USA > Michigan > Ionia County > Memorials of the Grand River Valley > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
The capacity of a good saw-mill in the "good old times," was 800 to 1,000 feet per day. In the "crack mills" in Maine, 1840, it was 500 feet per hour-the best mills in the world. In one of Cutler and Savidge's mills, in 1874, 215 feet were cut with one saw in a minute.
543
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
The next greatest improvement is the set of adjustable saws for splitting boards into strips, or edging them. This origin- ated with Mr. Powers, of Grand Rapids.
It would seem that the saw-mill has arrived near to its perfec- tion. There seems to be but one thing left for inventive genius to work upon for its improvement. Cannot machinery be in- vented that will lessen the amount of the log that goes into sawdust? We have expedition that should satisfy any one: but cannot the logs be made to yield more lumber? It is.well known they can, but other considerations have overrode that apparent economy. Cannot that economy be made consistent with other interests? The answer of experience thus far is in the negative. It is desirable that that shall not be the final answer. It is a melancholy sight to see one-fourth of a log, whose boards would be worth $40 per thousand, going into sawdust. Inventive genius will yet ameliorate the sad afflic- tion of that log.
GYPSUM.
An immense interest has been, since 1842, in process of development below Grand Rapids. It was early known that gypsum, or plaster, existed at a point three miles below the rapids; the borings at the early salt-wells con- firmed the fact that the deposit was extensive. Subsequent explorations have shown that it is practically inexhaustible, and that over a large amount of territory it may be worked, if desirable. It is found on both sides of the river; on the left bank appearing as the surface rock, covered only by the drift; on the right bank at the base of the bluff, under the drift and some 30 feet of superincumbent rock. At and above Grandville it is found, as at Plaster Creek, near the surface.
The section of the bluff on the right bank, three miles below Grand Rap- ids, shows:
1. Loam and yellow clay; 2. Blue clay, 4 feet; 3. Water lime and clay slate, 4 feet; 4. Clay slate, 4 feet; 5. Plaster, 8 inches; 6. Clay slate, 2 feet. 7. Plaster, thin stratum; 8. Clay slate, 3 feet; 9. Water lime, 1 foot; 10. Clay slate, 4 feet; 11. Plaster, 7 feet; 12. Clay slate, 1 foot; 13. Plas- ter, 13 feet.
On the left bank of the river, the seven foot stratum is at, or near the sur- face; generally very much dissolved away.
The borings at Grand Rapids show what is thought to be the seven foot and the thirteen foot beds-the first at the depth of sixty-three feet, and the
544
MEMORIALS OF TIIE
other at seventy-four. Continuing the descent, several other strata of gyp- sum are penetrated.
How far south and west workable gypsum may be found is problematical. The article itself may be found anywhere between the Grand and Muskegon Rivers. Whether it will pay to open quarries or not, depends on the amount of stripping, and the chance for draining.
On the right bank it is wrought by mining; on the left bank by open quarries.
As it is supposed they will be their own monument, we will not enter into an extended description of the unique geological relations of the beds, or describe their mineral contents; but pass directly to their history.
It is believed that Houghton, the State Geologist, was the first to call attention to the gypsum at Plaster Creek, and to predict its future commercial value.
Although it needed no prophetic wisdom to foreknow that the gypsum which had been discovered, would give rise to an extensive and lucrative business, yet it was a hazardons enterprise to undertake the development of it. The two articles of commercial value prepared from it-land plaster and stucco-are little wanted in a new country. The virgin soil of the West needs no fertilizer for a series of years; and there is little use for stucco in a country where the farmers live in log houses, and the villagers from sheer necessity, must build cheap residences, and be content with simplicity.
Notwithstanding, enterprise early took hold of it. Daniel Ball, that man whose deathless enterprise was the life of the Valley as long as his strength and intellect held out, commenced operations in this line in 1812; having 'secured a ten years' lease of a piece of land at Plaster Creck. Of course, his operations were small, and of them we have no statistics. He afterwards sold out his lease to a kindred spirit, Henry R. Williams, who did much to create a market for the article. After a time, the property passed into the hands of E. B. Morgan. For several years the mill at the Creek was the only one; and that was a small concern. Yet the success that attended it, and the increasing demand, waked others to the value of the gypsum deposit, and started their enterprise.
Mr. Butterworth, from indications which he observed, was satisfied of the existence of plaster on the other side of the river; and bought land solely with reference to it. He was without capital, and could make no develop- inents of the interest he had until 1849. He then, by opening through the superincumbent rock, laid bare the thirteen foot stratum, and, on a small scale, commenced operations. He put up a little mill for grinding, on the little brook north of the present work. That mill, or the remnants of it, are still to be seen.
Soon after Butterworth had shown that a great bed of gypsum was there three other men, Adin Hinds, John Courtney and Jacob Winsor, secured land south of hm, and almost simultaneously commenced operations. Win- sor had some capital, the others had little or none. Winsor put up a mill on the stream below the present works, but soon found that he really had no valuable interest and abandoned it. Courtney, then a simple Irish laborer, in another man's employ, had exhausted his money and had made use of his
-
545
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
credit in securing his lands, and with a rising family on his hands, had not a dollar to aid him in digging through the rock to uncover the treasure he was sure he had. Working at odd honrs, and at night, alone, he made an excavation in the overlying limestone and shales, 12 rods long and from 5 to 18 feet deep, and exposed his treasure. This done, he formed a partner- ship with John Ball, and, with capital, works were started. The opening of this quarry was in 1853. This Mr. Courtney, after having achieved an inde- pendence, and won a position as a man amongst men, without having lost the frank simplicity of his early character, died in 1875.
The other man mentioned-Mr. Hinds, was a feeble consumptive kind of an individual, haunted with two ideas; the one that he soon must die of con- sumption, and the other that there was a fortnne in plaster. Having secured his land, his fortune consisted in that, a yoke of oxen, a cow, a wife and child. Too weak to work himself, he gave his oxen to a man to open the quarry. That done and his treasure in sight, he got better, sold out and moved off.
Mr. Butterwith sold his interest to Converse & Co., and went to do busi- ness in the city.
The works on both sides of the river have since been immensely developed and a heavy capital is profitably employed. The several changes and the steps in the development are not matters of his historical interest. The interest has become an immense one, and the works and mines are among the attractions to the stranger visiting the city.
The business has grown with the growth of the country, the increasing needs of agriculture, and of cities and villages, and with the development of facilities for transportation, until it has become an immense interest, employing a capital of $500,000, and the labor of some 350 men.
35
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN ALMY.
Few persons in Grand Rapids. amongst either the dead or living. did more in his day to give the now bright and growing Valley City a reputation, than the gentle- man whose name heads this arti- cle. Judge Almy was a native of Rhode Island, and was educated a civil engineer. He was for several years a resident of Geneseo, N. Y., where he married Eliza, daughter of the late Col. John Pierce. In 1834, he removed to Detroit, Mich- igan, where he had been appoint- ed city engineer, and remained there several years, and laid out the splendid system of sewerage CROSSCUy & V KEST PI-LLA and street grades that have proved so beneficial to that city. In 1835, when Hon. Lucius Lyon and N. O. John Almy. Sargeant thought of founding a village where Grand Rapids now is, Judge Almy came out, and platted the village of Kent. Eventually. the late Hon. Charles H. Carroll, of Groveland, Livingston county, N. Y., purchased the interest of Mr. Lyon in the " Kent plat." Judge Almy came out to take charge of the property, and built the first stone dwelling-a two-story one, still stand- ing on Bronson street, in the rear of Grinnell's Block-and became an active and zealous advocate of the city and Western Michigan; and until the day of his death (in 1863) never lost faith in the future of Grand Rapids-firmly believ- ing and always insisting that we should have a large and flourishing city. And now, as pertinent to this article, and as exhibiting the 'hardships and trials incident to our early pioneer life, we quote from a page of a journal kept by Mrs. Almy, in 1835. "The next night brought us to the Thornap- ple, and it being late and very dark, we dare not go on, for fear we should
[547]
2
MEMORIALS OF THE
fall into the river. We saw, near by, some camp-fires of Indians, but going to them, they fled, and we could not get near them; so we camped out as well as we could, and spent the night with nothing to eat. As soon as daylight appeared, we commenced our march, and crossing the Thornapple, met Rix Robinson and the chiefs, who were coming to see us, and what kind of peo- ple we were. Mr. Robinson explained to them that we were friends, and going to build a big town down at Grand Rapids. Here we were furnished breakfast-pork and potatoes, bread and tea, with wild honey (considered an extra dish), with short-cake; and did we not do justice to that meal? After settling our bills, we proceeded on our journey, and having Plaster Creek and several other streams to bridge, we were the whole day until late at night in getting to Grand Rapids. Mr. Richard Godfroy and Mr. Louis Campau gave us quarters in their respective homes. The next day the woods rang out with the echo of the woodman's ax, slaying down trees to build shanties with, and all was bustle and business. It did not take long to get settled, and then commenced the work of laying out the canal. Mr. Almy soon found it neces- sary to return to Detroit, which was no easy matter, and I concluded to go, too. Mr. Richard Godfroy sent his Frenchman with a lumber wagon, to take us. We were ten days going. While in Detroit Mr. Almy bought a steamboat, and friends named her the " John Almy." She was loaded with pork, flour, mill-stones, and many other useful articles, to be landed at Grand Rapids. The boat left about April 1, and had very rough weather, and as she neared Thunder Bay she was wrecked-a total loss." Much more of interest could be extracted from this journal, did the length of this article permit.
Mr. Almy held many important places of trust-such as member of the Legislature, Judge of the County Court, Chief Clerk in the Surveyor-Gen- eral's office, engineer of the Kalamazoo and other river improvements. He also held the office of City Engineer. The Judge was a splendid draftsman, and in water-color and India ink drawings, was not excelled. He was a scientific man of much learning and his general information was very great. He was very methodical and exact in his calculations and business. He had studied law and was admitted to practice, but the duties were not congenial to him, but he was thoroughly grounded in its principles, and was a safe and trusty counselor. He was a walking encyclopedia. Of splendid physical form, and a most benignant expression of countenance; he was a man of mark amongst his fellows, and a courteous, genial gentleman, and beloved by all, and his memory will be cherished by every pioneer of the Grand River Val- ley who survives him. The immediate relatives of Judge Almy who form a part of the " days of small beginnings," are Mr. P. R. L. Pierce, Mrs. F. M. Lester, Hon. T. B. Church, and Alphonso Almy. His wife was a sister of P. R. L. and I. W. Pierce and Mrs. Lester. She died in Nov., 1875, in Canandagua, New York. In religious sentiment, the Judge was an Episcopalian. P. R. L. PIERCE.
LUMAN R. ATWATER.
He was the son of Thomas and Betsey Atwater; was born at Burlington, Vt., June 23, 1810. With the advantages of a Yankee common education,
3
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
he spent his early years in his native State. But at the age of twenty-three. thinking Vermont was a good State to emigrate from, he, with his young wife, tried his fortune in Georgia, where he spent four years, mostly in Au- gusta and Milledgeville. Visiting his old home in Vermont again, he found the friend of his youth, Gaius S. Deane, making preparations to remove to Michigan. He concluded to share the fortune of his friend; and the two young families bade adieu to the homes of their childhood, and the friends of their youth, and set their faces towards "the far West." For you must know, Michigan was then "a great way off." Railroads-those annihilators of space-were not:
" A journey was a different thing From what it is to-day; A toilsome and soul-wearying drag- A long and lingering way."
Oh! it makes one poetic, when he realizes what a journey was in years gone by. What preparations! What leave - takings! What choking sighs! What sad farewells when friends were going to Michigan! Why, now, a man in Vermont says in the evening to his wife: " I have some business that calls me to Michigan. I shall be back in a week." Nothing is thought of it. But it was not so then. Michigan was " a great way off." We have not yet got off Atwater and Deane. But amid tears and soul-rending leave-takings, on the 10th of May, 1837, they embarked on Lake Champlain, his own new bandan- na, as he waved it in last adieu, dripping with his briny tears.
One day on the lake and six on the "raging canawl " found them in Buffalo. There they were oblig- ed to wait on account of ice in the Luman R. Atwater. lake. But they were soon in Detroit, where each purchasing a yoke of oxen and a cow, they came in backwoods style, in ten days to Lyons, where the relations of Mrs. Deane had located. Mr. Atwater spent seven years at Ly- ons, and then removed to Grand Rapids.
An early settler in the Valley, he has been identified with its interests in the infancy of its civilization, and in its development. A not very old man. and well preserved; in the enjoyment of a comfortable fortune, we hope he will live to grow much older; and that instead of being " Mr. Atwater," it will be "Father Atwater."
Mr. A. has never been a public man, other than in the church. Of the M.
1
MEMORIALS OF TIIE
E. Church, he has ever been one of the leading spirits; and has aided, to the extent of his ability, the interests of the cause inost dear to him. As a busi- ness man, he has never made a spread, or done big things; but by assiduous attention to business on a moderate scale, has secured an independence, which is as good as riches. "A man worth $500,000 is just as well off as a rich man."
WILLIAM BABCOCK.
Dea. Wm. Babcock came into Ionia county in 1836, with his family, and located on Sec. 1, in Berlin.
He was a native of Massachusetts, born in Pittsfield. February 11th, 1783. While but a boy, he came with his father's family into Ontario county, N.
William Babcock.
Sluman S. Bailcy.
Y., remaining there until he came to Michigan. By occupation a farmer; a man of robust hatit and strong constitution; intelligent, industrious, honest and persevering. In 1812, he received a commission of lieutenant from Dan- iel D. Tompkins, governor of New York, to serve in the war with Great Brit- ain. He had the command of a company for a considerable titue, and acquit- ted himself with credit. He was a model citizen; a man who looked to the well-being of others; a devoted and energetic Christian and philanthropist.
He died Dec. 7th, 1871. The record of his life is the richest legacy he left to his numerous posterity. L.
SLUMAN S. BAILEY.
Born at Summer>et. Niagara county, Dec. 14th, 1821, and receiving a good common school and academic education, he was designed by his parents
5
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
for professional life. But, tiring of the confinement of school, he went to work on his father's farm, with the resolution of helping his father out of debt. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Delia G. Starbuck, and two years afterwards, that is, in 1846, he came to the town of Paris and set- tled down in the woods, where he had pitched his future home, and where he inade himself a farm, and made himself one of the leading citizens.
Almost from the beginning he has been in public life, as a town, county or U. S. officer. Justice of peace; supervisor seven years; sheriff six years, and, since 1865, revenue inspector and collector, which office he now fills.
He was one of the founders of the Kent Agricultural Society, and its Pres- ident.
Mr. Bailey is one of the men whom his acquaintances delight to put for- ward, as one whom they can trust. A political haranguer once stumping the county when Bailey was candidate for sheriff, expatiating on the merits of the candidates, called out: "Do you know Shuman S. Bailey?" There was a general response, "Yes." " Enough said," said the speaker, and left Bailey without a word. We do not mean to indulge in enlogium on the liv- ing, but we hope, as some sorts of men are at a premium, that his funeral may be far in the future.
ALBERT BAXTER.
This gentleman, who is best known as Editor of the Eagle is a Vermont Yankee, born at Moretown, Washington county, Aug. 3d, 1823. Family on father's side -Baxter, Hubbard; on moth- er's, Child, Carpenter.
He received in youth a fair education. Came West first to Wisconsin in 1845, and one year after (1846) to Grand Rap- ids, where he read law awhile, and followed the business of painter and carriage-maker.
In 1849, he married Miss El- vira Guild, daughter of the pio- meer, Joel Guild. His sad mis- fortune was the extinction of his family by the death of his only child, and the long sick- ness and, in 1855, the death of his wife, whom no one has since been able to replace.
Albert Baxter.
He gives this account of himself: "Never held office; never was offered office; never asked for office; don't intend to; never had a barrel of money; never joined a church; never got drunk; never stole a railroad; never cheated the poor; never voted for Tilden. In fact never was conspicuous in any big enterprise-hence have no history."
6
MEMORIALS OF THE
He entered the Eagle office as sub-editor in 1855. Since 1865 has been editor-in-chief of the daily and weekly Eagle. He is an indefatigable worker, and the files of that paper show that he is an able editor.
Mr. Baxter is a man naturally diffident; never enjoyed good health, and further than his business as editor brings him into contact with mankind, has little to do with the world. With his heart in the right place, and his good name where an honest man's should be, he avoids notoriety and mingles little with the world in general. His life has been darkly clouded and very laborious, and " never enjoyed very deeply-except those six years while she lived."
DAVID BURNETT.
It is a pleasing task to sketch the life-history of a man whose claim to remembrance is modest worth and active usefulness, whose intelli- gence commanded universal re- spect, and whose amiability made friends of all. Just such a man as that is the one whose name is at the head of this article, and whose genial countenance, as the artist here represents it, invited confidence, which confidence was never disappointed. If you are anything of a phrenologist, you will say that the picture represents a man of cool, shrewd intellect; a kind-hearted, neighborly man; a genial companion, and a man who would be loved and honored in his family. This time phrenology tells the exact truth-he was just David Burnett. such a man. No one knew him but to esteem and respect him. Without being pretentious, he was very much looked up to, especially when engineering talent was necessary. He was a modest man, never blowing his own trumpet, or seeking political distinction. Well knowing the hold he had on the confidence, respect and esteem of the community, he was con- tent to remain a private, useful citizen. As such he lived and died.
Mr. Burnett was a Massachusetts Yankee; born and reared at South Hadley. Born in 1808, reared as Yankee boys were apt to be, he entered active life with a common school education, and the trade of a builder. His leading talent was that of an engineer. His inclinations, and the public confidence generally kept him employed on works where such talent was requisite. He was the engineer of this part of Michigan.
He came to Michigan in 1836, on foot from Detroit to Grand Rapids, guided partly by Indian trails; stayed the first winter at Ada in a log shanty
1
GRAND RIVER VALLEY.
with Sidney and Torrey Smith and two others; built a block house, and got John W. Fiske to use it as a tavern in 1837; pre-empted land, but found his elaim jumped. He then came to Grand Rapids, and worked on the Big Mill (that was to be, but never was).
A few of the structures built by Mr. Burnett will be mentioned. The authority is a paper written by him the year before his death. The first bridge across the Grand River at Lyons, built for Lucius Lyons in 1837. Re- built the same in 1843, and received in part payment 2,000 acres of State improvement land. The log tavern known as the " Fiske or Lake House," in the winter of 1837. That house still stands, and the man who tears it down will commit a sacrilege.
In 1838 and 1839, in company with Nathaniel Fiske and Jacob Rogers. of Milwaukee, he built six light-houses on Lake Michigan. In 1843, built for Scribner & Turner, the first bridge at Grand Rapids. Rebuilt it in 1852; and again, after the burning in 1858. The bridge at Ionia, in 1847; the stone Union School-house, in 1849: the first dam in the city the same year; the bridge at Plainfield, in 1850; the dam at Newaygo, in 1853; the dam at Roger's Ferry, on the Muskegon, in 1864, and the bridge at Bridgetown, in 1866; the bridges on forty miles of the G. R. & I. R. R., in 1868; the bridge at Big Rapids, in 1870; besides other dams and bridges.
His sphere was such, that his labors mark the progress of the development of the region. His life was an active one, until infirmity compelled inaction. He died June 22, 1875.
A summation of his character has been given before. To the family, of which he was the beloved head. his memory will always be dear; and the community, where his long head was relied upon - where his honor was proverbial, and his genial presence sunshine for near forty years-will not let him pass into oblivion. Fame he never sought; respect he won by sterling merit, and esteem by ge- nial amiability. The simple ree- ord of a well-spent life is better than a glittering fame.
HENRY BREMER.
He was born in Germany, Nov. 28, 1816, and received an aeadem- ical education at the Normal School, at Peterhagen, Prussia, C&w where he graduated. In 1829, he emigrated to America, arriv- Henry Bremer. ing at New York, June 27. A stranger in a strange land, he took the first work that offered; and was employed as a common laborer on the Ohio
S
MEMORIALS OF THE
Canal. He afterwards learned the cooper's trade in Lancaster, Ohio. He came to Detroit in 1843, and for four years taught a German school. Moved to Grand Rapids in 1850, and started a soap and candle factory, which was carried on successfully for a number of years. Was afterwards in a grocery store on Canal street.
During this time, Mr. B. had established a reputation for good business talent, and for personal integrity. He was looked to as the leading man among the Germans in the county; and was placed in some city offices. In 1872, he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected in 1874. The general opinion is, that if Bremer handles the cash, all is right.
Mr. Bremer is a very genial and social person-the friend of every good man; puts on no airs, and has kept himselt where an honorable man likes to be-above reproach or suspicion; and with the good will of all, is acting on the principle-
" Schneller Gang ist unser Leben Laast uns Rosen auf ihn streun."
E. B. BOSTWICK.
There are men whom society feels, who, when living, the community must know, and who, departing, leave a blank. At present we purpose to notice one of this character, the Hon. E. B. Bostwick, who for some 15 years was identified with the Grand River Valley, and who at the time was in all probability its most honored citizen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.