USA > Michigan > Eaton County > The county of Eaton, Michigan : topography, history, art folio and directory of freeholders > Part 7
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Olivet, "The Athens of Eaton County," is situated in the township of Walton, on one of the most picturesque locations in Michigan. Its fitness for a village site was never questioned by man, as there are evidences of its habitation at one time by Mound Builders. The first white man in Walton township found, upon his arrival, an Indian village of about one hundred population, on the site of the present college grounds.
The village was built for the accommodation of Olivet College; hence a history of the Village of Olivet is a his- tory of the college. Rev. John J. Shipherd, one of the managers of Oberlin (Ohio) College, conceived the idea of going again into the wilderness and building up an institution of learning. He came to Eaton County in 1843, to look after certain property situated in the Grand River Valley belonging to Oberlin College. He was de- lighted with the scene presented by the elevated land, the beautiful stream, the wild oak forest of Section 29, Walton township, and decided upon it as a suitable place for the location of the new school. He returned to Ohio and organized a colony of thirty-eight persons, includ- ing fourteen children and youths, and on Saturday, Feb- ruary 24th, 1844, the entire party arrived on the desig- nated spot.
The first twelve months of their stay was a period of great suffering. Many were sick with the swamp fiend, ague, and returned to Ohio, but the leaders of the little band possessed the spirit to cope with the difficulties that nature presented. L. A. Green, one of the students, erected a small cottage for a study and private dorma- tory. This served for a chapel, recitation room and vil- lage post office. The corps of instructors included Rev. Reuben Hatch and Oramel Hosford. In 1848 a charter was granted the school under the name of the "Olivet Institute." School and village prospered under this charter and students came from many parts of the state. In 1859 the institute was changed to a college, and
from that time on no one has predicted anything but success. The village grew apace with the school and to-day exerts a great influence for good over all of Eaton County. Olivet's usual enrollment is about 300 students. Her buildings surpass those of any other institution of a like character in the state. Her instructors are liberal, broad-minded men and her alumni are, as a class, success- ful business and professional men and women.
Bellevue occupied originally all the territory in Eaton County. By an act approved March 11th, 1837, the town- ship of Bellevne was divided, and the new townships of Termontville and Eaton were set off and organized, the former including the Northwest quarter and the latter the Southeast quarter. March 6th, 1838, the Northeast half of the remaining portions of Bellevue, or the North- east quarter of Eaton County, was set off and organized into a separate township, known by the name of Oneida. On the 15th of the same month Bellevue was further. re- duced by the formation of Kalamo, to include the ter- ritory in Town 2 North, of Range 5 and 6 West. No more divisions were made until March 21st, 1839, when the East half of Kalamo was set off and organized as Carmel. The East half of Bellevue was set off and or- ganized as Walton, and the East half of Vermontville was organized into a separate township called Chester. Brookfield was formed March 20th, 1841, from a portion of the old Township of Eaton, and included Town 1 North, Range 4 West. On March 21st, 1841, Eaton was further reduced in size by the formation of Tyler, in- cluding Town 1 North, Range 3 West. February 16th, 1842, witnessed several changes. Sunfield was set off from Vermontville and made to include Town 4 North, Range 6 West. Windsor and Delta were formed from the East half of Oneida, and Eaton Rapids township was created from that portion of Eaton included in Town 2 North, Range 3 West. On the 9th of March, 1843, the township of Chester was divided and its North half was set off and organized into a seperate township, known by the name of Roxand. On the same date Oneida was cut in twain, and its South half formed into a seperate township called Tom Benton. This name was not satis- factory to the inhabitants of the town and the "Tom" was dropped by an act approved March 19th, 1845. March 14th, 1845, the Township of Tyler was united to its next Northern sister and the name of the latter-Eaton Rapids-was applied to both as a whole. For nine- teen years this arrangement continued, but finally, on the 26th of March, 1863, the old township of Tyler was again set off from Eaton Rapids, and organized under the name of Hamlin, in honor of one of its pioneers. No change has since been made.
There are twenty-six post offices in the county. The list, omitting those already named, is as follows: Ainger, Bismark., Brookfield, Carlisle, Charlesworth, Chester, Dellwood, Delta, Gresham, Hoytville, Kalamo, Kings- land, Millitts, Mulliken, Potterville, Roxana, Sunfield and Woodbury.
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Newspapers of Catono County
We believe in the newspaper-daily, weekly and monthly-because it brings together the people who have something to reveal, and the people who should konw what it is. Supplied with instruments that make the eye far seeing, the hand mighty, the feet swift, the ear exceedingly sensitive, the truth seeker is able to make many important discoveries; and the pure love of truth that seems so deep down, so far away, so impossible to get at, is the unfailing inspira- tion. Pain smitten bodies, darkened intellects, souls hidden in midnight bid him make haste, and the silent investigation goes on night and day, while the alert newspaper tells to a host of sympathising listeners of success or failure. What a crime it would be to hide the knowledge upon which life, health, hap- piness, and all depend! But it is not hidden. The means of revelation are now so numerous, varied and cheap, that ignorance is without excuse. Every orator has become a thousand. Talmage preaches to a few hundred on Sunday, and to millions on Monday morning. Surely the opportunity to know implies responsibil- ity; the man who goes up from the nineteenth century; to be judged, should be ashamed to plead ignorance, if his life on earth has not been a useful and helpful one.
It pays to be informed. Knowledge is power; and success does not exceed power, and power does not exceed knowledge. They maintain an exact proportion. We do not farm for the sake of farming, nor are we in business for the sake of business. The ultimate end of all effort is character; the perfection of the man, mental, moral and physical. To wash, clothe, and feed the body, and for seventy-five years and daily repeat the process, while the mind is left to rags, filth and starva- tion, is to blunder fatally. The body for the brain, the brain for the mind, the mind for thought, and thought for action. The mind is the man.
In this age of newspapers and books a great mind can set the world moving in the direction of higher levels. As a consequence reforms are numerous, and the man who institutes and the man who completes may be the same, and no gray hairs or abated vigor will appear as witnesses against him to prove the long and wearisome length of the task he assumed; that which was once the work of centuries, is now accomplished throught he news- papers in a few years. But the majority of newspaper readers have come to know their value, and it is the in. telligent use of them more than anything else, that needs to be emphasized. Murders, crimes of all kinds, removals, deaths, marriages, births, divorces, are news features of every successful daily or weekly; but to be satisfied if the paper contains nothing more, is to be harmed rather than helped by it.
From the newspapers we can learn how to take better care of the body, how to improve the mind, in what way the home may be made more attractive, the children more efficiently trained. It is this ability of the news- paper to answer and discuss every question that inter- ests the thinking portion of the world that constitutes its chief value. Even a working man who will take the time and the pains to make a discriminate use of the newspaper, with the additional aid of a few books, may become fairly well educated. Carlysle says, the question is not, now-a-days, if a man has been through a university, but if a university has been through him; not where did you go to school, but what do you know.
The newspapers of Eaton County, eleven in number, have many intelligent readers. They should have more.
It is difficult to understand how any citizen of the county can get along without taking at least one home paper. The adoption of proper methods in the conduct of the county's affairs. are due largely to the work of these papers in sending out information and presenting facts to their readers. When any question that con- cerns the future interests of the people is brought up, each voter's paper discusses it. The building of a new court house, the the construction of a bridge, the open- ing of a road, drainage, the care of the poor, the build- ing of a school house, have all at different times been subjects for newspaper discussion and the information obtained by the people in this way has made a wise decision possible.
THE CHARLOTTE LEADER.
The Charlotte Leader was established in 1855 by C. C. Chatfield, at Eaton Rapids. It was then known as the Eaton County Argus. It was removed to Charlotte, with F. W. Highby as editor, in 1860. William Saunders be- came proprietor in 1861 and continued as such until his removal to California in 1865. From that date until 1868 it was published by D. F. Webber, who changed its name to the Charlotte Argus. J. V. Johnson then bought the office, but sold it again in 1875 to F. A. Ells, the present post master of Charlotte, by whom the name of the paper was changed to the Charlotte Leader. D. F. Webber is still a resident of Charlotte, a Justice of the Peace and has united to himself, by years of acquaint- anceship and service, a host of esteemed friends.
Mr. Ells sold the paper in 1884 to W. G. Blymyer, who, on account of ill health, was compelled to retire, and was succeeded by G. C. Brandon in 1886. The Bryan Broth- ers have owned the paper since February 14th, 1888, and are well satisfied with the developments of the past and the evident prospects for the future. They were born on a farm near Fostoria, Hancock County, Ohio; Horton on January 9th, 1859, and Homer on August 17th, 1863. Soon after the war they were brought by their parents to Eaton County, where, with the excep- tion of a few brief intervals, they have remained ever since. They learned the printer's trade in the office they now own, the elder entering it in 1875, and the younger in 1878. Horton did his first editorial work when the Prohibitionist was published in Charlotte, but later became city editor of the Ann Arbor Register. His single year's residence in the University City brought him valuable experience and aided in further preparing him for the management, in company with his brother, of the Charlotte Leader. May 12th, 1892, he was mar- ried to Miss Adele McClure, daughter of the late D. G. McClure. Homer K. Byran and Miss Edith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Haslett, of Charlotte, were united in marriage November 18th, 1890. Their home is bright- ened by the presence of two boys, Carl H. and Philip H. The Charlotte Leader, to which they are giving their best thoughts, is the only staunchly Democratic paper published in the county. Homer K. Bryan brought to the paper the knowlege gained by seven years' experience on the metropolitan dailies of Chicago and is a practical job printer of much local fame. The Bryan Brothers are both Past Chancellor Commanders of Charlotte Lodge No 53 K. of P. and members of the Grand Lodge K. of P. of Michigan.
THE EATON COUNTY REPUBLICAN.
Has the following history: A paper that was started in Eaton Rapids in 1847, by L. W. Mckinney, and after- ward published by Dr. E. D. Burr, from whom it was purchased by Foote & March, moved to Charlotte, and
issued as the Eaton County Republican. E. A. Foote, the well known attorney, was editor, and Mark H. Marsh, a practical printer, afterward connected with the Evening News of Detroit, superintended the me- chanical department. In 1859 Mr. Joseph Saunders became the proprietor and changed the name to the Charlotte Republican. Mr. Saunders was a man of large newspaper experience, keenly alive to new and improved methods, the first to use steam power in the printing business of the county, and the builder of a number of our substantial brick buildings. After a prosperous business of seventeen years he sold his paper to K. Kitteridge in 1866, who had been connected with sev- eral papers in the state, and is the present publisber of the Ann Arbor Register. In 1877 the Charlotte. Repub- lican became the property of Mr. D. B. Ainger. Mr. Ainger is now living in Lansing. From the first of May 1893, to April 1st of the same year, the Republican was edited and published by E. J. Tomlinson. Bissell & Jones are the present proprietors.
CHARLOTTE DAILY PRESS.
The newsboys' announcement of the Charlotte Daily Press is the latest evidence of Eaton County enterprise in the newspaper field. The Press is the first daily newspaper published in Eaton County. The initial num- ber was issued from the Republican office, May 27th, 1895, and contained four pages of five columns each. L. P. Bissell and A. J. Munson were the promotors of the enterprise. L. P. Bissell was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1854. His father was a Presbyterian clergy- man, a graduate of several universities, and spent a num- ber of years in educating his children in the languages and sciences. At an early age the subject of this sketch went into a printing office in an Illinois town and com- menced his preparation for life as an adept in the art preservative. He made a study of the mechanical and professional branches of printing and publishing, and is well versed in almost every feature of the same, hav- - ing worked in nearly all the large cities of the country in the various departments, printing, reporting, editing, etc. He is an earnest Republican, believing thoroughly in the principles of that party. He has only been in Eaton County for two years, but is rapidly coming to the front as an enterprising man. While engaged in the printing business in Ohio President Harrison appointed him post master of the little city where he resided. He is an alderman of the second ward of Charlotte, a Royal Arch and Council Mason, a member of the Republican Editorial Association of the state, and was unanimously Chosen as secretary of the recent Congressional conven- tion at Kalamazoo, which came so close to sending an Eaton County man to Congress. In 1887 he married Miss Frederika Salisbury, at Medina, Ohio. They have two children, Dorothy, and Paul Frederick, the latter born in Charlotte in December, 1893. Mr. Munson is a Mich- igan man, and has at different periods been engaged in newspaper publishing in this state. For the last few years he has been engaged in the different branches of newspaper work in Chicago, and brings to the Press a wide experience in metropolitan journalism.
THE CHARLOTTE TRIBUNE.
The Charlotte Tribune first appeared in August, 1887, with F. M. Potter as publisher. A half interest was purchased in December, 1887, by Geo. A. Perry, who was born July 8th, 1851, and is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace B. Perry (see sketch) with whom he came to Brookfield, Feburary 8th, 1860, and has ever since resided in Eaton county. On September 19th, 1876, he married
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Miss Belle McArthur, eldest daughter of George and Eliza McArthur, then of Brookfield. Their home is blessed with two daughters, Georgia Belle and Grace Avery, and another died in infancy. Mr. Perry's early life was devoted to farming summers and teaching winters, with an occasional term at Albion or Olivet colleges. At an early age he began to take an active part in politics, and he was elected super- visor of Brookfield for five consecutive terms. He re- signed this office in 1882 to accept the county clerkship, which he held four years. While still county clerk he secured the release of two veterans from the poor house and through his instrumentality each was given a good pension. This was the beginning of a successful pension practice. On September 1st, 1889, Harry T. McGrath purchased a half interest and the firm name was changed from Perry & Potter to Perry & McGrath. In 1892 the the new firm moved into their fine new brick block from which the Tribune is now issued. Mr. Perry is identified with the best interests of the town and county and the Trbune, while Republican, is progressive, along all lines of reform. He is secretary and treasurer of the Eaton County Law and Order League to whose influence the recent increased majority for county pro- hibition is no doubt due. He is also serving his ninth consecutive term as secretary of the Eaton County Agricultural and Pioneer societies.
Mrs. Belle M. Perry, wife of Geo. A. Perry, conducts a valuable Woman's Department in the Tribune. She was for three years President of the Michigan Woman's Press Association and is now editor of the Interchange, the of- ficial organ of that association. The Interchange is printed at the Tribune office. Mrs. Perry is also Presi- dent of the Charlotte High School Alumni Association, President of the Century Club, and was the first woman ever elected a trustee of the Charlotte schools. She has organized a fine club of Tribune writers, all of whom are members of her own sex. The Tribune is in good hands. taking their places. The Grange Visitor, the official or- gan of the State Grange, is published by Messrs. Perry & McGrath, who are its business managers. This paper is devoted to the interests of farmers, and has a large pat- ronage throughout the state. Mr. Perry is a member of the Grange, the I. O. O. F. and of the Royal Arch Masonry.
THE EATON RAPIDS JOURNAL.
The Eaton Rapids Journal was founded by J. B. Teneyck in 1866, and sold to Frank C. Cully in 1869, who, in 1874, changed its name to the Saturday Journal. From 1876 to the 1st of January, 1879, Mr. E. O'Bien was the publisher. K. Kitteridge, his successor enlarged the paper and gave it the name under which it has since been issued. The present owner is C. T. Fairfield, who was born at Hillsdale, Mich., September 6th, 1866. He is the son of Hon. E. B. Fairfield, who was president of Hillsdale college for twenty-one years, Consul at Lyons, France, and for six years Chancellor of the State Uni- versity at Lincoln, Nebraska. Here the son, C. T. Fair- field, was fitted for college. He entered Oberlin, Ohio, in 1833, and was graduated from there in 1837. He was financial manager of the Oberlin College paper for two years, and with this limited experience, and before at- taining his majority he assumed control of the Eaton Rapids Journal. He is succeeding.
Chauncy W: Stevens, retired editor of the Eaton Rapids Journal, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 9th, 1825. He started in life for himself at the early age of ten years, and with a school career of but one year. His first venture was as a newsboy in the streets of New York City, hustling for "The Sun." He advanced with this paper from newsboy to roller boy, and finally com- positor. In 1839 he came West with his parents and settled in Indiana. He entered the office of the Demo-
crat at Goshen, and finished his trade under the instruc- tion of Dr. W. H. Ellis. In 1856 he became proprietor of the Goshen Times, which he conducted for many years. During this period he was United States Marshal and United States District Enumerator of Elkbart, In- diana. In 1868 he sold the Times and purchased the Hudson (Michigan) Post. .. Three years later he located at Eaton Rapids and engaged in the manufacture of staves and heading. His business at that time was the largest manufacturing establishment in Eaton County. He purchased the Eaton Rapids Journal and successfully managed it for a time, when age and a competency bade him go out of business. Mr. Stevens is now well along in years and is retired from journalistic work, but his career has been a noble one. For forty years he has in- fluenced public opinion and wrought out reforms.
THE EATON RAPIDS HERALD.
The Eaton Rapids Herald is edited and published by J. Dow Trimmer, a native of Ainger, this county, where he was born April, 21st. 1870. His parents moved to Cbar- lotte while he was a babe. At the age of twelve Mr. Trimmer entered the office of the Luther Herald, at Luther, Lake County, this state, to learn the printer's trade. His winters, however, for several years were spent in school. A high school education and several years of practical experience have fitted him for the many positions he has held in connection with the print- ing business. He has worked on the Reed City Clarion, the State Democrat, of Cadillac, the Hudson Gazette and the Hudson Post, and was foreman of the printing de- partment of the Central City Soap Company of Jackson for nearly two years prior to locating in Eaton Rapids, which was in March, 1894. Mr. Trimmer is a Democrat. and the Herald is independently Democratic. The Her- ald has had four or five different editors during its life of thirteen years. The present editor is a young man who is generally known as a hustler.
THE GRAND LEDGE INDEPENDENT.
Was established in January, 1869, by B. F. Saunders, son of Joseph Saunders, one of the earlier publishers of the Charlotte Republican. He induced W. C. Westland in February, 1894, to take a half interest in the business, and for a period of three years the paper was published by the firm of Saunders & Westland. The firm was dis- solved the following May, the junior member becoming sole proprietor. For a time it was difficult to make the paper pay expenses. The business men and citizens, however, promised to give it their support, a promise which they have faithfully kept. Mr. Westland, who is still editor and publisher, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest in consecutive years of service in Eaton county, having edited and published the Independent for twenty-one years.
THE GRAND LEDGE REPUBLICAN.
We have been unable to obtain the details of this paper's history, but we have observed from its columns that it is a newsy sheet, with a good circulation. It's editor, M. H. Gunsenhouser is an able and experienced newspaper man. He was born in DeKalb County, In- diana, November 26th, 1854. He has worked in various cities of the country as job printer and editor. July 11th, 1839, Mr. Gunsenhouser, in company with M. J. Davis, purchased the Grand Ledge Graphic, a union labor paper. They changed its name to the Grand Ledge Republican, and likewise its politics were made Republican, for which party it is an effective worker. Fraternally Mr. Gunsen- houser is identified with the Knights of Pythias and Sons' of Veterans.
THE VERMONTVILLE ECHO.
Was started in 1874. It was called The Enterprise, but failed to become a financial success. Mr. Hawking was the next owner, and F. M. Potter the next one. This purchaser gave the paper a new name-The Hawk-but when it became the property of Holt & Knox it received
its present name, to which it has clung ever since. After a few years Mr. Knox disposed of his interest in the business to John Sherman, who purchased Mr Holt's interest as half owner, and took possession of the office as proprietor and publisher. The firm is now J. C. Sherman & Son. John Sherman was born in Farfield, Franklin county, Vermont, October 6th, 1833. His parents, John and Persis Sherman, were natives Con- necticut. From the district school in his native place, Mr. Sherman went to Bakersfield Academy, and the Academy at Rome, Vermont, where he received excel- lent training, to which his success as farmer and editor is due. He arrived in Michigan at the age of twenty and bought a farm which he still owns. In 1887 he began his career as publisher. Mr. Sherman was mar. ried to Miss Jane Boyce in March, 1855, She died in 1861. Mrs. Nellie M. Holt of Lansing, to whom Mr. Sherman was married in 1863, is the mother of W. E. Holt, editor of the Bellevue Gazette, and the partner to whom reference is made in this sketch.
THE SUNFIELD SUN
Was established by J. Q. Rounds, who continued its pub- lication until November, 1894. His successor was I. N. Stevens, but his connection with the paper was severed January 23, 1895. Legge & Jenkins are now the pro- prietors, the purchase having been made February 27, 1895. Sunfield, the place of publication has a popula- tion of about five hundred. The paper is independent in, politics devotes itself to the surrounding country. It has a circulation of about four hundred.
THE BELLEVUE GAZETTE.
Was established January 9th, 1871, by Mr. Alfred Linridge, who conducted it until May 29th, 1873, when it became the property of Edwin S. Hoskins. March 27, 1882, it was sold to G. W. Perry, in whose possession it remained for the next ten years. The present publish- er of the Gazette is W. E. Holt, who was born in Can- ton, Wayne county, this state, June 4th, 1860. He was graduated from the Charlotte high schools in 1884, and on the 15th of October, 1895, he married Miss Lina V. Kennedy, a native of Vermontville.
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