USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 61
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The first thing upon arrival was to set about build- ing a cabin. While this was being done, the family slept in their wagons or upon the grass, while the horses or mules, hobbled to prevent escape, grazed the country near them. Trees of a suitable and uniform size were selected. felled and prepared for their places. The day for the raising was announced, and from far and near came other pioneers to assist in the labor. The structure went up, a log at a time, those engaged stopping now and then to " wet their whistles," and soon it was ready for the clapboard roof, which was held on by huge weight poles. A door and a window were cut where the good wife directed, a chimney built, and the building was ready for its occu- pants. The space between the logs was filled in with split sticks of wood, called "chinks," and then daubed over, both inside and out, with mortar made of clay. The floor was sometimes nothing more than earth tramped hard and smooth, but was com- monly made of " puncheons," or split logs, with the split side turned upwards. The roof was made by gradually drawing in the top to the ridge-pole, and on cross-pieces laying the "clapboards," which, be- ing several feet in length, instead of being nailed were held in place by "weight-pole's," reaching the entire length of the cabin. For a fire-place, a space was cut out of the logs on one side of the room, usually about six feet in length, and three sides were built up of logs, making an off-set in the wall. This was lined with stone, if convenient; if not, then, earth. The flue, or upper part of the chimney, was built of small split sticks, two and a half or three feet in length, carried a little space above the roof, and plastered over with clay, and when finished was called a " cat and-clay " chimney. The door space was also made by cutting an aperture in one side of
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the room of the required size, the door itself being made of clapboards secured by wooden pins to two cross-pieces. The hinges were also of wood, while the fastening consisted of a wooden latch catching on a hook of the same material. To open the door from the outside, a strip of buckskin was tied to the latch and drawn through a hole a few inches above the latch-bar, so that on pulling the string the latch was lifted from the catch or hook, and the door was opened without further trouble. To lock the door it was only necessary to pull the string through the hole to the inside. Here the family lived, and here the guest and wayfarer were made welcome. The living-room was of good size, but to a large extent it was also kitchen, bed-room, parlor and arsenal, with flitches of bacon and rings of dried pumpkins suspended from the rafters.
These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true-hearted people, and in them were domestic in- dustry, happiness and hospitality rarely elsewhere to be found. It is well for " Young America " to look back on those early days. They involved a life of toil and hardship, and the lack of many comforts ; but it was the life that made men of character. Me- costa County to-day has no better men than the sons of those who built their cabins in the forest, and by patient endurance wrought out of the wilderness the landmarks for a prosperous commonwealth.
WEDDINGS.
EDDINGS constituted an attractive feature of pioneer life. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune On these accounts the first impressions of love gen- erally resulted in marriage. The family establishment cost but little labor, and nothing more than labor. The marriage was always cele- brated at the house of the bride, and she was gen- erally left to choose the officiating clergyman. A wedding, however, engaged the attention of the whole neighborhood. It was anticipated by both okl and young with eager expectation. On the morning of the wedding day, the groom and his intimate friends assembled at the house of his father, and after due
preparation departed en masse for the " mansion " of the bride.
The journey was sometimes made on horseback, sometimes on foot, and sometimes in farm wagons and carts. It was always a merry journey, and to insure merriment the bottle was always taken along. On reaching the house of the bride the marriage ceremony took place, and then dinner or supper was served. After the meal the dancing commenced, and generally lasted until the following morning. The figures of the dances were three and four hand- ed reels, or square sets and jigs. The commence- ment was always a square four, which was followed by what pioneers called "jigging," that is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accom- panied by what was called "cutting out;" that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation, the place was supplied by some one of the company without interruption of the dance. In this way the reel was continued until the musi- cian was exhausted.
About nine or ten o'clock in the evening, a deputa- tion of young ladies stole off the bride and put her to bed. In doing this they would have to ascend a ladder from the kitchen, composed of loose boards. Here in the bridal chamber, the young, simple-hearted girl was put to bed by her enthusiastic friends. This done, a deputation of young men escorted the groom to the same apartment. The dance still continued until all were weary. On the next evening the " infare " was held, nowadays called " reception."
" SHAKES."
NOTHER feature of pioneer life, which every old settler will vividly recall, was the " chills and fever," "fever and ague," or " shakes," as it was variously called. It was a terror to new comers, for in the fall of the year almost everybody was afflicted with it. It was no respecter of persons ; everybody looked pale and sallow as though frost-bitten. It was not contagious, but derived from impure air and water, which is al- ways developed in the opening up of a new country.
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The impurities continued to be absorbed from day to day, and from week to week, until the whole body corporate became saturated with it as with electricity ; and then the shock came; and the shock was a regular shake, with a fixed beginning and ending. coming on in some cases each day, but generally on alternate days, with a regularity that was surprising. After the shakes came the fever, and this "last estate was worse than the first; " it was a burning hot fever, and lasted for hours.
When you had a chill you couldn't get warm, and when you had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was exceedingly awkward in this respect,-indeed it was; nor would it stop for any contingency ; not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It was imperative and tyrannical. When the appointed time came around everything else had to be stopped to attend to its demands. It didn't even have any Sundays or holidays. After the fever went down you still didn't feel much better; you felt as though you had gone through some sort of collision, thresh- ing machine, or jarring machine, and came out, not killed, but next thing to it. You felt weak, as though you had run too far after something, and then didn't catch it. You felt languid, stupid and sore, and was down in the mouth and heel, and partially raveled out ; your back was out of fix, your head ached, and your appetite was crazy ; your eyes had too much white in them; your ears, especially after taking qui- nine, had too much roar in them, and your whole body and soul were entirely woe-begone, disconso- late, sad, poor, and good-for-nothing; you didn't think much of yourself, and you didn't believe that other people did either, and you didn't care. You didn't quite make up your mind to commit suicide, but sometimes wished some accident would happen to knock either the malady or yourself out of existence. You imagined that even the dogs look- ed at you with a sort of commiseration; you thought the sun had a sort of sickly shine about it. About this time you came to the conclusion that you would not take the whole State as a gift; and if you had the strength and means you would pick up Hannah and the baby, and your traps, and go back "yander " to "Ole Virginny," the "Jarseys," Maryland, or " Pennsylvany."
This bilious condition was as bad as the consump- tion for promising to leave you alone, and failing to
keep its engagements ; as bad as a weak minded old debtor in promising to pay and ever delaying the fulfillment of his promise.
And to-day the swallow - fitting Rond my cabin sve me sitting Moodily within the sunshine, Just inside my -ilent door. Waiting for the " ager. " seeming Like a man forever dreaming : And the sunlight. on me streaming. Throw no shadow - on the floor:
For I'm too thin and -allow To make shadow - on the floor- Vary shadow any more!
The foregoing is not a picture of the imagination : it is simply recounting in quaint phrase what actually occurred in hundreds of cases. Whole families would sometimes be sick at one time, and not one member at all able to wait upon another. Labor or exercise always aggravated the malady, and it took General Laziness a long time to thrash the enemy out. These were the days of swallowing all sorts of roots and " yarbs," and whisky straight, with some faint hope of relief. Finally, when the case wore out, the last remedy got the credit of the cure.
FIRST THINGS.
N Mecosta County the first white child born was Alive Brockway, daughter of William and Margaret Brockway, the second family to settle in the County. She was born Feb. 12, 1853, less than a year after her parents settled " among the pines."
In the fall of 1854, Silas Moore and Mrs. Sally French were married at Big Rapids, by Elder Kelly, of Big Prairie. This was the first wedding in the county.
In the fall of the same year, James Montague, of Green Township, sowed two acres of winter wheat, which was undoubtedly the first wheat sown in the county.
In the summer of 1856, John Hinton, of the township of Hinton, built a large frame barn. which was the first frame building erected in the
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county. The lumber for it was cut with a whip-saw, involving a task that would discourage most men. John Davis erected a large frame barn in the town- ship of Mecosta the same year.
In the fall of 1856, Warren & Ives erected a part of the frame for a water-power saw-mill on Mitchell Creek, near where Michigan avenue, in Big Rapids, crosses that stream. The mill was com- pleted during the next spring and summer, and start- ed for the first time, and a few boards sawed, on the Fourth of July, 1857, twenty-six years ago. This was the first mill, and the first lumber manufactured, in Mecosta County. This mill was the first manu- factory of any kind ever erected in the county, and in those days was regarded as an institution of no little magnitude. It was well known to all the ear- lier inhabitants as the "Old Red Mill," and was in operation for many years, furnishing the lumber and timber for all the oldest wooden buildings in this city and vicinity. It was torn down a number of years ago, and little trace of the once busy mill now re- minds the resident of earlier days.
Immediately after the mill was put in operation, the same firm, Messrs. Warren & Ives, erected a small frame building for an office, a few rods south of the mill. During the same summer, they erected a two-story frame boarding house, which was the first frame dwelling in Big Rapids, and also a large frame barn.
In November, 1857, a weekly mail was established between Big Rapids and Greenville. Jesse L. Shaw was appointed postmaster at Big Rapids, the name of the office when first established being Leonard. It was kept at the office of Warren & Ives, near the mill, and was the first post-office in the county. Prior to that time, the nearest post-office was at C'ro- ton, in Newaygo County, twenty-eight miles distant, from which point mail for this region was usually brought in a hand-satchel, the settlers taking turns in going after it. In December, 1863, a tri-weekly mail route was established between Big Rapids and Newaygo; and about the same time, a Mr. Van- sickle, of Big Prairie, who was the mail carrier, com- menced carrying passengers in a rickety old two- seated wagon, which he called a tri-weekly stage. It was the first thing of the kind in this part of the country, and its establishment was hailed as a luxury. In May, 1858, a log school-house was built on section twenty-eight, in the township of Green ; and
during the summer following a school was taught in it by Mrs. Martha J. Evarts. This was the first school-house built, and the first school taught in the county.
During the summer of 1858, Augustine N. Will- iams erected and opened a small hotel, which grew to be the l'acific House of later years, but which is now not run as a hotel. A part of the present struc- ture is the original building erected by Mr. Williams. Although every settler's "latch-string" was kept hanging out, and every man's cabin afforded a stop- ping place for the traveler, this was the first hotel in the county.
At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Mecosta County, held Sept. 1, 1859, Warren and Ives were granted permission to establish a rope ferry across Muskegon River, near the place where the lower bridge in this city now spans the stream.
The first equalized assessed valuation of the county (including the then unorganized county of Osceola. which was attached to Mecosta for judicial and mu- nicipal purposes), as determined at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors in October, 1859, was $376,447.84. The first county tax, which was levied at this same meeting, was $3,137.40.
The first general store in Mecosta County was opened by Edson Fuller, in 1859, in Big Rapids. The stock of merchandise for this store was hauled by teams from Grand Rapids, over roads that neither tongue nor pen can describe. The store stood on the corner of Michigan avenue and Elm street.
The first frame school building in the county was a two-story edifice built in Big Rapids in 1859.
At the April election in 1860, a proposition was carried to raise by tax $6,000 to build a bridge over Muskegon River and to build a county jail. A con- tract to build the bridge just above where the lower bridge in this city now stands, was let to John F. Tinkham, May 24, 1860, for $2,500. The bridge was completed and accepted Sept. 14, 1860, and was the first frame bridge over the Muskegon in Mecosta County. The proposition to build a county jail was afterwards abandoned, and rescinded by the Board.
The first term of the Mecosta Circuit Court was held at the school-house in the village of Leonard, commencing April 17, 1860, Hon. F. J. Littlejohn presiding.
The first lime burned in this county was by John
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Snyder, in 1860, in the township of Green. Judge C. C. Fuller bought the first load of it and used it in the construction of a dwelling on "the southeast cor- ner of Michigan avenue and Linden street, in Big Rapids.
The first general celebration in this county of the national anniversary was held at Big Rapids, July 4, 1862. The officers of the day were Charles Shafer, President : C. C. Fuller, Reader; E. L. Gray, Ora- tor; J. O. Coburn, Marshal ; and Rev. Mr. Mills, Chaplain.
The first photograph gallery in the county was es- tablished at Big Rapids, by Zerah French, in 1862.
The first election of county officers was hell on the first Monday in April, 1859, at which time the fol- lowing officers were chosen : Alfred L. Clark, Sheriff; Orrin Stevens, Clerk and Register; Charles Shafer, Treasurer ; Jesse A. Barker, Judge of Probate ; Ang- ustine N. Williams, County Surveyor. William T. Howell, of Newaygo, was appointed the first P'ros- ecuting Attorney.
The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held on the first Monday in May, 1859. Present Jesse A. Barker, Supervisor of Green, and Luther Cobb, Supervisor of Leonard-there being at that time but two organized townships in the county.
The first kiln of brick burned in the county was put up by James Gillespie, in the summer of 1862, about a mile and a half 'southwest of the original plat of the village of Big Rapids. A Mr. Fitzgerald put up a small kiln in 1860, in the hollow on State street, a short distance south of C. C. Fuller's resi- dence, but abandoned it before burning. Prior to the burning of Gillespie's kiln, all brick used in this region were hauled from Grand Rapids, at an ex- pense of from $50 to $80 per thousand.
The first fire in the county occurred Jan. 29, 1863, when French's hotel, a large frame structure, was burned. It had been built the summer previous.
The first secret order established in the county was Big Rapids Lodge, No. 171, Free and Accepted Masons, which was instituted in 1865.
In the spring of 1865, Thomas Lazell put up and commenced operating a steam saw-mill and planing machine in Big Rapids, -- the first steam power in the county.
'The first harness-shop in the county was started in Big Rapids, by A. S. Mason, in October, 186.4.
The first millinery establishment in Mecosta County
was opened in the spring of 1865 in Big Rapids, by Mrs. J. W. Tenny.
The first religious society in the county was the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Big Rapids, which was organized Oct. 23, 1865, with William J. Aldrich as pastor. During the following summer the society built a church edifice, -the first in Mecosta County,-and dedicated it Nov. 16, 1867.
The first daily stage route was established between Big Rapids and Newaygo, in November, 1865, by Hiram Misner, and with it came a daily mail. The following December a weekly mail route was estab- lished between Big Rapids and Hersey.
The first drug store in the county was opened in February, 1866, in Big Rapids, by J. W. Perry.
In the spring of 1866, John Bigelow and William Van Loo built a large flouring mill on Ryan Creek, about two miles southeast of Big Rapids. This was the first mill devoted exclusively to the grinding of grain in the county.
In July, 1866, at a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, permission was granted F. H. Todd & Co., to build a dam across the Muskegon River in the upper part of Big Rapids. This was the first dam across the Muskegon River in Mecosta County, and it afterwards became known as the Tioga Com- pany's dam.
During the summer of 1866, James Sutherland erected a brick dwelling on the southeast corner of State and Maple streets in Big Rapids, which was the first brick structure in the county.
In the spring of 1867, Gen. Stephen Bronson and his son Charles 1). opened a banking house in Big Rapids, --- the first in Mecosta County.
In 1867, Duncan Mclellan and Robert A. Moon built and opened a tannery on the Tioga race in Big Rapids,-the first institution of its kind in the county.
Sept. 17, 1867, a school-teachers' convention was held in Big Rapids,-the first gathering of the kind in the county.
In the spring of 1868, Charles H. McConnell opened a book store and news depot in Big Rapids,- the first in the county.
In 1868, the First Presbyterian Church was organ- ized, with E. B. Miner as pastor. In 1872, the so- ciety erected a commodious brick edifice in Big Rap- ids,-the first brick church in the county.
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The first foundry in the county was built on the Tioga race, in Big Rapids, by Price and Osborn,- who were succeeded by E. G. Haney,-during the summer of 1869.
The first railroad in the county of Mecosta was the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad ; June 20, 1870, the iron w s laid on that road into the corpor- ate limits of Big Rapids, and a locomotive entered the city for the first time on that day. The road was soon completed to Paris, and the first passenger coach passed over it on the 22d of July. Regular trains commenced running August Sth, following.
In 1870, William Van Loo built the first brick block in Big Rapids, and the first in Mecosta County. It was completed in December, and occupied by D. F. Stearns, with a stock of dry goods, Jan. I, 1871.
The Northern National Bank was opened June 12, 1871,-the first national bank in the county of Me- costa. George F. Stearns was elected President and Charles P. Gifford, Cashier.
The first county fair was held in 1874, commenc- ing Sept. 29, and continuing three days.
The first lawyer in Mecosta County was J. H. Mulford, who came to Big Rapids in 1859.
The first physician in the county was Dr. D. F. Woolley, who located in Big Rapids in 1859.
The first resident clergyman was Elder William Kelley, who came to Big Rapids to live about 1861.
The first resident dentist was Dr. A. W. Eldridge, who came to Big Rapids in 1867.
The first mason was Thos. Lazell, who located at Big Rapids in 1860. The first stone wall laid in lime mortar, however, was built by C. C. Fuller, in the summer of 1860.
The first wagon and carriage-maker was James Jones, who located in Big Rapids early in the sun- mer of 1857. There being no demand for his work, however, he did not open a shop till several years later.
The first resident blacksmith was Edward L. Wil- liams, who left his farm in the township of Green a d opened a shop in Big Rapids about 1860.
Robert Palmer was the first resident boot and shoe maker.
John Shaw was the first painter in the county.
The first village in Mecosta County was Big Rap- ids, recorded Nov. 3, 1859.
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ORGANIZATION.
سـراء
UST previous to the organiza- tion of the county of Mecosta, the territory now included within its limits was attached to Newaygo County for judicial and municipal purposes, the com- bined territory being then a por- tion of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Michigan. The Legislative act establishing the new county of Mecosta was passed Feb. 11, 1859. The county seat was by the same authority fixed at the village of Leonard, whose name was changed in November following to Big Rapids.
On the first Monday in April, 1859, the first election was held for county officials, at which time the following were elected : Sheriff, Alfred S. Clark; Clerk and Register, Orrin Stevens; Treasurer, Charles Shafer; Judge of Probate, Jesse A. Barker; County Surveyor, Augustine N. Wil- liams. William T. Howell, of Ne- 1 waygo, was appointed the first l'rose-
One month later, on the first Monday in May, 1859, the first meeting was held of the County Board of Supervisors. There were at that time but two organ- ized townships in the county,-Green and Leonard, and there were present, of course, but two Supervi- sors,-Jesse A. Barker, of Green, and Luther Cobb, of Leonard. Jesse A. Barker was elected Chairman of the Board. June first of the same year, a joint meeting of the Boards of Supervisors of Mecosta and Newaygo Counties was held at Newaygo, to effect a settlement between the two counties. Me- costa was found to be indebted to Newaygo County to the amount of $1,000. Osceola and Lake Counties were attached to Mecosta for municipal and judicial purposes for a number of years, until sufficiently populated to "stand alone." Osceola at first formed but one township, but when separated from Mecosta comprised five civil townships.
The counties of Osceola and Lake remained at- tached to Mecosta until the spring of 1869. March 4, of that year, a bill for the organization of Osceola County passed the House of Representatives without a dissenting voice. It had already passed the Senate, and accordingly, when signed by the Governor a few days after, became a law and took immediate effect. It located the county seat at the village of llersey, and provided for the election of county officers on
cuting Attorney for the county of Mecosta.
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the fifth of April. This election resulted as follows : Sheriff-Isaiah Manes; no oppposition. Clerk-J. A. Gamage, 9 maj. Treasurer-R. F. Morris, 35 maj. Pros. Att'y-S. F. Dwight, no opposition.
Cir. C. Com .- S. F. Dwight, no opposition. Recorder of Deeds-J. A. Gamage, 9 maj. Surveyor -E. F. French, 119 maj.
Coroners-J. W. Ash, 28 maj .; E. H. Wood, no opposition.
The same Legislature passed bills incorporating the city of Big Rapids, and attaching the west half of the unorganized county of Clare to Mecosta County, for judicial and municipal purposes.
The Boards of Supervisors of Mecosta and Osce- ola Counties, being unable to agree upon a settlement between the two counties, five commissioners were appointed by the Clrenit Court of Mason County, on the application of Osceola, to adjust all unsettled claims and matters of difference. Three of the com- missioners, William Freeman, E. N. Fitch and S. F. White, met in Big Rapids, Aug. 1, 1871, and after a session of two days awarded Osceola County the sum of $676.59, also the field notes and plats of the towns in that county. The costs of the hearing amounted to $154.80, which were also paid by Me- costa, making a total of $831.39. This amount was about $16 less than that offered by the Mecosta County Board.
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