Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 70

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 70

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Wheatland Township.

HEATLAND Township is township four teen north, range seven west, Congressional survey, and is in the eastern tier of town- ships of Mecosta County. It is bounded on the north by Sheridan Township, on the east by Isabella County, on the south by Mill- brook Township, and on the west by Morton Town- ship. It is on the divide between the watershed tributary to Lake Michigan, and that tributary to Lake Huron, and its land is accordingly higher than that of surrounding counties. Pointer and other creeks tributary to the Little Muskegon drain the northwestern part, while the greater part of the township is drained by P'ine River and its branches (of which the most important is Pony Creek), which flow eastward into the Tittabawassee. Wheatland Township has a number of small lakes,-Lake No. 1, Pine Lake, Pickett's Lake, Gay Lake, Mud Lake,

Lake No. 6, and others, which form the head-waters of the Little Muskegon and Pine Rivers. The township is crossed by a railroad recently con- structed,-the Detroit, Lansing & Northern,-which runs through the southwestern part. Wheatland contains no villages, although Millbrook lies just on its borders.

The township of Wheatland was organized in Octo ber, 1862; and its first Supervisor was Jacob Schiedel. The first white settler was William Schiedel, who located on section 24, in September, 1860. Solon Hall located on section 36, the same year. The first birth was that of Ellen Hall daughter of Solon and Mary Hall, in the summer of 1861. The first death was that of John Norman September 28, 1864. Catharine Robitzsch died about the same time. The first marriage, that of Thomas Ariss and Catharine McCloud, was solem- nized by Solon Hall, a Justice of the Peace, in 1866. Others say that Isaac Harvey and Marisa Blood were the first couple married. The first frame build- ng was a dwelling erected by John D. Clement, in September, 1865. The first mill was a water-power saw-mill erected by Frederick D. Miller, in June, 1875. The first school-house was a log building erected on section 26, in December, 1864. The first school was taught by Lydia Allen, in the winter of 1864-5. Others say that Adaline Aldrich taught the first school in the winter of 1865.

The population of the township in 1864 was 120. This increased to 400 in 1870; to 632 in 1874; and to 1,170 in 1880. The township had 3,534 acres of improved land in 1878, and 4,320 acres in 1881. Its asssessed valuation in 1868 was $44,312; and its present valuation is $424,214. Its total vote in November, 1882, was 200.

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...

City of Big Rapids ....

....

........

HE origin of the above name ghas been explained under the heading "Early Settlement." It was a name appropriately given by the early settlers to the rapids in the Muskegon River at the point where the thriving county seat now stands ; and when the town was started it naturally took the name it has ever since been borne.

The earliest entries of any lands now included in the city plats are one fractional lot of 32.20 acres located by Robert P. Mitchell, May 3, 1853, and also one fractional lot of 55.70 acres located at the same date by John Parish. These pieces were south of Mitchell Creek, and between Michigan avenue and the Muskegon River, being portions of the First Ward of the city. A Mr. F'red Hall entered land soon after, but the interest of these men must have been purchased by Messrs. Warren & Ives some time afterward, as we hear no more of them in connection with the village.

March 1, 1855, Zera French and his brother George came through the wilderness via Croton from

Grand Rapids, and in one sense were the real found- ers of Big Rapids, as they came in search of perma- nent homes, and not in any sense as speculators. The entire region north of Big Prairie was then a wilderness. Not a blow had been struck, nor a cabin raised, where Big Rapids now stands, and only three or four claims made, with the exception of speculators in pine lands. We quote now George French's own words:

" We came up on the east bank of the Muskegon and somewhere near the upper dam found Duncan McLellan engaged in lumbering,-putting logs into the river. He had a rude camp in which we were hospitably entertained over night. The following morning we constructed & log raft, on which we crossed the river. The snow was several feet deep on the west side and yet the view through the forest was to us inviting and grand, and we at once deter- mined to locate here. We found a Mr. Parish and a Mr. Mitchell had already a Government certificate for small pieces of land near, and a man by the name of Hall had possession through his agent of about 160 acres ; but aside from this all was undisturbed. My brother Zera at once purchased three forty-acre pieces, the southern boundary of which was Hem- lock street, north of where the Central school build- now stands, and of course covered the mill site afterward utilized on Mitchell Creek."

George French made claim to about the same amount of land as his brother, a little farther to the

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north. They had conversed upon the subject of a future village being located here, and when some time afterward Warren Ives surveyed a portion of their land, and recorded a village plat, Zera French then laid out a portion of his own land north of Mitchell Creek, and lying on both sides of State street, into a village plat, gave it the name of Glen Elm, and it was recorded by that name May 9, 1860. A. N. Williams was the surveyor of this new village.

There appears to have been some little feeling at this time between Mr. Ives and Mr. French in regard to location of county buildings, and this may have been the cause of locating a new village on the French property ; but it must have been amicably settled soon after, as Mr. French was persuaded by Orrin Stevens and others to change the name to " French's Addition to Big Rapids," which was done and recorded June 4 of the same year. George French now decided to engage in other business, and sold his claim to Zera French, who, having a small family to provide for, at once commenced the build- ing of a log house. This was the first house of any kind built within the village limits. It was situated a little north of the Big Rapids Iron Works, and about midway between State street and the river. The ruins of its foundation may yet be seen. This house, with the south forty acres on which it stood, was sold to Ives & Warren, soon after the arrival of Chauncey P. Ives in this country. Another forty- acre piece west of this, covering the lot where the new school-house now stands, was included in this purchase, and the consideration was $600 cash for both.

This house was occupied by Mr. Ives while en- gaged in erecting a mill office and large boarding- house near by. The saw-mill was built first, all the actually necessary lumber for this purpose being hauled from Newaygo, and the other buildings fin- ished as soon after as the lumber could be cut by the new mill to construct them. Mrs. Orrin Stevens presided for a long time at their boarding-house, and the old settlers remember many bountiful repasts served by her.

A good story is told by one of the pioneers about these days when nearly all the necessaries of life had to be brought from Grand Rapids. Ile received from a certain grocer a keg of molasses (?) and in the bill accompanying it found he was charged for

ten gallons, while the keg, by actual measurement, could hold but eight gallons. He wrote back to the grocer that he "didn't mind the money overcharged so much as he did the strain on the keg!" It is needless to say that the error was in due time recti- fied.

Chauncey P. Ives removed here and purchased the interest of Fred Hall and others about the year 1856. As has been said, the French Brothers owned and were at this time in possession of about 240 acres of land, bounded on the south by Hemlock street. Upon this land where now stands much of the northern part of the city, they had made consid- erable improvement and had designed much more ; and it had also become known some time previous that they intended some of this ground for a village. For this reason, although Zera French did not pos- sess the means to push the enterprise, he deserves a large share of the honor of founding the city.

The following incident shows what trivial matters sometimes change the fortunes of individuals. James Montague, one of the earliest settlers of the county, entered fractional lot number five, covering the old red mill site, somewhere about the time the same lot was taken by Mr. French,-he claimed a little before,-and undoubtedly had in view the valuable water power for a mill site. Both parties appeared at the land office, each claiming the right to the cer- tificate of entry. In such cases it was the duty of that office to institute a court of inquiry, and after mature deliberation Mr. French was pronounced the rightful claimant. Mr. Montague always felt that injustice was done him.

The land upon which all the present business part of the city of Big Rapids is built, was owned in con- nection (but not in partnership) by Messrs. Ives, Warren and Leonard. Mr. Warren soon afterward purchased the entire interest of Dr. F. B. Leonard, and the records show that the original plat was sur- veyed and recorded by Warren and Ives, November 3, 1859, and comprised about roo acres of land. A Mr. John F. Tinkham, of Grand Rapids, was the surveyor employed to do the work, and it is just to add that Mr. Tinkham was thoroughly competent as a surveyor. Ilis lines are more accurate than those of the Government surveyors.

It is well known that any thing having little present or prospective value is carelessly handled and tossed about, while an article of real or supposed value will

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receive the most careful attention. It was thus with a great portion of the land in Northern Michigan. Its supposed worthlessness made it cheap in the eyes of all, and a little deviation in lines, or the loss of a few acres more or less, was of no consequence. Por- tions of the forty-acre tract known as Sanborn & Rust's Addition was wanted at an early day by a few settlers, but Mr. Rust could not be prevailed upon to sell it in part, although he was willing to sell it entire. Several of the well-known citizens therefore agreed to take a certain number of acres each, to include the entire forty, and the deeds were made out accord- ingly. The owners then determined to run streets through it, east and west, parallel with and joining one or two on the Warren & Ives plat; and when asked why not plat their property in lots and blocks, they replied that they only wanted it for pastures for their domestic animals! It seemed foolish to them to "lay out the whole country as a city." By a glance at the map it will be seen that each selected a por- tion according to the size of his purse, or inclinations, without regard to shape or dimensions, presenting an appearance of either the surveyor or his sextant hav- ing been slightly "twisted." Men who have always been known as possessing superior judgment in other matters, failed to see the want of careful groundwork at that early day.

As many additions have been made to Big Rapids, for the sake of convenience they are all mentioned here in chronological order :

The original village of Big Rapids was platted by Messrs. Warren & Ives, of Troy, N. Y., and duly recorded Nov. 3, 1859. It comprised about 100 acres of land, situated upon the western bank of Muske- gon River, on section 14, township fifteen north, of range ten west. On the 9th of May, 1860, Zera French platted an addition on the north comprising about forty acres, which was first called Glen Elm, and soon afterwards changed to French's Addition to the Village of Big Rapids. On the 20th of Novem- ber, 1865, Sanborn & Rust platted forty acres on the west, which was named Sanborn & Rust's Addition. On the 25th of September, 1866, Clark & Fuller platted thirty-six acres immediately south of Sanborn & Rust's Addition, which was named Rose's Addi- tion. On the 14th of the same month, Ceylon C. Ful- ler platted twenty-five acres immediately south of Clark & Fuller's Addition, which was named Fuller's

Addition. On the 22d of the same month, Thomas D. Stimson platted two acres, lying between the orig- inal plat and Clark & Fuller's Addition, which was Stimson's Addition. On the 22d of October of the same year, George W. Warren platted forty acres, lying west of Rose's Addition, which was named Warren's Addition. On the 5th of November in the same year, B. E Hutchinson platted thirty acres, ly- ing west of Sanborn & Rust's Addition, which was named Hutchinson's Addition.

The year 1859 was full of promises to the little colony of pioneers. The act organizing the county of Mecosta, and designating the village of Leonard (as Big Rapids was then called) as the county seat was approved by the State Legislature Feb. 11, 1859, and the election of the first county officers took place soon after. The organization of the county and the establishment of the county seat now directed atten- tion to those seeking new homes, and gave a new impetus to the growth of the village.

It is somewhat difficult, after the lapse of twenty- five years from the time Mr. Ives became a resident of Big Rapids, to understand the various motives which may have actuated him with regard to some portions of his work. His companions of that early period all unite in saying that he was active and en- terprising, untiring in his efforts to promote the public good, generous where the many could be served, a man of broad and comprehensive ideas, never vis- ionary, although somewhat prophetic, and whose far- seeing judgment saw the future city of Big Rapids positively standing, in the distance! It is related that when the first small hotel was built, by A. N. Williams, in the spring of 1858, and the question arose as to the number of lots required for such a purpose, Mr. Ives remarked, much to the amusement of his neighbors, that "within twenty years a two- story hotel covering half a block would be required to accommodate the necessities of the time." When the reader considers the elegant accommodations now afforded the public in the Northern Hotel, one of the finest hotels in the State, and in the numerous smaller hotels in Big Rapids, who shall say that such a man was not worthy to be a leader in the settle- ment of any new country ? He often spoke of the geographical position of the village in relation to other portions of our country yet to be settled ; and possibly in some far distant time, he saw in imagina- tion a more direct route from the Eastern Hemisphere

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across the continent to the Atlantic, -saw a great national roadway of iron from Puget Sound to Lake Superior, thence direct to the straits of Mackinaw and south through the village of his creation, bearing away eastward to New York and Boston. "Gentle- men," said he in one of his speeches, "I assure you that cargoes of the teas of China will pass unbroken through Big Rapids to New York!" He was a man of kindly disposition, ever extending a hand to the weak and deserving; and it is said of him that no man ever applied personally for work who was, if in need, turned away. He would even board the man, for the time, at his own expense, until he could make business for him. He has been known to employ three men to perform one piece of work in order to give them all employment at a remunerative price, when one man would have answered the purpose quite as well. He was a man of fair personal habits and personal neatness, but an inveterate smoker, his large, generous pipe, with its long reed stem thrust deep into his mouth, being quite a constant compan- ion. He could not have been selfish, and yet he had his own peculiar ideas, and was determined to follow them.

Others were now rapidly settling round about the new village, and additions to the original plat were now in order. It may be that these were viewed with a jealous eye, as calculated to interfere some- what with plans of his own. Be that as it may, Mr. Ives, whose lands extended only to State street on the west, at once determined to prevent additions to the village in that direction by platting lots on the west side of Michigan avenue, 150 feet deep to an alley, reserving the remainder, about 300 feet in width, to State street, and extending from his north line the entire length of his village plat south, in a complete state of nature. His next and favorite idea, for reasons of his own, was to force the growth of the village over the grounds he had platted to the south. To further this project Fe positively refused · to sell any portion of his lands north of Maple street, but was generous to those who would make improve- ments south or southeast. He felled the trees the entire length of Michigan avenue, and opened from the south end communication with the old trail from Newaygo. He also opened up lves and Warren avenues from Maple street, a long distance into the woods, hoping to attract attention in that direction.

And still later, when grounds for school purposes were required, he offered to donate the lots of his own selection, which were on the corner of Michigan avenue and Oak street, then in the woods, seven blocks south of his office.

He prevailed upon others to purchase lots and open mechanic shops near the school grounds, and many can remember a wagon and blacksmith shop, and a bakery and tailor shop, all in active business in that vicinity, as late as 1867. He also, as soon as a competent mechanic could be procured, com- menced the erection of a dwelling for himself, on the corner of Michigan avenue and Linden street, which was afterward sold to B. E. Hutchinson, and, al- though moved from the original foundation, is still an old and time-honored landmark of the city.

But, as " the best laid plans of mice an' men gang aft agley," the fond hopes of Mr. Ives were not to be realized in his life-time. Other influences were brought to bear against him which will hereafter be mentioned, changing the business center of the city permanently. The following, although occurring some years after, is appropriately related here, in connection with the location of the business center of the village :

Some time in 1861 or 1862, when Mr. Williams built the second hotel in the village, the site pro- posed and thought the best was on the corner of Elm street and Michigan avenue, where the " Furni- ture block " has since been located. In bargaining for the ground, the party then owning it insisted on having an old wagon thrown in, the value of which may have been $20. Mr. Williams would not accede to the demand, and immediately purchased ground on the site of the old Mason House, and within the next 24 hours was laying the foundation. Judge C. C. Fuller, whose interest was farther south, noticing the change in location, was thoroughly dis- gusted, and said to Williams, "Stop your work; go and complete the trade with Mr. Clark for that ground, and I'll pay for that darned old wagon my- self rather than have you build away out of town." But the work had already progressed too far, and that unfortunate vehicle had, we fear, changed the future center of the city for at least the space of half a century.

Mr. Ives, however, had exhibited much wisdom in his work and ideas as to the future of a large city.

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He gave all the principal streets a uniform width of So feet, crossing at right angles. The lots were all 50 x 150 feet, with 20-foot alleys in the rear. He left spacious public grounds in a central part, upon which the original grand old forest maples were left standing (but which selfish and vandal hands have since destroyed), donated generous lots to the differ- ent religious organizations who might occupy them, and planned everything for a model village and a brilliant future.

His original idea, but one which was strongly op- posed by his friends, was that all streets should be 100 feet wide ; and nothing in the entire history of the city is to be more deeply regretted than the objec- tion offered at that time to his excellent judgment in this particular.

Besides French's Addition, others were now from time to time recorded, and began to be peopled in spite of the proscribed barrier of 300 feet of forest on the west. State street was opened and became a public highway. It was found that travel could not be forced through from the south on Michigan ave- nue, and inexorable fate seemed to point in other directions for settlement. Other causes conspired to sever mutual interest between the original owners. Litigation, threatened and real, followed in later years, and gave a check to the prosperity of the vil- lage, from which it slowly recovered.

After Mr. Ives had completed his mill and office, a postoffice seemed a necessity. Application was made and one established, with Jesse C. Shaw for the first Postmaster, who was appointed under Presi- dent Buchanan. A weekly mail was then opened with the outside world, via Greenville, arriving on horseback every Thursday, and returning a portion of the way the same day. A peck of mail matter was a heavy mail for this region. The first daily mail was established in 1865, between Newaygo and Big Rapids. For a long time after the first settle- ment here, it was customary for the inhabitants to speak of themselves as if "walled in;" and if one left the town he was said to be "going outside; " and this custom continued until the almost hourly arrival of mails and trains broke down that imaginary wall between themselves and the rest of mankind. 'The railroads and telephone exchange, now fixed institutions, have placed Big Rapids "inside " for all time.

Orrin Stevens, the first Register of Deeds of Me-

costa County, came to Big Rapids from Big Prairie, in the month of March, 1859, and was assisted in transporting his goods over the primitive roads by a Mr. Hersey, who is said to have been the first white settler north of the Muskegon River, and who, as late as 18So, resided at Croton. He found the only unoccupied house to be the one first built by Mr. French, and in which he and his family gladly found shelter for a few weeks. This year, after the county officials were elected, it was deemed necessary to build a bridge across the river. County orders were issued, and the contract let to construct a good sub- stantial wooden bridge for the sum of $3,000, to Mr. Tinkham, who had been the village surveyor. This bridge was built on wooden piers, and thrown across the Muskegon at its junction with East Maple street. A rather substantial two-story school-house was also built about this time, on the lots before mentioned as having been donated by Warren & Ives.

This structure was an imposing one for that early day, and the School Commissioners were empowered to let the contract. Charles Shafer was one of the directors, and the superintendence of the work de- volved upon him. James Jones and a Mr. Kirk- patrick were the fortunate contractors, receiving for the labor alone the munificent sum of $150. The district furnished the material. As lime was not to to be had in this region at that date, the building was ceiled throughout instead of being plastered. Only about a dozen children were found to attend the first term of school, which was presided over by Mrs. Mary Fuller.

In the early spring of 1860, the first term of Circuit Court was held in the upper story of this school- house, Judge Littlejohn presiding; and the first case called on the calendar was William H. Leeds versus John Power. The nature of the case is not re- corded.

Charles Shafer came to the village in September, 1857, and moved his family here in February, 1858. He says : "I found a very small clearing in the woods. Chauncey P. Ives, Jesse C. Shaw, Samuel Bailey and brother, Zera and George French and a few others were here-probably fifteen or twenty persons in all." Mr. Ives had thrown a rude dam across Mitchell Creek, at the foot of the hill where it now crosses Michigan avenue, and had erected a saw-mill, known since as the "Old Red Mill." It was an old-fashioned, rough-boarded structure in

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which was one upright saw, and which on the fourth day of July. 1857, to the great delight of the vil- lagers, cut its first few feet of lumber. This mill continued to do work as late as 1868 or 1869, and in 1875 it was torn down and removed to the lower dam, where new machinery was added, and the mill rebuilt.

The trees had been cut out of Michigan avenue south, and a narrow roadway opened for travel. On the east side of the avenue for a long distance north and south a rude brush fence was constructed, so that the domestic animals might be safely corraled between this point and the river. The price of cor- ner lots at this time was $100 each, and inside lots $50. Mr. Shafer at once purchased two lots on the southwest corner of the block bounded in that direc- tion by Michigan avenue and Elm street; and in consideration of his being a mechanic the north lot adjoining this property was donated to him, and thus he secured 150 feet square for the trifling sunt of $150. The same land would probably to-day be considered cheap at Sro,ooo. His first work was to cut out a few trees where the foundation was to be laid, and remove 16 feet of the brush fence, and prepare to build a dwelling 16 x 24, on the north line of his property. The house was one and a half stories high, boarded up and down with rough lum- ber, and as no shingles could be had, rough boards formed the roof also. His first bricks for a chimney were hauled from Grand Rapids by team, and cost $65 per thousand.

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Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 70

Author: Chapman Brothers Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 684

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 684