USA > Michigan > Grand Traverse County > New atlas and directory of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, 1895 > Part 2
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
ANTRIM COUNTY.
This county is one of the best; it has very little waste land, and its timber growth is very heavy. The frontage on the bay is 24 miles, and with some thirteen inland lakes it has much territory which can be reached by boats. The county is finely watered by clear spring streams.
The unorganized county of Megesee was laid off in 1840, and in 1843 the name was changed to Antrim. The pioneer settler was Abraham S. Wadsworth, who, with his family and brother-in-law, Samuel K. Northam, arrived at Old Mission July 16, 1847, and in 1848 removed to Elk River (Elk Rapids) for the purpose of making a permanent settlement and improving the water-power there.
In 1850 the Wadsworth Mill was built under the direct supervision of Mr. S. K. Northam, who, in speaking of that fact, says, "The dam was a ' wing' extending from the mill diago- nally up the stream, a portion of which was by this means diverted and carried to an undershot wheel."
NOTE .-- The death of Mr. Wadsworth who, by his writings descriptive of the region had done much towards its settlement, occurred at Traverse City, in June, 1871.
The first town election of the township of Antrim (then in Grand Traverse County) was at the house of A. S. Wadsworth, April 25, 1853, and the following persons were elected : John S. Barker, Supervisor; Samuel K. Northam, Treasurer; William H. Case, Town Clerk; John S. Barker, William H. Case, Samuel K. Northam, Orselas Evans, Justices of the Peace; William Slawson, James McLaughlin, William Wells, Commissioners of Highways; William Slawson, John B. Spencer, School Inspectors; Enoch Wood, Jerome B. Stocking, Charles Walker, Constables; Enoch Wood, John B. Spencer, Directors of the Poor; John B. Spencer, Overseer of Highways ; Amos Wood, Pound Master ; and these were officers for all the territory of Antrim and Kalkaska Counties.
In 1854 a man by the name of Thomas made the first white settlement in the township of Milton. He was soon followed by Alex. Campbell, Chancey Hall and others. In the summer of 1859 or 1860 James Orr located in the present township of Banks. About the same time Captain Brown commenced where the village of Torch Lake now stands, and in 1859 Lucius A. Thayer settled in the present town of Helena. Mr. Thayer's death occurred in 1876. Richard Knight, Edward Pearl, Lucius Pearl, Thomas Flannigan and the Geers settled in Banks about 1863.
Antrim County was organized by Act of the Legislature, March 11, 1863, with the unorganized counties of Kalkaska, Crawford and Otsego attached. The towns of Banks, Milton and Elk Rapids were thereby organized, and the county-seat was established at the village of Elk Rapids.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
Banks. . March, 1863, by Legislature.
Milton ... .March, 1857,
Supervisors of Grand Traverse
County and changed by Legislature, 1863.
Elk Rapids ....... March, 1857,
Legislature, from Megesee.
Torch Lake ..... March, 1866, Supervisors.
Forest Home ... January, 1871,
Supervisors.
Mancelona ...... January, 1871, Legislature.
Central Lake .. .. 1873,
Legislature.
Chestonia ........ October, 1874,
Supervisors.
Kearney ......... January, 1875, Supervisors.
Echo ....... ....... January, 1875, Supervisors.
Starr ........ .October, 1881,
Supervisors.
Warner ......... .. Mar. 28, 1883,
Legislature.
Custer ............ January, 1875, Supervisors.
Jordan ............ January, 1875,
Supervisors.
12
During the year 1866 a court-house and jail were erected at Elk Rapids, costing $7,100; but as the east part of the county became more settled, there was a feeling that the county-seat was not convenient, and at the session of the Supervisors, October, 1878, it was voted to submit the ques- tion of removal at the next spring election. The removal was carried by a vote of 574 for, and 446 against. The land selected for a site was still in forest and unplatted. The plat, however, was recorded June 24, 1879, and Bellaire became the county-seat.
The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held at the office of the County Clerk in Elk Rapids, October 12, 1863. Present : L. R. Smith, of Elk Rapids; Thomas Flannigan, of Banks, and Lucius A. Thayer, of Milton.
The first term of Circuit Court for Antrim County was held on Monday, May 2, 1864, Judge Littlejohn presiding. Little business was done. As Antrim County had neither Prosecuting Attorney nor Circuit Court Commissioners, it was ordered that J. G. Ramsdell, Esq., fill these offices until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
Elk Rapids was laid out a village in 1852. Among those who became residents in 1853 were John Denahy, E. L. Sprague, J. W. Arnold, David T. Parks, Alexander Campbell and Hiram Robinson, and soon after the sides of Elk and Round Lakes became dotted with new clearings and permanent settlers. In 1853 Mr. Wadsworth sold his mill to Rankin & Sons, and built another on the site of the Dexter & Noble Mill. M. Craw & Co., of which Wirt Dexter was principal partner, bought out Wadsworth, and in 1855 Mr. Henry H. Noble came as an employee. In the fall of 1856 the firm of Dexter & Noble was organized, which has practically been in operation from that time to this writing, engaging extensively in manufacturing. The School District was organized in May, 1853, and the school taught by George W. Ladd.
No stated religious services had been held on the east side of the bay until 1857. In August of that year, Rev. R. D. Latham came across from Old Mission and preached at Elk Rapids. The White Water Circuit was established by the Michigan Conference in 1858.
February 8, 1863, a Congregational Society was organized with ten members, and Rev. Leroy Warren was the first pastor.
NEWSPAPERS.
Antrim County had at first the Elk Rapids Eagle, first issued on Friday, March 31, 1865, by E. L. Sprague. Mr. Sprague seemed not to have been superstitious about starting his enterprise on Friday, and has for thirty years published his paper with success. The Elk Rapids Progress was established in 1872 by E. L. Sprague. The Mancelona Herald was established by Clark S. Edwards and L. E. Shussar in 1879. The Bellaire Breeze' was established by A. S. Abbott, and its first number issued September 29, 1881. The Antrim County Record was first issued at Alba, November 7, 1883, by Justus L. Hissong. The Central Lake Evolution and The Central Lake Torch were each started at that place in 1893, the former by Rev. C. N. Coulter, and the latter by Gray and Ramsey.
BENZIE COUNTY.
This county, situated as it is on the border of Lake Michigan, and having some twenty-five miles of lake frontage, with several large inland lakes, and drained by two rapid rivers, the Platte and Aux Bes Scies (Betsie), has much to commend it to those who seek picturesque scenery and fertile lands. It is proving itself especially adapted to all kinds of fruit raised in Michigan.
The timber is largely of the maple and other hard-wood varieties in heavy growth, with tracts of pine. Where the hard wood has been taken off the land is fertile, and many thousand acres of such land can now be easily obtained.
The county originally was a part of Leelanaw, and as such attached to Grand Traverse. It was made a separate county February 27, 1863, and still attached to Grand Traverse, from which it was detached March 30, 1869. The county-seat was first established at Frankfort, from which it was removed to a point one mile east of Benzonia in 1872, and April 1, 1895, was removed by vote of the people to Frankfort.
The township organizations were as follows :-
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
Crystal Lake .... October, 1859, by Supervisors of Grand Traverse County, embraced all Benzie County.
Benzonia .October, 1861, Supervisors of Grand Traverse County. Almira .... . January, 1864, Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
Homestead. .October, 1864, Supervisors of Grand Traverse
County.
Platte
. January, 1866, Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
North Climax (changed to
Inland) ........ April, 1867,
Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
Colfax ........ .October, 1868,
Weldon ........... January, 1868,
Supervisors of Grand Traverse County. Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
Gilmore October, 1866, Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
Joyfield. October, 1868, Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
Blaine ....... ... June, 1876, 1873,
Supervisors of Benzie County. Legislature.
The first town meeting in the county was held at the log store of L. A. Dauby, in Frankfort, and D. H. Monroe was elected Supervisor. The first in Benzonia was at the log school- house in Benzonia settlement, January 1, 1862, and Wm. Steele was the first Supervisor. Horace Albe was the first Supervisor of Almira. In Homestead the first town meeting was at the house of Rev. E. E. Kirkland, and Wm. Steele was elected Supervisor. The first Supervisor of Platte was V. F. Thurston.
In the spring of 1858 there was a man living at the light- house at Point Betsie, three families at the mouth of Betsie River, and Mr. Averill, who had a mill at Herring Creek. So far as is known there were no other families in the county at this time when the projectors of the Benzonia colony came to select the site for their college. Some years before, Mr. John Bailey had clipped from the New York Tribune an article by Deacon Dame, of Northport, describing the country around Grand Traverse Bay. This had much to do in calling the attention of the Brothers Bailey to this region, and they decided on looking the ground over, that no better location could be found for what was uppermost in their minds-the establishment of a Christian colony and college in the new West.
They moved their families to Glen Arbor in the fall of 1857, and the next year moved to the colony site by way of Lake Michigan shore, making the portage at the head of Crystal Lake, thence by boat to the east end of the lake, only a half mile from the point of destination. The lumber for the first house had to be transported from Glen Arbor to the mouth of the Betsie, then up the river to a point one mile west of the site, and finally hauled to the spot. To do this, the river had first to be cleared of obstructions and a road cut from the landing to the site.
The history of Frankfort dates from 1859. A company with L. A. Dauby, agent, and John H. Adams, overseer, had been formed to locate lands and improve the harbor. A mill was built and log piers at the channel were put in. The piers soon washed away, and not until the Government appropriation was made did anything satisfactory remain. This work began in 1867. William H. Coggshall was the first postmaster. The Congregational Church at Benzonia was probably the first organ- ized church in the county. This was June 8, 1860. The first sermon preached by a Baptist minister in this county was by Rev. Amariah Joy, who commenced the settlement of Joyfield. The first religious exercises at Frankfort were conducted by Mr. Jacob Voorheis in the spring of 1867.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Frankfort Express was started by W. T. Cornell in June, 1870. The South Frankfort News was established in the spring of 1884 by James M. Gillmore. At Benzonia the Citizen was started in 1870 by J. B. Walker, and was kept up about two years, when the Benzie County Journal was established by a stock
company in 1872. Three papers established since 1890, are The Wave at Lake Ann, and The Herald and News at Thompsonville.
RAILROADS.
For a long time Benzie County had no railroad connections, and was dependent on lake commerce or transit by wagons to Manistee or Traverse City. In 1890 the Frankfort and South- eastern Railroad was built from Frankfort to Copenrish, and the same year the Chicago and West Michigan crossed the eastern part of the county, to be soon followed by the Manistee and Northeastern, and, as if by magic, the county assumed a business air before unknown. Land and timber resources of little pre- vious value were now the pride of the owners, and several vil- lages were projected, soon after laid out and are now in a flourish- ing condition.
LEELANAW COUNTY.
The situation of this county, between Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, gives all that could be desired of lake influence in the modification of climate, and assures great pro- ductiveness throughout its whole extent. The lands are high, some rough and hilly ; the scenery is bold ; the streams numerous and clear, and the interior lakes are very fine. The lake and bay shore is some ninety-nine miles, giving some of the best harbors and many beautiful summer resorts.
This lake navigation has afforded easy means for exchang- ing the products of the county, and gave early settlers a chance to reach desirable points in advance of some of the other coun- ties. As if to make up for this advantage the county was a long time kept back by a large Indian Reservation, and even now is retarded by uncertain Indian and other mixed titles.
In 1840 that part of the State lying west of Omena and of Grand Traverse Bay, including Manitou Islands, was laid off as a separate county, to be called Leelanaw.
In 1847 John La Rue came from Chicago to the Manitou Islands for his health. These islands were the stopping places for wood of the early steamboats, and the only ones where they landed between Milwaukee and Mackinaw. The next year Mr. La Rue moved over to what is now Glenn Arbor, and was pro- bably the first settler in the county.
On a beautiful morning in June, 1849, the schooner Merrill rounded Cat Head Point, and sailed up the bay, bearing the families of James McLaughlin, the owner of the vessel, who was employed by the Government; Rev. George N. Smith, mission- ary and teacher to the Ottawa Indians, and William H. Case, a brother-in-law of Mclaughlin. They had been ordered by the Government to Grand Traverse Bay in the interests of the Indians. Their house built, and tents erected, they laid out a village called Wakazooville, now Northport. The privations of these early families were many, and their sacrifices for the cause were great. In the summer of 1851 John Dorsey located at Glenn Arbor, and in 1852 Seth H. Norris built a saw mill on the bay at Norrisville. In 1853 Antoine Manseau and John L. Miller located at Carp River near Leland. It was in 1854 that John Porter came to Leelanaw County, and the same year that John Anthony, Edward and Joseph E. Greilick came to Traverse City with their father and built a mill in Leelanaw County.
Early in the spring of 1852 Rev. Peter Dougherty, as agent for the Indians, purchased land at New Mission Point for a farm and manual labor school and removed there. Mr. Dougherty sold this land to Valentine C. Mills, of Ionia, in 1868, and it has now become a noted resort.
The county of Leelanaw was separately organized by Act of the Legislature of 1862-63, and Northport was the county- seat until 1882, when it was removed to Leland. The first term of the Circuit Court was held at Northport by Judge F. J. Littlejohn, in the school-house, May 5, 1864. Judge J. G. Ramsdell succeeded Judge Littlejohn, and held his first term of Court, June 19, 1866.
The townships of Leelanaw County were organized as fol- lows. First town meeting at house of Peter Dougherty :-
Leelanaw. . 1853, by Legislature.
Glenn Arbor .March 6, 1856, Supervisors of Grand
Traverse County.
North Unity March 6, 1856, Supervisors of Grand
Traverse County.
Centreville March 6, 1856,
Supervisors of Grand Traverse County.
13
Lake
Elmwood ..... .Dec., 1863, by Supervisors of Leela-
naw County.
Kasson .July, 1865. Supervisors of Leela-
naw County.
Empire October, 1865, Supervisors of Leela-
Solon . October, 1871,
Cleveland.
1874.
Leland October, 1875,
Supervisors of Leela-
naw County.
Bingham .. 1875,
Supervisors of Leela- naw County.
The Manistee and Northeastern Railroad was extended through the county in the year 1891, and has been the means of rapid improvement.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Leelanaw Enterprise, W. C. Nelson, editor and pro- prietor, was established in October, 1877, at Northport, by Mr. B. H. Derby. It was moved to Leland in January, 1883.
The Leelanaw Leader, established in 1894, is published at Empire, by The Empire Printing Co .; Mr. Nye Jordan, editor and manager.
April, 1895, the Legislature disorganized the county of Manitou, then consisting of all of the islands in Eastern Lake Michigan, and attached North Manitou, South Manitou and the Fox Islands to Leelanaw County.
The character of these islands is such as will sustain a good population. The land is mostly of fine quality, with bold shores, and afford some harbors much frequented by vessels in stress of weather. Fruit raising on this land is especially successful, the climate being modified by the influence of the surrounding waters.
Telegraphic communication by cable with the main shore is planned, and the resorts for summer visitors, already estab- lished, will soon make these islands noted for their real beauty and salubrity.
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY.
This county has over one hundred miles of lake shore, and by the improved channel at the mouth of Pine River a large part of the interior of the county, with its produce, is easily brought in touch with the vessel carriage of the great lakes.
It was once supposed to be beyond the fruit belt of the State, but its large fine orchards of apples, plums, cherries and other fruits, have disproved the theory.
This region is delightful in summer, and is frequented by thousands of tourists.
This county, with, other territory, was designated by the Act of 1840 by. the name of Keskonko, and in 1843 the name was changed to Charlevoix, after Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, one of the early French explorers and missionaries, who was born in 1682 and died in 1761.
In 1853 the counties of Emmet and Charlevoix were organized under the name of Emmet, and provision was made for the organization of the town of Charlevoix to embrace the county. The county was reorganized in 1855 and the territory of Charlevoix township defined. In the winter of 1869 a bill was passed by the Legislature organizing the county of Charle- voix and empowering the Supervisors to locate the county-seat. The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held at the house of Richard Cooper in Charlevoix, May 11, 1869, and the following members were present: Alanson G. Aldrich, of Char- levoix; Samuel W. Steele, of Eveline; Hugh R. Miller, of Evangeline; Bernard Burns, of Merion; William Harris, of Norwood; Andrew R. Struthers, of South Arm. William Harris was chairman and John S. Dixon, clerk pro tem. The county-seat was located at Charlevoix, where it remained until 1884, when by vote of the people it was removed to East Jordan, and in 1885 was removed from East Jordan to Boyne City, the eastern part of the county having in the meantime greatly developed and demanded a change of location. While located at Boyne City, the county records and property were entirely con- sumed by fire in 1886, and the consequent difficulties of estab- lishing title to lands in the county were considerable, requiring the assistance of legislative enactments and proofs in the local
Courts. By vote of the people April 1, 1895, the county-seat was relocated at Charlevoix. The first session of Circuit Court for Charlevoix County was held in the hall of Fox & Rose's store, in August, 1869, Hon. J. G. Ramsdell, judge.
The township organizations were as follows :-
Charlevoix.
1855, by Legislature. 1855,
Supervisor Galen B.
Cole.
Evangeline ..
1855,
Supervisor Galen B. Cole.
Marion
March 20, 1867,
Legislature.
Norwood
April, 1869,
Supervisors.
South Arm.
March 10, 1868,
Supervisors of Antrim County.
Wilson
. January, 1873,
Supervisors.
Boyne Valley
.. January, 1873,
Supervisors.
Hudson
October, 1876, Supervisors. First named Custer.
Chandler
.. July 6, 1880,
Supervisors.
Springvale
.. January 22, 1877,
Supervisors.
Bear Lake
.October,
1877
Supervisors.
Melrose
.October, 1877,
Supervisors.
Hayes.
October,
1876,
Supervisors.
Resort
August,
1880,
Supervisors.
The advancement of Charlevoix County was at once seen by the first settlers to depend largely upon the improvement of the mouth of Pine River in the way of docks and dredging, so that lake navigation could reach the interior. This was the key to unlock its natural resources. In. 1864 Mr. Dixon made arrangements with Fox & Rose, of Northport, by which they were to build a dock. The first dock on its completion, for receiving cord wood, was almost immediately carried away, but another one soon took its place, and in later years the Gov- ernment work has been completed, the channel has been made navigable for quite large vessels.
In 1867 a mail route was established and a post-office at Charlevoix, with Philo Beers the first postmaster. Charlevoix Village was platted in 1866 by Mr. Dixon. Richard Cooper erected the Fountain City House and came there in 1867. This was the first hotel. The same year Reddington, Nelson & Co. erected the first saw-mill, and in 1868 the first lawyer, in the person of Major Edward H. Green, located in the county.
NEWSPAPERS.
In April, 1869, the Charlevoix Sentinel was established by DeWitt C. Leach, with Willard A. Smith, its present proprietor, as manager, Major Green acting as editor. While this was a venture far removed at the time from competition, it was equally far removed from the class of people needed to use the printers' art. The paper was carefully made up, just as though it had come to stay, and it stayed.
The Charlevoix Journal was established at Charlevoix by Charles J. Strang, in June, 1883. The Boyne City Statesman was started as the Boyne City Standard by Stephen H. Clink in December, 1880, and is published at Boyne City. The Enterprise, published at East Jordan, was removed there from Boyne City, April 7, 1882, by E. N. Clink, whose interest was purchased by Palmiter & Nelson. C. L. Lorraine is now editor and publisher.
The Legislature, in April, 1895, by the disorganization of Manitou County, attached Beaver Island and the several small islands in the vicinity to Charlevoix County.
EMMET COUNTY.
This county is bounded north and west by the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan, on the east by Cheboygan County, and south by Charlevoix County. It has about sixty-eight miles of coast line, including Little Traverse Bay. A broad valley extends through the county almost the entire distance from the head of Little Traverse Bay to Mackinac, and the general surface is characterized by ridges running north and south. The altitude of the county is high, and the largest part of the lands are very good for agricultural purposes, raising fine hay, potatoes, vege- tables of all kinds, wheat, oats, rye, barley, peas, corn, apples, | pears, plums, cherries, and small fruits in abundance.
The pine timber lands of the county, now mostly cut over, never formed a large part of the area, but the finest growth of sugar maple, elm, ash, basswood, beech, and large birch can be seen on the uplands with large quantities of cedar, black ash, and hemlock on the lowlands. Throughout the county lime- stone rock is found upon the surface with ledges outcropping in some places. Towards Mackinac there are extensive ridges of broken lime rock, so plentiful that the soil can hardly be culti- vated. The southern part of the county belongs to the old Devonian age, and is known in the geological charts as the "Little Traverse Group," really of the Upper Helderberg. The more recent Hamilton Group is also represented.
Maple River is the principal stream of the county ; this empties into Burt Lake in Cheboygan County. By the improvement of the inlet of Crooked Lake, which rises near the head of Little Traverse Bay, navigation has been extended through Burt and Mullet Lakes to Cheboygan. This route is known as the " Inland Route," and is much patronized. Several fine artesian wells have been put down at Harbor Springs and Petoskey ; at the former place the very purest of water flowing from a depth of about 125 feet.
Climate .- The meteorological record, kept for over a quarter of a century at the convent in Cross Village, justifies the state- ment that the cold is not so severe as in Southern Michigan. The influence of the waters of both Michigan and Huron unite and will forever prevent extreme changes.
Early Movements .- Some of the early events have already been sketched in connection with the region as a whole. The points especially connected with early Indian and Catholic mis- sionary history and discovery were Mackinac City, Cross Village, L'Arbre Croche, Middle Village, Seven Mile Point, Little Trav- erse (Harbor Springs) and Bear River (Petoskey).
In 1825 the Catholics returned to re-establish missions that had been abandoned. A church was built at Middle Village, and in 1827 the mission was removed to Little Traverse, and about this time a church was built at Cross Village. It was not, how- ever, until 1855 that Father Weikamp established the convent at that place.
The Presbyterian Mission was established at Petoskey in 1852, and Mr. Andrew Porter, who had previously spent some time as teacher at Old Mission, was appointed for the work.
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.