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 62
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In 1852, three couples were married : March 18, Cornelius Slaght, jr., and Nancy Ann Lace, by Rev. David Culp; April 13, Fenton Taylor and Julia Swain, by William Barton, Justice of the Peace; and Sept. 30, Leonard Hetter and Rebecca Gauweiler, by Jacob Barnhard, Justice of the Peace.
In 1853, eleven marriages were solemnized within the limits of Newaygo County.
Fires in the Forest, 1871.
IRE is a good servant, but a hard master," and under favoring circumstances will sweep away in a single night or day the work of years and the savings of a life-time. Fires in the forests of Michigan are dreaded as much as the prairie fires of Illinois and Iowa once were. They come generally in the season of autumn, when dead leaves are on the ground, and are most destructive after a dry season. Newaygo County has suffered slightly from these fires, but on the whole has been very fortunate. There have been no sweeping losses. The days of forest fires have gone by, at least for this part of the State, and as the remaining timber is gradually cleared away, the danger to be guarded against becomes less and less.
October, 187 1, was a month long to be remembered as the one which witnessed so much destruction in Chicago, and through many portions of the State of Michigan. In Newaygo County there were many narrow escapes, but comparatively little damage was done-much less than was experienced by neighbor- ing counties. During the first week in October the whole country was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, which was almost suffocating. On Monday, Oct. 9, the smoke was so dense that the sun could scarcely
be seen, and it penetrated dwellings and places of business so that it was almost impossible to transact business of any kind; the wind blew a gale all day, and the dust in addition to the smoke was anything but pleasant. Rumors of fire and destruction of property in different directions were rife and the con- sequent excitement was so intense that almost allet work was at a standstill. In Newaygo village all were expectant of a coming conflagration. Towards evening it was ascertained that Wyatt's lumbering shanties, and 150 cords of shingle bolts belonging to I. D. Merrill were totally destroyed. But it was only when night came on that the true state of affairs could be seen from the village. In every direction the flames could be distinctly seen, and it was evi- ' dent to all that the destroying element was rapidly approaching the village, and unless its progress could be stayed a fearful destruction of property and perhaps loss of life must ensue.
At midnight the bells were rung, and the citizens turned out almost en masse, and commenced battling the fire, but without perceptible effect ; and it ap- proached so near to the dwelling of David Jarse that his household goods were removed. About two o'clock Tuesday morning rain commenced falling, and by daylight the fire was nearly subdued.
At one time the fire was within 30 rods of Kritzer's grist-mill, and the wind blowing it directly on with irresistible force; but a sudden shift of the wind lessened the danger in that quarter materially. It is beyond controversy that if the mill had caught fire the whole town would have been destroyed. Never was rain more earnestly prayed for, or more thank- fully received.
At Fremont Center a hard fight was made. All around the village fences were torn down and the ground plowed up. Several buildings were destroyed in the vicinity, among them three residences. Fifty men were fighting fire at Darling's mill all Sunday night, and with difficulty saved that valuable prop- erty. A great many families removed their goods from their dwellings, having given up all hope of sav- ing them. At Denver the fire did much damage, and in many other sections of the county there were close escapes from severe visitations of the consum- ing element.
Fires have also done some damage during several other autumn seasons.
545
Population.
HE population of Newaygo shows a steady and gratifying increase since its first settle- ment. The greatest gains were between 1854 and 1860, 1864 and 1870, and 1874 and 1880; that is, in the latter half of each of the three last decades. The total number of in- habitants at each census is as follows :
1850
510
1854
979
1860
2,760
1864
· 3,481
1870
7,294
1874.
8,480
1880.
. 14,770
This would indicate a population in 1884 of about 17,000. The population at the last two censuses is here given by townships :
TOWNSHIP.
1874.
1880
Ashland
923
1,436
Barton.
395
638
Beaver.
199
197
Big Prairie
400
572
Bridgeton
365
388
Brooks
1,148
1,497
Croton.
799
807
Dayton
975
1,588
Denver
755
1,112
Ensley
878
1,388
Everett
465
784
Grant
I10
422
Monroe
165
362
Norwich.
170
637
Sheridan
603
1,181
Sherman
430
644
Troy .
185
Wilcox
850
The population of the several villages in the county were in 1880: Ashland City, 190; Clay's Camp, 40; Newaygo, 1,097 ; Croton, 118; Fremont, 902; Alley- ton, 464; Grant, 90; White Cloud, 440.
Taxation in Newaygo County.
Year.
State Tax.
County Tax.
Total Tax.
1852.
$
$ 850 00
$ 850 00
1853.
12 78
1,215 09
1,227 87
1854.
1,500 49
1,500 49
1855
51 16
2,492 72
2,543 88
1856.
376 72
2,535 79
2,912 51
1857
355 95
5,096 88
5,452 83
1858.
355 95
8,881 05
9,237 00
1859
848 0I
4,000 00
4,848 01
1860.
647 17
4,000 00
4,647 17
1861
2,091 88
2,500 00
4,591 88
1862
2,177 54
5,000 00
7,177 54
1863
1,982 97
6,000 00
7,982 97
1864
2,118 17
10,000 00
12, 118 17
1865 1866
2,875 44
6,999 24
9,874 68
1867.
4,519 82
10,000 00
14,519 82
1868.
3,662 85
11,000 00
14,662 85
1869.
11,000 00
13,387 68
1870.
2,028 56
11,399 98
13,428 54
1871
2,523 41
5,999 19
8,522 60
1872.
2,766 63
2,000 00
4,766 63
1873.
3,274 18
7,170 00
10,444 18
1874.
3,011 45
12,000 00
15,01I 45
1875.
I,737 44
9,000 00
10,737 44
1876.
2,517 34
11,000 00
13,517 34
1877.
3,740 00
10,001 00
13,740 00
1878.
2,966 03
11,000 00
13,966 03
1879.
4,026 69
16,000 00
20,026 69
1880
2,810 52
18,000 00
20,810 52
1881.
5,643 13
21,100 00
26,743 13
1882
4,947 84
31,349 44
36,202 28
1883.
8,695 56
20,000 00
28,695 56
For the year 1883, the valuation and taxation of Newaygo County are in detail as follows :
Assessed valuation, real estate.
$4,166,541 00
Equalized
2,970,000 00
Assessed
personal
583,462 00
Total equalized valuation
3,553,462 00
State tax
8,695 56
County tax .
20,000 00
Township taxes .
22,770 36
School taxes
42,084 73
Total taxes in the county .
93,550 66
Postoffices.
There are at present 26 post-offices in Newaygo County, as follows :
Atna, Diamond Lake, Grove
Alley ton,
Ensley, Palmersville,
Ashland, Fremont, Sitka,
Ashland Center, Hungerford, Volney,
Big Prairie,
Lake,
West Troy,
Bridgeton,
Lumberton,
White Cloud,
Brooks,
McLane,
Woodville,
Croton,
Newaygo,
Wooster Hill.
Denver,
Dingman,
..
7
2,986 36
7,000 00
9,986 36
2,387 68
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
546
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
Townships.
T the present time the histor- ical sketches of the various townships and vlllages of Ne- waygo County, and especially the former, afford but little of variety of incident or history to record. Much of the more in- teresting historical matter occur- ring in the county, and therefore in some townships, has been men- tioned in the general history. We give the following brief sketches of townships in alphabetical order, be- ginning with Ashland Township and ending with Wilcox, with the history i of the various villages included in the sketches of the townships in which they are :
Ashland Township
is one of the oldest and wealthiest in Newaygo County. It is township 11 north, 13 west, Congres- sional survey, and lies in the southern tier of town- ships in the county. It is bounded on the north by Garfield, on the east by Grant, on the south by Mus- kegon County, and on the west by Bridgeton. The Muskegon River flows through sections 4, 5, 6 and 7, in the northwestern corner. The Newaygo division of the C. & W. M. R. R. runs almost due south
through the eastern tier of sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36. Sand Lake is on the south half of section 19, Mud Lake in the southwest quarter of section 29, and the greater part of Blanche Lake is on section 13, in the eastern part of the township.
Ashland was the fifth township organized in Ne- waygo County, and was the first one erected after the county machinery was fairly started. It was organ- ized by the Board of Supervisors Oct. 9, 1854, and the first " town meeting" was held at the house of Sullivan Armstrong, the first Monday in April, 1855. Sullivan Armstrong was chosen the first Supervisor. At the last election, April 2, 1883, the following township officers were chosen: Orvin Headley, Supervisor; Nathaniel H. Brown, Clerk; Robert C. Wallace, Treasurer; Hiram L. Brace, Highway Com- missioner; Henry Avery, School Inspector; Samuel W. Peterson and William N. Hutchinson, Justices of the Peace; Sylvester Peats, Henry J. Brown, John Raymer and Wm. H. Soyer, Constables.
The population of Ashland Township in 1880 was 1,436.
There are now six school districts in the township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of five and twenty was 514; the number that attended school during the year, 392 ; number of non-resident pupils, 8; num- ber of days of school taught, 1,059; number of vol- umes in district libraries, 186; number of brick school-houses, I ; number of frame school-houses, 6; number of pupils that can be seated, 496 ; value of
547
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
school property, $6,580; number of male teachers employed, 5 ; number of female teachers employed, 9 ; amount paid to male teachers, $950; amount paid to female teachers, $840.
The equalized valuation of the property of Ash- land Township in 1855 amounted to $39,740.50, and the taxes collected to $198.70, while for 1883 the value of property was $181,615, and the taxes $2,176.70.
The following is a complete list of the Super- visors of the township:
SUPERVISORS.
Sullivan Armstrong,
1855-7
George Fuller, 1858
Sullivan Armstrong,
1859-60
Alfred F. Armstrong, 1861-2
George Fuller,
1863
Alfred F. Armstrong,
1864
John L. McLain,
1864
Milo White,
1 865-9
Sullivan Armstrong,
1870-2
Alfred F. Armstrong,
1873
Sullivan Armstrong, 1874
S. W. Peterson,
1874
Andrew T. Squier, 1875-8
George Fuller,
1879
Orvin T. Headley,
1880
Sullivan Armstrong,
1881
W. Seaman,
1882
Orvin T. Headley,
1883
Barton Township.
ARTON is township 16 north, II west, and occupies the northeastern corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Lake County, on the east by Mecosta County, on the south by Norwich Township, and on the west by Monroe Township. It has no railroad, no village, and no water-course of any size. Several creeks rise in the eastern part, and flow into the Muskegon through Mecosta County. Barton is a new township, comparatively, and is yet rich in pine lands. Its land is excellent for agricultural purposes, and will some time make it one of the wealthiest townships in the county.
Barton (named in honor of Hon. James Barton) was organized by the Board of Supervisors, March 9, 1860, and the first election was held the first Monday in April following, at the house of Sidney Seacord. William Davenport, Francis S. Hooker and Sidney Seacord were Inspectors of this election, and Sidney Seacord was chosen as the first Supervisor of the new township. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following officers were chosen: James Duffy, Supervisor ; John H. Randall, Clerk; Andrew J. Forsyth, Treasurer; Frederick Hover, Highway Commissioner; John Tower, Drain Commissioner ; Wm. H. Wiggins, School Inspector ; John W. Martin and S. Bird Schermerhorn, Justices of the Peace; George Torry, Amos Whipple, Wm. Aldrich and Orvil L. Smith, Constables.
The population of Barton Township in 1880 was 638.
There are now five school districts in Barton. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of 5 and 20 was 193; number that attended school, 157 ; number of non-resident pupils, 7; number of days school taught, 740; number of school buildings (all frame), 5; number of pupils that can be seated, 258; value of school property, $2,650; number of male teachers employed, 2; number of female teachers employed, 6; amount paid to male teachers, $225 ; amount paid to female teachers $890.
As showing the increase of the wealth of the township we give the following figures : In 1860 the value of the property of the township was about $18,000, and the taxes collected $116.47 ; while for 1883 the valuation was $139,942, and the taxes col- lected $1,478.53.
SUPERVISORS.
Sidney Seacord, 1860
James M. Hyatt, 1861-2
Tracy Woodward, 1863
W. N. Bevier, 1864
Carlos Marsh, 1865
Lemon D. Reynolds, 1 866
William Davenport,
1867-8
Frank H. Hooker,
1869-71
Luther Dodge, 1872
Eugene Decker, Į 873-8
George W. Heath, 1 879
Eugene Decker, 1880
James Dufty, 18SI
548
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
Beaver Township.
B
EAVER Township comprises township 15 north, 14 west, and the west half of town- ship 15 north, 13 west. It is bounded on the north by Troy Township, on the east by Monroe Township, on the south by Denver Township, and on the west by Oceana County. Pere Marquette Riverrises in this township, principally in Crooked Lake, and is joined a little north of the center by Beaver River. On sections 6 and 7, of township 13 west, is Island Lake, a beau- tiful body of water about 40 acres in extent. It is nearly oval in shape, and almost in its center is an island, nearly to acres in area. In the eastern por- tion is the greater part of Crooked Lake, a curiously shaped lake composed of four small bodies of water connected with each other by narrow, irregular channels. On the south line of the township is Stony Lake and two or three ponds. . Beaver is hardly settled, and is mostly in a primitive and undevel- oped state. It has an abundance of valuable pine.
Beaver was organized by the Board of Supervisors Jan. 5, 1869. It then comprised its present territory, and also what is now Troy Township (organized sep- arately in 1880). The first election was held the first Monday in April, 1869, Cyrus O. Cornish, Brad- ford Freeman and Addison Freeman acting as Inspectors. Alonzo Yates was chosen the first Super- visor. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following were elected: Benjamin Candee, Super- visor: Alburtus Andrus, Clerk; Edwin Gleason, Treasurer; Lyman S. Sweet, Highway Commissioner; Jesse P. De Long, Drain Commissioner ; Alburtus Andrus and Andrew Mudge, School Inspectors ; Hugh H. Mckenzie, Justice of the Peace; Wallace W. Sutton, Burr Bettys, James North and Edwin Gleason, Constables.
The first settlers of Beaver Township were Bar- zillai and Wyman W. Giddings and Ira Knapp. The first named settled on section 20. The village of Volney, recently laid out, is the only attempt yet made towards a village. It has a postoffice, pre- sided over by F. C. Selby.
The population of Beaver Township in 1880 was 197.
There are now three school districts in Beaver Township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of 5 and 20 was 100; number who attended school, 92; number of non-resident pupils, 2; number of days of school- taught, 380; number of school-houses (all frame), 3 ; number of pupils that can be seated, 184; value of school property, $2,900; number of male teachers employed, 1 ; number of female teachers employed, 5 ; amount paid male teachers, $160; amount paid female teachers, $374.
The value of taxable property in the township in 1869 was $87,400, and the amount of taxes $1,020, while for 1883 the valuation was $160,455, and taxes collected, $2,709.92.
SUPERVISORS.
Alonzo Yates, 1869-71
Alburtus Andrus, 1872-6
Benjamin Candee, 1877
Big Prairie Township.
FIG Prairie Township is one of the two townships organized at the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Newaygo County, March 20, 1852, and was made to include townships 13, 14, 15 and 16 north, ranges II and 12 west. It has been cut down to form new townships, until it now contains only township 13 north, II west. It was one of the first in the county to be settled, on account of the prairie from which it derives its name. The Mus- kegon River winds in a tortuous course through the township, crossing sections 1, 11, 13, 24, 23, 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 32.
The first settler of the township was John McBride, who located some year previous to 1849, when he sold his claim to Ephraim H. Utley. Other early settlers, who came not far from 1850, were Alexan- der Dalziel, Solomon Godfrey, James Barton, Wil- liam Barton, Benj. F. Olney, Walter Bonney, Emer- son Bonney, Aaron Swain, James M. Gibbs, Egbert Goodrich, "Capt." Smith, William Millard, Samuel Conkwright and Theodore Taylor.
The first election was held on the first Monday in
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
549
April, 1852, and John Betts was chosen the first Su- pervisor. This office has been filled continuously for the last 31 years by Hon. James Barton. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following officers were elected : James Barton, Supervisor; William S. Utley, Clerk; J. Elmer French, Treasurer; Wm. Dunham, Highway Commissioner; Nelson P. Cook, Drain Commissioner; John E. Webster, School In- spector ; Lewis Mayer, Justice of the Peace ; Morris E. Slade, Hiram B. Height, Charles E. Lafferty and Joseph Franklin, Constables.
The population of Big Prairie in 1880 was 572.
There are now five school districts in Big Prairie Township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of 5 and 20 was 177 ; number who attended school, 123; num- ber of non-resident pupils, 8; number of days of school taught, 485 ; number of frame school build- ings, 2; number of log school buildings, 3; number of pupils that can be seated, 172; value of school property, $1,035 ; number of male teachers employed, I; number of female teachers employed, 6; wages paid male teachers, $66.65 ; wages paid female teach- ers, $617.
The value of property in Big Prairie Township in 1852 was $16,232.37, and the taxes collected was $130.63, and the records give the equalized valuation of the property in 1883 as only $59,600. As far back as 1871, when the township comprised more territory the valuation was $120,000. The amount of taxes raised for 1883 was $1,898.57.
The township has had only two Supervisors. In 1852 John Betts was elected, since which time Hon. James Barton has served without interruption.
Bridgeton Township.
N Bridgeton Township we have one of the oldest townships in the county. It was or- ganized at the same time with Big Prairie, at the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors, March 20, 1852; and then comprised townships .II to 16, 14 west, and the w. half of Tps. I I to 16, 13 west. It has been at different times reduced in
size, to allow of the erection of other townships, and now contains only township 1 I north, 14 west. It is bounded on the north by Sheridan Township, on the east by Ashland Township, and on the south and west by Muskegon County. In the eastern part of the township is the old post-office of Bridgeton. Muskegon River flows diagonally through the town- ship, crossing sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 20, 29, 30 and 31. On section 30, the river divides into two channels, forming a large island known as Maple Island.
The first election was held the first Monday in April, 1852. Isaac D. Merrill was chosen Supervisor. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following officers were chosen : Frank W. Squier, Supervisor ; George W. Fuller, Clerk; Martin V. Bertram, Treas- urer ; Edgar O. Whitman, Highway Commissioner ; John Heinol, Drain Commissioner; James W. Trum- bull and Augustus Flint, School Inspectors ; Ransom J. Squier and Henry Zerlaut, Justices of the Peace; Harley Rarrick, Napoleon Jennings, Mark Harding and John Weiler, Constables.
The population of Bridgeton in 1880 was 388.
The valuation of property in this township has in- creased from $54,247 in 1853 to $78,435 in 1883, and the taxation from $178.21 in 1852 to $1,720 in 1883, with the usual variations at different times.
SUPERVISORS.
Isaac D. Merrill 1852-4
Alfred A. Maguire 1855
Alfred A. Maxim 1856
Isaac D. Merrill 1857-8
Andrew T. Squier
1859
Laban Putman 1 860
Andrew T. Squier
186 I
Isaac D. Merrill
1862
Zera Misner
1863-4
Amos Slater
1865-6
Andrew T. Squier 1 867
Amos Slater 1868-7 2
Alfred A. Maxim
1873
George H. Brown 1874
H. M. Woodward 1875
W. S. Merrill
1876
H. D. Woodward 1877-80
F. W. Squier
1881
55°
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
Brooks Township.
A
CCORDING to the Congressional survey, Brooks Township is 12 west, 12 north, and is bounded on the north by Everett, on the east by Croton, on the south by Grant, on the west by Garfield. It at first con- tained the entire western half of the county, and was one of the two first townships organized before the county itself. For many years it contained the west half of township 12 north, 12 west, and the east half of 12 north, 13 west. In 1880, the latter tract was used in making the new township of Garfield, and half a township was taken from Croton, by way of compensation. By this arrangement, the village of Newaygo is thrown on the line between Garfield and Brooks. The Muskegon winds through the township from east to west, crossing sections 24, 13, 14, 15, 23, 26, 27, 22, 21, 20 and 19. The Newaygo division of the Chicago & West Michigan railroad runs through the northwestern quarter of the township, crossing sections 5, 4, 9, 17 and 18. In the southwestern corner lie Big Brooks (or Hess) Lake and Little Brooks Lake. The former is about two miles long, and one of the largest bodies of water in the county. In the northwestern corner is Great Marl Lake, and portions of Little Marl and Pickerel Lakes.
Brooks was one of the two townships organized in 1851, before the county was organized. Isaac D. Merrill was the first Supervisor. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following officers were elected : Sanford Brown, Supervisor; Frank Towns, Clerk; James Herron, Treasurer; Otis Freeman, Highway Commissioner; Henry Hyde, Drain Commissioner; Samuel D. Bonner, School Inspector; Sanford Brown and John A. Brooks, Justices of the Peace ; Aaron Courtwright, George King, John T. Thompson and Anselm Miller, Constable.
The population of the townshlp of Brooks in 1880 (then containing all of Newaygo village) was 1,497.
There are now four school districts in Brooks Township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of 5 and 15 was 502; the number of children that attended school, 295 ; number of non-resident pupils, 8; num- ber of days of school taught, 498; number of frame
school-houses, 3; number of log school-houses, I ; number of pupils that can be seated, 384; value of school property, $5,500; number of male teachers employed, 3; number of female teachers employed, 5 ; wages paid male teachers, $1,372 ; wages paid to females, $956.
The valuation of property in this township has in- creased from $44,613.33 in 1853 to $127,775 in 1883, and the taxation from $189.79 in 1852 to $2,242 in 1883.
SUPERVISORS.
Isaac D. Merrill 1851
Ephraim H. Utley 1852
John A. Brooks 1853
Sullivan Armstrong
1854
Ashley B. Furman
1855
Alfred A. Maguire
1856
Hiram Baker
1857
Theodore Wilson
1858
Justus C. Hubbard
1859
Amasa B. Watson
1860-1
Warren P. Adams
I862
Dexter P. Glazier
1863
William T. Howell
1866
E. S. Gray
William D. Fuller
1867
Augustus Paddock
1868
Wm. D. Fuller
1869
Wilkes D. Stewart
1870
William D. Fuller
1871
Sanford Brown
1872
John A. Brooks
1873
Timothy Edwards
1873
Sanford Brown
1874
James Herron
1875
Sanford Brown
1876-8
George W. Fry
1879
Sanford Brown
1888-1
C. K. Carter
1882
Frank Hoag
Sanford Brown
1883
Wm. Glanville
NEWAYGO VILLAGE.
Newaygo is one of the oldest villages in Northern Michigan, dating back nearly half a century, and has been for over thirty years the county seat of a mag- nificent county. It has grown slowly, but steadily and surely, and now presents an appearance of per- manent prosperity.
The first view which the traveler gets of Newaygo is always a surprise. As he comes around or over some hill, the village bursts into full view all at once,
I864-5
Amasa B. Watson
55 ™
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
with the suddenness of a "jack in the box." To people journeying through here thirty years ago, the sensation on reaching Newaygo was novel as well as delightful. For many and weary miles an unbroken forest, and then with the suddenness of enchantment a compact, smiling village right at their feet, as though it had been transplanted into the wilderness and set down in a sheltered nook for their special convenience.
The Muskegon River, a strong and rapid stream, running between high bluffs, here makes a crescent- shaped bend, and a small valley is made by the bluffs on the south side, receding from the river and cutting across the curve like the string of a bow. In this crescent-shaped valley lies Newaygo, raised a little above the river bottoms by a sort of natural ter- race at the foot of the southern bluff. The view, from whatever direction, is highly picturesque. On the north is the river, hugging closely to the foot of the steep and curving bluffs, beyond which is rising ground with a few clearings, and the bare skeleton like dead pines, that stand like white tombstones of departed forests. The bluffs that rise almost per- pendicularly from the river bank, are in many places bare of vegetation, scarified and abraded by land slides, and scores of roll-ways down which hundreds of thousands of pine logs have been plunged into the river.
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