USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 71
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Soon afterward Mr. Shafer built and opened on his corner lot the third general store in the village. Edson Fuller had the honor of displaying to the early settlers here the first stock of miscellaneous merchandise. His store was on the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Elm street, in a small but new structure. G. F. Stearns, now President of the Northern National Bank, opened the second store, with a capital of only $300, in September, 1860, on Michigan avenue, near the lot where Vandersluis' store now stands. Mr. Shafer. about this time, re- ceived the appointment of Postmaster, Mr. Shaw having resigned in his favor.
Mr. Shafer also relates : "Having expended what little money I had on hand, after my store was completed, it became a serious question with me how I should fill it in part with a stock of goods. A firm in Grand Rapids offered me all the ready-made
clothing I wanted on time ; but this alone would not answer, and 1 at once repaired to Detroit, an entire stranger there, and with only a small amount of money. H. P. Baldwin, since Governor of the State, was then engaged in the boot and shoe business in that city. I called at once at his office and requested to see him in person. In brief, I informed him that I was Charles Shafer, ex-Treasurer of Mecosta County, now Postmaster and Justice of the Peace ; that I had no cash, but wanted a stock of boots and shoes on time, and would remit the money in small sums as fast as possible. He seemed to be pleased with my frankness, asked a good many questions touching my responsibility, etc., then, rising, told me to select all the boots and shoes I wanted. I ship- ped home about $250 worth of his stock, gradually paid off the indebtedness, to his apparent satisfaction, and bought many more from the same firm."
Mr. Shafer kept his postoffice for a short time in his dwelling-house, until he commenced business as a merchant, then removed it into his store. There was at that time no postoffice north of this in the lower peninsula, and of course people came here oc- casionally from a long distance. It was customary for the settlers in the woods to come in on Thursday and await the coming of the mail ; and often every family within a radius of many miles was repre- sented and on the look-out for the mail-carrier, who usually came on a mule to the east bank of the river, tied his animal to a tree, and after feeding him from a bag of grain brought for the purpose, if no canoe appeared in sight, would either blow a horn or raise an Indian "yell " to attract attention. Some one then volunteered to bring him over ; and the mail be- ing distributed he was ferried back in the same manner.
The lumbermen's name-Big Rapids-stuck so thoroughly to the place, and was so widely known, that after the establishment of the postoffice here a large amount of mail matter came directed to that name. It soon became apparent that only the post- office department and the few inhabitants here knew anything about such a place as "Leonard," Michi- gan ; and a petition was signed and forwarded to the proper officer, requesting that the name of the office be changed to Big Rapids, which was at once com- plied with, and the village of "Leonard," with the exception of being laid down on a few old maps, now ceased to exist.
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About this time Mr. Shafer was asked by the De- partment to survey a mail route from this point through the wilderness to Elk Rapids via Grand Traverse, and to receive bids for carrying a weekly mail, as during the winter months the settlers at these remote points were practically ice-bound and isolated from the outside world. Among others, Nelson Ganong put in the lowest bid-$300; but the route being so expensive the Government aban- doned the project altogether.
Comparatively few amusements were indulged in at this early date, although unbounded hospitality was the rule instead of the exception; and, as in most new colonies, no "aristocratic cliques " or "select few " caused the least jealous feeling. Both capitalist and laborer, old and young, stranger and friend, all met at social gatherings on common ground, danced and sung, grieved and rejoiced together. In the language of one who came over twenty years ago, "We had plenty of plain food to eat, tobacco to smoke, and stories to tell ; and with our weekly sup- ply of outside newspapers, to give us the news of the world, we were supremely contented and happy." Incidents sometimes occurred to break the monotony, and furnish amusement for the villagers, one of which it may be well briefly to relate.
In the summer of 1865, a trifling altercation oc- curred between two residents, one being at the time a cripple. A knock-down was the result, but neither was seriously injured. George French was at that time Justice of the Peace, and to him the aggrieved party applied for redress. It being a rather hot and dull day for business, this was the signal for amuse- ment. All the legal fraternity of the place at once put in an appearance, and with all the gravity befit- ting the occasion proceeded with the trial. C. C. Fuller was retained for the defense, and as a matter of course some of those present volunteered to pros- ecute the case, and uphold the " peace and dignity " of the State of Michigan. But few witnesses were required to establish the fact that the offense had been " wantonly and with malice aforethought " com- mitted. Some new tactics had been urgently neces- sary on the part of the defense, in order to save their client, and the counsel proved equal to the occasion. It is generally believed that in that court there was not only a little collusion between the counsel on both sides, but that the prisoner at the bar was also included, and a kind of "gunpowder plot " cooked
up for the simple, unfortunate German complainant.
" May it please your Honor," said Mr. Fuller, ad- dressing the court: " we propose to show that the prisoner is non compos mentis ; and, beckoning to a civil engineer who happened to be present as a spec- tator, and who promptly came forward, he said : " We will swear this gentleman as an expert on in- sanity, and allow him to testify." The prisoner was also allowed to make a statement, and to the utter astonishment of that Justice he was questioned in regard to his diet, and admitted that it was, and always had been, principally mush and milk; and that stranger and expert being under oath testified that such a diet invariably produced serious mental disturbances, and what was known as emotional in sanity! This was indeed an unheard of and dan- gerous result from the use of hasty pudding !
"Your Honor," pleaded the counsel, " having un- questionably established the fact of insanity, of course our client is not responsible, and we ask that he be set at liberty." But the Justice concluded, in order to partially heal the wounded feelings of the German, to impose a light fine of fifty cents and costs, in all amounting to two dollars. The audience, whose sympathy for the poor, insane prisoner would not allow them to do otherwise, now made up a purse to pay the sost, and his Honor also remitted the fine, much to the disgust of the complainant, who always claimed " dot leetle feefty cents " as be- longing to him personally.
The first celebration of the Nation's birthday was held in the woods not far from where the Methodist church now stands, July 4, 1859, at which nearly 100 persons attended. It is said that Mr. Standish, from Newaygo, was the orator on the occasion. "The following year," says Mr. Shafer, "a pic-nic celebra- tion was held, and the table was set for one hundred and fifty persons, showing that an increase of the population was expected." B. L. Gray was the orator that year.
The first lawsuit in the village was a case of assault and battery, rather amusing in its character : the People versus McAllister, tried before Charles Shafer, Justice of the Peace. As there was no jail to go to, McAllister paid his fine, Sio, and went on his way rejoicing.
The first marriage in the village was a Mr. Hagart to Miss Goliday, solemnized before Jesse Shaw a
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Notary Public, as neither minister nor justice could be found at that time.
The first birth in the village of Big Rapids, after the name had been changed from Leonard, was that of Charlie Hutchinson, son of B. E. and Elma 1. Hutchinson, which occurred March 1, 1860. It is related that on this occasion Chauncey P. Ives offered to deed the child any lot in the village his parents might designate, provided he was allowed to incorporate in the name of the infant some part of the name of the village. This, however, was de- clined.
The first butcher shop in the village was opened by Henry Escott, who often drove his animals from a long distance; and it is related that porter-house steak was then twenty-five and thirty cents a pound.
The first regular freight line from Grand Rapids was established by Clark & Latimer, in 1860. This line, with all its running stock, was purchased the following year by B E. Hutchinson, who first settled in the village Feb. 10, 1860. Mr. Hutchinson at once supplied additional teams, commencing his new business with six well equipped wagons,-three at each end of the line. Two thousand pounds of freight was considered a usual load, and five to six days was consumed in making the journey between the two points by way of Newaygo. If the teams were on time, one left each end of the route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of each week. Through tariff was two dollars per hundred pounds. Mr. Hutchinson also started the first dray in the city, a two-wheeled vehicle, in April, 1870.
The honor of setting up and distributing the first type in Mecosta County, belongs to Charlie Gay, referred to in his sketch, in a small office on the east side of Michigan avenue, between Maple and Elin streets, in this city. Hle issued the first number of the "Mecosta County Pioneer," April 17, 1862, assisted in the editorial department by Ilon. C. C. Fuller. Mr. Gay seemed determined to adapt the price of his paper to the possibly limited purse of the new country, as for a long time it was only $1.00 per year. From that small, five-column folio, since combined with the "Big Rapids Magnet," has grown the present daily Pioneer, one of the best papers in Michigan. A further notice of this paper is given elsewhere.
During the winter of 1857-8 there was a great
scarcity of food in the northern part of Michigan, and the State authorities in some cases were obliged to afford relief to the settlers, Food was also scarce in the new village, but wherever it was found that the families were getting short of meat as well as money, there always remained one alternative here. Messrs. Williams, Kirkpatrick and James Jones constituted themselves a committee of three to procure a supply, and with guns, ammunition and torches they would embark in a " dug-out " for a night's deer-stalking up the river, usually returning next morning with an ample supply of venison, landing near Maple street as a distributing point. The meat was freely and gratuitously dispensed among all the settlers, and a few of the more favored ones would occasionally distribute some flour.
"Late in the fall of 1858," says Mr. Shafer, "1 found myself getting short of flour for my family. I mention this incident to show the kindly feeling and extreme hospitality of every one in our new settle- ment. Selfishness seemed unknown, and our com- mon wants seemed to create a common bond of sympathy between us. Nelson Ganong was going to Grand Rapids with his team and offered to bring me some flour if I could raise the money to purchase it. It was then five dollars a barrel in that city. I had only two dollars in cash, and prevailed upon him to defer his journey a day or two, until in some way the amount could be raised. We both walked over to Williams' Hotel and stated the case. Mr. Williams said it would not do for me to be short of flour, as winter was coming on, and contributed $1.50 (every cent he had) to the fund. His man-of-all-work about the premises also loaned twenty-five cents to the enterprise, and Mr. Ganong volunteered to make the amount four dollars. But where was the other dollar to come from? Mr. Williams was equal to the emergency. Said he, ' I am expecting some gen- tlemen from Chicago in a day or two, who are lum- bering up the river. They usually remain over night at my house, and from them I shall obtain a little money, and if Mr. Ganong can wait I will make up the desired sum.' The travelers in due time put in an appearance, cash was raised, and per conse- quence the barrel of flour."
In the first years of the Big Rapids settlement, as a matter of course provisions of almost every kind had to be brought here from a long distance and
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with only a narrow passage for any vehicle through the forest. If the weather was stormy and wet, the ** task of making such a journey was an unenviable and often expensive one. Goods of every kind were therefore high in price, if at all obtainable, and often money would not purchase what was required. It is related that as late as 1861, when a partial freight line by wagon had been established by Mr. B. E. Hutchinson, when the roads were bad, and many goods awaiting transportation at the opposite end of the line, it often was impossible to bring but a lim- ited amount of provisions ; and on the arrival of the cargo with perhaps only one barrel of flour, a dozen persons, some perhaps from a distance in the country, would all be found awaiting its arrival. There were no " favored " ones in those days, and says an old settler: "It often happened that in order to make the flour go round, each would receive only a milk- pan full." Possibly, in a known case of illness in a family, a larger quantity would be apportioned.
In the Pioneer of June 18, 1863, is a short article written by HI. Lucas, a minister of Big Rapids, from which, to show the exact degree of progress the village had made in four years from the time it w as platted, the following is extracted :
" Big Rapids contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, and is the county seat of Mecosta County. It is surrounded by a beautiful farming country, and a more intelligent set of inhabitants is not to'be found in any place, east, west north or south. There are no liquor establishments in this village, and of course all is quiet and industry. There are two dry-goods and grocery stores in the place, conducted by Stearns and Hutchinson, both enterprising young men and doing a good business. One paper is published here, which commends itself to the community, and merits an extensive circula- tion. A good district school is now in progress, and there is now every inducement for good settlers to identify themselves with this community. I have been in Michigan sixteen years, and have preached to a good many congregations, but never to a more respectable and attentive one than I have found in this village."
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first one organized in Big Rapids, and dates from 1865. Oc- casional services had been held for many years before that, but this was the beginning of religious services.
In those days the services were marked by an inter- est that is too often lacking in later times. Congre- gational singing was the rule, and was plain and grand. In those days the old hymns were not tor- tured in the following style so common now :
ยทยท Oli for a man Oh for a man Ol for a mansion in the skies."
" We'll catch the fee We'll catch the flee We'll catch the fleeting hours."
" He'll take the pil He'll take the pil He'll take the pilgrim home."
"With reverence let the saints appear. And bow-ow-ow before the Lord."
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This society erected a fine church, in due time, at a cost of $4,000. This was dedicated on Saturday, Nov. 16, 1867, with appropriate ceremonies. The sermon was preached by M. A. Daugherty, and he was assisted in the services by Rev. I. Cogshall, Rev. A. J. Eldred and Rev. J. H. Ross, of Grand Rapids. The quarterly conference of the M. E. Church was held in the afternoon in the church. In the evening a Sunday-school anniversary service was observed. On the following day, Sunday, a love- feast was held at nine o'clock, Mr. Cogshall preached at half past ten, Mr. Eldred at two o'clock, and Mr. Ross at seven o'clock. For some time after this, the Methodist and Presbyterian societies alternately wor- shiped in this church.
From the same paper we also quote as follows :
"F. H. Todd & Co. will soon commence building a dam across the river at this place, and expect to have a mill in operation the present season, or early in the spring. This will be of vast importance to our village, as the improvement of our water-power, together with the building of the G. R. & I. R. R., is all that is required to insure the prosperity of this country, and make Big Rapids a city of 10,000 in- habitants in ten years."
This water-power has been indeed a powerful aid to the development of Big Rapids, although the pre- diction in regard to increase of population was hardly realized. When it is considered that there is at pres- ent but one-tenth of the water-power at command utilized, it will be admitted that there is no limit to the possibilities of the future, and that the time is not far distant when the prediction as to the popula- tion will be more than realized. This dam above
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referred to was completed in the spring of 1867, and marks an important era in the history of Big Rapids.
The year 1866 was a most prosperous one for the village. The Pioneer of December 8, 1866, said : " Our village has been the scene of busy activity the past summer, in the erection of buildings and the hurry of other kinds of business, and the sound of the saw and hammer is still heard in all directions from morning until evening. Sixty-one buildings have already been erected and nearly all completed, since the opening of spring, and others are yet to be built this fall. The scarcity of lumber has prevented many from building, although three saw-mills have been running nearly the whole summer. This diffi- culty will be obviated another season, as two more mills, one steam and the other a water mill, will be put up and ready to run early in the spring." And again : "Our population has more than doubled during the past six months, now numbering 800 or more, and many of the mechanical trades are not yet represented."
The issue of December said: " The different kinds of business and professions now here are as follows : four general stores, one grocery store, one hardware and grocery store, one tin shop, one drug store, one meat market, three saw-mills, one grist-mill, one furniture shop, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one jeweler, two boot and shoe shops, two hotels, one livery-stable, one bakery, one gun shop, three lawyers and three physicians, besides some twenty or more carpenters and joiners, and two masons. "
In May following we are told that fifty more build- ings had been erected. In January, 1868, an article appeared in the Pioneer from which it is gathered that during 1867 the population of Big Rapids increased to 1,500, and that during that year nearly 200 new buildings were constructed. These included several dwellings, costing from $1,500 to $2,500, one three- story hotel, a large school-house and several stores. The hotel cost $10,000. We quote :
"The manufacturing and mercantile interests of the town have kept pace with its growth, and all have had a prosperous year. The four saw-mills here have been taxed to their utmost in supplying the local demand for lumber, and a part of the time were unable to make lumber as fast as they needed for building. Some 5,000,000 feet have been made
since July 1, 1867, but there is no surplus on hand, and spring will find us with a very short supply for the wants of the coming season. The Grand Rap- ids & Indiana railroad being completed from Grand Rapids to Cedar Springs, and now in operation, gives us a more speedy means of communication with the outside world, as we now have a daily stage and express running in connection with the cars, and can reach Grand Rapids in one day instead of two as formerly. "
During February, 1868, considered the dullest month of the season, Hutchinson's freight line from here to Cedar Springs carried 66,292 pounds ; the largest load was 5,299 pounds, and the average load was 3,900 pounds.
From what has been said on a previous page, it will be seen that before the coming of the railroad provisions were frequently scarce in Big Rapids. This is further illustrated by the experience, in the summer of 1868, of Dr. Woolley, at that time land- lord of the Mason House. He sent a man out in the morning with a two-horse light wagon, with in- structions to go in all directions in search of pota- toes; and at dark the man returned with only two bushels, for which he had paid three dollars, and consumed the entire day in order to get them at all ! But Dr. Woolley was never out of provisions. His gross receipts in cash after he took possession of the old Mason House in 1867 were about $1,000 a month, and often forty persons were obliged to sleep on the floor at night, so limited were the accommo- dations.
Dr. Woolley was the first physician in Big Rapids, and was crowded with work from the first day he came. As there was no other physician in all this region, his practice extended as far north as Clam River, and through the woods at every point of the compass for thirty or forty miles.
Those who voluntarily became the pioneers " bear- ing the burden and heat of the day, " are seldom the ones who amass wealth in new countries. They love the partially isolated life for the quiet surroundings; for the peculiar beauties nature presents in her most primitive form where " unadorned she is adorned the most ; " for the immunities from fashion's follies, from the turmoil of crowded streets, and from the rush and bustle of business, mental and physical, incident to older places, which often make life a continual care and shorten its term. They are willing to exchange
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the wealth of money and power for the wealth of health, peace, contentment and consequent happi- ness, and are usually an industrious, hospitable and kindly disposed people, enduring with perfect cheer- fulness any little privations they may suffer. Thus it was with all the early settlers of Big Rapids.
Some trouble was experienced occasionally by the diverse feelings of the principal owners of Big Rap- ids. When Mr. Warren purchased the interest of Dr. Leonard in the village plat, he became the owner of an undivided two-thirds interest in the whole. It is much to be regretted that these two men did not form a partnership; for as Mr. Warren was always a resident of Troy, N. Y., and Mr. Ives a resident here, no legal business could be transacted by either party except through an agent of the other, in regard to any part of their joint property. The wheels of progress could be instantly blocked if either party refused upon the least pretext to convey his interest in the title. Mr. Ives, always anxious to see improvements going forward, could frequently act in cases which admitted of no delay, as he would had a partnership really existed, trusting to the sub- sequent approval of Mr. Warren in the matter. But, as often happened, Mr. Warren did not approve, and his signature could not be obtained. Thus ill feeling was engendered, and litigation sometimes followed.
Jacob O. Rose purchased of Zera French his en- tire interest in all lands in the northwest part of the village, including the Glen Elm Addition, Feb. 2, 1864, and, as the records show, for the sum of $975. Another important change in ownership of Big Rap- ids real estate occurred three years later, when Gen. Stephen Bronson, of Illinois, purchased the interest in the village so long held by Chauncey P. Ives. Gen. Bronson had already established himself here, and in connection with other parties had opened the Exchange Bank of Bronson, Stickney & Co., which was soon after incorporated, under the general bank- ing law of the State. This was the first banking in- stitution in Big Rapids, and supplied a much desired want in this northern region. The transfer of the property from Ives to Bronson is recorded Oct. 16, 1867.
Big Rapids was growing so surely to prosperous dimensions that in the winter of 1868-9 the talk of adopting a city government took definte shape. A
meeting was held according to announcement Feb. II, 1869, to consider the question of incorporation. It was well attended. Charles Shafer was elected President, and S. F. Dwight, Secretary. A resolution in favor of applying for a city charter was discussed at length, and adopted without a dissenting voice. Charles Shafer, Stephen Bronson, E. O. Rose, N. H. Vincent and G. W. Crawford were appointed a com- mittee to draft a charter. The matter was pushed promptly, and early in April of the same year the bill became a law which incorporated Big Rapids as a city. The corporation was made to include sections eleven and fourteen, and the east half of sections ten and fifteen. It was directed that the city have three representatives on the Board of Supervisors, one be- ing elected, and the Mayor and Recorder being en- titled to seats on the Board. The bill also provided for the organization of the township of Big Rapids, and directed a township election to be held at the house of John Halpine, on the third Monday in April. The charter election of the city was fixed for the same date.
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