the repetition of those things, powerful means are justi- fiable in many cases.
And whereas, moderate and ordinary means have altogether failed to pro- duce the desired effect in constraining said logs and timber in their trouble- some and unpardonable movements,
Now, therefore, know ye all whom it may concern, That by the power vested in me and the pile-driver, and men which have been steadily employed in and about said bayou for some considerable time past, I do hereby declare said bayou in a state of rigid blockade, and I do interdict and prohibit all saw logs and timber now lying in and about said bayou from passing or attempting to pass the line of forces under my charge, now lying at anchor pr move across said bayou near the mouth thereof, and I do further order and direct that as soon as the ice shall be dissolved in said bayou, or be removed out of the way, that said logs and timber immediately remove from their strongholds in said bayou, where they are now seated and come forth- with directly into the boom prepared to receive them, near the steam mill above spoken of, there to be dealt with as may seem most to the interest of their proprietors or owners-hereby pledging myself that in case of a strict and duc obedience to the above orders no more punishment shall be infflicted on any log than to slit it up in the ordinary way into lumber fit for market.
And I do further order and direet that no undue influnce be made use of, by force or secretion, or in any other way whatever, to prevent the due sub- mission of said logs and timber as aforesaid, either by marsh grass, flags. cat-tails, wild-rice, or by floatings claims, (many of which have been ex- tremely active in said bayou during the high winds of last autumn), or by any seaweed or other vegetable substance whatever, but that they immediately uncover and relinquish said logs, that they may pop out from behind them, and immediately proceed to their place of destination as above directed.
And I do further hereby interdict all connection and intercourse between said logs and timbers and the amphibious powers, to wit: such as bull-frogs, tad-poles, turtles, terrapins, muscles and crawfish, and I do most especially prohibit said bull-frogs from clambering up said logs (much to the injury of their toe-nails), and then bellowing to the annoyance of the good citizens of Grand Haven and its visitors. I also expressly forbid turtles and terrapins from mounting said logs, and using them as a convenient place for making love in the sunshine by winking in each others faces; but that all and every one of the above named powers and animals desist from such evil practices. and permit said logs and timber to float along peaceably and unmolested into the boom as above directed.
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GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
Done in the office of the Bayou, on board the Pile Driver seow, this 25th day of February, A. D. 1838, and sealed with the hammer thereof.
RIX ROBINSON, (L. S.]
Commander in Chief of all the forces in said bayou. T. W. WHITE, [L. S.] Second in cominand, etc., etc., etc. JOHN BROABRIDGE, [L. S.] Admiral and Commander on board the ship " Thump-Hard."
THE FIRST INDIAN TRADER.
We are indebted to the Hon. WM. M. FERRY for the following short sketch of Pierre Constant, the first Indian Trader of Ottawa county:
" The first trader who located in what was Ottawa county-then embracing Muskegon county-was Pierre Constant, a Frenchman, of the type of that advance guard of pioneers-Marquette, LaSalle, Joliet and Tonti-who, two hundred years before, invaded and brought to the world the great Northwest. He was of the chevalier order of men-brave, honorable and undaunted, amid all dangers. In 1810, he engaged with the British Fur Company, then having a depot at Mackinaw, as a trader; and with his supply of merchan- dise coasted along the shore of Lake Michigan, and established a trading post on Grand River, near what is now called Charleston; and another on the banks of Muskegon Lake. He married an Indian woman of remarkable beauty and intelligence, by whom six children were born to him. Once & year, he, with his family and the results of his venture in furs and peltries, coasted down Lakes Michigan and Huron to Penatauquashin, the Indian depot for Upper Canada.
" The oldest of this family was a daughter, who inherited her mother's beauty, as well as the high qualities of the mind of the father; and this daughter, Louisa Constant, or "Lisette," as she was called, became her father's clerk when she was twelve years old; and was as well known for her wonderful faculties for business as she was for her personal attractions. In 1828, when she was seventeen years old, her father died. She closed up his business with the British Fur Company, and engaged with the American Fur Company, at Mackinaw, receiving from them a large supply of merchan- dise; and for six years conducted the most successful trading establishment in the Northwest. She married Wm. Lasley, of Muskegon, also an Indian trader; and now, an aged widow, resides in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Her son, Henry S. Lasley, is one of the prominent merchants of Montague, Muskegon county."
MASON LUMBERING CO. SALT WELL, AT MUSKEGON.
This company, with the view of testing the questions of finding salt or petroleum, sunk a well near the mill in Muskegon to the depth of 2,627 feet. The results were unsatisfactory, and they have only a deep hole to show for the expense they have incurred. A nearly saturated brine was obtained, but not in quantity to warrant the erection of works for the manufacture of salt. Petroleum in insignificant quantity was also obtained.
From the following will be seen the character of the strata passed through :
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MEMORIALS OF THE
WHOLE DEPTH.
Feet.
60 feet sand.
150 feet clay.
15 feet hard pan 225
400 feet sand and shale.
About 100 feet gray limestone and shale; the limestone light color; balance dark gray limestone. 625
775 feet blue shale with loosened soft streaks of same material. 1,400
At the depth of 1,225 feet, petroleum and gas showed themselves. 150 feet solid blue shale. 1,550
150 feet solid red shale .. 1,700
300 feet lime rock and shale. .. 2,000
50 feet salt-bearing rock, with streaks of sand from 1 to 4 feet thick. . 2,050
50 feet light colored lime rock and shale. 2,100
250 feet dark colored lime rock. 2,350
50 feet lime and gypsum, gypsum and lime in strata from 4 to 6 feet. 2.400 At this depth the boring was suspended; but after some years was resumed, penetrating 227 feet further. For 145 feet through alternating lime and gypsum. The remainder was through constantly changing reck, ending in dark lime rock, loose and porous 2,627 It is to be regretted that a particular account of the strata was not pre- served. Imperfect as the record is, it has its scientific value.
HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The imperfections of the harbors on the lakes was the great drawnback to Lake Commerce. The great difficulty was the obstruction of the entrances by constantly shifting and varying sand-bars. To-day the entrance might be good, but a storm on the lake might bar the entrance to-morrow. The United States, wisely appreciating the importance of good harbors on the lakes, has been liberal in their construction and improvement. As a history of the improvements in this region, the writer has chosen to transfer to this work the reports published by authority of the Government, and furnished to the Government by S. M. Mansfield, Captain of Engineers. For the report we are under obligations to S. C. Mower, Assistant Engineer.
MUSKEGON HARBOR, MICHIGAN,
Original plan: It was recommended that an extension of the piers be made in a line of direction parallel to the inner face of south pier (south 61 deg. 31 min. west), commencing at the present extremities, until a depth of 17 feet is reached.
Requiring 700 feet of pier-work; estimated cost, $58,450.
1867 and 1868 .- During the year 384 feet of pier was built (12 cribs), work having commenced in July, 1867.
1868 and 1869 .- During the year two cribs, 32 feet each, were placed in extension of the north, and one in extension of the south piers, and super- structure on all completed.
527
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
1869 and 1870 .- The north pier was extended 320 feet, and south pier reballasted, and repairs to breach between east end of south pier, and old slab-pier repaired.
1870 and 1871 .-- The superstructure over cribs sunk in 1869 was finished. and one crib, 32 fect square, placed as pier-head on north pier, and the north and south piers repaired; the south pier reballasted.
Appropriated March 3, 1871, $15,000.
1871 and 1872 .- The construction of a pier-head, 32 feet square, with su- perstructure over it, and the two eribs sunk in 1869-70, left the north pier complete. A breach through slab-pier, where it joined south Government pier, was closed with 34 feet pile-pier.
Appropriated June 10, 1872, $10,000.
1872 and 1873 .- Under contract with Bird & Mickle the superstructure of north pier-head was re-built in October, 1872. During fiscal year there was accomplished under this contract: Piling, two rows, complete, for 250 feet south pier: walling and binder on channel row, and first course of timber complete for 150 feet of pier.
1873 and 1874 .- The work under contract with Bird & Mickle was com- pleted September 30, 1873, by converting old slab-piers into pile-piers, 350 feet on south and 250 feet on north side of channel, with necessary repairs.
Statement of vessels entered and cleared at Muskegon Harbor during the year 1876.
Entered: number, 2,479; tonnage, 460,386; men, 19,700.
ยท Cleared : number, 2,570; tonnage, 462,443; men, 20,001.
An increase of about 30,000 tons over the last year.
GRAND HAVEN HARBOR, MICHIGAN.
Appropriated in 1852, $20,000, as per copy of letter to Senator Ferry, dated Office Chief of Engineers, June 23, 1873. As given in tabular statement accompanying report of Chief of Engineers, 1866, $2,000.
Plan of improvement, (Golonel Graham, 1857) :
To defend the concave bend in the southern shore of the river below the town by a close-piling, and to build two parallel piers out into the lake in prolongation of the river channel; the south pier by cribs for 600 feet.
Appropriated June 23, 1866, $65,000.
Of this amount, $11,241.22 was expended in repairing 309 feet of pile-pier on south side (built by railroad company in 1857).
1866 and 1867 .- Work commenced in June, 1867. Six cribs, each 32 feet, were placed in extension of south pier, and 500 feet close-piling constructed.
Appropriated March 3, 1867, $40,000.
1867 and 1868 .- During this year 1,943 feet of close piling was finished, and two cribs, 32 feet each, placed in extension of south pier.
1868 and 1869 .- The south pier was extended 100 feet, and old pile-work, interior to that part of same pier (D. and M. railroad), repaired in 1866, re- paired for a distance of 465 feet.
1869 and 1870 .- 461 feet of old pile-pier was repaired, inward from work of 1863. A crib, 32 feet by 20 feet, was placed to protect the shoulder made by the pile-pier where it joined the crib-work.
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MEMORIALS OF THE
Appropriated July 11, 1870, $10,000.
1870 and 1871 .- During this year about 200 feet of old pier was repaired Appropriated March 3, 1871, $6,000.
1871 and 1872 .- During season 450 feet of repairs were completed.
1872 and 1873 .- During this year 700 feet pile-revetment, 14 feet wide, was constructed, to replace old work built by the railroad company: and repairs put upon south pier, consisting of overhauling and replacing of filling and ballast, which had become displaced by heavy seas, putting in additional filling, and protecting pier-head erib with upright timbers, and piling and leveling superstructure.
A break in pier under bell-house, and another at shore-line, were also repaired.
Appropriated March 3, 1874, $75,000.
1873 and 1874 .- The United States dredging apparatus had removed suffi- cient sand on the line of proposed north pier to enable the contractors, Messrs. Squier and White, to commence driving piles on the 7th July, 1873, under contract dated May 15, 1873, providing for the construction of the first three sections of north pier, 21 feet.
The weather throughout the entire season was most favorable for outside work, and on the 29th of November the last pile of the revetment and close piling (1,506 linear feet of pier) was driven, much of the superstructure placed thereon, 700 feet of the work filled with slabs to the required height above water, and a cargo of stone placed on the filling at the pier-head, as com- pleted, to hold the filling in place through the winter.
On the Sth of April, 1874, dredging was commenced on the line of the pro- posed 20-foot pile-pier, or outer section of north pier, and was completed June 18. On the 19th June the apparatus left this harbor for Ludington, having removed 45,488 cubic yards of sand in connection with this entire work.
The original estimate for this harbor (1866) amounted to $299,011.70.
There has been appropriated as follows:
In 1852. $20,000 00
In 1866.
65,000 00
In 1867 40,000 00
In 1869
1,866 00
In 1870
10,000 00
In 1871
6,000 00
In 1872
15,000 00
In 1873
75,000 00
In 1874.
50,000 00
282,866 00
Transferred in 1870, Frankfort.
1,885 00
Total 284,751 00
Statement of vessels entered and cleared at Grand Haven during the year 1874.
Entered: number, 1,350; tonnage, 443,114.
Cleared: number, 1,341; tonnage, 439,522.
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GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
BLACK LAKE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.
The plan of improvement for this harbor was to extend north pier 250 feet, and south pier 275 feet, to bring them into 12 feet of water. At the entrance to Black Lake the channel to be close-piled for 1,125 feet on north and 425 feet on south sides, to reach 12-foot curve. The channel between the piers (built by the citizens of Holland) and extensions to be dredged to a depth of 12 feet, requiring the removal of about 80,000 cubic yards, to include removal of point of marsh through which sheet-piling will pass.
Amount required to complete harbor, estimated:
For dredging $28,935 33
For piering. 43,220 48
For close-piling 15,745 23
For sheet-piling
18,337 00
Total. 106,238 04
Appropriated in 1866. 55,615 31
1866 and 1867 .- Dredging was commenced August 6, 1867, and during season abont 15,000 cubic yards material removed. Up to June 30, 1868, 81,945 cubic yards sand was dredged in making required channel and 352 feet pier built.
Appropriated in 1867, $51,000.
1871 and 1872 .- During this season 640 feet of pile-revetment was com- pleted, 320 feet on each side of the cut inward from the ends of the old piers. The superstructure of 100 feet of crib-work at inner end of south pier (begun in 1870) was finished; also the pier-head crib to north pier. A protection of piles was constructed around the north pier-head.
Appropriation of June 10, 1872, $10,000.
1872-3 .-. 400 feet of revetment was built on north and south sides of chan- nel, and repairs put on both piers. A projection of the south revetment 90 feet eastward, and of 328 feet of revetment, forming a wing to, and at an angle of 67 degrees 30 minutes south from the south revetment in Black Lake was made in 1873-4.
The original estimate called for $106,238.04. There has been appropriated : In 1866.
$55,615 31
In 1867. 51,000 00 In 1870 10,000 00
In 1871. 10.000 00
In 1872
10,000 00
In 1873. 12,000 00
In 1874.
15,000 00
Total 163,651 31
Statement of vessels entered and cleared at the harbor of Black Lake during year 1874.
Entered: number 500; tonnage, 31,340.
Cleared: number, 500; tonnage, 31,449.
The same number of vessels as the year before, showing that a larger class of vessels make this port than formerly.
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530
MEMORIALS OF THE
MUSKEGON HARBOR, MICHIGAN.
Under contract with Culbert & Hopkins, dated August 24, 1874, 135 feet of 14-foot pile-revetment was built on north pier east of work built the pre- vious year, and one crib, 50 feet by 30 feet, was placed in extension of the south pier.
During this fiscal year. under the contract with Thomas L. Rosser & Co .. 150 feet, or three cribs, each 50 feet by 30 feet, will be placed in extension of the south pier.
In the report for 1873, $56,000 was asked to extend south pier into the lake to 18 feet of water. Of this amount $10,000 was appropriated June 23, 1874. and was applied to contract of 1874, and $25,000 was appropriated March 3. 1875, which will be applied to contract of 1875; the balance of estimate, $21,000, is asked for, which can be profitably expended in the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1877.
Vessels entered and cleared from July 1, 1874, to July 1, 1875:
Entered: number, 2,479; tonnage, 524,509.
Cleared: number, 2,490; tonnage, 504,546.
GRAND HAVEN, 1875. GRAND HAVEN HIARBOR, MICHIGAN.
Work under contract with Squier & White, which provided for the build- ing of 2,100 feet of pile revetment, close piling, and pile pier, was completed August 29, 1874, in a most satisfactory manner. The filling was carefully placed, and, as a result, the whole work is a secure revetment.
The contract under appropriation of 1874, which provided for the building of 500 feet of pile revetment, 14 feet wide, prolonging the work of 1872 east- ward, and the building and sinking of six cribs, 50 feet by 30 feet, each, pro- longing north pier, having been awarded to Squier & White, they commenced work immediately, and at the close of the year 1874, had completed the pile- work on the south side, save the placing of a few cords of slabs. and had sunk three cribs in the north pier extension.
The 500 feet of revetment is now completed, and in excellent alignment and condition. All the cribs, six in number, are in position and filled, and the superstructure, excepting one course of timber, built over the first three. The last three of these cribs were built and sunk during the month of May last. In addition to the above, 13,530 cubic yards of sand and clay were removed by the contractors, in order to give a proper depth of water over the ground lately occupied by the clay point upon which the old revetment stood, and in line of new work.
Statement of vessels entered and cleared at Grand Haren Harbor, from July 1, 1874, to June 30, 1875.
Entered: number, 838; tonnage, 268,736.
Cleared: number, 808; tonnage, 237,884.
NOTE .- Daily steamboat from Chicago clears at Muskegon.
Vessels enrolled at this place, 231; tonnage, 20,233.
BLACK LAKE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.
Under contract with Jan Van Dyk & Co., dated August 25, 1874, which
531
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
provided for the building and sinking of three cribs, work commenced in September. 1874, and two cribs were placed and filled during the fall. In May, 1875, the third crib was sunk and filled, and by the end of the year the superstructure was completed over all. Two of these cribs were put in exten- sion of the south pier, and one in extension of the north pier.
Under the appropriation approved March 3, 1875, $15,000 contract has been entered into with Thomas L. Rosser & Co., to build and sink three cribs, each 50 feet by 24 feet; two to be added to the north pier, and one to the south pier.
Statement of ressels entered and cleared at Black Lake Harbor, Michigan, from July 1, 1874, to June 30, 1875.
Entered: number, 303; tonnage, 24,392.
Cleared: number, 310; tonnage, 24,809.
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