USA > Michigan > Newaygo County > Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo County, Michigan : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 58
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520
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
L. Gray as editor. In 1869 Edwin O. Shaw, the present editor, leased the entire outfit of the Repub- lican. At the expiration of his first year, he pur- chased it. In 1877 he associated with himself as partner his brother, W. A. Shaw. The paper is now a six-column quarto in size. It is one of the staunch- est Republican sheets of the country.
Twenty years ago the Republican was not the pros- perous, profitable paper that has of later years ren- dered such service to the Republican party. The following stirring appeal appeared Oct. 31, 1861, on Mr. Maze's return from a month's visit in Ohio; it was doubtless a serious matter then, but can be read lightly now :
During our absence of over one month the boys have been made exceedingly happy with the follow- ing receipts on subscription :
4 chickens $1 00
I turkey 50
4 small sun-fish I3
150 promises 0 00
Now, gentlemen, this is abominable. There is no excuse for such cussed tardiness, or willful negli- gence, in paying the small sums due us on sub- scription. There is not a man who takes this paper who is not perfectly able to pay for it in something. We suffered ourself, in times past, for the want of our pay, because our patrons were poor, and their crops poor. But for the last two years crops have been good, and yet we are oppressed for the want of that which every delinquent has in abundance. This fall we are cramped. And this fall, " by the eternals," we will have our pay. Those of you who have not paid for your paper may now begin to make your calculations accordingly. We will have either our pay or a judgment for what is in arrears, and our pay in advance for the coming year, if we do not have a circulation of over 50 names. We know that our delinquents can pay, and now we mean they shall do it.
We have been so lenient in times past that, instead of reciprocating the favor with prompt pay now when you are able, you seem to think it a matter of little consequence whether you pay at all. We have, as all acknowledge, published as good a country sheet as is found in the State; we have done as well by our subscribers as they could ask, had they paid us promptly. And to ask us to continue this paper without any pay is asking a little too much. We will take almost any kind of grain, at a fair price. But we do not want you to rush in your buckwheat, and rye, or any other article that you cannot sell or give away. We want some of these articles, true, but we want wheat, oats and corn, principally. When
you kill your beef or pork, bring us a piece amount- ing precisely to. our subscription. Don't be hogs. Men will gladly and promptly pay their shoe bills, grocery bills, blacksmith bills, fiddler's bills, stud- horse bills, and the like, with the best article of prod- uce they have got; but if they pay the printer at all, they want to pay in something that they can make no other disposition of. Now, these things have become intolerable; and by the Holy Ghost we will not endure it longer.
As to legal advertisements, some of those that are in arrears will perhaps be promptly paid; others will be paid at the end of an execution, and that shall be the end of that kind of trouble, as the publishing of those notices without our pay in advance is at an end.
Some may not fancy this article, but we do not care a " cuss " whether they do or not. We mean what we say, and say what we mean, and the sooner the cause of such articles is removed, the better it will be for all parties concerned. That's all.
Not long afterward an incident occurred (probably in consequence of the above heart-rending appeal) which was thus described by Mr. Maze :
We were not a little taken aback the other morn- ing when a neighbor of ours stepped into our office and informed us that he wanted to subscribe for our paper. We took down the name and address, and were waiting for the usual promise to bring the rye or buckwheat straw in a few days, when we discov- ered that he ran his hand into his side pocket. Pis- tols and bowie knives ran through our head in a moment. Finally he drew out a large wallet. Sum- monses and warrants then flashed upon us, when our agitation became even more intense. But imagine our consternation when he deliberately handed us the amount of the subscription in cold cash !
The Newaygo Tribune.
The Tribune was started in 1874, as an independent Republican paper, by Judson Palmiter, now of Hart. He conducted it until about October, 1877, when E. S. Palmiter took charge of the office, and W. D. Ful- ler became political editor. It then became dis- tinctively a Greenback paper. Oct. 1, 1879, W. D. Fuller and Timothy Edwards leased the material and ran the paper until Jan. 1, 1881, when Mr. Fuller assumed sole control, bought new material, and otherwise improved it. It is now conducted as a National Greenback paper, and is probably the most influential organ of the National party in Michigan. Mr. Fuller is Chairman of the State Central Com- mittee of his party. The Tribune is also a strong temperance paper, but not as a necessary consequence
S
521
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
of its being a Greenback organ. On his own respons- ibility, Mr. Fuller also advocates woman suffrage. The Tribune has been a six-column quarto since Oc- tober, 1879, before which date it was published as a five-column quarto. It has a growing circulation, now 1,000. Four of the eight pages are printed at home, including 16 to 17 columns of new matter each week.
FREMONT TIMES.
The Fremont Times was established in 1874, the first number appearing in the month of March, by Walter S. Platt. It was a seven-column folio origi- nally, but experienced several changes in size. Mr. Platt remained proprietor until 1877, when it was taken in charge by a company, and published in the interest of the Greenback party, for about three months. It then reverted to the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Platt, who changed the name to the
Fremont Indicator,
under which name it has been published till the present time. The first number of the Indicator ap- peared Feb. 27, 1878, as a five-column quarto, its present size, also. It is now in its sixth volume. It is published in the name of Laura A. Platt, with Walter S. Platt as editor.
THE HESPERIAN.
The Hesperian was founded at Hesperia by D. S. Weaver in 1875, was sold successively to Fuller & VanFleet, then to J. A. VanFleet, and finally to W. S. Stevens, who moved it to White Cloud in 1880.
THE HESPERIA INVESTIGATOR.
The Investigator was founded in 1876, by William
Fuller, and after a short existence in competition with the Hesperian, was moved to Alleyton and pub- lished in conjunction with the Alleyton Echo, the same matter being used for both papers, the Investi- gator being sent to Hesperia, and the Echo circu- lating at Alleyton. In the spring of 1880, the two papers were moved from Alleyton to White Cloud, and the Telegraph started, the three papers being published by Fuller & Son, the main body matter of the three papers being the same, and each paper sent to its respective town, which arrangement continued only a short time, when the three were merged into the Telegraph. This continued to be published until the office was burned, in the fall of 1882.
The Gleaner.
This was a religio-temperance sheet, started at Hesperia in 1876, by J. A. Van Fleet. It was soon after moved to Grand Rapids, and its name changed to The Lever. It was again moved, to Detroit, Grand Rapids proving too wicked ; and its benign influences are now appreciated by thousands of eager readers.
THE LEADER.
The year 1876 was prolific in newspapers for the bright village of Hesperia. The Leader was founded in that year, by a transient printer named Marvin, but was published for only a few weeks, and then ab- sorbed by the Hesperian.
The News.
· The Hesperia News bids fair to become a per- manent institution. It was started Sept. 29, 1882, by the present editor and proprietor, Clark N. Young. The News is a seven-colum folio, independent in politics, and has brighter prospects than any of its predecessors had.
522
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
EDUCATIONAL
HE settlers of Newaygo Coun- ................. .............. ty came from a country of free schools, and their attach- ment to such institutions re- mained with them, and soon became manifest in their works. They believed that such agencies were the most powerful in ad- vancing the condition of the people. The great Frenchman, Jules Simon, said : " That peo- ple which has the best schools is the best people ; if it is not so to-day, it will be so to-morrow." The advance of the schools has more than kept pace with the increase in wealth and population. In connection with the township sketches, certain con- densed information is given in regard to the schools for the year ending Sept. 3, 1883. The following are the latest educational statistics that have been pub- lished. They are taken from the annual report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and are for the year ending Sept. 5, 1882 :
PRIMARY SCHOOL FUND.
No. of children in school census. 4,712
included in apportionment. · 4,566
Amount apportioned $5,661 84
GENERAL SCHOOL STATISTICS.
No. of townships reporting 20
school districts . 93
No. of disricts maintaining school. 66 graded schools. .
4
66 children between 5 and 20 yrs. of age
66 attending school.
4,843 3,713
Average number of months schools were maintained . 6.9
No. of brick.school-houses . 2
frame school-houses.
73
log school-houses 19
·
pupils that can be seated.
5,267
Estimated value of school property $61,380
EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS.
Number of teachers employed, male .... 3I
66
female .. .
154
Total number of teachers counted twice. . 34
Wages of male teachers
$6,218 00
Wages of female teachers $14,355 83
Average wages of male teachers
$44 28
female teachers . .
$25 38
RESOURCES OF SCHOOL, DISTRICTS.
Moneys on hand Sept. 5, 1881 $10,288 80
One-mill tax. .. 1,578 99
Primary school interest fund . 5,214 76
Library moneys.
105 OI
District taxes for all purposes 24,014 31
Raised from all other sources 4,206 84
Total resources for the year. 45,479 71
EXPENDITURES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Paid teachers
.
$20,474 00
66 for building and repairs. 4,469 64
for library purposes. 18 00
on bonded indebtedness 3,10I 36
for all other purpose's .
5,828 56
92
523
Amount on hand . 11,588 15 Total expenditures for the year. . 33,891 56
STATISTICS OF TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES.
No. of townships reporting using library moneys for general purposes
I
No. of townships forfeiting their library mon- eys . .. 9
No. of townships maintaining libraries .
. .
IO
volumes added to libraries during the year .. 269
Whole number of volumes in libraries.
1,417
Amount paid for books and care of libraries $352 04 of taxes voted for libraries. .$126 64 of fines, etc., received from county treasurer for support of libraries .. . $140 52
STATISTICS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARIES.
Number of districts reporting libraries I3
Whole number of volumes reported . 552
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Number of private or select schools. 2
66 teachers employed by same. . 4
pupils attending same .28
GRADED SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Alleyton and White Cloud.
Number of children between 5 and 20 years of age. . I36
Estimated valuation of school property .. $2,600 00
Amount paid for superintendence and in- struction. . $400 00
Monthly wages of teacher.
$40 00
Total expenditures .
$565 52
Fremont Center.
Number of children between 5 and 20 years of age 341
Estimated valuation of school property .. $7,000 00
Amount paid for superintendence and in-
struction $1,386 00
Average monthly wages of male teachers $65 00
female teachers $30 66
Total expenditures
$2,188 07
indebtedness
$3,000 00
Hesperia.
Number of children between 5 and 20 years of age. . 184
Estimated valuation of school property. . . $4.000 00 Amount paid for superintendence and in- struction . $626 25 Average monthly wages of male teachers $64 03
female teachers
$26 70
Total expenditures
$1,853 68
indebtedness
$2,250 00
Newaygo.
Number of children between 5 and 20 years
of age. .
395
Estimated valuation of school property . . . $6,000 00 Amount paid for superintendence and in- struction . $1.836 00
Average monthly wages, principal.
$100 00
66
assistants
$27 86
Total expenditures
$2 614 17
Total cost per capita
$6 85
Total enrollment.
302
Average number belonging. 285
Average daily attendance I85
Number of male teachers Ī
Number of female teachers 3
Average number of pupils to each teacher 71
Enrollment in high-school department. . . Average number belonging. 65
68
Average daily attendance. 40
Total cost per capita. $14 93
Enrollment in grammar department. 65 60
Average number belonging.
Average daily attendance Total cost per capita. . 35 $5 98
Enrollment in primary department. 169
Average number belonging 160
Average daily attendance. 90
Total cost per capita.
$4 07
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
524
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
Li INTE
ATERIAL progress comprises the development of the agri- cultural, pastoral, forest and mineral resources of a coun- try, and the establishment of thoroughfares, as routes of naviga- tion, railroads, canals, factories, villages and cities. In respect to all these things Newaygo County has exhibited a fair share of enterprise. It is well that the soil of this county is rich and capable of a high state of cultivation. A great variety of crops can be raised here profitably,-fruits, grains and garden stuffs; and well may the agricultural community feel independent and hopeful.
NAVIGATION.
A small steamer was built as early as 1856 to ply on the Muskegon, from Newaygo down. Of the sea- going qualities of this boat, the less said the better. Several small boats were subsequently constructed, and for a few years there was actually steam naviga- tion of the Muskegon, with tolerable regularity. The citizen of to-day would be amazed were he to see in the Newaygo Republican of 1883 such an item as the following, which appeared Nov. 17, 1859:
About four o'clock last Thursday evening the steamer Porter landed on her dock, besides other
freight, his Excellency, Gov. Wisner, and the follow- ing accompanying dignitaries : Hon. L. Porter, Judge Almy, C. H. Taylor, A. B. Turner and Henry Martin, of Grand Rapids, Maj. C. Davis, of Muskegon, Isaac D. Merrill, of Bridgeton and Mr. Baird, of Brooklyn, N. Y."
The visit of these gentlemen was made for the purpose of inspecting certain improvements made at the "sand-flats," down the river from Newaygo. In 1856, John A. Brooks, then in the Legislature, had secured an appropriation from the State of $50,000 for the purpose of improving these flats. The money was well expended, for the work then done has lasted to the present time. The following is taken from the Republican of Nov. 17, 1859:
"On Friday morning last, at the suggestion of several of the party accompanying Gov. Wisner to this place, we embarked on board the steamer Porter, for the purpose of visiting, for the first time, the far-famed 'sand-flats,' where, under the super- vision of John A. Brooks and others, the great im- provements were being made, for which the appro- priation of $50,000 was made by the State, three years ago. Our village was soon lost amid the pines and hemlocks, as the Porter sped away down the fast flowing current of the majestic Muskegon. The monotony was changed, and the dullness arrested, by the relation of some of those side-splitting stories, by Mr. A. B. Watson, for which he is so noted.
" In the vicinity of three o'clock, P. M., we entered the channel of the late improvement. We never had a very favorable opinion of those 'flats,' from the description given of them by other parties ; but no one
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
525
can get a correct idea of them short of becoming an eye-witness. It is certainly one of the most forbid- ding realms on the face of God's earth. It looks like the fit home of the frog, the snake, the tortoise, and we should think, the alligator. Thousands of acres are covered with cat-tail flags, marsh shrubbery, and decayed timber. It is through the worst of this repulsive latitude that the improvements are made. " As to the work, we do not see how it could have been bettered. We have heard many predictions as to its permanency, from parties whose judgment we thought susceptible of credit. On the whole, as it was a matter in which the public was interested, we felt concerned, and regretted there being grounds for skepticism as to the durability of the job. But so far as our judgment may be credited in the premises, we regard it a complete thing. The channel, we believe, is 150 feet wide, piling being driven on each side, for nearly one mile, of round and flat piling, extending about three feet above the water, and handsomely capped with plank about sixteen inches in width. These piling are driven so closely to- gether as to be mostly water tight. The water in the channel is on an average four feet deep, and runs near two feet above the common level. Inside of that piling are two strings of boom about 50 feet apart, which tend to throw the current of water into the center of the channel, and to wash an em- bankment against the piling instead of undermining it, as was predicted. The channel is continually washing deeper, and we believe will ultimately form a solid embankment inside of the piling on both sides. We certainly can not see anything to hinder this improvement from being a permanent thing. For one to witness the huge stumps, with their tremen- dous roots and branches, that have been removed from this channel, would convince him of the immense labor necessary for their removal. No one, with less perseverance than John A. Brooks, would ever have undertaken such a job, in such an un- hallowed precinct as the Muskegon 'sand-flats.'"
NAVIGATION ORDINANCE.
After some discussion and agitation, the Board of Supervisors of Newaygo County, June 28, 1859, passed an ordinance regulating the navigation of the Muskegon River. As a document of importance and interest, it is here given in full :
The Muskegon River, flowing through the county
of Newaygo, being a navigable stream within the provisions and meaning of the ordinance of Congress of July 13, 1787, and of the Constitution and laws of the State of Michigan, its free navigation as a public and common highway is hereby admitted and declared, subject to the provisions, limitations and restrictions within the county of Newaygo and State of Michigan as established and declared in the following ordinance by the Board of Supervisors of the said county of Newaygo, in a manner not inconsistent with the privileges heretofore granted :
ART. I .- All logs, timber and rafts put into the Muskegon River for the purpose of floating down the same by any persons, company or corporation, shall be so floated down said river as speedily as possible, and without unnecessary delay or hindrance in the use of the waters of said river to others for like purposes.
ART. II .- No person, company or corporation shall be permitted to detain or boom logs or timber in said river in such manner, or to such extent as to pro- hibit its free use for the purposes of floating logs, timber or rafts, or of navigating the same with boats, vessels, scows and canoes except in these articles provided for.
ART. III .- All logs and timber intended to be floated down said Muskegon River, shall be put therein by the owners or agents thereof, as soon after the first day of March in each year as the stage of the water for floating the same, and the weather, will permit; and the owners or agents shall immediately drive such logs and timber down said river after being put afloat therein, provided there be a sufficient stage of water for that purpose. No person shall be permitted to put in or float any logs or timber in said river after the principal annual drive of logs and timber shall have been floated down the same, until after the first day of December there- after, unless such logs and timber shall be put into rafts of convenient and manageable size, under a penalty of not less than $10 nor more than $200 for each violation of the provisions of this article ;- pro- vided, the putting in or floating of such logs or timber shall occasion damage to any person, contrary to the provisions of this ordinance.
ART. IV .- A sufficient boom to detain and safely keep all logs and timber floating down said river, may be erected, kept and maintained across said river on section 19, township 12 north, range 12 west, by the present or any future occupiers of the same premises ; and also one other such boom by the owners or occupants thereof on section 7, township 12 north, range 11 west; and all loose logs or timber floating in said river from and after the first day of December in each year until the first day of March thereafter, may be detained, boomed and kept in said boom by the owners or occupants thereof; and any
526
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
person who shall willfully cut away, injure or destroy such boom without lawful authority, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $roo, nor more than $1,000 ; and in said boom may be kept and detained as aforesaid, all logs and timber floating Gown said river after the principal annual drive of logs and timber shall have passed down said river, until after the first day of December thereafter; and the owners of said boom may so detain and keep the said logs and timber at the proper expense of the owner or owners thereof. The owners or occupants of such booms as are provided for in this article, shall, as soon after the first day of March in each year as the stage of water in said river is suitable for that purpose, pro- ceed to discharge all logs and timber from said booms that may remain therein, and in due time, that all such logs and timber shall have passed from such booms, on the arrival at said booms of the prin- cipal annual drive of logs and timber on said river.
ART. V .- On the arrival of the principal annual drive of logs and timber at said booms, the owners or occupants thereof shall proceed without unneces- sary delay to select, assort and pass the same through said boom, and shall pass the same at the rate of at least 15,000 pieces in each twenty- four hours (Sundays excepted), unless the stage of water in said river is manifestly such as to render it impossible or improper to do so; and in such cases they shall proceed to pass such logs and timber as soon as the stage of water in said river is suitable for that purpose. And the owners or occupants of such booms shall not be liable in damages arising from the detention of logs in said booms agreeably to the provisions of this ordinance; and after the principal annual drive of logs and timber, such booms shall be so constructed as to admit of the free navigation of said river until after the first day of December next thereafter.
ART. VI .- All logs and timber floating in said river, after the principal annual drive shall have passed down the same below the booms provided for in Articles IV and V of this ordinance, unless in proper rafts as provided in article III, may be boomed and detained in said river until the first day of December next thereafter, at the expense of the owner thereof, so as not to interrupt its free navigation by any per- son lawfully navigating or interested in the naviga- tion of said river, upon application to the Sheriff of Newaygo County or his deputies, whose duty it shall be to carry the provisions of this article into imme- diate effect.
ART. VII .- After the passage down said river of the principal annual drive of logs and timber as herein before provided, lumber and timber in proper and suitable rafts, and properly manned for that purpose, as well as steamboats, scows, canoes and other craft suitable for navigating the water of said river, shall have the sole and exclusive right of the
navigation thereof until the first day of December next after the passage down said river of the princi- pal annual drive of logs and timber as aforesaid; and any interruption of such navigation, or occupa- tion of said river by any person inconsistent with the rights hereby granted, shall render such person so offending liable to a penalty of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, and shall also be liable for private damages to any person injured by such violation of this article; but nothing herein con- tained shall be held to repeal or in anywise contra- vene or affect any privileges heretofore granted upon said river, or the use of its waters for hydraulic pur- poses.
ART. VIII .- During the detention of logs and tim- ber in the boom as provided in the preceding Articles IV and V, the owners and all persons interested in running the same shall have the same privileges and powers as are granted in the preceding article in re- spect to rafts and boats as therein mentioned.
ART. IX .- All penalties imposed under the pro- visions of this ordinance shall be prosecuted in the name of the county of Newaygo, before any court of competent jurisdiction, by any person injured by such violation, or directly interested in the navigation of said river, as well as by the Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, or Treasurer of said county, and when col- lected, shall be paid into the treasury of said county. No penalty imposed by this ordinance shall be con- strued to include or take away the right of any per- son to any private damages he may sustain for any violation of this ordinance.
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