USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 64
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The glee club sang " Rally Round the Flag, Boys," and then the third toast, "Abraham Lincoln, the martyred President," was responded to in a fitting manner by L. G. Palmer, as follows :
" No need to recite history. It is indelibly written upon every loyal heart. From the cabin to the cap- itol, his record is that of an honest boy, a faithful citizen, a loving, brave commander, content to labor in the most humble calling, yet competent to decide the destinies of a great nation. Never within the period of our national history had we such need of a Lincoln as when he entered upon his perilous duties. Asking the prayers of his countrymen, he took their cause upon his broad shoulders, carried it triumph- antly through the dark struggle, landed it safely at
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the cost of his life. MMartyr indeed! Never did the okl flag take half-mast upon so sad an occasion as when the wires flashed that fatal message, " Lincoln is dead." The nation was at first convulsed as by an earthquake, then it trembled, then wept as a child. Sad silence reigned everywhere. The hum of ma- chinery was hushed. All gayety gave place to deep sorrow. The palace, the cottage. the hovel, were alike draped in mourning. Strong men met, greeted each other in whispers, and sobbed aloud.
" In his death, every human being lost a friend. Hle long ago predicted and expressed a belief that his life and the rebellion would end together; and his blood, though shed by the cowardly assassin, as the agent of our ungrateful people, has cemented the bonds of our Union ; and accursed be the traitor who dares attempt to break that sacred seal.
" No name enrolled upon the pages of history calls forth such tender, loving enthusiasm from the Amer- ican people as the honored name of Abraham Lin- coln. He was not only great as a statesmar, but a man in the purest meaning of that term. The mur- mur of a child would move his sympathy; and when his country called upon him, above all others, to re- unite, if possible, the broken bonds of brotherhood, he responded from the depths of his great heart, ' We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break, the bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory stretching from every battle-field and patriot's grave to every living heart and health- stone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of Union, impelled by the better angels of our nature, with malice toward none, with charity to all.' These are but a trifling example of the calm, deliberate, loving sentiments of our sainted hero. Yet with gentleness he combined firmmess. When he heard the lash of the master, followed by the groan of the slave, mark his expression :
"'Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that the scourge of war may soon pass away. But if God wills, let it continue until all the wealth piled up by the bondmen's 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be paid by another drawn by the sword.' Ves, he heard the piteous appeal and hastened to the rescue. He struck the shackles from 4,000,000 slaves and left them as God intended they should be,
unfettered, free as the waves of ocean, the winds of heaven. And though he could not heal the aching limbs, he could rob the slave-pen and the whipping post of further victims. le coukl clasp the black hands that were everywhere upheld to him. Hle could heal their wounded hearts.
"History has recorded many noble documents, some never to be forgotten. 'Magna Charta,' dear to us all; the ' Declaration of Independence,' which, please God, shall never die; last in number, first in human kindness and brotherly love, Lincoln's im- mortal ' Proclamation of Emancipation.' It brought forth liberty from bondage, warmed the cold hearth- stone, restored many a lost link so cruelly severed from that golden love-chain that binds a mother to her child. Forever green in the memory of that humble people, Lincoln will be your name. It will be lisped in prayer until every lip is speechless and every heart is still.
" Bet why prolong this culogy? Human expression is too feeble to portray his merits or do justice to his noble character. He stands alone in history, the humblest, yet the highest. Summon the artillery of the nation, marshal in solemn column all her soldiers, her sailors and her citizens. Let sweetest music be wafted on every breeze. Aye-mingle with it the heavenly chorus of angels, and chant his requiem from shore to shore. Float the old flag from every house-top and mast-head, and then, even then you have but a just response to your toast, 'Abraham Lincoln, Our Martyr President.'"
The glee club then sang the song, " Lay me down and save the flag," and after that Dr. F. B. Wood re- sponded to the toast, "The Picket." This was fol- lowed by two songs, the " Picket Guard," and " King- dom Comin',' by the club. Judge M. Brown then responded to the toast, "The Prison Pen." After a graphic portrayal of the sufferings at Andersonville and Libby and other rebel prisons, the speaker said : "No nation can prosper which would treat its pris- oners with such cruelty. I honor my country ; I love its institutions ; but whenever it resorts to such treatment of prisoners of war, then, I pray that he who holds the destinies of nations in his hands may blot it from the map of empires."
The glee club then sang " Tramp. Tramp, Tramp." and then the toast. " Our Fallen Comrades," was re- sponded to by the audience rising, and standing in
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silence while the band played a dirge. "The Loyal Women " was then responded to by J. M. Colby, and the band next played " The Girl I left behind me." After this, Noble D. Rood, of Colfax Township, spoke briefly, from experience, of the rebel prisons, confirm- ing all that had been said of their cruelty. At the conclusion of Mr. Rood's remarks, it was suggested that all who had been prisoners of war stand up. A count of those who arose to their feet in response to this suggestion disclosed the fact that the audience contained twenty-seven men who were living wit- nesses of the atrocities perpetrated upon those who had the misfortune to be captured by the rebels dur- ing the war. The next toast was "The Bivouac," which was responded to by Lieut. Edgar Peirce, as follows :
"Of the many recollections of a soldier's life brought to mind on occasions like the present, none are perhaps more vivid and interesting than the recol- lections that cluster around the bivouac fire. As memory wanders back to those stirring times of 1861-5, and calls to mind the countless fires that have gleamed from the Potomac to the Gulf, marking each day's progress on that long and bloody road, what a panorama moves before our inental vision ! Those fires have long been cold, but in memory they burn as brightly to-day as they did in years gone by, and give rise to many pleasant, many tender, and many painful emotions.
" What pleasanter scene, for instance, can be im- agined than that presented by an evening bivouac at the close of a pleasant summer's day, in some beau- tiful spot in the valley of Virginia? The blue moun- tain tops in the hazy distance, the green field dotted with white tents, the myriads of twinkling camp-fires surrounded by careless and picturesque groups of boys in blue, the inspiring strains of martial music, mingled with the sounds of laughter and song, all combine to make a scene of enchantment which, once seen, can never be forgotten.
"But when autumn came with its icy winds and chilling storms of rain and sleet, and the roads were one endless, hopeless stretch of mud, the picture had a darker shade. Then, after wearily plodding all day through mud and rain, often until. late at night, we would at length turn aside into some dripping piece of woods, and listen to some such command as this: 'Halt ! Dismount and fix yourselves comfort-
able for the night!' Comfortable! Easy said; but with the rain coming down in torrents, blankets and clothing soaked through, teeth chattering, fingers stiffened and benumbed with cold, and stomachs yearning for mother's cupboard at home, the prospect for comfort was not flattering. We lived through it, however, and can again, if occasion require it.
" But what a troop of mournful and tender recol- lections come crowding on the memory when we think of the bivouac after the battle; when the clash of arms had ceased ; when the sounds of the shrill, demoniac Southern yell, and the deep-chested, full- mouthed Northern roar were no longer borne on the breeze; when the last, fierce, desperate charge had been made, and the battle lost or won ! Silently we gathered around the bivouac fire in sadly diminished numbers, missing the merry voices, and dear, familiar faces of many loved comrades, who only the evening before were with us full of life and mirth ; but to- night their unshrouded and uncoffined forms lowly lie in unmarked graves.
" Hundreds of thousands of those loved comrades now lie quietly resting in their last bivonac. Scat- tered all over the sunny South they peacefully sleep, making its vaunted sacred soil truly sacred with their loyal dust. On the pleasant slopes of Cemetery Hill, at Gettysburg, on the very spot where in life they stood a living wall against which Lee's trained legions surged like a mighty wave, only to be, like a wave, dashed back in fragments, thousands of them gloriously rest. And I hope that these, our annual reunions or bivouacs, as they might be called, will be kept up, if for no other purpose than to keep the memory of those brave men green. I trust as time rolls on and our numbers diminish, our interest in these gatherings will increase, until we finally meet in that grand reunion on the other shore."
The band then played " Yankee Doodle," after which M. T. Nethaway responded to the toast, "The Long Roll." His remarks were very interesting, and at their conclusion the bugle call for the long roll, was sounded from behind the scenes, which was followed by the genuine, old-fashioned roll, beaten upon the drums by Messrs. Palmer, Miller and Hobart. Gen. Stephen Bronson then spoke on the "Close of the War." The exercises closed with the song, " Red, White and Blue," by the glee club.
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THIRD REUNION.
Aug. 24. 1880, another reunion was held of the Old Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Mecosta County. The attendance, owing to unfavorable weather, was not as large as on previous occasions. A procession was formed at the armory about 11 o'clock, under direction of Marshal Owen, assisted by W. D. Moody. First came the City Cornet Band, then came the Big Rapids Guard, and the veteran soldiers brought up the rear. The procession moved eastward to Warren avenue, thence southward to Oak street, thence westward to State street, thence northward to Woodward avenue, thence westward to Stearns' Grove. In passing the residence of A. C. Tibbits, on Oak street, the procession was halted, and three hearty cheers were given for the decorations which adorned the front of the building. At the grove, after dinner, a stirring address was given by the president, Edgar Peirce. Just as he was closing a sudden rain caused the meeting to adjourn to Armory Hall. Here the following toasts were re- sponded to :
1 .- "Our Flag."- Response by Hon. Michael Brown.
2 .- " Our Fallen Comrades."-In silence, audi- ence standing.
3 .- " General Custer."-David Burns. 4 .- " The Foragers."-J. B. Upton.
The exercises were interspersed with music by the band, and songs by a glee club.
FOURTHI REUNION.
The fourth annual reunion was a grand success. It occurred Thursday, Aug. 4, 1881, and was largely
attended. The great novelty this year was the use of real tents, and the performance of army camp duties by the veterans. A salute was fired at to o'clock, and shortly afterward a procession formed under the direction of Captain Brazee, assisted by G. W. Craw - ford and Thomas Shaw, in the following order : Knights Templar Band; Big Rapids Guard, aimed ; old soldiers, armed; a veteran war-horse, and a sec- tion of artillery. The procession moved through the principal streets, and then returned to camp for din- ner. An excellent dinner was served under a big tent erected for that purpose, and squads had dinner in nearly all the mess tents on the grounds. After dinner, a patriotic adthiess was delivered by Hon. M. Brown, and the following toasts were proposed and appropriately responded to, as follows:
" On the March."-Response by L. G. Palmer.
" The Bummers."-Response by Frank Dumon.
" Boots and Saddles."-Response by Edgar Peirce. "Our Fallen Comrades." - In silence, audience standing.
" The Chaplain."-Response by Rev. C. A. Munn.
Music was furnished by the Knights Templar Band. At the business meeting the Executive Committee were authorized to purchase a ceme- tery lot, whereon indigent members might be buried. A letter of regret was read from Robert T. Lin- coln, Secretary of War. The reunion closed with a ball at the Armory, which was attended by 125 couples.
The Third Michigan Infantry held a reunion at Big Rapids, Dec. 13, 1881, which was attended by 200 Veterans. Among the exercises was the toast, ""The Boys in Blue," to which J. B. Upton, of Big Rapids, made an impromptu response.
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AGRICULTURAL.
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XTENT and fertility of the soil constitute a measure of the permanent wealth of the locality. Great as is the lumber industry in Mecosta County, it is nevertheless true that the time will come when the forests of Central Michi- gan will be all cleared away, and the State no longer fur- nish lumber for a continent. It is therefore well that the soil of this county is rich and cap- able of a high state of cultivation. A very great variety of crops can be raised here profitably : fruits, grains and garden stuff; and the agricultural resources of the county can be imagined when it is considered that in 1882 the 1,200 farms comprised only 30,000 acres under cultivation, which is less than a tenth of the area.
Early in March, 1874, steps were taken to form an agricultural society. A meeting of citizens from dif- ferent parts of the county, for this purpose, was held March 5, at the office of B. F. Graves, in Big Rapids. Col. N. H. Vincent was made Chairman, and G. W. Warren, Secretary. B. F. Graves drafted articles of association, which were signed by N. HI. Vincent, Carlos Teachout, F. P. Wood, John Mccutcheon, C. C. Fuller, J. K. Klesner, A. Vangilder, C. W. Whit- field, G. W. Warren and Henry Main. Messrs. G.
W. Warren, B. F. Graves and F. P. Wood were ap- pointed a committee to distribute to the supervisor of each township and ward throughout the county a subscription paper, to be placed before the voters at the next spring election ; and the following address issued to the people through the press :
TO THE CITIZENS OF MECOSTA COUNTY.
Steps have been taken to organize an agricultural and mechanical society. Articles of association have been drawn up and signed by the requisite number, and an invitation will be extended to every voter in this county to become a member. Subscrip- tion lists will be in the hands of some competent per- son at every poll district in the county, at the spring elections in April next. The object of this society is to develop and promote the agricultural and me- chanical interests of this county; and to the end that it may be made a successful enterprise, it is desired that every citizen of this county give it their hearty co-operation and support. But little is known here yet of the great agricultural resources of Northern Michigan. Possessed of a rich and fertile soil, the time is not far distant when this county will not be surpassed in agricultural and mechanical productions by any county in Northern Michigan; and that she may not fall behind her sister counties in the great race of development and civilization, it is desired that every effort be put forth by the people of this county to build up and firmly establish a society of this kind. In the great agricultural districts of the Eastern and Middle States, societies of this kind have become permanent fixtures, and they are well calculated to stimulate, build up and promote the stock-raising and producing interests of an agricultu-
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ral community. The pine forests of this county are fast disappearing, and a few years hence improved farms will take their place. Let us then make every effort to build up and promote the agricultural and mechanical interests of the county that they may keep pace with the lumberman's ax. Nature has done much for us in this county, and with the en- couragement and assistance of the combined efforts of the people of this county, and with the assistance of capital, that will come in time, this county can be made one of the leading manufacturing counties in the State; and nothing is better calculated to stimu- late the manufacturing interests than a society of this kind. We think this is a matter of great importance to us all, and we hope that no opportunity will be lost to make it a success.
G. W. WARREN. FOSTER P. WOOD. BENJ. F. GRAVES.
Big Rapids, March 7, 1874.
The meeting hekt April o, for the election of officers, was attended by about 40 persons. Charles Shafer was chosen Chairman, and G. W. Warren Secretary. Col. N. H. Vincent was then elected President of the society, G. W. Warren, Secretary, and W. 1. Latimer, Treasurer. The following per- sons were elected Directors : Fitch Phelps, Levi H. Roberts, W. W. Smith, John A. Markle, Carlos Tea- chout and John V. Armstrong for one year; J. T. Escott, P. S. Decker, S. S. Chipman, John F. MeCabe, J. O. Rose and James Canaan for two years; and J. N. Decker, C. M. Darrah, George Minkle, H. M. Johnson, B. F. Graves and Luther Cobb for three years. J. O. Rose, G. W. Warren and B. F. Graves were appointed a committee to draft by-laws for the society, and present them to the Directors for their approval. It was directed that the third Monday in April be fixed as the time for holding annual meetings, and also that all persons who had paid into the treasury the sum of one dol- lar be considered members.
At a meeting of the Directors hell April 28, they decided that the Society hokl a fair for three days, commencing on the 29th of September following. Committees were appointed to secure grounds and prepare a premium list.
FIRST FAIR.
The first fair was duly held at the appointed time, and was a grand success. It was the first time the
people had had an opportunity to compare produc- tions of agricultural and mechanical skill, and to exhibit what was raised, made and owned in Me- costa County. The entries aggregated over 500, and $408.50 were paid in premiums. A goodly number were in attendance, in spite of bad weather. For the succeeding year the following officers were elect- ed: President, Luther Cobb; Treasurer, W. I. Lati- mer; Secretary, G. W. Warren; Directors for three years-Fitch Phelps, of Colfax; I. Il. Roberts, of Morley ; W. W. Smith, of Fork ; E. P. Strong, of Sheri- dan; C. Teachout, of Green; J. V. Armstrong, of Chippewa. Director for two years (to fill vacancy caused by electing Mr. Cobb as President), A. Van- gilder, of Big Rapids.
SECOND FAIR.
The second fair, held in September, 1875, was much inferior to the first fair. There seems to have been little interest manifested either by exhibitors or visitors. The following officers were elected : Presi- dent, William Ladner; Secretary, John Dalziel; Treasurer, C. M. Darrah. Directors for three years : J. T. Escott, C. Main, Geo. Gilmore, R. D. Ladner, J. O. Rose and A. B. Knapp.
THIRD FAIR.
"The third annual fair was held Oct 3, 4 and 5. 1876, and was an improvement on the preceding. Six hundred entries were made, and the attendance was excellent. An annual address was delivered by J. B. Upton, on the afternoon of the second day .
FOURTH FAIR.
The fourth fair, held Oct. 2, 3 and 4, was still better, as a very general interest was manifested. The display, both of crops and live stock, was fine. On the afternoon of the second day, there was a band contest, in which the Evart band won the first prize, the Big Rapids Cornet Band the second prize, and the Big Rapids Light Guard Band the third prize. A baby show was held the same afternoon, which furnished much amusement. Four prizes were offered. On the last day was held a firemen's tournament, in which four companies entered. For the ensuing year William Ladner was elected Presi- dent, George W. Warren Treasurer, and C. M. Dar- rah, Secretary.
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FIFTH FAIR.
The fifth fair, held Sept. 18, 19 and 20, 1878, was a partial failure, on account of persistent rain the last two days. The first day gave promise of a suc- cessful fair.
SIXTH AND LAST FAIR.
No fair was held in 1879. The sixth fair was held Sept. 28, 29 and 30, 1880. The weather was very unpropitious, and hence the attendance was small. The number of entries was 222. The receipts were so small that the premiums were paid only at the rate of fifty cents on the dollar. Since then no at- tempt has been made to have a fair. It is to be hoped that the enterprising citizens of the county will take hold of this matter and revive these fairs, as they are unquestionably a benefit to all.
FARMERS' INSTITUTE.
N the fall of 1879, it was announced that six farmers'institutes would be held in vari- ous parts of the State, one of them at Big Rapids. This was duly held Jan. 15 and 16, under the direction of Professors Beal and Kedzie, of the State Agricultural College, and was a very interesting and profitable meeting. Col. N. Il. Vincent, as President, called the assemblage to order in the evening of the first day, Thursday, and delivered a short opening address. He spoke approvingly of all gatherings of this kind; dwelt upon the advantages to be derived from a better understanding among farmers, and a more extended cultivation of the social relations. He urged the organization of farmers' clubs in every town, that there might be frequent interchange of opinion, and a more thorough knowledge of subjects pertaining to agriculture. If the farmers woukl do this, he felt confident that the next county fair would be a grand success, and result in great profit to all concerned. lle expressed gratification at seeing so many farmers
present, and assured them that the people of this city would endeavor to make their stay pleasant during the session of the institute.
Dr. J. T. Fraser, of Fowlerville, New York, be- ing introduced, gave an interesting lecture on the structure and anatomy of the horse's foot; the vari- ous acute and chronic diseases to which the horse's foot is subjeet, and the best ways to avoid contraction of such diseases. Ile illustrated his talk by the use of the bones which enter into the structure of the horse's foot and lower part of the leg, and also by blackboard diagrams.
The next morning's session opened with a large attendance. After a little time spent in discussing questions from the drawer, R. F. Kedzie, teacher of chemistry in the State Agricultural College, was in- troduced, and delivered a learned lecture on "Super- phosphate for the Farm." The speaker explained the component parts of superphosphates, their prop- erties and effects upon vegetation, cost, etc. L. G. Palmer, of Big Rapids, then read an excellent essay entitled, " Boys on the Farm."
In the afternoon Judge Brown, of Big Rapids, treated the audience to an essay entitled, " Brain and the Farm." Mrs. J. K. Upton read an essay entitled, " Polly and the Kettle;" and George W. Warren read an essay on the culture of roots for winter and spring feeding. Prof. Beal also talked a little on in- sects injurious to vegetation.
In the evening, before a full house, Prof. Beal talked for an hour or more on "Horticulture at the Agricultural College." Sherman Upton, of Big Rapids, then followed with "College Life," illustrated, embracing a series of cartoons and crayon sketches. This caused a great deal of merriment and formed a very appropriate elosing chapter of the institute.
Music, which was one of the leading features, was furnished by the Big Rapids and Green Glee Clubs. Just before final adjournment, resolutions were unan- imously adopted tendering thanks to the Agricul- tural College Professors and others from abroad for their assistance and instruction, to the Glee Clubs for their music, and to the people of Big Rapids for entertaining visitors.
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RAILROADS.
ISTORY of railroads is not void of interest, and espe- cially interesting is the his- tory of railroads passing through Mecosta County. The pioneer railroad of this county is the Grand VC Rapids & Indiana. Its history is very similar to that of many other railroads in the United States. While it is now a profitable, well- equipped and well-managed road, it passed through the usual stages of struggling and poverty and mis- management incident to most roads which are attempted to be built with- out money. The regular program for all such roads is first to get a land grant from the State, then to spend several years in canvassing cities and town- ships for local aid in the shape of cash or bonds; then to grade a portion of the route and build a few miles of railroad; then follows a period of inactivity, in which frequent announcements are made to the effect that so many millions have been raised in the East or in Europe, and work will immediately be re- sumed; then at last the road does slowly creep along, and the citizens who first aided the road have the satisfaction of knowing that their children may finally ride over the railroad. In the meantime
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