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BATTLE CREEK JOURNAL.
CALHOUN


COUNTY


SOUVENIR,


COMMEMORATING
THE JOURNAL'S
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
CALHOUN COUNTY:
HER INDUSTRIES AND SKETCHES OF HER REPRESENTATIVE
CITIZENS.


BATTIE CREEK, MICHIGAN.
MDCCCCI.




I




1941


qx4rL




CALHOUN COUNTY:
HER INDUSTRIES AND SKETCHES OF HER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.




THE BATTLE CREEK JOURNAL
was established in October, 1861.
The paper that was founded on
that date in a small country village has grown and prospered
with  Battle Creek, until now   it
is conceded to be one of the best papers published in the State of Michigan, outside of the cities of Grand
Rapids and Detroit. The policy of the
publishers of the JOURNAL, and one
which we commend to all who wish to
build up a permanent and prosperous
business, has been to make friends,
and while we have given the news and
been enterprising, and in some instances aggressive, we have endeavored  to  abstain  from  needlessly
wounding the feelings of any one. It
has been our rule to keep all of our
own personal grievances, if we had
any, out of the paper, and to give fair.and impartial treatment to all,
whether they might happen to be
-friendly to us or otherwise. George
Willard, who was the editor of the.JOURNAL for many years, inaugurated this policy, the fairness and wisdom of which has been impressed
upon every member of the JOURNAL
staff. Within the past two years there
has been installed in the JOURNAL
office a new Miehle press, a Mergenthaler type-setting machine, and an
improved Dexter folder. New type
has also been added and other advancements made, including additions to our reportorial staff and telegraphic service. However, it is not
our purpose in this edition to use
space to boast of our achievements,
but the object of the publication is to
give credit to those who have been
active and prominent in the affairs of
life, and who have materially assisted
to make our county one of the most
prosperous, enlightened and progressive in the land. All honor to the men
who have done their duty day by day,
who have been helpful to their neighbors, devoted to their families and
have not only been diligent in business, but have also found time to assist others and work for the general
good of the community.
EARLY   HISTORY    OF  CALHOUN
COUNTY.
From an address delivered by the
late Col. Charles Dickey of Marshall,
before the Pioneer Society of the
State of Michigan we quote: It was
many years after the first settlement
of Michigan that Calhoun was first
settled, as our lands were not in market until October, 1830.   Sidney
Ketchum, the recognized pioneer of


our county, came in August, 1830, in
search of a home and fortune in the
-future. On his way here from Clinton


county, N. Y., he made the acquaintance of Samuel Camp of Ann Arbor,
who was persuaded to pilot him
through the new counties of Jackson,
Calhoun and Kalamazoo prospecting.
The lands of our county were to be
in the market at the Monroe Land Office in October, and this being a delightful season of the year for travel
in the wilds of Michigan, with the
inconveniences naturally incident to
a journey upon Indian trails only, they
became so much interested in the
country they decided to locate here.
Mr. Ketchum took minutes of the land
covering the water powers at the
forks of the Kalamazoo, now Albion,
and at Rice creek, at its junction with
the Kalamazoo at Marshall. On their
way to Kalamazoo in search of floats,
they overtook Judge Eldred and Ruel
Starr, on Bear Plains, three miles
west of Marshall, where they were
prospecting down the valley to Comstock creek, where Judge Eldred and
Mr. Starr remained, when Ketchum
and Camp made for Titus Bronson's,
familiarly called Potato Bronson. He
had his shanty up at Kalamazoo.
Bronson was Camp's neighbor at Ann
Arbor, and had introduced the Neshannock potato into Michigan, and
had that year raised 700 bushels on
an acre, the avails of which paid for
the claim then made. Bronson afterwards located these lands, and in the
May following, John Allen, Calvin
Smith and Orange Risden, commissioners, located the county seat of
Kalamazooo  county.  Bronson bargained his claim that evening with
Ketchum, but in the morning the family objecting, it was abandoned. Noble
McKinstry was found at Schoolcraft,
who arranged with Ketchum to procure floats and locate two parcels of
land in Calhoun county, when the land
office opened at Monroe in October,
(this was in August) for a commission of seventy-five per cent., McKinstry to go by the way of Detroit for
his money on Ketchum's check.
Ketchum and Camp at once returned to Marshall, and on their way
called on Judge Eldred at Comstock
Creek, where they learned that Starr
had returned to Marshall with eight
days' rations to establish a claim.
This news excited Ketchum, who hastened back to Marshall, where he
found Starr slashing brush and marking trees to make good his claim.
Ketchum negotiated at once with Starr
for his claim. Camp, in-the meantime,
found that Mr. Blashfield was ahead
having not only marked trees at the


section corners and quarter posts, but
had a load of lumber brought from
Flowerfield, which it took him two
weeks to haul. Blashfield was soon
5


found building a log tavern at Slab
City, Jackson county, when Ketchum
made all satisfactory by paying Blashfield $75 and a gun. Mr. Ruel Starr,
who afterward married the daughter
of Judge Eldred, relates the story of
his location of the land in somewhat
different language. He says that he
located the claim the first one located
on the ground where stands the city
of Marshall. He worked hard on Saturday, but the next day being Sunday,
and a beautiful day, he felt that while
himself usually very strict that he did
not dare to work on such a beautiful
Sabbath, so he quit work and wandered through the woods, and while
admiring the beauties of nature, he
came to a bee tree which was filled
with honey, so he went to work and
cut the tree and secured a bounteous
store of delicious honey, which was
very acceptable to him. The next day
Ketchum and his party pat in an appearance, and wished to buy the claim
and as Mr. Starr was short of money
at that time, he sold to Mr. Ketchum
for $45, but afterwards meeting Blashfield the latter claimed half of the
money for the reason that he had left
some lumber on the ground which Mr.
Starr had not noticed at the time he
made his location.
Messrs. Ketchum and Camp returned to Ann Arbor.    Very soon
Ketchum and Starr went to New York.
Afterwards Starr married a daughter
of Judge Eldred, sister of Hon. Nelson
Eldred of Battle Creek. He located in
Porter  county,  Iowa,  where   he
amassed a fortune and died in 1876.
On the 15th of October, Noble McKinstry located the west half of southeast quarter of section 28, 72 south,
range 6 west, 67 acres covering the
water power at Marshall, and the 16th
of October, Ephraim Hanson located
the south half of the northeast quarter
of section 2, 73 south, range 4 west,
Albion. These lands Ketchum expected would be located in his name,
the only lands located in Calhoun
county in 1830.
There were some fifty parcels taken
early in 1831. George Ketchum came
to Marshall to build mills with Mr.
and Mrs. Ball, H. P. Wisner, and four
others. ALram Davison and Jotham
Wxood came in February, 1831, located
the 160 acres, the original plat of Marshall, on which the county site was
located by Roger S. May, Thomas
Rowland and Joseph W. Torry, commissioners appointed by Governor
Mason, July 31, 1831, and by proclamation of Governor Mason, October 7,


1831, duly confirmed.
On the 17th of July, 1831, Isaac N.
Hurd, Lucius Lyon, George Ketchum,
H. H. Comstock and John Bertram lo



cated twelve parcels in Marshall township, and during that year A. L. Hays,
John D. Pierce, John I. Guernsey,
Stephen Kimball, Sidney S. Alcott,
Thomas and Peter Chisholm, Henry
Cook, Henry Failing, Ezra and Samuel
Convis, Nathan Pierce, Nathaniel Barney, Polodor Hudson, Thomas J. Hurlbert, Ashel Warner, Thomas Burland,
Thomas Knight, S. G. Crossman, Solomon M. Allen, H. P. Wisner, Dowena
Williams, Josiah Goddard, Powel
Groom, Oshea Wilder, and many
others came to this county.
Calhoun county first attached to St.
Joseph for judicial purposes in 1829,
and to Kalamazoo in 1831. July 29,
1832, Calhoun county, by act of Territorial Legislature, organized into one
township, Marshall. March 6, 1833, an
act of the Legislature fully organizing
the county for judicial purposes, and
the first session of circuit court, November 7, W. A. Fletcher, presiding;
Eleazer McConely, associate, a grand
and petit jury was summoned with
Oshea Wilder, foreman. All discharged for want of business.
Early in 1831 several families came
to Calhoun county, Dr. Hays, Peter
Chisholm, John D. Pierce, Randall Hobart, Charles D. Smith, Samuel Camp,
and others. There was considerable
building done that season. The first
house was built by Fuller on Bear
Plains, and while building, Mullett,
commissioner to locate university
lands, quartered on Fuller with his
party, eating his rations and drinking
his whisky. To comfort him for his
hospitality, Mullett pointed out the
north line of six sections of university
land, then located with Fuller's house
some ten or twelve rods on the university land. Fuller became disgusted,
went back to Ann Arbor, and gave the
house to Samuel Camp, who located
three lots immediately north of this
land, moved the house, and afterwards sold to John Bertram, who lived
there while building the first frame
house and barn in Calhoun county in
1830, L. G. Crossman, master mechanic. At the raising was John D.
Pierce,  Sidney  Ketchum,  Deacon
Spencer, Marvin Preston, Isaac N.
Hurd, Crary and Ketchum to hold the
foot of the posts.
In 1832 quite a rush for land took
place and lasted till the Black Hawk
war broke out in May, and in June
the cholera made sad work with our
weak settlement. More than half the
population of Marshall died,-of that
number Isaac N. Hurd and Mrs. John
D. Pierce, the latter buried in the


night by her husband and Randall Hobart. No female hand to aid in burying this refined and cultivated woman,
who used to sing "Sweet Home" as


none other could. She would impart
to it such pathos that a tear-drop
would start to the eye of the listener.
Luther H. Hays, born October, 1831,
was the first boy born in the county,
and Emeline Chisholm, the first girl,
was born in January, 1832. Our people were obliged to go to Dexter, east,
and Flowerfield, west, to do the milling. The mail accommodated us once
a week. Mrs. George Ketchum took
the care of it; it was kept in a cigar
box.
The Marshall and Comstock mills
started late in 1832. Afterwards a
strife arose between Sidney Ketchum
and H. H. Comstock, as to the head of
steam navigation on the Kalamazoo
river. Comstock lost the county seat
of Kalamazoo, when Ketchum claimed
the prize. Marshall was lithographed
with steamboats and flags flying as
the future capital of the state.
Speaking of railroads, when our
county was organized there was not a
mile of railroad in America, and only
thirty-two miles in Europe. George
Stephenson's "Rocket," invented in
1831, was the first locomotive that
could haul three times its own weight,
at the rate of twelve miles an hour.
A Pennsylvanian invented a tubular
boiler that same year, and expected
to compete with Stephenson for a
prize of ~550, but while experimenting'his machine jumped the track, and
he was killed. Michigan's first locomotive, named "Rocket," was landed
here in 1837,-not a mile of railroad
then in Michigan. Now thirty-four
separate roads pay a specific tax to
the state, and probably full 75,000
miles of track is in running order in
the United States today.
We quote from a speech of Dr. O. C.
Comstock before the Pioneer society
of Michigan:
A little over 80 years since this
region of country was surrendered by
treaty with the Indians, to the government of the United States. In 1830
the land was offered for sale. The
county of Calhoun was laid off and its
boundaries fixed by statute, approved
October 29, 1829, and the Township of
Green established therein, including
also the counties of Eaton and Branch.
The first town meeting of the said
Township of Green was held (if held
at all), at the house of one Jabez
Bronson, in said town, agreeably to
act, approved November 3, 1829. The
record of said meeting, and indeed
the residence of Mr. Bronson, is unknown to the writer. The seat of justice for the county of Calhoun was es

tablished by Thomas Rowland, Roger
Sprague and Joseph Torry, who decided "upon a point in the line dividing sections 25 and 26, in town two,
6


south of range six west, on or very
near the center of the west half of the
northwest quarter of section 26, being
northeast, distant about three miles
from the geographical center of the
county. This was proclaimed and established by the governor, (G. B. Porter), October 17, 1831.
The   territorial  road  was  laid
through the county, and has in the
past, particularly, been of incalculable convenience and advantage both
to the settler and passing emigrant.
Covered wagons literally whitened its
entire length from 1832 to 1837. Many
exceedingly interesting anecdotes are
told of the log way-side taverns, with
their rude and limited accommodations, such as meat without bread or
vegetables, pounded corn and milk,
and not unfrequently milk without
other accompaniments, provided the
traveler could wait till the cow could
be hunted up and milked. The finding of the cow was often a labor of
doubt and time, as the extensive pastures of the township of Green embraced what is now known as the
counties of Calhoun, Branch, Eaton,
St. Joseph, and some terra incognita
lying north of Eaton. I think crossing
streams and marshes, unbridged as
they chiefly were, afforded some
amusement and variety.    Stringers
were thrown across the streams and
then covered with round logs or poles,
which, as they were not fastened and
usually afloat, afforded a very insecure foothold for man or beast. George
Ketchum wrote to a friend, April 27,
1831, as follows: "I started from Ann
Arbor Friday, 12 o'clock, for Calhoun,
with two wagons, two yoke of oxen,
two cows, one calf, seven men and one
woman and child. The distance to
Calhoun is 65 miles from this place
(Ann Arbor) through marshes and
creeks. The road otherwise is good.
We crossed one large marsh where we
had to carry all our things on our
backs for the distance of 80 rods, in
water knee deep.
The oxen we drove over singly, and
one broke through the bog and we
worked two hours to get him out, with
chains under him and around his
horns, and it was as much as eight
men could do to get him over, the
ground was so soft.
The Calhoun County bank was incorporated in 1836, with a capital
stock of $100,000. Its first, and possibly its only president, was Sidney
Ketchum. Although this, like most
other banks incorporated at that time,
succumbed to the stringency of the
times incident to and inseparable


from the subsidence of the spirit of
speculation which prevailed all over
the United States, it had been of




great value to the business men of
the town and county, in enabling them
to complete many valuable enterprises, and its ultimate failure was
very much deplored.    Bills of this
bank, I am told, passed currently
"down south" during the rebellion.,There are twenty towns and two
cities in the county, and their names
and date of organization are as follows:
Marshall, extending over the entire  county  in................ 1832
Battle Creek (formerly Milton). 1833
Marengo................. 1833
Homer.......................  1834
Athens...................... 1834
Sheridan.................. 1836
Eckford...................... 1836
Tekonsha.................... 1836
Burlington................... 1837
Albion.................        1837
Convis.......................  1837
Fredonia..................... 1838
Clarendon................... 1838


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Leroy......................
Newton....................
Pennfield....................
Emmett......................
Bedford......................
Lee.........................
Clarence..................
City of Battlo Creek, five wards.


1838
1838
1838
1838
1838
1840
1840


City of Marshall, four wards.
October 17, 1831, Calhoun county
was declared a township of the name
of Marshall, and the first township
meeting was ordered held at the
school house in the village of Marshall
on the first Tuesday in September,
1832, agreeably to act, approved June
29, 1832. The record of that meeting
cannot be found. The presumption is
that no meeting was held, or if held,
its proceedings were deemed of too little importance to be made a matter of
record in any documentary form. On
the first day of April, 1833, the "annual meeting of the electors of the
town of Marshall was held in the
school house of the village of Marshall." Andrew L. Hays was chosen
moderator, and Ellsworth Burnet,
clerk. As being historically interesting to the people of the county the
names of the first office-holders in the
town of Marshall (county of Calhoun,
de facto), are hereby given: Henry
Cook, supervisor;  Marvin Preston,
town clerk; Samuel Camp, Ellsworth
Burnet, Robert McCully, assessors;
Andrew L. Hays, constable and collector; Sidney Ketchum, poormaster;
John Kennada, Isaac E. Crary, Stephen Kimball, common school commissioners; Thomas J. Hurlbut, pathmaster; Milton Barney, Solon Davis,
Solomon M. Allen, school inspectors;
John G. Bean, poundmaster; William


Brown, Stephen Kimball, Barnas Kennada, fence viewers.
It was "resolved at this meeting
that the sum of one dollar be paid for
the head of each wolf that may be
killed in this town during the ensuing year."
It was also "resolved that the sum
of four hundred dollars be raised and
applied for opening and repairing
roads."
In July, 1833, an election was held
in this town for the election of delegates to congress from the Territory
of Michigan, which resulted as follows, to-wit:
Austin E. Wing received..... 5 votes
William Woodbridge........ 3 votes
Lucius  Lyon................11  votes
On the same day an election was
held for the election of a member to
represent the sixth district in the next
legislature council with the following
result:
William H. Welch received... 4 votes
Elias B. Sherman............2 votes
Calvin  Britian...............2  votes
All of which is duly certified by
Sidney Ketchum,
Marvin Preston,
Samuel Camp,
Ellsworth Burnet,
Inspectors.
The town records for the balance of
the year 1833 show the faithfulness,
and the amount of labor performed by
the commissioners of highways in establishing roads. This was a work
requiring good judgment and a firm
purpose to serve the general public.
The names of these excellent commissioners are indelibly written in the
good and judiciously laid-out roads of
this town, which, be it remembered,
comprised the county of Calhoun. As
the towns of Milton and Marengo
were organized in 1833, no further
mention of the town of Marshall will
be made in this place.
The flood of emigration continued
in a healthy and continuous stream to
pour into this county, up to 1836, when
it became a tidal wave, absorbing
most of the desirable public lands, and
infusing into the population a spirit of
enterprise, which contributed largely
to the development of the county in
r
a marvelously short period. The truth
of history, however, compels the admission that some of the schemers of
that period were visionary, at least
visionary at that time. The charters
of railroads to and from towns having
an existence mainly upon paper, and
the charters of banks of large capital
for the transaction of the prospective
business of those towns, may be mentioned  as  confirming  the  remark


above made. According to the highly
finished plats of Battle Creek, also of
Marshall, they were each at the head
7


of steamboat navigation on the Kalamazoo river, and Bellevue was at the
head of steamboat navigation on Battle Creek river. That there might be
no detention of passengers at Marshall, after the completion of the Marshall and Allegan Railroad, cushions
were purchased for the passenger
cars, by a very sanguine gentleman
who was largely interested in lands at
both termini of this road, and who no
doubt, firmly believed in its speedy
construction.
The flrst suit at law in this county
was before Isaac E. Crary, justice of
the peace. The litigants were Peter
Chisholm vs. George Ketchum, being
on account of furnishing a saw-mill
saw.
The first male white child born in
this county is supposed to have been
a son of Dr. Hays, long since deceased; and the first female white
child, the daughter of Thomas Cnisholm, also deceased. The first minister of the gospel entitled to mention
as a man of the county was the Rev.
Calvin Clark, who came into this state
in 1835, and whose parish included not
only Calhoun county, but parts adjacent.
We quote Mr. Clark:
West of Jackson it was next to impossible to distinguish the main road
from the Indian trails and paths of
new settlers. I came at last to the
openings and was obliged to make my
dinner that day on raw turnips, growing in a deserted homestead. Late in
the afternoon of the second day's
tramp, I entered a ten-mile woods, beyond which I was told were accommodations for travelers. The sky was
overcast with clouds and soon the
rain began to fall; before I had half
accomplised my task, the night set in
fearfully dark and gloomy; the stillness was broken only by the howling
of the wolves. I began to feel that
my situation was anything but pleasant, and might be sadly disastrous,
and quickened my steps. Just then
the noise of wagons and teamsters on
the road before me was a glad and
welcome sound. It proved to be several families of emigrants like myself
bound for that same house of entertainment beyond the woods. Among
these were the Rev. J. D. Pierce and
family. His wife, whom he had recently married, a highly intelligent
lady from a wealthy family in the
state of New York, was sitting in her
silks in an open ox wagon, drenched
to the skin with the falling rain. Misery sometimes likes company, and I
took such a liking to that company


that dark night, that I determined not
to leave them. The ruod was bad, and
it seemed to me that oxen never went




so slow before. Late in the evening
we saw the light of the long-looked
for tavern, as it shone through the
chinks of the logs-a sight most welcome to us all. Our caravan halted
before the door; only there was no
door there, a blanket being where the
door should be. The shanty was only
partly covered with shakes; the rain
pouring down at one end; a cookstove stood on the ground in the middle of it. This was soon put in requisition, and the coarse fare was a sensible relief to us weary and hungry
mortals. After this we prepared to
retire for the night, but where to retire was the question. If there had
been a garret or a cellar, we might
have retired, and either would have
afforded some relief. Some of the women of the company packed themselves away on the bedstead, others under it, on the ground, their husband's next; and the rest of us occupied a little more than all the dry
ground in the shanty. Sleep soon
came to the relief of the weary bodies,
at least it was so with one of the company. The morning came; one of
those dark, gloomy fall mornings;
the rain was still falling. We made
another requisition on the potato pile
and the pork barrel, after which Mrs.
Pierce sang beautifully, as few persons can sing, "Home, Sweet Home,"
then turned her face to the wall and
wept. Poor woman, the next summer
she fell a victim to the cholera.
In the course of the forenoon the
rain ceased and we made preparation
to move on as far as Marshall, six
miles distant. And here another adventure impressed itself upon my
mind. I undertook to put on my boots.
which the good woman of the house
had placed near the stove the night
before, and the more I tried the farther I seemed to be from the accomplishment of my object. Either my
feet had swollen by the severe hardship to which they had been subjected
the day before, or my boots had
shrunk, or both, and I was attempting
an impossibility.  I pulled at the
straps till my fingers had no strength
left in them. In my grief I cried out,
"What shall I do?" I was fifty miles
from a shoemaker, or any place where
I could provide for my understanding.
Among the company there chanced to
be a genius. He advised me to take
off the fat fried out of the pork and
thoroughly baste the heel of my stocking and the inside of my boot. This
was a success. In went my foot and
on went my boot. That day we
reached Marshall, consisting then of


one log house and another in the process of erection. A few emigrants
had planted themselves on the beauti

ful and fertile farming lands in that
vicinity. The next day being the Sabbath we had public worship. A young
Methodist clergyman by the name of
Pilcher, preached in the morning, and
Rev. J. D. Pierce, one of our company,
in the afternoon.  These meetings
were held in the unfinished log house
of Mr. George Ketchum.
On Monday morning I resumed my
journey on foot, and alone, and before
breakfast reached Battle Creek, without seeing a house or seeing a person. The creek was then as now, only
larger; but the beautiful town was
non est. One single log house, in the
process of being built by a Mr. Stoddard, marked the spot of the future
city. Here I took breakfast before
crossing the river. It is said that a
bath immediately after eating is unhealthy. I don't know about that. I
took a bath after eating that morning,
and I have lived more than forty
years since. The stream was swollen
by the recent rains, to full banks; no
bridge, no boat, and too deep in most
places to ford. The icicles were hanging from the bushes on the banks. Mr.
Stoddard pointed out the shallowest
spot and the only fording place; so,
holding my clothes high over my head
with both hands, I waded chin deep to
the other shore, where I hastily made
my toilet, and pursued my journey."
The following memoranda, from
the pen of Alfred Holcomb, interested
us very much, and will abundantly repay the reader for the time he may
spend in their perusal: On the 3d of
June, 1831, he went aboard the old
Superior at Buffalo, destined for Detroit. At the mouth of Black river, in
consequence of a shipwreck, the
steamer was detained seven days for
repairs. The boat was ten days from
Buffalo to Detroit. Mr. Holcomb, wife
and two children arrived in Dry
Prairie on the first day of July. At
Detroit a man with his team was hired
to carry them to Athens. At Jackson,
then consisting of three houses, the
team gave out. Mr. Holcomb left his
wife and children here and made a
journey to Dry Prairie after two yoke
of oxen, with which to complete moving his family to their destined home.
Another ten days was consumed between Detroit and Prairie.  In this
whole route there were no bridges. At
very wet and miry places, half built
causeways kept the teams in sight of
their  drivers.  Streams  were  all
forded. The family camped out every
night between Detroit and Dry Prairie
except at Ann Arbor, which then had


five or six houses. Lot Whitcomb, a
recent emigrant from Vermont, had
put up a shanty on seminary land at
8


Dry Prairie, into which Mr. Holcomb
moved his family. A log schoolhouse
was raised in 1831, and every year
since that period a school has been
kept in that district. To reach a grist
mill and a doctor, a journey of 25
miles each way was made. In 1834 a
Methodist minister from Kentucky, by
the name of Dickinson, commenced
preaching at Holcomb's house. The
first mail route was extended to Dry
Prairie in 1835, Lot Whitcomb, postmaster. In 1834 Mr. Holcomb imported sixty sheep. The wolves had
a great hankering for those sheep.
Mr. Holcomb harvested a little wheat
in 1832, and was thus employed when
the cholera broke out among them.
There were six victims of this dread
disease, five in the family of Warren
Nichols, and it constituted the entire
family-father, mother, and   three
children; and Isaac Crofoot, the other
and last victim. The alarm occasioned by this epidemic was so universal, that medical and other aid was
very difficult to obtain, and for weeks
after it ceased to exist they were so
completely cut off from all communication with the surrounding settlements that Mr. Holcomb, who was
compelled to go to mill, was looked
upon, almost, as one risen from the
dead. In the absence of suitable lumber for coffins, the upper floor of Nichols' house was used for that purpose.
rough coffins were made, and the
dead deposited therein immediately
and buried  (in no cemetery), and
without religious services and with
the least possible delay.
The Holcomb farm was a productive one. Oats sometimes attained
nine feet and one inch in height.
First crop of wheat, from poor seed,
however, was smutty, chaffy and
worthless. His second crop, from the
sowing of Wabash pure wheat, was
clean and plump. Average product
some eighteen bushels. His average
crop of oats is from sixty to seventy
bushels per acre. Mr. Holcomb set
out thirty apple trees in 1835 and one
hundred in 1836.
Esquire Dwinnell of Emmett, was
called upon to marry Robert McCamly
and Mary Nichols, which he essayed
to do, in virtue of being a justice of
the peace in Calhoun county. In order that the parties might avail themselves of a "parlor" of a friend living
a little way from Dry Prairie, the justice met them there and made the
twain one flesh, according to law.
After a day or two their dreams were
shocked by the discovery that their


friend's shanty was across the county
line, to-wit, in the county of Branch
or Kalamazoo, in neither of which




counties was Mr. Dwinnell a justice
of the peace. Determined to literally
comply with the requirements of a
salutary law, the parties notified Esquire Dwinnell that he had a limited
jurisdiction, and thai he must hasten
to his own and their relief.   He
hunted up the parties, took them into
his cutter, brought them across the
county line and into the town of
Athens, and in the cutter aforesaid
married them, and this was the first
marriage in town, and these were the
circumstances thereof.
We append hereto an extract from
the eloquent oration delivered at Battie Creek, July 4, 1876, by Hon. L. D.
Dibble, on account of the local interest it excites.
The first celebration of the Fourth
of July held in Battle Creek was in
1835. It was between Sands McCamly's house and the junction of the
river-Judge McCamly presiding. Elder Adams delivered the oration, and
Moses Hall read the Declaration of
Independence. The occasion was a
pleasant one, and heartily enjoyed by
all. The day closed witn toasts and
responses, after which several hundred Indians came in and devoured
the remnants. In those days matrimony was difficult of accomplishment.
The day for the wedding was fixed,
and the justice of the peace was notified to be ready. If it was on his
"ague day," in the morning he attempted to fortify himself by taking
a large dose of quinine, and at noon
repeated this precaution by taking a
larger dose, and by the time the wedding party arrived, the justice was delirious, but the ready wit of his wife
was sufficient to carry all through.
The justice was taken to the well and
drenched with cold water, and for a
short time consciousness returned,
and seizing that moment the parties
were married. Moses Hall vas the
justice and Mr. Frank Thomas and
Miss  Amanda   Goddard   were  the
wedded pair.
In the expressive language of another, we can truly say that "the first
settlers of the wilderness have a peculiar experience which the country,
once occupied and Improved, can
never afford. They have privations
which their successors, on the cultivated fields, and in the thriving cities
which their enterprise has been the
means of producing, may some of
them fail to appreciate, but the proud
consciousness that their early trials
and labors and their once united and


hopeful energies, gave the first impulse  towards  these   magnificent
changes which they now witness, is,


of itself, something of a reward.
cases others may seem to reap the
benefit, but we may be sure that the
just and the wise will always award
honor to men in proportion to the real
benefits arising from what they have
accomplished.
Forty-five years ago the first log hut
was built in Battle Creek, on land costing one dollar and twenty-five cents
per acre; today the value of the same
land is estimated at not less than ten
thousand  dollars per acre.  Then
there were no schools, no churches, no
manufactories, no business; all was
a wilderness peopled by the aborigines
of the country. Today eleven religious denominations meet in their respective churches and lay their supplications before the throne of Grace.
Today there is invested in school
buildings, libraries and apparatus,
nearly or quite two hundred thousand
dollars, and fifteen hundred and seventy-three scholars, between the ages
of five and twenty years, receive an
education sufficiently advanced to
place them in good standing in the famous University of Michigan, free of
cost. Today fine brick blocks for business purposes, beautiful residences,
vieing with the palaces of eastern
cities in splendor; manufactories turning out their millions in value of manufactured articles of world-wide renown annually, have taken the place
of the forests of forty-five years ago.
Then, all the travel and all supplies
for the infant colony were transported
on wagons drawn by oxen. Today,
two railroads transport annually to
and from ihe city hundreds of thousands of pounds of freight, and tens of
thousands of passengers over their
iron ways at from twenty-five to forty-five miles per hour."
Battle Creek, Jan. 7, 1877.
John   Meacham's  Statement. He
first saw Battle Creek in the month of
July, 1835. Nathaniel Barney kept the
tavern on the north side of Main
street and at the northerly end of Barney street. A list of the male inhabitants was taken at the time by Mr.
Meacham, as follows:    Sands McCamly, Ezra Convis, Moses Hall, Tolman W. Hall, Polydore Hudson, Nathaniel Barney, Samuel Convis, Cephas
A. Smith, John S. Halladay, Joseph
Farnsworth, Jonathan Comstock, Ella
G. Smith, Joel Fordham, John Marvin,
porter Rossin.
Sands McCamly's saw mill frame
had been raised on the site where the
Cushman mill was erected many years


afterwards. A large number of men
were employed in digging the race,
and Benjamin Wright, widely known
9


at that time as a millwright, was
working at the machinery of said
mill. The mill was put in operation
in the winter following, and that was
the first use made of the water power
at Battle Creek.
At that time Milton was one of the
political divisions of Calhoun county,,
and embraced townships one and two
south, of range seven west, and townships one and two south, of range
eight west. Township two south, of
range seven west, was afterwards organized as a separate township and
called Cady, and was subsequently
changed to Emmett.
Township one south, of range seven
west, was set off and called Pennfield.
Township one south, of range seven
west, was organized and called Bedford, and the first township meeting
was held in the spring of 1839, at the
house of Josiah Gilbert; about forty
votes were polled. Caleb Kirby was
elected supervisor, and John Meacham
township clerk.
There were four settlers in Bedford in 1835:  Josiah Gilbert, John
Conway, George Johnson, and a man
by the name of Tower. John Conway
had a sawmill in operation at the
mouth of the outlet of what is now
known as Hart lake; it was located
on the bank of the Kalamazoo river,
near the present site of Pratt's mill.
Matthias Hutchinson erected a saw
mill in 1837 at Bedford village. I commenced an improvement on section
fifteen in Bedford, in 1838; soli my
interest in the farm in 1853, and in
September of the year last named became a resident of the city of Battle
Creek, at that time a village.
Noah P. Crittendon made an improvement on section thirty-three In
Bedford, and lost his life on the
steamer Erie, burned off the mouth of
Silver creek.
Isaac Sutton located section twentyfive in Bedford, in the year 1835, and
the following year took possession and
commenced his improvement. He had
eight sons and one daughter, and I
have heard him relate the following
anecdote: On his way home after locating his section of land, he called at
a farmer's house in the eastern part
of Michigan to get something to eat;
the farmer's good wife had the curiosity to know somewhat of his affairs.
He informed her that he had bought
a section of land in Calhoun county
and was going to move to Michigan.


She expressed surprise that a man of
his age should want to move to a new
country. "Why," said he. "I have eight
sons, and every one of them has a
sister,"  "What!" she exclaimed, in
astonishment, "sixteen of them, eh?"




Nathaniel Barney, who kept the public house in Battle Creek, in 1835, had
a contract for carrying the mail between Marshall and White Pigeon,
and would frequently allow a guest to
take his team and go to Marshall and
back, or to White Pigeon and back
with the mail; and Mr. Meacham recollects that he took the mail to Marshall, and delivered the same to
Charles D. Smith, postmaster at Marshall, and after feeding his team and
getting some refreshments for himself
he called for the return mail. Mr.
Smith at first refused to deliver it,
strongly censuring Barney for allowing so many irresponsible men to
carry the United States mail; but
Meacham demanded the mail, and
stated that his appointment was regular, and that he had that day been
duly sworn as a mail carrier before
Polodore Hudson, Esq., at Battle
Creek. Mr. Smith very reluctantly at
length brought out and delivered the
mail, and Meacham says this is his
first and last experience as a mail carrier.
A postoffice was established in Bedford, but I cannot remember the year;
Erastus R. Wattler was the first postmaster. The office is now kept at Bedford village, and is the only postoffice
ever established in that township.
I was informed that a sturgeon
weighing ninety pounds had been
taken as high up as the forks of the
Kalamazoo river at Albion, and in the
spring of 1836 I spent several days on
the river, hoping to capture one, but
the dam at Albion nad stopped their
migration above that place; the right
which the sturgeon had enjoyed to
navigate the Kalamazoo from time immemorial, was suddenly taken away
by the Allegan dam.
In the summer of 1835 I saw William B. Hill at Barney's tavern with
his rifle, shoot at a wild deer standing
on the opposite bank of the Kalamazoo river; fortunately for the deer.
the shot did not take effect. At that
time deer were as plenty inside as outside of the present city limits. In
the summer of 1836 the grounds now
occupied by tne Advent college and
Health Reform Institute was one great
strawberry bed, and often did the
writer of this go out of his way to enjoy his solitary strawberry festival.
In the spring the Indians would set
fire to the dry leaves, which would
spread over vast tracts of country,
when everything on the earth's surface of the ground everywhere would
be clothed with beautiful green, inter

spersed with varied colored wild flowers.  Michigan never appeared so
beautiful as in the early days. Every

one who came here, when the country
was new, could give some Incidents
worthy of record.
The following article from the pen
of Mrs. John Ainsley and Mrs. G. W.
Dryer, as illustrative of early times
in Calhoun county, is copied from the
History and Directory of Calhoun
county, compiled and published in
1869, by E. J. Rust:
"In the year 1831, when the Michigan fever was carrying off hundreds
to that country, my husDand and myself, then residing in Pennsylvania,
caught the raging epidemic. Being
young and possessing a good share of
firmness, connected with more than
common constitutions, we made up
our minds that Michigan was the
place for us. Having both lost our
parents when quite young, we were
left with no other fortune than to earn
our bread by the sweat of our brows.
Having been married only three years
our capital, of course, was small. We
made a vendue and sold all our household furniture excepting a little salt
dish and a few bed-clothes. We were
so carried away with the idea of moving to the far west, we scarcely
thought but what the comforts and
conveniences of life were the abundant products of that much extolled
El Dorado. Two small trunks, a chest
of carpenter's tools and a little daughter, ten months old, and $300 in money
constituted our earthly all. The 3d
day of June we had everything arranged for our departure. And now,
dear reader, if you ever gave the parting hand to beloved brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances, and
bade adieu to the home and scenes of
your youth, your imagination can better paint the anguish of my heart than
I can describe it with my pen. We
hired a teamster to convey us 100
miles. We then took the steamboat
across Cayuga lake. Not being used
to traveling we saw many things to
divert our minds, and call our thoughts
from those we left behind. Having
friends in Scottsville, New York, we
spent a week there very pleasantly.
We attended meeting while we were
there, and heard a very deep and interesting discourse by the Rev. Mr.
Cheesman. Little did we think it
would be the last we should hear for
a year to come.
Having visited our friends at that
place, we set out once more on our
westward journey. On the 19th of the
same month we arrived in Detroit, and
if ever I was thankful for victuals and
drink it was then.


As we knew nothing of the situation
of the country, only what we had read
and heard, we knew not what course
10


to take; but it was our good fortune
to form an acquaintance with a gentleman by the name of Gurnsey. He had
traveled as far west as Battle Creek,
and selected a farm near that place.
He liked the country very much and
advised us to go in that direction.
Having the appearance of a man who
could be relied on, we concluded to
follow his advice. We had no conveyance of our own, and there being no
stage route in that direction, we were
obliged to accept of any conveyance
we could find. As we had but little
with us, my husband made a bargain
with a man who was moving to that
part of the country to carry our
trunks. I was to ride when convenient
and husband was to proceed on foot.
On these conditions we left Detroit,
with hopes of soon beholding the beautiful plains that had been pictured to
us in such high colors; but as we advanced we were greatly disappointed
in the appearance of the country. The
roads were bad, the water poor, and
the land was not much better. My
child was quite unwell, and I was compelled to walK from three to five
miles at a time and carry her. The
weather was very warm, and not being used to poor, hard water, it will
not be wondered at that my thoughts
would revert to the pure cold water of
my former pleasant home. But this
did not discourage us, as we had made
up our minds to go ahead until we
found a place that suited us. The second evening after leaving Detroit we
arrived at Ann Arbor, a very pleasant place and beautifully located, but
we did not like the country around it.
After remaining here for two days to
rest, we started again and traveled
about five miles to a place called
Thorny Creek. My husband did not
think it best for me to accompany him
any farther until he should find a location.  We accordingly rented  a
small house, or rather a part of one,
as there were two families already
living in it; but it was tae best we
could do.
Calhoun county had been very
highly recommended to us, and my
husband determined to see it before
making a purchase. He therefore,
set out on his journey, leaving me to
enjoy my new home as best I could.
The prospect of ease and comfort
was not very flattering, I assure you.
There were nineteen of us huddled together in a little log cabin, with only
one place to set up a bed, and that was
given to the eldest, of course, leaving
the rest of us to select the softest


planks upstairs or down, as we might
prefer. After the lapse of a few days
my husband had the good fortune to




find a location that suited him, and
made a purchase, and returned without any accident.
It was now about the 20th of July
and we immediately commenced making preparations to go to our permanent home in Calhoun county. We
were obliged to go to Ann Arbor to
purchase some provisions and articles
for housekeeping, as the reader will
remember we brought nothing with
us. W~e had no team of our own and
we could not get one where we were.
We therefore set out on foot, intending to get one at Ann Arbor to bring
our purchases back with us. We had
not accomplished more than half of
our journey when my husband was
taken with fever and ague, and was
obliged to lie down by the roadside
and await the approach of some person with a team, or until he should be
able to proceed on foot. The weather
was very warm and my babe troublesome, and I was compelled to carry
her the rest of the way in my arms,
as my husband was only able to drag
himself along with great difficulty,
and when we arrived at our destination he had to go to bed, leaving me
to do the shopping alone.    v hen
night came I was sick and tired
enough to go to bed, but we had to return that night. By this time my husband had so far recovered that he was
able to get about, and soon succeeded
in hiring a team to carry us to our
home. It was now quite dark, and we
had to ride five miles over bad roads
behind an ox team. I had such a violent pain in the head and chest that
it seemed to me I should never live to
get home, and when we did get there,
how unlike the home we had been accustomed to. The time had now arrived when we must set out again on
-our westward journey. We hired a
man with a breaking up team and plow
to carry us to our new home, and stay
-and do some breaking up for us. At
that early day there were no crossings
and but few bridges, so that we were
obliged to ford the streams and wade
the marshes which were in our way.
The country appeared more pleasant
as we proceeded on our journey, but
we were not smitten with its beauty.
Four o'clock in the afternoon of the
first day brought us within three miles
of Grass Lake, now called Leoni. Here
we found our progress impedea by
quite an extensive marsh which looked,liKe anything but driving loaded wag-,ons over it; but it lay in our way, and
having no inclination to turn back,
nor to go around, we attempted to


ford it. We had not made more than
half the distance across It when we
were brought up standing, or rather


sticking in the mud. There was a
man in our company with his goods
and family, ten in number, who had
made a location adjoining ours.
Thinking to lighten our load we all
got off and waded through, and happily escaped the poisonous fangs of
the massasaugas, with which the
swamps were then so thickly infested.
After lighting up, our teamsters
hitched four yoke of cattle to the end
of the tongue of the foremost wagon,
thinking to bring it out, but did not
succeed. Totally unconscious of how
far we were from human habitation or
assistance, eight o'clcck in the evening found our teams mud bound, and
ourselves perched upon high ground
with our garments wet and bedraggled
with the mud of Michigan. The monotony of our situation was broken
occasionally by the howl of a hungry
wolf, or the shriek of some startled
night bird. We had about made up
our minds to camp where we were for
the night, when, to our great joy, we
beheld a man approaching witn three
yokes of cattle. We were not long in
procuring his assistance to help us out
of our difficulty. They hitched the
seven yokes of cattle to the end of the
wagon tongue, which brought those in
front on hard ground. By this means
our wagons were soon brought out. It
was now quite late, but we were soon
loaded up and on the move again,
and reached the Grass Lake House between ten and eleven o'clock that
night very much fatigued. After taking some refreshments we retired to
rest, and when the morning light
dawned upon us, we found that "nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep"
had restored us to our wanted vigor.
We set out on our journey again with
new courage, but before nine o'clock
we found ourselves stationary in the
mud again, and had to go half a mile
for assistance.
With the assistance obtained we
were soon on terra firma, and by
twelve o'clock reached the small village of Jacksonburg, and put up at a
notel kept by a man by the name of
Blackman. Here we were treated very
kindly, and regaled ourselves with
green peas and new potatoes, the first
of the season for us, which was quite
a treat. Our next obstruction was
Sandstone creeK, which was not
bridged. We had to drive into the
creek and then follow up-stream a considerable distance before we could effect a crossing. We staid that night
at Roberts' tavern, and the next day
took dinner at Blashfield's tavern, sit

uated in a very pleasant place. If I
remember rightly, there were but
three houses between Jackson and


Marengo. We intended to camp out
that night as we considered tne distance too great to drive through.
We thought of pitching our tent at
the forks of the river, since called Abbott's Stand, but when we arrived
there, to our great astonishment, we
found it already occupied by a party
of Indians with their dogs and guns,
pappooses and ponies, strewn over the
ground in every direction. As it was
a beautiful moonlight evening we concluded to go as far as Squire Neal's,
which was the first and only house at
that time in Marengo. When we arrived there I thought it the most beautiful place I ever beheld. The moon
shed her silvery light over a vast plain
covered with flowers tinged with
every hue, with here and there a
stately hickory extending its beautiful branches, as it to invite the weary
traveler to rest in its luxuriant shade.
A field of corn in front of the house,
rustling its green foliage in the cool
breeze of evening, rendered the scene
still more delightful.  The family
treated us with as much hospitality
as their circumstances would admit
of. As there was no floor in the house
we spread our bed-clothes on the sand
to rest for the night and cooked our
breakfast next morning by the side of
a log. We were now within two miles
of our place of destination, and I was
very anxious to see it. One or two
hours' travel brought us to the spot
we could call our home. Home It was,
but our habitation was the sky above
and the earth oeneath, ca peted with
nature's green, interspersed with beautiful flowers.
We soon were busily engaged unloading our things, pitching our tents,
cooking dinner, etc.  Mr. Kimball
pitched his tent some four or five rods
from us, which seemed quite neighborly. Our tent was composed of two
sheets overhead, with bushes set up
all round the sides except a small
opening for a door, which we closed
with a tablecloth.  We lived in this
manner three weeks before our house
was ready to move into. We had but
little room and needed less, as our
stock of personal property was limited.
We had one cow, which, if she was not
in clover, fared sumptuously every
day on the fine grass that grew so
abundantly all around us. Our flourbarrel served us for a cupboard, our
tool-chest for a table, and two small
trunks for seats. Four small forks
driven into the ground with poles
across, covered with our wagon boards
composed our bedstead.


Our bed, when made up, looked as
though an elephant had stepped on it.
We had pillow cases and ticks, but


11




nothing to fill them with, as there had
been no grain raised in the country,
and consequently no straw was to be
had. Could we have been favored
with air-tight ticks we should have resorted to the expedient of blowing
them up for the sake of looKs, if nothing else, so anxious were we to make
a respectable appearance. But our
pride was forced to yield to our poverty, and we had to wait until the
oak tree could be felled and the leaves
dried, which made a very good bed
and pillow. ' his was laid aside for
hay, and the hay in time gave place
for straw, which we raised the coming season. It proved to be a very wet
time while tenting out, and we were
favored with a shower nearly every
day and night. Persons of inquiring
minds may wonder how we managed
with our frail covering, to keep our
goods and baby dry. For the information of such I would say, that our tent
leaked very badly, and our clothing
and bedding were often wet, but soon
dried when the sun shone, and, fortunately for us, the finish on our furniture was waterproof.
As for baby, when it rained too hard
we put. her under the washtub until
tne shower was over.
My husband, being expert in the use
of tools, by industry and perseverance
succeeded in getting up our house and
finishing it so that we could move
into it on the 25th of August, just
three weeks from the time we arrived.
It is true there was no chimney or
chamber floor in it, but we had a good
shingle roof, a floor below, and a door
made from hewed planks, which was
quite an improvement on the cottoncovered house we vacated, and a better house than there was in tne whole
village of Marshall, as there were none
there that could boast of a floor until
my husband hewed the timber for that
purpose. Our house was situated in a
delightful hickory grove with beautiful surroundings. When I first beheld
it the poetic spirit was stirred within
me, and I was led to exclaim:
"We have found a place in the greenwood shade,
That Nature on purpose for us hath
made."
We were very thankful that we had
been so highly favored, and began to
feel that we were getting up in the
world. We were the owners of 160
acres of land, with a house erected on
it, one cow, a barrel of flour, a little
hay put up, and five acres of wheat on
the ground, besides a few articles for


housekeeping, such as we could not
do without, and very few would have
been willing to do with.
Mr. Hurd and Charles D. Smith rode
over from Marshall and made us a


visit. They were tne first men who
called on us in the county, and we
were very glad to make their acquaintance, as neighbors at that time were
few and far between. The falling of
the leaves and the shortening of the
days reminded us that it was time to
prepare for winter. Our breadstuff
was nearly all gone and a supply could
not be obtained nearer than fifty
miles; but as this was the best that
could be done (and we could not live
without bread) my husband and Mr.
Kimball started for the mill to obtain
a supply. They had to ford the Kalamazoo twice and ferry it once in an
Indian canoe, taking their wagon apart
and conveying one wheel across at a
time. The journey was performed in
eleven days without accident. It was
now the 11th of November, and we
had done but little to make our home
comfortable for winter. We went to
work to finish our chimney, and had
just completed it when it commenced
snowing, and we did not see the
ground until January. We were out
of groceries of every kind at this time,
except pepper and salt; and what was
still worse, we were nearly out of
money. But we had started out with
the determination to make the best
of everything, and when we had
neither fish, flesh nor fowl, potatoes
nor milk, we ate our bread alone, with
thankfulness. We had cranberries,
plenty, which we had obtained of the
Indians, but they were not very palatable without sweetening. Mr. Dowling, one of our neighbors, remarked
that he had eaten them so long without sugar that his teeth seemed longer
than usual. Our nearest market town
was Ann Arbor, distant 65 miles, and
my husband concluded to go there and
replenish our stock of provisions. As
our circumstances required us to use
the most rigid economy, I thought I
would bake him a loaf of bread to
carry with him for lunch. We had to
do all our baking in what was then
called a bake-kettle, and this had to
be rubbed with butter, lard, or grease
of some kind, in order to get the loaf
out without breaking it to pieces.
These articles had all disappeared,
and I was for a while at a loss to
know what to do; but I remembered
that my husband had saved some marrow to oil his gun, and having sold his
gun had no further use for it. I took
the marrow and greased my kettle
with it, and my loaf came out beautifully and I felt quite proud of my
achievement.


until within three miles of home,
when one of his oxen gave out and
could go no furtAer. He turned him
out and took the end of the yoke himself, and reached home about eleven
o'clock at night, tired and hungry.
The ox left by the wayside died, and
we sold the other, which left us with
out a team. The winter soon passed
away, and the time of the singing of
birds came, and with it came work on
the farm. We had some of our land
enclosed, and, in order to secure our
wheat crop, it must be fenced. We
were in a close place, without a team
or means to get one. It is said that
'necessity is the mother of invention,'
and it did not fail us in this instance.
My husband felled a large oak tree,
and sawed off some wheels, and made
a wagon, upon which we together
could draw ten rails at a time by both
pulling one way, which all married
people should do. In this manner we
drew the rails, and fenced a field of
twenty acres. Mr. Neal, Mr. Ames
and my husband procured their seed
potatoes this season by making a canoe on the Rice creek, and going with
it to Kalamazoo, where a Mr. Bronson
had raised some to spll. They boated
tnem up the Kalamazoo in their canoe, which took them about five days.
We were now well provided for, and
prospects ahead were hopeful. Providence smiled upon our labors, and
our fields yielded their increase. It
was in this manner that the early settlement of our town was made, and
although we had our trials and our
straight places to pass through, we
also had our seasons of enjoyment
and pleasure and after having overcome the obstacles in our pathway,
we enjoyed fighting our battles over
again on the long winter evenings
around our ample fireside.
The first burying place was located
on the territorial road, on the land
taken 'by Seeley Neale; and the first
interment made therein was a child of
H1-iram Dowling's.
The first township election was held
in April, 1833, at the nouse of Seeley
Neale, who then kept the postoffice,
he being also the first postmaster in
town. At this first charter election
Seeley Neale was chosen supervisor;
Harmon Neale, township clerk, constable, and collector; Reuben Abbott
and Joseph Ames, directors of the
poor.
It is more than can be expected,
that in an article like this we should
mention all the early settlers, and per

haps, after all, some may Lave escaped our minds who deserve more
than a passing notice.
Thomas    Chisholm  and   Robert




The next morning my husband
started with his oxen and sleigh for
Ann Arbor. He was gone about one
week, and got along without accident
12




Church, at whose pleasant places we
are as we leave Marshall, going east
on the t( rritorial road, the former still
living on the old place, but the latter
many years since deceased, now come
to our minds as the earliest settlers."
The following is taken from the interesting reminiscence of early times,
written in 1850, by Mrs. George Dryer
of Marengo:
"In the spring of 1833 the western
fever was raging in our vicinity, almost equal to the California fever of
the present day. It is unnecessary
here to detail the causes that first induced us to seek a new home in the
(as it was then called) 'far west.' Suffice it to say, that the glowing accounts given by Mr. S. S. Allcott of
Calhoun county, and the valley of the
Kalamazoo, gave my father and husband a strong desire to at last visit
that El Dorado of the west. Their expectations were so fully realized that
they were induced to make large purchases in what is now called the town
of Marengo, on the south side of the
Kalamazoo river. The prospect was
hailed with delight by myself; visions
of cottages and wild flowers danced
before my imagination. The idea of
seeing a country so lately inhabited
only by the red men of the forest; of
viewing nature in her primeval
beauty; of building for ourselves a
home in the wilderness, had in itself
enough of interest and excitement to
render it the object of my highest ambition. My parents, too, and only
brother, were going, and the few dear
ones that remained behind gave us
many assurances that, should no unforeseen circumstances prevent, they
would rejoin us in the spring. I pass
over our trying journey, which was
probably no worse than that endured
by many others, and will speak of the
habitation we called home. We were
not going to have a log house, not we.
It would be just as easy to build a
good one (so we reasoned) first as
last.
Our beautiful plains, though abounding in small trees, did not afford any
of sufficient magnitude for building
purposes, and, accordingly, we had recourse to 'Uncle Sam's' land. I wondered much who this 'Sam' was that
every one called 'Uncle,' and who had
such an abundance of timber; but, I
soon found it customary for emigrants
scantily supplied, to make use of that
growing on lands which belonged to
the government, and which was called
in western phraseology, 'Uncle Sam's'
land.  Our seasoned   lumber and


shingles had to be brought from Gull
Prairie, some thirty miles distant. The
difficulty, too, of getting brick, lime,


and other building materials, made it
much easier building castles in the air
than in reality. A few warm, sunny
days had shrunk the boards that covered orr dwelling to such a degree
that in spite of all the battening that
could be done, the rain, which was
very frequent, poured in upon us most
unmercifully. Every fair day would
behold beds, bedding, wearing apparel, etc., spread out to dry. This
state of things was not to be endured
much longer, and we accordingly held
a consultation, which resulted in a
determination to build a log cabin
after all. All hands were now in requisition, and in less than a week logs
were out, hauled and rolled together,
and we had a log cabin completed that
would lay all those of 1840 in the
shade, and was much more appropriate in point of usefulness. It was altogether more commodious tnan our
'shanty' and had one merit not to be
overlooked by mysel[, to-wit: a real
door made of boards, with wooden
hinges, latch-string and all. We had
now no reason to wish to avoid seeking our friends, as the arrival of a
couple of loaded wagons from Detroit
had furnished us with all the necessary apparatus for living in a comfortable manner.  We had now    a
chamber and I took great delight in
arranging it, partitioning off bedrooms with curtains, spare sheets, etc.
We had a huge fireplace, made of the
sandstone taken from the bank of the
river, near which was situated our
dwelling. It occupied almost one entire side of the cabin, leaving barely
room in one corner for a ladder. One
of our packing boxes, furnished with
shelves, and a table cloth hung in
front, occupied the other corner, serving the double purpose of pantry and
cupboard, which was usually well supplied with fish, flesh and fowl; the
river affording an abundance of excellent fish.  My little brother, then
nearly fourteen, was very expert with
his rifle, and though not successful
with large game, managed to kill a
great many prairie hens, wild ducks,
and pheasants. I accompanied him
in many of his rambles, sometimes
along the river, bLut often over the
plains, where we would stop and
gather hickory nuts, which lay under
almost every tree in great abundance.
Of these we gathered a large store,
hoping they might prove in some degree a substitute for the fruit which
we must now learn to do without, at
least, for the present, and which we
feared we should much miss during


the long evenings of the approaching
winter. In the meantime, the site of
our new house had been selected, the
13


timber brought to the spot, the cellar
dug, the wall laid up from the kind of
stone that composed our fireplace, and
all things were in readiness for raising, which event was looked upon as
of no small consequence, as it would
be the first frame house in tae town.
At length the important day came. Our
new building was erected, and, as it
stood on an elevated piece of ground,
it made quite an imposing appearance. We had, however, given up all
thoughts of getting it habitable before
spring. The carpenters soon had it
inclosed, and could be at work during
the winter, making doors, blinds,
sash, etc. I forgot to mention that,.
while digging stone for our cellar,
they came upon a spring of pure
water, which gushed forth clear and
sparkling, even as Horeb of old. This
was a great acquisition, for, although
the waters of the Kalamazoo answered
very well in the winter, when warm
weather came we found the water of
this spring invaluable. A level had
been taken of the river and sufficient
fall found for a good water-power,
within a few rods of our abode. The
job for the erection of a sawmill was
let; and the race being dug, already
it began to be whispered that at noe
very Aistant day we might hope to
have a village-aye, perhaps a city;
for, why not? We had an extensive
water-power, sufficient for all kinds of
machinery, a fine location for a town,
surrounded by a productive country.
A road had already been laid
through from Albion to Marshall on
the section line, on which was established our little colony.
The river had been bridged, and it
was thought by many, and more especially ourselves, that the great thoroughfare leading from Detroit to Lake
Michigan would leave the old territorial road at Albion, and, passing
through on the section line, intersect
it again at Marshall, as that would be
a more direct route. We were now
prepared for winter which had already
come upon us, though in a mild form.
We had many balmy, pleasant days,
though occasionally a little snow, to
remind us of departed sleigh-rides.
In the interim a number of families
had moved into our immediate vicinity, which had made quite an addition
to our little society.
It was determined that the approaching new year should be celebrated in a becoming manner, but here
arose a new difficulty: Maynard's inn


though sufficiently spacious for the
last Fourth of July ball, would hardly
answer, now that the neighborhood
had become so densely populated. A
few days previous to the expected




event, our carpenters were required to
assist in putting on an addition. They
had it completed in due season, with
the exception of a fireplace, or chimney, which absence was to be supplied
by a large kettle of coals, stoves not
being easily obtained at that time.
There was snow enough on the ground
to make it look like sleighing, and
would answer very well for so short a
distance, if there was only a suitable
conveyance for the occasion. A pair
of runners was accordingly made, and
our carriage body securely fastened
upon them, which made a comfortable
and, what was still more, quite a dashing turnout. This vehicle was now in
requisition to convey the ladies to and
from the scene of festivity. I was not
present; but was assured by those
who were, that, in point of good cheer
and real enjoyment, it exceeded any
they ever attended. The music consisted of two violins, played by Mr.
A. M. Benson and Mr. S. Chapman, of
this town.
After brushing from our recollections the cobwebs which time has collected there, my husband is reminded
of a bear hunt which he, together with
some others, once engaged in. One
morning the cry was raised that a
large bear had been seen passing near
our house, and had gone on to the
north. Off they started in pursuit,
stopping not for swamps, creeks, or
marshes, expecting every moment to
overtake and give him battle; but, I
fancy bruin stood in no immediate
danger, as not one of the party ever
caught sight of him after leaving
home. When they halted to take
breath, they found he was far advanced, and were so bewildered that
no two of them could agree as to the
direction they should take to return
home; they, however, saw some Indian huts at a distance, and determined to try to obtain food and shelter for the night. Judging from their
story, their reception was not a very
cordial one. A shoulder of venison
was all they were able to obtain from
the Indians, and that only by paying a
high price for it, and which must have
made, without bread or salt, rather
an unsavory meal, but served in some
degree to appease their appetites. As
there was a number of them, they occupied different lodges for the night.
One of the party informed me that an
old woman in the tent where he
passed the night kneaded some flour
on a bark, and made a kind of doughnut, which she fried in deer's tallow.
He partook of some and pronounced


them quite palatable; but, if I had
been one of the party, I would much
rather have taken her word than


proved it by my own experience. In
the morning they hired an Indian to
guide them to Abbott's tavern, which
place was well known to them, it being a sort of trading post, where they
frequently carried their furs, deerskins, venison, cranberries, maple sugar, etc., to swap for flour, bread and
not infrequently, a stronger article,
which was prohibited being sold them
by the government, but for which they
had an insatiable appetite.
Our heroic bear hunters had passed
the night somewhere in the vicinity
of Duck Lake, and arrived at Abbott's
the evening of the following day, hungry, weary, and most of them fully
satisfied that they had not enough of
the Crockett in them to make successful hunters. Especially was this so
with my husband, and if my memory
serves me right, this was his first and
last attempt at hunting. Spring was
now drawing near, and in the meantime letters had been dispatched to
our eastern friends, setting forth in
glowing colors the natural advantages
of this land of our adoption, and using our best arguments to induce
them to join us. We were successful;
for letters arrived informing us that
our sisters, friends and neighbors were
already making preparations and
might be expected on the first opening
of navigation, to which period we now
looked forward with no small degree
of pleasure. Some of our finest cranberries, purest honey, and choicest
bits of dried venison, were carefully
laid aside for the occasion. These, as
being products of the country, would,
we thought, prove a greater treat than
anything that could be imported
from the east. It was now spring, and
each pleasant day beheld us busily engaged in clearing away and burning
the rubbish that had collected during
the winter about our dwelling. One
day while thus engaged, we heard an
unusual splash in the river, which
much excited our curiosity. We mentioned the fact to our workmen, and
they determined to ascertain the
cause. After due examination they
found it occasioned by some of the
finny tribe, but whether whale, shark,
or crocodile, was still a mystery; certain it was they were of an enormous
size. The river then being unobstructed by dams, there was free passage from the lake up. The workmen,
however, determined to make war
upon these monsters of the deep. They
at first tried shooting them; but as
this did not succeed, they armed themselves with pitchforks, and waded


into the stream. They found much
difficulty in holding them without a
barbed spear (with which article they
14


were unprovided, but after cutting
their throats in the water, they at last
succeeded in bringing a number triumphantly to shore, the largest weighing one hundred and twenty pounds.
We, who had always resided in the interior of New York, knew but little
about what kind of fish they were;
out a gentleman present, who had
seen them caught from the Hudson,
pronounced them to be sturgeon. We
had some of them cooked, but found
them, in our opinion, wholly unfit for
the table. The remainder were accordingly permitted to pass on unmolested. In due time our friends arrived from the east, and we took possession of our new house. There was,
of course, much rejoicing. My husband was at work at a little distance
from the house when they arrived.
My sister, who saw him approaching,
and who had never seen him in his
new character of farmer, or in his
farmer habiliments, exclaimed in some
alarm, 'Yonder comes an Indian.' We
were highly amused at her mistake,
which was, however, very pardonable,
considering his unshaven and sunburnt appearance, without hat or coat,
except a kind of frock made of brown
holland, which, at a little distance,
gave him much the appearance of one
of the natives, especially to one u.naccustomed to seeing savages and
backwoodsmen. The ensuing Fourth
of July was celebrated at Marshall,
and the oration delivered by Isaac E.
Crary, in a little grove near where the
court house now stands, and the dinner was provided by Mr. Vandenburg.
The table was set under a bower built
for the occasion. There was also a
ball at Mr. S. Planter's, who then kept
the old Exchange. Since that period
the march of improvement and civilization has been onward. But one
word more in regard to our village:
At one time a plat was made out and
recorded; many lots were sold, and a
number of buildings, both public and
private, were erected, but some of
these passed into the hands of speculators, and, like many other paper
cities of 1836, it has had, since that
time, a rather retrograde movement.
At present Marengo cannot boast
much in the way of a village, and is
willing to yield the palm to her sister
towns, Marshall and Albion, but for
beauty of locality and scenery, for
fine fruit, fine farms, and enterprising
farmers, she will yield the palm to
none, and if any one will not admit
the truth of this assertion, let them,
on a fine summer's day, ride through


Marengo on the south side of the Kalamazoo, and they will be convinced.
The waters of the old spring bubble




up, clear and bright, as of yore. The
old log cabin stood until quite recently, a memento of other days, having been the successive habitation of
at least twenty different families. But
the dear old companions of my journey, those idolized parents, and that
brave and gentle brother, where are
they? Alas, they sleep the sleep that
knows no waking; they lie low in the
village churchyard.
George W. Dryer arrived with his
family in the fall of 1833, and was the
first justice of the peace in the village
being appointed in 1835 by Steven T.
Mason, who was the acting governor
of the territory. S. G. Pattison, with
his family, arrived in May, 1834, and
immediately commenced teaming between Detroit and Chicago, and for
several years did a large business,
both in freight and passengers. The
inhabitants were for a long time dependent upon his team for supplies
and provisions. At one time when the
teams were greatly delayed on account of swollen streams, departed
bridges, etc., the "settlement" came
to actual want. Mr. Pattison in this
emergency, killed his only cow to supply their wants which was dressed
and prepared for food, and served to
keep hunger from their doors till the
teams arrived with provisions.
Messrs. Pattison & Dryer brought
in the first stock of dry goods and groceries in the year 1834, but soon gave
way to Harris & Austin.
Pattison & Dryer then brought in a
drove of cattle from Illinois for the
accommodation of emigrants. In the
following  spring, 1836, they  also
brought in a drove of some 300 head
from Indiana, which were readily disposed of to emigrants. The same year
Messrs. Pattison & Dryer broke up
new ground and put into wheat 206
acres."
Correspondence of Col. Chas. Dickey
With Various Persons With Regard
to the History of the Indians Who
Formerly Lived in Calhoun County.
",>  -  Colonel Charles Dickey of Marshall,
<>)    a short time previous to his death,
was collecting material for a history
of the Indians who formerly had their
home in Calhoun county, and for this
purpose corresponded with parties
whom he thought could give him some
information on the subject. His death
occurring in January, 1879, prevented
him from carrying out his plan. He
had collected much information on the
subject, and a part of this correspond

ence, found among his papers after
his decease, is here given; also in
connection therewith is a paper by


Mr. B. O. Williams of Owosso, relating thereto:
Letter of N. P. Hobart:Athens, Dec. 25, 1878.
Hon. Charles Dickey, Marshall:
Dear Sir — ours of the eighth was
duly received, in which you ask me to
give you some information in regard
to the Indians that once lived in this
town, etc.
In 1840 General Brady removed all
they could get of the Indians (the Huron band of the Pottawatomies) west
of the Missouri river, in what is now
Miami county, Kansas, where they remained a few years, and were then removed northwest of Topeka, on the
Kansas river, and east of the Big
Blue; then in the spring of 1876, they
were removed south to the Indian Territoiy, between the North Fork and
the Canadian river, where such as are
alive and their descendants, now are.
The General had some trouble in
getting them together, though he finally succeeded in collecting about 250,
more or less, at my house, from which
place they commenced their journey
west. Some, however, succeeded in
escaping to Canada before they left
the state. Among those who died in
Canada was Checum-quassy, Ne-aw-tanaw, Baw-bees, Wap-ot-asko, and Neau-to-beer-saw, otherwise called Leather-nose, from the fact of having his
nose bitten off in a fight, and had a
false nose made of leather. He was a
quarrelsome, ugly fellow. I was well
acquainted with all of them, and could
talK with them. He was drowned
crossing the Detroit river from Canada in a canoe. Cho-chack was captured by a soldier just before he
reached the river at Detroit and
brought back, and went west with the
others. John Moguago, the head man
or chief, with his half-brother, Pampto-pee, and their families, escapel
from the soldiers at Skunk Grove, in
Illinois and after a while made their
way back here. Marcho-no-qua, John's
sister, with her four children, went
west with the others, and came back
with Benjamin Holcomb, the next
year.
Jackson, or Whetstone, Te-ese and
Sebe-qua, together with their families,
returned to this town in less than two
years after their removal west, in all
about forty souls.
About the year 1844 we got on the
track of some back pay (if you please
to call it so) belonging to the heirs of
old Chief Moguago (John's father),
who was killed on his way home from
Chicago to Nottawa Sepee reserve,


where he lived, because he would not
sign the treaty held at Chicago in
1831, to sell the Nottawa depee re15


serve, which is ten miles square including a large part of Nottawa
prairie. Charles G. Hammond went to
Washington and succeeded in getting
something over $2,000 and an annuity
ot $400 for them, which is but a moiety
of what is equitably, and I think legally their right. They (the band)
then appointed myself and Thomas L.
Acker their agents, to disburse the
money for them, and with it their land
was bought, houses, barns and school
house built, cattle, farming tools, etc.,
bought. I think they have received
their annuity regularly up to this
time, and will continue to so long as
they remain a bana. uohn Moguago,
Pamp-to-pee, Whetstone, Tetese, Se-baqua, and Marcho-no-qua, the heads of
the six families who had houses built
and shared the land, are all dead, and
their children and heirs occupy the
farms. Moguago had no son to succeed him as chief, and a son of his
half-brother, Pamp-to-pee, is now the
head man of the band. His name is
Phineas Pamp-to-pee; he is a good,
honest man. There are now about 40
on the farm-men, women and children; the younger ones attend school,
and most of them can read, write, and
transact their own business.
Truly yours,
N. P. Hobart.
Statement of Cornelius Osborn.
Cornelius Osborn of Mason Valley,
Nevada, says that about thirty years
ago he knew an Indian chief called,
"Leather-nose;" he, with a small band
of Indians, ran to Canada when the
Indians of this section were removed
west. Mr. Osborn gives it as his recollection that Leather-nose and an Indian trader of Coldwater, whose name
was Marsh, got the payment due the
Indians from the government, and it
is said they never paid it over; and
when the Indians were removed,
imiarsh, who had the contract for the
removal, let Leather-nose and his followers go to Canada for presents before going west, and they failed to return in time to go; and for many
years Leather-nose, with his little
band of forty, was seen at several
places in our county in search of Fech
and Barnes. Leather-nose was a terror to all the children of the county;
he is said to have killed his son's
squaw. a beautiful person, for stealing
away his keg of whisky, when he with
some of his comrades were having a
drunken row, and that she took the
keg of whisky to Osborn's and then
went back to tue tent near Mr. Hall's
house on the bank of Nottawa lake,


Calhoun county, Michigan, and in the
night old Leather-nose came up and
finding the daughter asleep, cut her




head off at a single blow, and her remains were buried near the old home
of Mr. Holt near Nottawa lake, in Tekonsha township, Calhoun county.
Tekonsha was an old Indian town of
two or three hundred Indians.
Letter by B. O. Williams.
City of Lansing, Feb. 6, 1879.
At the request of the committee of
historians I have looked over the
notes and memoranda of the late Hon.
Charles Dickey, gathered by him in order to preserve and perpetuate a record of some of the bands of the Pottawattomie Indians living in the southwestern portion of our state.
In a letter of N. P. Hobart, of Dec.
23, 1878, I find the following words:
"Chochuck was captured by a soldier
just before he reached the river Detroit, and brought back, and went
west with others." This recalls to me
what occurred at that time at Owosso
in Shiawassee county. One Sunday
morning in the fall of 1840 I met on,
our village plat, General Brady of the
United States army, who had followed
a large number of those Indians from
their homes through the woods with
a company of United States troops to
Chesaning in Saginaw county, where
he had captured some forty or fifty
men, women and children the day before, and his troops came near having
a fight as they came very suddenly
upon the encampment. These Indians
were secured in a log cabin erected
for the hard cider campaign of that
year. We ascertained that the Indian
that General Brady was most anxious
to secure, and who, from my present
recollection, was known and called by
the general and the captured Indians
their head chief, by name of Mack-emoot, had started for Canada two days
before, taking with him three men,
all armed, the chief with a bow and
quiver of arrows with barbed iron
points. The main body of the Indians
were encamped near a large cranberry marsh, about eight miles northwest of Owosso, and had been gathering berries and selling both at Owosso
and Saginaw for over a week. General Brady agreed to pay my brother,
A. L. Williams, and Mr. Ira Stimpson,
$200 if they would capture the chief
and deliver him at Owosso during the
week. They immediately started in
pursuit, overtaking the four Indians
and capturing them one and one-half
miles east of Pontiac, being aided by
the sheriff of Oakland county, Mr.
Schuler Hodges, and my brother, Hon.
G. D. Williams, of Saginaw, who by


chance was at Pontiac. The capture
was an entire surprise to the Indians,
and the chief had declared before leaving his band that he would never be


taken alive. He was securely manacled and his legs bound by express request of the general, and the four men
placed in a wagon and rapidly driven
to Owosso, guarded by my brother and
his assistant, and delivered to General
Brady at the log cabin. Their capture
and return to custody induced the
chief to send a runner to the band in
the woods who soon came in, and the
whole started under escort of the
troops for Kansas via their point of
escape. General Brady felt very indignant that they had broken their
promise to not make an attempt at
escaping to Canada, and had the chief
Muck-e-moot closely guarded upon a
wagon.
Query. Is not this the same Indian
called by Mr. Hobart, Chochuck? Nothing is more common than for Indians,
and particularly chiefs, to have two
and even three names.
V ery respectfully yours,
B. 0. Williams.
An Incident in the Administration of
Indian Justice.
(By Gurdon S. Hubbard, of Chicago.)
An Indian chief who had lived on
the banks of many of the rivers of
lower Michigan had a large family,
onv of the sons being notoriously
wicked, and when intoxicated very
provoking and quarrelsome. This Indian, in a drunken quarrel was killed
by a Canada Indian, who had married
a girl belonging to the Manistee band
of Ottawa Indians, and living with
them. He was a fair hunter, and a
good trapper, but very poor. His family at this time consisted of a wife and
three or four children. Not having
any means to satisfy the chief for the
loss of his son, and knowing that his
own life must pay the penalty, he proposed to his wife that he should surrender himself. To this she was opposed, and would not consent. He
could have saved his life by abandoning his family and fleeing to his own
tribe in Canada; but in that event
one of his wife's brothers would be
liable to be taken in his stead. There
was no time to be lost, the burial of
the dead was about to take place, that
being over he would be sought after,
and if found put to death. Taking tHis
wife's brother into consultation it was
decided that he should depart secretly
and go to the headwaters of the Muskegon river in a secluded part of the
country, and winter there, trapping
fine furs, hoping to gain enough to
satisfy the chief and family for the
loss of their relative; giving to his


brother a particular description of his
hiding place and where he could be
found when through the trapping season, with the promise of secrecy.
16


Gathering what he could of traps and
ammunition, he with his family, departed at nightfall and made his way
to his place of destination, with the
understanding that if the chief, after
search, should demand revenge of his
wife's family, he should be notified,
when he should return and surrender
himself.
The old chief ana his son in council, knowing that the slayer had no
means of paying for the deceased, determined to kill him. After making
diligent search, gaining no information of his whereabouts, they concluded he had fled with his family to
his own tribe and relations in Canada.
Finally they concluded to slay one of
his wife's brothers and so announced.
The brothers had a consultation, and
the younger who knew where his
brother-in-law was to be found, said,
"Go to the chief and tell him I have
gone to seek the man. If I find him I
will bring him; in default, I, being
single, will give myself in his stead."
He started on his long and difficult
journey in the winter season, and on
snow shoes. He was a stranger to the
country, with no landmarks to direct
him, except in general. After a long
search he found the family.
The winter had been one of Unusually deep snow,' the spring brought
great floods of water inundating the
country; he had been unsuccessful in
his hunt, and had almost starved. The
bears, in consequence of deep snow,
had not left their dens, the martin
and small game from the same cause
could not get about, and all hope of
saving his life by payment was abandoned. The young man returned in a
small canoe and reported to the chief
that he had found his brother-in-law,
who would return in the May moon
and deliver himself up; this satisfied
the chief. One evening it was announced in our camp that on the morrow an Indian would give himself up.
Early in the morning the chief made
preparations; the place selected was
in a valley surrounded by sand hills on
which we traders and the Indians assembled. The chief and his family
were in the valley where all who
were on the hills had a full view of
them and their surroundings. It was a
beautiful May morning, soon after sunrise, we heard the monotonous beating of the Indian drum, and the voice
of the Indian singing his death song;
emerging from the woods he came in
sight, his wife and children following
in single file. He came near the chief,
still singing, and laid down his drum,


his wife and children seated themselves, then in a clear voice he said:
"I, in a drunken moment stabbed your




son, provoked to it by his calling me
an old woman and coward; I escaped
to the marshes, hoping the Great Spirit would care for me and give me a
good hunt that I might pay you for
your lost son. I was not successful;
here is the knife that killed your son,
I desire to be killed by it, it is all I
have to offer except my wife and
-children. I am done."
The chief took the knife and handed
it to his oldest son, saying, "kill him."
The son took the knife, approached
the culprit, put his hand upon his
shoulder, made one or two motions to
stab, and then drove the knife to the
handle into his breast. Not a word
was heard from the assembled Indians
or the whites; not a sound but the
songs of the birds; every eye was
upon the noble Indian who stood without emotion looking upon his executioner. He received the blow calmly,
nor did he shrink when it was given.
For a few seconds he stood erect, the.blood at every breath spurting from
the wound, then his knees began to
quiver, his eyes and face to lose expression, he fell upon the sand.
All this time his wife and children
sat motionless gazing upon the husband and father, without a murmur or
a sigh, till life was extinct; then
throwing themselves upon his dead
body, they gave way to such grief and
lamentations as brought tears to the
eyes of many, myself included. Turning to Mr. DesChamps I saw that he
also was deeply affected. I said to
him, "Why did you not save that noble man?" "Oh! my boy," he said, "we
should have done so, it was very
wrong in us; what a scene we have
passed through!"
Still the mother and children were
hanging to the body in intense grief;
for fifteen or twenty minutes the chief
and his family sat motionless, evidently feeling regret, when he arose and
approaching the body, said in a trembling voice, "Woman, stop weeping!
Your husband was a brave man, and
like a brave he was not afraid to die
in satisfaction for the life of my son,
as the rules of our nation demand.
"We adopt you and your children to
be in the place of my son; our lodges
are open to you; live with us, we
will treat you like our sons and daughters, you shall have our protection and
love."
"Gwy-uck" (that is right) was heard
from many as the chief ended.
I subsequently saw this mother and
her children in their lodges.
The "Michigan Appetite."


By A. D. P. Van Buren.
The log house of the pioneer with
its plain furnishings and its old fash

ioned fireplace was a comfortable and
cheerful abode. I am sorry that the
old fireplace has gone out of use. It
contributed much to the health and
happiness of the old settler's home,
much more than the modern stove
does to our modern homes. The settler after a hard day's work, seated
with family around his glowing ingle,
with an abundance of wood in the corner, enjoyed the luxury of his magnificent fires. There is an art in building
a good fire; it was cultivated to a
great degree of perfection in the olden
time. It appears to be one of the lost
arts now, as the dull and cheerless
stove has banished it from the household. It belonged to the old fireside,
where it was kept in constant practice
in laying down aright the back log and
fore-stick, and building thereon, with
small wood, in so secure and artful a
manner, that with a little kindling the
fire could be started and give out the
most heat and light to the household.
As we are writing, distance still lends
enchantment to the memory of those
by-gone scenes around the old pioneer's fireside.
For lights in the evening, if the fire
was too dull, some fat was put in a
saucer, a piece of pork sometimes was
fried for the purpose, a rag was twisted for a wick and then coiled about in
the grease, one end being left out on
the edge of the saucer. This was
lighted.  Sometimes a button was
tied up in a rag, the top part of which
was twisted into the grease in the saucer and the end lighted. This was our
evening taper. But beef and pork were
often scarce, and tallow or grease of
any kind could not be had. There
were no pine trees in this region,
hence pine knots could not be found.
But in their stead we gathered the
bark from the shagbark walnut tree,
and when we needed light, pieces of
this bark were thrown on the fire.
This created a bright blaze that was
nearly equal, and full as lasting, as
that from the pine knots.
The old iron crane, tricked off with
its various sized pot-hooks and links
of chain, swung from the jams at the
will of the housewife, who hung on it
the kettles containing the meal to be
cooked for the family, and pushed it
back over the fire where the kettles
hung till the meal was prepared for
the table. Pigs, chickens, and spareribs were roasted splendidly by suspending them by a wire before the
fire. The baking was mostly done in
the old Drick oven that was built on
one side of the chimney, with a door


opening into the room. The old iron
covered bake kettle sat in the corner
under the cupboard, and was used for
17


the various baking purposes. Many
will remember the much used "tin refiector" that was placed before the fire
to bake' bread and cakes, and how
finely it baked the Pink-eye Meshanic
potatoes.
The settler's daily fare, from a lack
of abundance and variety in his larder,
was necessarily frugal. The provision
in store was wheat, corn, pork, and potatoes. There was no fruit save the
wild plums and the various berries
that grew in the woods ana lowlands.
The bill of fare for the table was
bread, pork, and potatoes. Pork as we
have said was often very scarce, families often going without meat, save
the wild game they killed, for a whole
season at a time. Salt was also often
very scarce; at one time it was twenty-one dollars per barrel.  Thomas
Kewney's family went without a particle in their house for six months.
We were told when we first came to
this state that we would get the "Michigan Appetite" after we had lived here
a short time. We found this to be
true. And when it did come, which
was during the first year, it was ravenous. With this appetite pork and
potatoes were dainties. We relished
them, as such, for a good square meal;
and when we got through with that,
we had only to reverse the order, and
eat potatoes and pork, for the richest
dessert-such was the Keenness and
relishing power of our appetites. It
seemed that all we labored for wasto get enough to eat. Fruitless toil,
for we were hungry all the time.
Mrs. Thomas Kewney and her
daughter Ann, afterward Mrs. Stevenson, came to visit us one afternoon.
My mother was really puzzled to know
what to get for supper, for we had
no bread in the house, nor anything
with which to make it; but like a
good housewife she was fruitful in expedients. Looking over her stores
she found about two quarts of wheat,
which she requested me to grind in a
pepper mill. This I did. She then
took the unbolted flour, and of it made
a shortcake for her company. We had
an amusing time at table over our frugal repast, which consisted principally of this grahamitish cake.
Tea, coffee, sugar and butter were
rarely seen on the settler's table. An
herb called the tea-weed, a kind of
Bohea that grew in the woods, was
used by some of the settlers. The
leaves were steeped like our imported
teas and the decoction was drank, but
it was soon abandoned when the green
or black teas could be had again.


Crust coffee, or a coffee made from
wheat or other grains browned, was In
common use for drink at table. Our




pioneer mothers and their daughters,
found many occasions when they
could not enjoy the accustomed tetea-tete with their lady visitors over
cups of fragrant Young Hyson or
Bohea. But their tea-table chats were
had over their flowing cups of crust
coffee, and there was many a wish,
from the young ladies, for the good
time coming when they could once
more "turn up their tea cups" and
have their "fortunes told."  Tea-pots
were ransacked and old tea-grounds
were saved by the girls for the purpose of having their fortunes told by
some of the older matrons, who knew
something of the gipsy art of divination. The usual meal consisted of a
platter of boiled potatoes, piled up
steaming hot and placed on the center
of the table; bread or johnny cake;
perhaps some boiled meat or fried;
and an article largely partaken of was
a bowl of flour gravy, looking like
starch and made something like it,
of flour and water, with a little salt,
and sometimes it was enriched by a
little gravy from a piece of fried meat.
This was the meal; and it was eaten
and relished more than the sumptuous meals on many of our tables nowa-days. The table was, at any rate,
swept of all the edibles on it. Nothing
but the dishes was left after a meal.
The dog, the pigs, and the chickens
fared slim. "Tell me what a people
eat and I will tell you their morals."
The old pioneer bill of fare was simple and wholesome, its morals can
easily be deduced. What shall we say
of the modern bill of fare? There
have been various reasons adduced as
to the cause of this appetite. To me
there has ever been but one good
cause, that is-hunger. We seldom
got enough to eat, and hence were always hungry and ready to eat. "Quit
eating while you are hungry," the
health reformers say. We carried out
the letter and spirit of this rule, and
will vouch for its producing a splendid appetite. It was called the Michigan Appetite, as though it was aboriginal and belonged to this state. Perhaps it did, and originated with the Indians. The first settlers may be said
to have fared like the Indians for the
first year or two after they pitched
their tents here, and hence got their
appetites and a little more; for, as
the rude phrase had it, the pioneers
were usually hungry enough to eat a
"biled Indian." We had no cases of
dyspepsia-our  digestion  was   as
sound as our sleep. The dyspepsia
was with the rich and dainty dishes


east.
One Sabbath morning I was at home
alone. The rest of the family had


gone to hear Rev. Levi Vedder preach
in the log schoolhouse near Deacon
Case's. Always hungry, as soon as I
found myself alone I bethought me of
getting something to eat. Luckily I
found some flour, lard, and salt; I was
delighted, and went to worK to make
a shortcake. I had seen my mother
and sister make this cake often
enough to have learned, as I thought,
to make one myself. So rolling up my
sleeves, I went to work. I mixed up
the flour and water awhile, then put
in the "shortening" and added a little salt, and then kneaded and kneaded it with my fists till I considered it
ready for the spider. But had you
seen my hands!
Didn't the dough
Stick-stick-stick
To fingers and knuckles and palm;
Stick-stick-stick,
To palm and knuckles and fingers?
It hung in strings from my hands,
and just as I rolled out my cake and
put it in the spider and placed that
over some live coals to have the bottom bake, I heard a rap at the door.
Frightened, and with the dough stringing from my hands, I opened the door,
when Uriah Herson-a settler's son
-presented himself with the accustomed "good morning," and offered me
his gloved hand, I did not accept it,
but rather confusedly excused myself
Dy saying my hands were too doughy,
as I had been mixing up feed for the
chickens. He smiled and said he had
come to see the young folks. I informed him they had all gone to attend meeting in the Deacon Case
schoolhouse. I, during this time, tried
to fill up the gap in the door, that he
might not see within. But just then
I heard the yelp-yelp-yelp! of a
chicken. Looking around I saw a
two-thirds grown rooster with both
feet stuck fast in the middle of my
short-cake in the spider; the dough
had softened by the heat and let his
feet down to the bottom of the spider,
and there he stood with extended
wings, bill full of sticky dough, yelping like murder. Uri glanced in at the
fireplace and took in the whole situation. As I heard the first yelp, I told
him the folks had just gone and he
could soon overtake them. He said
ne guessed he would go to meeting
also, and went off laughing at my
chicken-pie. He gone, I hastily turned to the spider, seized that chicken
by his neck and jerked him out of my
short-cake, the middle part of it coming up with his feet. I pushed this
down with one hand and pulling him


out, ran to the door, and, wringing
him by the neciK, by way of revenge,
threw him to the ground and went
18


back to my poor short-cake. I took a
case-knife and cuttout the middle part
that was spoiled, smoothed the rest
into shape and put it to baking again.
As I went to the door to throw out the
rejected dough, there was another act
in this drama going on., The entire
brood of hens and chickens were
crowding round and over that rooster,
picking the dough off his feet and legs.
They had nearly gobbled him up. I
drove them away in sheer pity for the
poor thing. His feet and legs were
bleeding, and as he got up to walk he
hobbled awfully on his clumsy, halfbaked feet. As I returned to the
house the greedy, hungry brood immediately ran to him again, and
chased him about the dooryard, picking at his legs and feet.
Once more by the fireside I watched
the baking of the cake. The bottom
done, I set up the spider for the top to
bake. This done, I made a square
meal on that short-cake. Appetite always keen, but now heightened by
stolen apples are sweetened, I relished
the cake exceedingly. There was none
of it left to turn evidence against me.
This adventure remained a secret for
a long time. It finally got out. Uri, no
doubt, found it too good to keep, and
related it to some friend. I then gave
to our family my entire transactions
that Sunday morning-mixing up food
for the chickens.
The following is Taken From an Article Written by A. D. P. Van Buren.
"And on every day there, as sure as
day would break,
Their neighbor 'ager' came that way,
inviting them shake."
We could always tell when the ague
was coming on, by the premonitory
symptoms-the yawnings and stretchings; and if the person understood
the complaint, he would look at his
finger nails to see if they were turning blue. No disease foretold its coming by such unerring signs as the
"fever 'n ager." The adept could detect its approach before it got within
ten rods of him. At first the yawns
and stretchings stole upon you so naturally, that for a time you felt good
in giving way to them; but they were
soon followed by cold sensations, that
crept over your system in streaks.
faster and faster, and grew colder and
colder as in successive undulations
they coursed down your back, till you
felt like "a harp of a thousand
strings," played upon by the icy fingers of old Hiems, who increased the
cold chills until his victim shook like
an aspen leaf, and his teeth chattered


in his jaws. There you laid shaking
in the frigid ague region for an hour
or so until you gradually stole back to




a temperate zone. Then commenced
the warm flashes over your system,
which increased with heat as the
former did with cold, until you reached the torrid region, where you laid in
burning heat, racked with pain in
your head and along your back, for an
hour or so, when you began by degrees to feel less heat and pain, until
your hands grew moist and you were
relieved by a copious perspiration all
over your body, and you got to your
natural feeling again. Getting back
to your normal condition, you felt relieved and happy, and as you went out
doors everything about you was pleasant and smiling, and you seemed to be
walking in a brighter and happier
world. The disease delighted in extremes; it reveled in antithesis-in
torturing its victim with intensest
cold, then with burning heat.
Among the various reasons adduced
as the cause of tnis complaint, was
this: We got it during the miasmatic period, which began with our first
attempt to subdue this wild region,
and lasted until cultivation did away
with the miasma.
The ague was supposed to be the
first disease to attack a man in a new
country. At any rate the early settlers found it lying about idle, like the
Indians. The latter, 'twas said, never
had it, it seemed to have a penchant
for a white man. I have often thought
I would like to see an Indian have a
genuine old settler's shake oi the ague.
If anything would tame him it would
be that. It would shake all the whoop,
if not the Indian, out of him. The
first question asked a settler, after he
had been here a short time was:
"Have you had the ague yet?" If
answered in the negative, the reply
would be, "Well, you will have it;
everybody has it before they've been
here long." As if the "fever 'n ager"
was the initiatory process to citizenship in this state. Anson Mapes and
my brother Martin were the last ones
in our settlement who had the fever
and ague. They had escaped it so
long that they began to boast that
they would not have it at all. But
they counted without their host. If it
delayed it was to come with greater
severity; for when they did have it, it
almost shook them to death. When
Martin was attacked he shook so that
the dishes rattled on the shelves
against the log wall. No one was
ever supposed to die with the ague.
"He ain't sick, he's only got the ager,"
was a common expression among the
settlers. With many it renovated the


system; they had better health after
it. The doctors could not ward it off
or cure it. There was no quinine here


then; in fact there was no remedy
known; it was "a disease no hellebore could cure." The prevailing opinion was that we must have it until we
wore it out; and most of us did.
There were various remedies tried,
but none cured you. Some were simple, some whimsical and funny. Some
would say, "when you feel a shake
coming on, start and run; and thus
run away from it." This remedy was
tried; the ague always beat in such a
race. Others would work right through
the "shake," fever and all; but the
next day "the shoe was on the other
foot," they had all the work they
wanted in attending to an extra shake
and fever. I remember I once tried
the following remedy, which was said
to be a sure cure: I was to pare all
my finger and toe nails, wrap the parings in tissue paper, then bore a hole
in a maple tree, put in the nails and
plug up the hole. I did this and distinctly remember that afterwards I
was put through the entire gamut of
this disease,
"From Greenland's icy mountains,
To India's burning strand,"
for four or five successive seasons.
A decoction of "culver root" was used
as a kind of cholagogue by many, but
it did not cure the disease. The complaint had several phases. Some had
it every day, some every other day.
As it began with you, so it continued.
It opened the account with you at
such an hour on such a day, and then
put in its appearance a little later
every day or every other day, until
your morning shake was changed to
one at sunset or midnight.
The cold sensation or shake increased in severity until it culminated
in nearly shaking the life nearly out
of us; then by degrees tne cold chills
waxed and waned perceptibly less, until they left you. 'ihe "fits" came so
regular that the settler made his calculations by them. His calendar was
divided into well days and ague days.
The minister made his appointments
to preach so as to accommodate his
"shakes."  The justice of the peace
entered the suit on his docket to avoid
the sick day of the party, or his own.
The constable watched the well day
of the witness to get him into court,
and the lawyer adjourned his case to
avoid his ague day. The housewife
regulated her affairs by it; she would
do up her work, and sit and wait for
the ague, as for a visitor to come. And
the pioneer gallant went sparking on
his well night, and then he sometimes
found his dulcina sitting up with the


"fever 'n ager." It would seem that
this complaint was about worn out or
broken up by the old settlers, for the
19


ague of today is no more like that of
the olden time, than the old, brokendown man is liKe the one in robust
manhood.
The "Michigan Rash."
Among the troublesome enemies of
the settler there was one that in the
parlance of the day was called the
Michigan Rash. It was thus named
because it was supposed tc be indigenous to this part of the country. Some
observing philanthropist has said that
all the comfort a poor man took in
this life, was to scratch himself when
he itched. According to that statement there was a happy period in the
early settlement of this state, for tht
pioneers did a great deal of scratcbing. Perhaps I ought to put on th
"silken gloves of sentiment," by wax
of caution in treating this subject.
The settlers used much modesty in referring to this cutaneous disease, calling it a "breaking out," an "impurity
of the blood," a "rash," and so on,
while perhaps the person giving it
those mild names, was really putting
into practice the old, pecaliar manner
of scratching that used to belong to
something worse than a "rash" or
"breaking out." An amusing incident
came under the writer's observation
du]ing this period of unpleasantness
in our pioneer life. A gentleman from
New York was visiting some friends
in our settlement, and noticing the
children scratching a great deal,
asked the lady of the house the cause
of it. She replied:  "They have a
breaking out that is called the Michigan rash." T'o which he answered:
"Oh, you call it the Michigan rash out
here;  but I see the children go
through with the old motions as natural as isie. Don't you think, madame,
that brimstone and lard would cure
it?"  This fair hit amused the settler's wife, while it awoke her to the
real gist of the matter-that they were
really enjoying the full benefit of the
"seven-year itch," under the modest
title of Michigan rash. Whole families, yes, whole neighborhoods, would
have it at the same time. It was no
respector of person, party, sex or
creed;  it served everybody alike.
It would break out in a school and go
like mischief, from pupil to pupil, and
from  pupil to teacher.  The small
scholars would "dig it out" on the
spot, while the larger ones would grin
and bear it, till some convenient opportunity occurred. Young men and
young ladies, when in company, like
whist players, avoided showing their
hands. Most people had this disease


as they did the ague, until they wore
it out. A lack of fruit and vegetables
in our diet was supposed to have




something to do with the cause of the
"Michigan rash."
Mosquitoes.
"Now, by two-headed Janus! Nature hath formed strange feliows in
her time."
Mosquitoes, like the subject we
have just treated, are a cutaneous disease. They, with the ague, the "Michigan Appetite," and the Michigan rash
were found indigeneous to this territory. It has been claimed by some
authorities that the mosquitoes were
created as pests, and sent here for the
purpose of compelling the settler to
drain and improve the swamps, lowlands and marshes. It is most certain
that nothing has been formed in vain;
and as we know of no other use for
mosquitoes, this must be their mission
among us here. They certainly were
the most numerous and pestilent in
the heavy timbered lands, dense
swamps and thickets, where they remained in their leafy coverts during
the day. But when "twilight let her
curtain down," these little recluse
imps would sally out from their fastnesses, and with a flourish of trumpets, call their vast hordes together;
when ruthless as the Huns and Goths,
they would bear down in a furious attack upon the nearest log fortress.
Having learned their mode of warfare.
tne nature and time of their attacks,
we were accustomed to fill old tin
pans with chips, or some light material, and kindle a fire In them, both
in front and rear of the house, or
wherever there was a door or opening.
These fires were kept smothered so as
to produce the greatest volume of
smoke. This was our only defense.
Mosquito bars had not been invented
then.  Yet our enemies would frequently in some bold onset, break
through this wall of smoke and attack
us in our cabins. The smudge was
then removed into the house, where
we would sit enveloped in its dense
clouds, with eyes suffused with tears,
patiently  suffering  anything  that
would rid us of these tormentors..
I have seen the log house all quiet
at the close of day, not a mosquito
about; but as soon as we started the
smudge, that was the signal for their
attacks; they "smelt the battle afar
off, and shouted among their trumpeters, ha-ha!" Some of the settlers
would not use the smudge on that account, alleging that you discovered
yourself to them by it, and hence invited their attacks.
I have often gone into reflection on
the subject (in their absence) of this


annoyance, musing over what discontent and unhappiness these pestiferous imps (could create!


Coleridge says:
"Beneath the rose lurks many a thorn,
That breeds disasterous woe;
And so dost thou, remorseless corn
On Angelina's toe."
Now here was a thorn, or a nettle,
that not only lurked beneath the rose,
but beneath every tree, bush, and covert around us; and it was a thorn
that felt like business, and went
about "breeding disastrous woe."
"Don't mind them," says some novice,
who had never made their acquaintance; "go to sleep and let them sing!"
Don't mind them? They like that. Go
to  sleep?  What odds to them?
Couldn't they murder sleep! Did they
mind your slaps? Despite your blows
they would light on your face, nose,
ears, or neck, the same as a spot of
mud. Supposing you killed one. A
hundred others rushed on over the
dead body of their fallen comrade to
avenge his death. So small a thing to
create so much trouble and misery!
How often, in the evening, after the
smudge had been made, would we sit
and fight these little tormentors, till
tired, victimized and "Weary of life,
we would fly to our couch, and fling it
away in battle with these Turks."
First Views.
From A. D. P. Van Buren.
And now, the truth concerning the
interior of the state had been found
out. Bold pioneers overleaping all
difficulties, had pushed on into the territory and had discovered a beautiful
dry, fertile region-not a "dismal
swamp"-but a high, undulating surface, clothed with rich forests and
most charming scenery, where limpid
streams flowed, while crystal lakes,
stocked with delicious fish, sparkled
in the midst of beautiful wooded
landscapes.
It was a beautiful day in October
that our party left Detroit. As we got
out of sight of the city and its precincts and dodged into the woods, it
seemed as if we were bidding goodbye in earnest to all the joys of life
we had left in the east, and as we advanced with our slow-paced ox team,
we began to feel that we were going
away from home, not to one. The
only home we could think of was the
hospitality of the wilderness.  The
Michigan forest, which had some
trees beautiful strangers to us in it,
was now putting on its early autumnal
hues. That exquisite limner, "Jack
Frost," in connection with the photographer, "Old Sol," had just started
on their autumnal tour, and were busy
in getting up a succession of pano

ramic views of endless variety and
beauty in the leafy world about us.
Time wore on faster than we did.
20


The day was far advanced when qwe
started. Not many miles from Detroit we passed Hannibal's tavern, the
first on the route, and continued our
journey till, in the gathering twilight,
we halted before a rude log cabin that
jutted out from a niche in the woods
hard by the roadside. "J. Dow-Entertainment," was marked with some
black substance on a piece of board
that was nailed to a stake set in the
ground in front of the cabin. This
was the tavern sign! In answer to
our request for supper and lodging for
tne night, the reply was that we could
be accommodated.   The tired oxen
were unyoked, put into a rough log
shed and provisioned with marsh hay
and corn for the night. Our party of
four were the only guests. The cabin-save an   "attic"-had  but one
room. But this one room answered
for all the various apartments of an
amply constructed hotel. It was the
smallest compass to which an inn
might be reduced. The host and his
wife, yet on the sunny side of life,
while making betterments here on
their wild lands, availed themselves
of this way of making money. Our
first meal consisted of wheat bread,
butter, boned potatoes, fried pork,
pickles, and tea. But our tiresome
ride had given us a good appetite.
After supper my father and brother
conversed with the settler about the
soil here, price of land, crops, and
kindred subjects; my mother and sister conversed witn the settler's wife
about the hardships, trials and sufferings of life here in the west. Woman
is the first to notice and speak of the
toil, care, hardships, ana sorrows of
life, because sue is the most patient
and resolute in oearing them. While
I, a boy, not old enough to be very
much interested in either party's conversation, must listen or remain idle,
and the latter is what a boy can't do,
There were no children for me to talk
with. I could see no books, so I interested myself with a large dog-a noble
old lurcher that laid in the chimneycorner
The hour for retiring came. My
brother and myself were led by the
host up the most rustic of ladders into
the loft overhead. Here we found a
solitary bed; we were to sleep there.
The others were, of course, to sleep
below, on beds improvised according
to their resources.  By the lighted
candle left us we examined the bedstead; it was a marvel of a structure,
so little mechanical skill was evinced
in its make-up, that, in the words of


the memorable Topsy, "I 'spect it
growed." Rough hickory poles for the
posts and the rails; hickory withes




interwoven from rail to rail for a cord;
a cotton tick scantily filled with Roman Catholic hay for a bed, sheets
and a quilt or two for covering, and
you have the whole thing. A wearying day's journey had fitted us for
sleep. It was lucky for ourselves that
it was so. It required fatigue to induce sleep on such a bed. Our sleep
was troubled and dreamy. We awoke
in the morning feeling sore all over.
We carried away on our sides and
backs a distinct impression of those
hickory withes and held them in long
and  lasting  remembrance.   After
breakfast, the same in kind as the supper, the bill was paid, fifty cents a
meal, twenty-five cents for lodging
and fifty cents for the hay and corn
for the oxen, and we started on the
second day's journey.
Our experience with roads during
the day was bad-timbered land roads
are proverbially bad-and the bad in
this road has a deeper meaning than
in any road we ever saw before. Did
we come to a difficult passage? Did
our wagon mire in it? Did we find
the task too much for our oxen? Did
even the aid of a pole or a rail prove
ineffectual, we bided our time till
some other emigrant party came
along, and, by doubling teams, our
wagon was extricated. Adventures of
this kind established the truest of
friendships.  The emigrant, spying
the trouble afar off, unasked, came to
the relief and rendered timely aid.
This kindly spirit manifested itself
strikingly on our entire journey, and
likewise afterwards we found this
same   generous   spirit  extending
through all the acts of the settler's life
toward his neighbors, friends, and the
strangers at his gate.
During the forenoon we passed TenEyck's-long famous in the settlement of this part of the state as the
brusque joking landlord; and whose
tavern was as noted for its well stored
larder and good entertainment as he
was for the stories he told to, and the
jokes he played on his guests. Many
have heard of his treating a party
from Detroit, who called on him one
day, to a wolf steak for dinner, and of
their great amazement when he told
them what they had eaten at dinner,
and that from the remark of one of
the party, "if we have eaten wolf, we
must be wolverines." Hence the name
Wolverines applied to settlers in this
state. As we passed this tavern, my
father asked a man standing in front
of the building, "the distance to the
next tavern." The reply was, "this is


it, sir." The question was repeated
and the same answer given with more
~emphasis. My father then saw that


the man was purposely making Ten
Eyck's tavern out of "to the next tavern;" and that the man ne was talking with was the redoubtable landlord
himself. After getting the desired information and laughing over the joke,
and passing a few more, we drove on.
Recollections  of  the  "Territorial
Road" and Its Taverns.
Somebody has said, few people
know how to travel. This may be so,
but as there are several kinds of travelers, I presume each one would claim
he best knew how to make a journey.
Some people travel for business; some
merely for the enjoyment of going
abroad; and others to observe, learn,
and gather the full harvest of pleasure
and  information.  The latter are
called the people who know how to
travel.
The pioneer was not a traveler in
the full sense of the word. He was
emigrating-removing from one state
to another for the purpose of residence. He had to find a way to travel or make one, and having halted for
the night, he, in the evening, around
the cheerful fireside in the log tavern,
delighted in telling over the adventures and mishaps of the day, and in
listening to those of others.
Remembering the kindness of our
host, Peter Fralick, and the pretty
girl that waited on us at the tavern,
whom we years afterward found to be
a sister of Mrs. Milton McCamly of
Battle Creek, we commenced our journey. A few items belonging to our
previous day's travel we give here.
There were two roads from Detroit
to TenEyck's. The territorial road,
ten miles long, and the Springwells
road, some longer, south of it. Ten
Eyck's tavern was near the present
village of Dearborn; while west of it
on the Chicago road was Ruff's noted
old stand, where Wayne now is, and
Sheldon's tavern further towards Ypsilanti. But following the territorial
road from TenEyck's, the first old
tavern was Bucklin's, kept by a
"greasy old chap" of that name from
Pennsylvania. And here we passed
through the Bucklin woods, rendered
so memorable by the mire and sunken
condition of the road that ran through
them. It was to this road that the old
hackneyed phrase-"the bottom has
fallen out-was first applied. This
was surely the worst road between
Detroit and Ann Arbor, There was
another tavern kept in these woods.
The house was on the east side of the
road, and a well on the opposite side.


It was said that a man had been murdered here and thrown into this well,
which was then filled with stone.


Search was afterwards made for the
body, but none was found. The next
tavern was kept by Gen. Swartz, and
the place was sailed Swartzburg. The
general was known as a high-toned
gentleman. Five miles farther in a
southwesterly direction brought us to
Dixborough, which was twelve miles
from Plymouth.
We stayed at Dixborough all night.
The tavern, I think, was a rude frame
structure. It was crowded with emigrants. After supper, on going into
the barroom we found that crowded
also. A tub of water was standing in
the corner of the room, and a settler
who had been fishing during the day,
asked any one present to put his hand
into the water and "heft" his fish.
Some one did as requested, but instantly withdrew his hand with a yell
and convulsive jerkings, as if shocked
by a galvanic battery. This created
much laughter and curiosity as to
what caused the man to act thus. But
he remained mum as to the cause of
his strange actions. Another tried it,
and another, with the same result.
The room   became boisterous with
laughter and sport, and eager with curiosity. The performance went on till
some dozen, as they attempted to
"heft the fish," went through with the
same Indian yell, and a fandango on
the floor. Finally the settler took a
pair of tongs, and taking the mysterious thing from the tub, held it up to
the crowd  Some one cried out, "lamper eel.' It was an electric eel, whose
great electrifying power is well known.
Dixborough appeared to prosper for
a number of years, and was getting
along well in the world. It even began to put on "village airs" and talk
about"country folks." But the mure
sagacious saw that its ideas of a large
town would soon be dispelled as the
"baseless fabric of a dream." For
when the Chicago road from   TenEyck's to Ann Arbor became good,
and travel passed over it again, the
road by way of Plymouth and Dixborough, which was but an accommodation route, as it was on higher and
dryer land, was left deserted by all
but neighborhood travel. Then about
this time 'tis said that a ghost appeared in the place whose wild babbling frightened the people so that the
place never grew much after it. People generally remember the "Dixoorough ghost," and the sensation it
created for a time. 'Twas claimed
that a person had been killed there,
and this ghost appeared to tell of the
murder. Where once stood the rustic


village a smiling farm spreads out its
well fenced acres. There is a solitary
building, half decayed, that marks the


21




spot where Dixborough once stood.
'Tis the old tavern.
We stayed one night at Lowell, between Marshall and Battle Creek. The
day following we passed by Polodore
Hudson's tavern at the Gulf, just east
of Battle Creek. Here we took the old
road by way of Jo Farnsworth's, William Toland's, Warren B. Shepard's,
and up the Conway hill to Goguac
prairie. The first house west of Conway's was Mott's. Dorance Williams
lived on the south side of his farm
near the woods. The old road formerly went this side of the prairie. East
of him was Daniel Thomas, then Mrs.
Peter Michael, in Frederick Peet's log
house, Uncle Isaac Thomas, his son
Frank, Hiram Orser, and last, John
Stewart, were all on the south side of
the prairie. On the territorial road
west of Mott's, was first Samuel Gregory's log house, and a log building on
the northeast corner of his farm, tenantless. Then came Rice's-now W.
B. Frink's; Giles Andrus, where his
son Henry now lives, was next; then
Uncle John Stewart's, in a small
frame house where Foster now lives.
There was a small log structure just
west on the same side of the road
unoccupied.  Deacon Joseph Young
lived next in a log house, where his
son David now lives; Enoch Stewart
had a log house on his "80" opposite.
Taylor Stewart's log house was next,
and Eberstein lived in the log house
on the southeast corner of Andrew
Helmer's farm. Mr. Simonds and his
son John lived just north of the
prairie; and still further north were
Betterly, Reese, and Shepard; and
west of them were VanWoert, Moyer,
and the Tobies. Crossing the prairie
and turning at Deacon Young's, southwesterly, we drove into the woods
some two miles further and"As twilight let her curtain down,
And pinned it with a star,"
we halted before the new log house,
our future home in Michigan.
We looked around for our neighbors
-nothing but the beautiful oak openings!
We were alone ii the silent woods.
Husking Bees.
Husking bees with the pioneers
were not of the old "down east" kind,
where the boys and girls both attended them. The settlers and their sons
only attended these. They were occasions of rare enjoyment besides being of value to the parties giving them.
Sometimes the heap of corn would be


divided into two parts or marked off
into two parts, and parties chosen to
husk against each other. This gave
occasion to much strife and many a


well contested race. Then again, the
time would be enlivened by some one
singing a song. Those were the days
of songs and of song singing. I am
sorry that those songs have gone out
of vogue. Another source of enjoyment at husking-bees was story-telling. This was a good occasion for
cultivating the faculty of narration
and of imparting pleasure and information to others. As we had few
books to read, we related over what
we had read, and thus became books
to each other.
Splitting Rails.
Rail-splitting was connected with
clearing up land, and came in for its
share of hand labor. A beetle, iron
wedges, gluts, and an ax were the implements used in this work. Rail-splitting was a regular employment for a
certain class of men in our early settlements.  Pioneer and  presidents
have split rails. The business has no
more honor for that. There used to
be some merit though, in the number
of rails one could split in a day. To
cut and split one hundred rails in a
day was a day's work for a common
hand; and two hundred for a good
hand. The wages were one dollar a
hundred, and board yourself; onehalf dollar and be boarded. The rail
was mostly made from oak timber,
and was eleven feet long. Conrad
Eberstein was accustomed to say that
he and Martin and Ephraim yan Buren had cut and split rails enough in
Battle Creek township, to fence off
Calhoun county. They split in the
winter of 1837, fifteen thousand rails
for Noah Crittenden, and eight thousand for Edward Smith, who then lived
where Henry D. Court now does. Remnants of some of the old rail fences
of that day can yet be seen in some
parts of the county, though dilapidated and fast going to decay.
"Breaking Up."
Many settlers followed breaking up
as a regular vocation, during the season, as threshers follow theirs now.
The turf on the prairies and plains
was the toughest, and hence there was
the hardest breaking. That on the
oak openings yielded much more
easily to the plow. The thicker the
timber the softer the soil. Three yoke
of cattle for the openings and four for
the prairies and plains, was the team
required in breaking up. Many of the
first settlers broke up their lands with
two yoke of oxen because they could


get no more. After the underwood
grew up in the openings, on account of
the annual fires not burning it down,
the "breaking-up team" consisted of
22


six or seven yoke of oxen, according
to the size and thickness of the
"grubs" in the land to be plowed. The
first plow used by some, was the old
"bull plow." This was all wood, save
the share and coulter. Then came
the large "Livingston county plow,"
imported from the east. Five dollars
an acre was the old price for breaking up. Long distances were traveled
after the day's work was done, to
carry the share and coulter to the
blacksmith's shop to get them sharpened. Many went six, seven, and
sometimes ten miles, to a blacksmith's shop. The old breaking-up
plow was an institution in its day, and
required a strong arm "to hold it." A
man might be able to "govern men
and guide the state," who would make
a "poor fist of it" in holding a breaking-up plow behind seven or eight
yoke of oxen, moving on in all their
united strength, among grubs and
stones; and around stumps and trees.
The driver had a task to do in managing his team and keeping the leaves,
grass and debris from clogging up before the coulter. He moved forward
along the whole line of his team, keeping each ox in its place, while with
his long beech whip he touches up the
laggard ox, or tips the haunches of the
off-wheel ox and the head of the nigh
one to "haw them in" while passing
by a stump or tree. Then he cracks
his whip over their heads, and the
long team straighten out and bend
down to their work, while the bows
creaked in the yokes, and connecting
chains tighten with a metallic ring,
the gauged wheel rumbles and groans
at the end of the plow beam, the sharp
projecting coulter cuts open the turf
the proper depth, the broad share
cleaves the bottom, and the furrow
thus loosened, rises against the
smooth, flaring mould-board that turns
it over with a whirling, rippling
sound. Thus the work goes on.
The glittering plow-share cleaves the
ground
With many a slow, decreasing round.
With lifted whip and gee-whoa-haw,
He guides his oxen as they draw."
"Raisings" and "Bees" Among the
Early Settlers.
"The Hoosiers and the Suckers, and
Wolverine farmers all know the right
way to carry up the corners."
Raisings, logging-bees, husking-bees,
quilting-bees, and the many other occasions in which the word bee was
used to indicate the gathering of the
settlers to render gratuitous aid to


some neighbor in need, originated in,
and was confined to new settlements.
It was merely the voluntary union of




the individual aid and strength of an
entire community to assist a settler
in doing what he was unable to accomplish alone.
Hence by bees the pioneers raised
their houses and barns, did their logging, husked their corn, quilted their
bed-coverings, and enjoyed themselves
in frolic and sonz with the girls in the
evening.
It was no slight task, in those days
when log cabins were few and far between, especially when they were
from three to twenty miles apart, to
go the rounds through the woods, to
invite the neighbors to your raising or
bee. It was a weary, footsore tramp,
and often at the lone hour of midnight
the latch-string would be pulled and
the occupant informed that his aid
would be needed the next day at a
raising-a weary tramp.   But the
cheering response you got at every cabin, "I'll be there to help you," sent
you on your way rejoicing. Each settler was a minute man, and was ready
at a moment's warning, to yoke up his
oxen, shoulder his ax, and start to assist his brother neighbor in need.
At that early day people who
lived twenty miles apart, lived nearer
together than many people do now
who live in sight of each other. There
are no distances like the unsocial and
unneighborly  distances.  People of
that time carried out the true scriptural idea of "loving your neighbor as
yourself." A man might have gone
from "Jerusalem to Jericho" in our
settlements and not have fallen
among thieves; but if he had met
with an accident and needed help, no
one would have "passed by on the
other side," but every settler would
have acted the good Samaritan.
Twenty miles to a neighbor? Yes,
any one of the human race, any one
that needed our help, or to whom we
had an opportunity of doing good was
our neighbor. That is the neighbor
spoken of in the tenth chapter of
Luke. There was much more importance attached to Bible living, forty
years ago, and less noise made about
Bible believing than now.
Many of the first log houses were
roofed with hay or grass. Then came
the period of oak shakes for roofs;
then oak shingles; and finally the
present whitewood and pine shingle
roofs. The logs were first laid up by
notching in, leaving the rough ends
sticking out at the corners, and when
raised to the required height, they
were laid in by degrees until they


came to a peak at the top. This was
called "cobbing up" because it was of
the style of a child's cob house.
Shakes were put down in layers over


these logs for a roof, and were held in
their places by long poles laid across
each layer and fastened by a peg or
a withe at each end. This was the
primitive style of log house architecture.  Then followed the log with
square corners, and rafters for laying
down the roof. The floors were at
first small sized oak logs split in two,
the flat side being hewed smooth, the
pieces were laid round side down, and
if necessary pinned at each end with
oak pins. These floors were used until saw mills were erected and lumber
could be procured. A stick chimney
was laid up with a mixture of clay
and sand for mortar, at one end of the
house.  This answered until brick
could be obtained. The old brick fireplace was in use until the stove superseded it.
The log house stood with the side to
the road; a door on wooden hinges
and with a wooden latch, was in the
center, with a window of two sixlighted seven-by-nine sashes, close by
it, and a window of the same size in
the opposite side of the house. Not a
nail or particle of iron was in use in
any part of the building, nor any
sawed lumber. The glass was held in
the sash by small wooden pegs.
The logs had been cut eighteen by
twenty-two feet for a common sized
house and hauled to the spot; a neighbor may have assisted in the hauling.
Pottawattomies, the settler's country
cousins, may be said to have been the
main help in raising the first log
houses in this part of the state. I
know of an instance where but two
white men were present at the raising,
the rest being Indians. They lifted
cheerfully and lustily in rolling up the
logs. They also assisted much at raising in after years. Only let them
know that "Che-mo-ko-man raise wigwam, like Indian come help him," and
you could count on their aid. In ou'
settlement w( depended on Goguac
and Climax prairies and the immediate region for aid at raisingsThe hands being all on the ground
and everything ready. the settler superintended his own raising, or requested some one else to do it. In either
case the one who commanded the men
was called the "boss." He was implicitly obeyed in all things. He gave the
word and the work begun. The twoside logs were laid securely in their
places, and the two-end logs were
fitted to theirs. Four good ax-menmen who "knew how to carry up the
corners"-were then selected and one


placed at each of the four corners of
the building to be erected. Their duty
was to block off the tenons and fit
their end of the?og for its place. The
23


logs were rolled up on two long skids
by the united strength of the party,
who pushed with hands and shoulders
as long as they could, and when the
log got too high for them to reach,
they took stout poles with a crotch in
one end, that were called "mooleys,"
and putting the crotches against the
log, they pushed it with many a
"heave-o-heave" to its place on the
building.  Thus log after log was
rolled up, and all the corners carried
up true and secure, until the top log
was in its place, the plates put on, the
rafters erected, and the house was
raised. Then some adventurous settler climbed to the top of the building
taking a bottle of -whisky from his
pocket, took a good "swig," swung the
bottle around his head three times,
threw it to the ground and named the
building. Three cheers were given to
the party and the raising was over.
The old brown jug of whisky was
passed about freely at the raisings
and the bees, to all who wished to
drink. Much care was necessary in
regard to offering whisky to the Indians; they were inclined to drink
too much. I saw old "Sam-o-kay," at a
logging bee drink until he became
dead drunk before he stopped.
Sidney Sweet was the first man in
our settlement who attempted to raise
a building without the aid of whisky.
He had two trials and failed. Some of
the jolly settlers had declared he
should not raise his barn without
whisky. But he gave an extended invitation the third time, and appealed
to the lovers of temperance throughout the entire region, including all
Climax. It was the largest gathering
I ever attended of the kind; the best
men on Climax and the district east
of it were there. The building went
up with a will. Mr. Sweet treated his
help each time to hot coffee, biscuits,
and doughnuts. This was a victory
over the bad habit of having whisky
at raisings, and Sidney Sweet deserves
praise for this first move in the cause
of temperance among the early settlers.  It gave encouragement to
others, and soon it was as easy to
raise a building without whisky, as
it had been with it.
Logging-bees.
What an incalculable amount of
valuable timber in this country has
been cut down, logged up and burned
to ashes! There appeared to be no
help for it. It must be cleared off
and room made for the plow. They


could only save for their immediate
use what saw-logs, rail cuts, and firewood they wanted; they "logged up"
and burnt the rest. A settler would




now and then remark-" 'Tis a pity to
burn up so much valuable timber."
And perhaps he would hear in reply"Oh, pshaw! there is timber enough in
Calhoun county to last two hundred
years. Let the people after that look
out for themselves." Many began to
do this long ago. Such views were
expressed by men who thought there
were no other clearings, no other logging-bees, but that one, in the county.
They did iot think they were scattered all over the county then, and the
work of burning up the timber was going on in all of tnem. In the timbered
lands were found the largest trees and
most of them, and there the hardest
blows were given in making a clearing.
A logging-bee was a good place to
study the difference there is in men's
knowing how to do work, and to drive
oxen. There was your man who never
hitched to a log that his cattle could
not draw, and he hitched to it in such
a way that they could draw it to the
best advantage, while another was
continually hitching to the wrong log
or to the wrong end of the log. Then
there was the man who, whether he
drove an old or young yoke of cattle,
always drove a steer team. I saw
-such a one fail repeatedly to make
his cattle start a log, when upon Jonathan Austin's taking the whip in his
hand, the cattle sprang at the word
"go" and fairly ran with the log to the
heap. That was a little victory, and
Austin got the cheers for it. There
were good ox-drivers in those days
and there were those who never could
learn to drive tnem well.
AN EXCITING BEAR HUNT.
Told by Henry A. Smith.
In the fall of 1849 I commenced living in a log cabin in the woods with
no neighbors on the north but Indians,
an, on the east, west and south the
white people were few and far between. My wife owned a cow that we
brought from Ohio with us. My property consisted of an ax, a gun, an iron
wedge, and 121/2 cents, and I owed
for the lumber for my cabin. No supplies for the winter, wages fifty cents
a day, and no one wished to hire. I
need not relate all the particulars of
my situation, even if it were possible.
My brother pioneers will appreciate
the ups and downs to which we were
subjected. My ax, wedge and gun
were the working tools of my profession. Time wore on till the fall of
1856. In those years a few other settlers had come around us. In that fall


I still owed fifty dollars. After having secured my little products for the
-winter, I took a job of chopping, and
immediately commenced upon it. I


very soon discovered indications of
bears. This excited my curiosity; and
now allow me to relate the experience
of one afternoon.
After eating my frugal dinner I
buckled on my armor, which consisted
of bullet pouch, powder horn, butcher
knife, and an old Lancaster rifle. Accompanied by a little black dog, I
started for a cedar swamp about three
miles distant. Advancing a short distance into the swamp, I was surprised
to hear a tremendous floundering in a
cedar top lying on the ground by my
side. In the twinkle of an eye I saw
it was a large bear. Throwing my gun
to my shoulder, in the act of pulling
the trigger, I found the dog in range
of the bear, which made me cringe so
that I missed both dog and bear. The
next moment I was vexed to hear
them rushing through the swamp with
a great noise. When the dog came
back I applied enough of the oil of
whip so that afterwards he gave me
the next chance.
Again we started.   After going
about half a mile to the north side of
the swamp, open woods commenced.
Away on an oak ridge I saw another
bear coming towards me, so I planted
my feet square on the ground and prepared for his reception. On he came,
and when within a proper distance I
gave a sharp whistle. He stopped,
and I drew a bead, aiming at his vitals. The ball took effect, and away
he ran towards the east. Sending the
dog in pursuit, before I had reloaded
my gun I heard the dog overtake him,
and I directly knew the bear was in
trouble. I started on the run, and
had not gone many rods when lo! another big bear was directly before
me, making north. I hailed him. He
heeded me not, except to give me a
saucy look. Thinks I, we will see
what virtue there is in lead. Between
me and the bear was a large log lying
parallel with the course the bear was
taking. By the time he appeared
again I confess I had the bear ague.
Never having had it before I did not
know very well how to manage it. I
had had the buck ague. My remedy
for that was chewing my tongue, but
that failed to relieve this case, so I
fired on him, taking the best aim I
could under the circumstances. It
had the effect to quicken his pace, and
he soon disappeared. I began to run
and to reload. I could easily follow
his trail in the burnt leaves, now and
then lending an ear to the exciting
tones of my faithful dog.


This was the smoky fall. There
were many fires, and these woods
were mostly burned over. I soon came
in sight of my enemy again, discharg24


ing my rifle, which again renewed his
pace. This performance was three
times repeated, when the program
changed. The bear wheeled about,
facing me, and such ugly snarls I
had not been used to hearing. Before
this I often wished I could have a
brush with bruin. I now had my
chance. When near me, the dog ran
past me, the two met, and then I saw
fun. Sometimes the dog was after
the bear, and then the bear would be
after the dog.
The fever raged in my brain so I
scarcely knew whether I was on my
heaa or my feet. I shook so I could
not load my gun. Soon the two were
out of sight on the other side of a
fallen log, but I could hear the enraged bear. As I ran up to the dog,
I saw the dog hanging to a hind foot
of the beast. The dog getting entangled in the brush so as to lose his
hold, I sang out, "Take him Cuff!"
The dog seized him by the side of the
head, and quick as a flash the dog
was whirled ten feet in the air, but did
not appear to be hurt,-seized him
again, and in an instant my little dog
was lost to sight, the bear having him
in a close embrace.
Then was my time, and seizing my
gun by the muzzle, I made my dash.
Reserving my blow from the gun, I
gave the bear a hard blow from my
boot, which instantly brought him to
face me, with form erect on his hind
feet, with his head higher than mine,
so I had to look up. Now came the
blow from the gun, hitting him angling across the face, the breech bounding against a tree some twenty feet
away. The bear tumbled over on his
back. Now for the knife. Horror of
horrors! It was gone! All in a flutter I looked for it, and found it not!
The bear again on his feet, I sprang
to repeat the blow. A limb overhead
entangled my weapon, so I missed my
aim. Seizing the bear by the back of
the neck to strike him with the other
hand was about the last I knew just
then, for something hit me over the
right eye which sent me whirling
against the root of a tree, and bouncing forward on my face, could not see
very well, but the next moment a
sight met me that froze me! From
such a sight may I be forever delivered; for, within a foot of my hand,
with mouth distended, was the enraged bear! Throwing up my right
hand, he caught me by the wrist, dragging me on my breast through the
ashes, nearly putting my eyes out
with froth and blood that he snorted


in my face. He sprang to grasp me in
his paws.
Here let me pause. and say that at




that moment my soul was stung with
the thought that I must leave my wife
and children-dearer than all else beside, even life itself. Death, in all its
terrors, stared me in the face; and
such a death! Ten-fold energy was
at that moment given me. All timidity fled. Death or victory! The moment was decisive.
As the bear sprang on me, I seized
him by the whiskers with my left
hand, which brought me to my feet.
Now came the tug of war; from the
feet to the knees, and from the knees
to the feet were the changes of position for a time. He would try to hold
me close enough to poke me under
him, so that I would have to put my
head to his head and pry with neck
to keep from going under. We were
pretty evenly matched, but I thought
Ite nad a little the best of it on a
square pull, and I would gladly have
given my right hand to have made my
escape. But no quarter on his part.
I managed with my left hand to give
him a blow which caused him to let
go for a new hold. He missed and I
made double quick time, with bruin
close to my coat tails. Full fifteen
rods were closely contested, when I
broke off a limb and whirled it in his
face, which checked his motion. I
wheeled, and made for my gun,-I
saw the barrel lying on the ground,the bear again close upon me. Not
realizing the condition of my arm, I
failed to grasp it as I passed by. I
ran to an old tree-top, broke off a dry
limb, and gave the bear such a blow
as felled him to the ground. I caught
hold of the gun, but failed as before.
Becoming discouraged with dry limbs,
I was bound to fix him next time, if he
would give me time to get a weapon.
He did not seem inclined to follow
me, and while I was preparing for
mlm, he got up and walked slowly
away, making a doleful cry. This
gave me a chance to recover my gunbarrel. I was the pursuer, and went
round so as to meet the bear where
he was aiming to cross a fallen log.
At this place I met him with such a
blow from the end of my gun-barrel
that the iron entered his brain and we
rolled on the ground together. I belabored him till he ceased to kick.
Once more I felt free, but not to
breathe clearly. I began to feel faint
and soon lost consciousness. At length
I found myself lying on the ground,
having lost all idea of latitude.
When I started, I tried to keep a
straight course, and my good luck led
me out to my brother-in-law's, Lyman


VanSickle, near where Bridgeville
now is. Martha, his wife, met me
some twenty rods from the house, under great excitement, for I was bare

footed, ragged, and bloody from head
to feet. I could only whisper for my
throat was clogged. She gave me Radway's Ready Relief. This cut its way
down, and I was soon all right. Soon,
Lyman and his brother came in from
work, and we all went out and hung
up the bear. Found my hat, but my
knife I never found. I felt some tired
the next day, so I did not look for the
other bear, which was not found till
the flesh and hide were beyond use.
In a few days I shot another bear. I
saved the oil from the two. amounting to thirteen gallons, which I sold
to Mr. David Sturgis, who once lived
in DeWitt. One bone of my arm was
cracked so it was lame all winter, but
I finished my job, paid off my debt of
fifty dollars, and bought clothes for
the winter.
Fellow pioneers, I have given you
one of the hardest adventures of my
life, one of many that I should have
wished to be excused from 'ut I have
been carried through them all. I have
raised, with the help of my g:,Ad wife,
who is still spared to me, five children
two of them married; all doing w-Tl.
Though somewhat broken in health,
I still have a wish to hunt every fall
to procure some venison.
Now, brethren and sisters, who have
tasted both the bitter and the sweet of
pioneer life, may we eventually meet
in a house not made with nands, eternal in the heavens.
We are indebted to Mr. Milton Barney for the outline of the following
story:
A Mr. Lewis-Mr. Barney has forgotten the given name-owned eighty
acres of land west of Battle Creek,
and in the year 1833, after building a
house, barn, and pig-pen he imported
a pig from the east, which was the
pride and special care of the entire
household. The fatting progress of
the pet pig was carefully watched and
noted from day to day. Hopes were
built and plans made on the relishing,
reveling dinners the Lewis family
would have in the time to come.
When the pig had become a goodsized porker, Mrs. Lewis hearing an
ear-splitting squealing from the pen
called to her daughter, "Jane, Jane,
a bear has our pig." Now, said Jane
was no "airy, fairy Lillian," but a
buxom, flesh and blood girl of sixteen
years, and one possessing common
sense plus, and it was not to her mind
to sit idly down and let pig, precious
pig, be carried off before her eyes.
Therefore, she ran for the gun and


amid her mother's wild screams of,
"O Jane, don't shoot, 0, spare us! 0,
spare us!" the shot was fired and bruin
dropped his load and limped off to the
25


woods to nurse his maimed shoulder.
Later the men and dogs of the neighborhood started out to capture the
bear, and soon found him in a marsh.
Jane Lewis was allowed to fire the
first shot and her luck or skill, whichever it was, being hers, the one shot
was enough to end the bear's life.
A Dr. Hays took the hide for Jane
and had it properly dressed for a robe,
and for years after it added to the personal comfort of the primitive maiden.
THE EARLY PERIOD.
By Hon. George Willard.
Some time in June, 1831, Sands McCamly of Orleans County, N. Y., in
company with George Redfield, visited
the site on which our city stands, and
was so favorably impressed with the
location that he, who after various
vicissitudes was to be its future proprietor, was already determined to
have an interest here. In the same
month, the land office at White Pigeon
was opened, and all the lands in this
vicinity were brought into market.
We may well conceive that there was
a rush to the land office. McCamly,
upon arriving there found that this already expected city was not without
rival contestants for the privilege of
planting it. It seems that J. J. Guernsey, of Cataraugus County, N. Y., had
also fixed his attention upon this site,
as also Lucius Lyon and Robert Clark,
government   surveyors,  who   had
marked it in their list of desirable localities.  The latter rivals waived
their right to bid against the others
upon the receipt of $100. It was then
agreed that J. J. Guernsey should enter eight hundred and thirty-seven and
forty-one one-hundredths acres, all lying in the township afterwards called
Battle Creek, and covering the needed
water power, but with the understanding that Judge McCamly and Daniel
G. Guernsey were each to share it
equally with him upon the payment of
their proportion of the cost. They,
with their families, were to meet in
Detroit the following October, when
the original purchaser was to quit
claim to the other two, and to give
them each the title to an undivided
third of the whole; and it was agreed
that they all should come on and begin operations, each placing $2,000 in
thebank, as the means for commencing the development of an embryocity at the mouth of the Battle Creek.
McCamly reached Detroit at the appointed time, and so did Guernsey and
his brother-in-law, Sackett, and their
wives; but the latter said that they


had been to look at the place and
could not live there. So from the failure of the Guernseys, these first plans




fell to the ground, The higL contracting parties dispersed-the original
patentee to fall into pecuniary embarrassment, and transfer his claim to
Phineas P. Sackett and Ezekiel B.
Guernsey, and McCamly and his family to a home upon the Nottawa
Prairie, where he had entered land
the previous summer. Meanwhile this
portion of the country, which for
many miles either way from the point,
in the spring of 1831, was a perfect
wilderness, began to receive settlers.
Daniel and Jonathan Thomas, sons of
Isaac Thomas, moved upon Goguac
Prairie in May of this year. John
Stewart, Jr., came and settled there
in August, and in October, his father,
who had been the first resident in
Ypsilanti, in 1824.
Stephen Eldred, in moving to Comstock that year, found no bridges west
of Dexter, and no houses west of Sandstone. There was a family on Goguac,
without doubt the sons of Isaac Thomas and their wives, but they lived under a temporary covering of bark.
Late that autumn or early in the winter, Josiah Goddard and Dorrance Williams both chose them a home, the
one on the western, and the other on
the eastern end of the Prairie. Isaac
Tolland and Daniel Thomas, brothers
of Isaac, settled about the same time
by the river, a little to the south of
our present cemetery-the first in September of that season, ihe latter the
next January or February. Joseph
Farnsworth had made a location on
Climax, in May, and during the same
season William Harrison and William
Ackley also settled there. The Eldreds made a pre-emption claim that
spring and entered three-fourths of a
section as soon as it came into the
market. Warren Nichols and several
others had already settled on Dry
Prairie, in the corner of the present
township cf Athens. In the fall, Deacon Michael Spencer, Jeremiah Gardner, and Estes Rich, a bachelor, came
and built their log abodes on the eastern border of Emmett, and moved into
them, so this one season saw something of an advancement in the prospective improvement of the country.
But yet, how solitary and lonely
these families were. We can easily
imagine the situation of the settlers
we have mentioned when the season
closed in 1831.   McCamly, having
been disappointed in his arrangement
with the Guernseys, had gone into winter quarters on the Nottawa. Judge
Eldred and sons, having just finished


their saw mill, were hurrying the completion of their grist-mill at Comstock.
The few families on the Prairie were
tar removed from most of the convenience of civilization. If they wanted a


few boards they were obliged to go
for them almost twenty miles through
the woods. If they wanted a little
corn or wheat ground, they were under the necessity of taking it to Flowerfield, beyond Prairie Ronde, and
how difficult a journey that was without roads and bridges we may judge
from the fact that Joseph Farnsworth,
then on Climax, says he was nine days
going to the same mill with a grist of
four or five bushels; and that before
Judge Eldred's saw mill was running
at Comstock, he was obliged to go to
that place for lumber. Vickery's grist
mill, called the pepper mill from its
extremely diminutive capacity, was
completed that winter, but of its limited accommodation we have proof in
Judge McCamly's statement that he
went there for flour for a sick son who
demanded something different from
the food of crushed corn, and was under the necessity of making three
journeys, in all one hundred miles, before he met with success. If a physician was needed, it would require as
much time to obtain one, as for us
with our present facilities to procure
one from New York. It must have
been a year or two afterwards, that a
daughter of Mr. Goddard actually died
from nose bleed before medical aid
could be procured from Marshall. The
winter of 1831-2 was one of the coldest ever known here. And those four
or five families of whom we speak,
looked out of their little cabins upon
the dreary expanse of the snow-covered prairies, with no neighbors within many miles, saving the dusky inmates of the Indian wigwams.
At length the spring opened, and
gave activity to our infant settlements. The winter, as before stated,
had been cold. In December, Stephen
Eldred recalls that with his team he
crossed the old ford below Kalamazoo
on the ice. Judge McCamly recalls
that on one morning in March, the
same winter, the thermometer stood
19 degrees below zero. He had reasodn to keep that cold night in remembrance. On his way with Corwin
Johnson, from the Nottawa to Marshall, he was obliged to cross Pine
Creek on a log. There he missed his
footing and fell into the cold stream;
but, with his companion, pressed his
way onward. His pantaloons soon became stiffly frozen. His boots became
like ice, and were as hard as horn,
and after traveling miles, the chafing
of his garments can well be imagined.
His feet bled, cut by the frozen boots.
By evening the two travelers had ar

rived at the Willow Plain, east of Climax, but they had missed their way,
and were lost. The cold was intense.
McCamly could not step without cry

ing out with pain. Both were apprehensive of freezing unless they could
have some relief immediately.   A
splintered tree was found, and they
were about to strike a fire with a tinder box, when a fresh horse track was
discovered. They concluded to follow it with all haste of which they
were able, and about ten o'clock that
night they were led to the residence
of Josiah Goddard, where a large fire
of logs shed its genial warmth upon
the travelers as they camped upon the
floor. On the return of McCamly from
Marshall, in company with one Kennedy, the way was also missed, and
the night was spent on a bed of twigs
laid upon the snow, by the side of a
huge log fire, somewhere in the south
part of Newton or Leroy.
It was about this time that Battle
Creek began to have a history as a
permanent settlement. In February
of that year, Samuel Convis, by virtue of an interest in the Guernsey
purchase, erected a log house on the
spot where Deacon Leggett's house
now stands, and was the oldest settler in the original Battle Creek. Before this, however, in October, 1831, a
Dr. Foster had employed Mr. Estes
Rich to build a house a little east of
the site of the Methodist church. Foster intended to settle on the Guernsey
tract, but by mistake his home was
erected on the land intended for the
University. It is doubtful whether he
ever intended to make Battle Creek
his home, as he appears to have remained here about a year and then
moved further west. But the first settler upon our corporation limits as
they are at present extended, must
have been Isaac Tolland, who came to
his place on the river, in September,
a month or two before Foster. Convis went east to move his family, and
while he is thus engaged another character, as we find by investigation, begins to move upon the scene. On the
Erie Canal, some time in June, an
anxious Vermonter was pursuing his
way westward in search of a fortune.
He knows not what point he shall
make for. His ears are open for any
information in regard to the "Great
West."  He overhears two men talking about a place called Battle Creek,
and he determines to come forward,
because one relates to the other that
there has already been a commencement here to build a steamboat. That
is the first time that Moses Hall appears in connection with our annals.
Onward he comes, and when he arrives here he finds no steamboat nor


signs of one, but he obtained hospitable lodgings in the cabin of Dr Foster, and bought of the Rev. John D.
Pierce, of Marshall for fourteen shil

26




lings an acre, a quarter section of land
on the east side of the Seminary
Plain.
On the night of the 3d of July, Mr.
Convis arrived with his family. Thus
Independence day in 1832 dawned
upon a bona fide settleme-it in Battle
Creek. This was a memorable year.
It was a season when a bold heart
might have some excuse for intimidation in coming to these forests to secure a home. The war of the Black
Hawk was prevailing, and rumor exaggerated the danger and the panic
ran so high, through apprehension
that all the Indian tribes might be
aroused to the exercise of their old
treacheries and barbarities, that several persons left their homes and returned to the east. Hall met some of
these panic-stricken fugitives on his
way hither from Detroit. When Convis was stepping upon the boat at
Dunkirk, to come here with his family, his fatner besought him not to
come, as a rumor stated that the Indians had burned his house. Dominie
Pierce, at Marshall, like a true soldier
of the church militant, counseled the
erection of a fort, to defend the few
emigrants at Marshall. People were
warned out to repel the supposed invaders, and some answered to the
call. A man named Bertram, who had
located near Ceresco, is still remembered to have passed through Climax
in full uniform to drive back the foe.
Of course, much of this apprehension
of peril was unfounded, but many an
emigrant mother must have felt some
solicitude for her babes, as she
brought them to the haunts of redmen, whose great chief was bidding
defiance to all white men by open war.
Some weeks after Mr. Convis arrived upon the Guernsey purchasethe exact date we have been unable
to obtain-two other families arrived
and located on the present site of our
city. Daniel G. Guernsey, formerly
a member of congress, moved from
Dunkirk to this place, coming through
Ohio. Near Monroe a promising son
was seized with cholera. The disorder
was fatal, and the weeping emigrant
family buried him by the roadside,
and continued their dreary journey.
As they moved into the Foster house,
it is to be inferred that Foster must
have go'ne west about the same time.
Guernsey opened his house for the reception of travelers, and kept the first
public house in Battle Creek. He also
built a block house near the residence
of Dr. Campbell, during the same fall.
Pollodore  Hudson, from   Saratoga


County, came in company with Guernsey, and his family arriving, he, a
few months afterwards, put up a log
house further east on the plain, and


moved into it. Early in the spring of
1833, Nedebiah Angell and Nathaniel
Barney were added as neighbors in
the new colony. Angell established
himself down the river at the distance
of a mile. Barney, having an interest
in the Guernsey tract, built a house
on the hill west of the junction of the
two rivers, and kept a tavern. Daniel
G. Guernsey left this season and went
to Bertrand, where he established himself again. But his place was made
good by Moses Hall, the Vermonter
before mentioned, who arrived here
September 16, 1833, and occupied the
Foster house until he could build a
shanty on his place, which it is to be
presumed took him some time, as he
went to Comstock for boards to cover
it. By this autumn our town begins
to show a fair prospect of occupation.
There were three families on the
plain which later was improperly
termed the Seminary, and two west
of the river. Still they were deprived
of many privileges. There are many
miles between them and the nearest
mill. They must go to Marshall for
a physician, as Squire Hall remembers he did in the winter for Dr. Hart.
These homes were as yet in a nearly
unbroken forest.
This was the peculiarly primitive
period of the town. All its capacities
as a place for manufacture, for artisanship of any sort, and for commerce,
were as yet wholly dormant. There
was an immense water power here,
but it was unused. Marshall, Kalamazoo, even Comstock and Bellevue,
were making progress. They were inviting the trades, and becoming commercial centers. But the people of the
prairie, and the few other settlers
in this vicinity, watched in vain for a
near market for their abundant produce, and for other accommodations
which a town always affords. Our
citizens here were all of quite rural
habits, and were required to be so until further changes; but it is apprehended that they sometimes rested on
a half-bisected log, or leaned upon
their maul handles, and sat tired and
weary and aguish on their plow beams,
and wished that the water power of
these streams could be used, and not
lie everlastingly idle.
Emigration continued to bring an
increase to the growing population of
this region throughout the year 1834.
Tolman W. Hall and Ezra Convis arrived in June. Judge Hall moved into
a shanty added to his brother's house.
Gen. Convis moved into a block house,
putting up a framed addition, the first


framed house in Battle Creek. Vespasian Young came the next spring.
Warren B. Shepherd, Dr. Asahel
Beach, Zebidiah Stiles, Luther Phelps,
27


Jonathan Lamb, Josiah Gilbert, David Howell, Deacon Salter, Joseph
Farnsworth, who built near Judge
McCamly's, and some others emigrated
in the fall. The Langlys. Conways,
and Roswell Crane, predecessor to
Gilbert on the place now occupied by
Mr. Reynolds, had arrived a year before, and nearly rank among the primitive pioneers.
In the autumn of this year the first
public building was erected in the limits of the city. That was the old log
schoolhouse, which stood about where
the Union block now stands. The
lumber needed to complete it was
floated down the Battle Creek from
Bellevue. The Prairie, however, took
the initiative in the cause of education
in this vicinity.  The schoolhouse
there, covered with shakes, was the
first erected in this part of the country. In the winter of 1834-5 the youths
of this district were presided over by
Warren B. Shepherd, the first schoolmaster in Battle Creek. The next
teacher here was Miss Sarah Phelps,
who taught the following summer.
This old school is remembered by some
with delight. A debating club having
been formed, its walls weekly resounded, for several successive winters, with the oratory and eloquence
of the town. And probably the great
event of the week was the animated
discussion held there.
The year 1835 displays to our view,
as we look back upon the past, a much
busier scene than the incipient city
had ever seen before. Judge McCamly
having bought an equal and undivided
half of the original Guernsey purchase
in February, 1834. and having removed here the following winter, was
now ready to commence operations.
Gen. Convis having control of the
other half, the understanding was that
Judge McCamly should have the whole
water power, upon the condition that
he would improve it. Of the proposed
village they were to be joint proprietors. The day was approaching when
people were actually to have a town.
A body of twenty-five or thirty men, including many sons of Erin, were engaged in building the long race, which,
in its day, and under the circumstances under which all such works
were then of necessity completed, was
a monument of notable enterprise.
While that work was advancing, the
first saw mill, standing near the present Hart mill, was in process of erection. In November of that year the
water was let into the race-the victory was won-the saw mill made the


frosty woods to echo with its incessant movement, and our worthy friend
Judge McCamly, began to witness in
reality what he had seen in imagina



tion in June, 1831, as he stood here
with Mr. Redfield, and longed to make
the Kalamazoo provide the forces for
establishing at this point one of Michigan's great centers of manufacture
and trade.
While this work was in progress
there were other signs of activity. In
1834 the road that left the great territorial thoroughfare about a mile east
of here passed over the plain along
the present line of Marshall street, by
the two or three log cabins that had
been erected, and came to the brow of
what was then a steep hill near the
Methodist church; it passed down the
hill, and took for its course the then
existing hollow which reached from
that point to Battle Creek, where the
Wheelock mill now is, then followed
the stream down nearly to the junction, where the stream was crossed by
a rail bridge; and so the road continued on west by Barney's log tavern,
by Angell's to Gilbert's, and so on to
Gull Prairie. The point of land between the rivers where our business
is now done was an oak opening, but
heavily timbered. The land beyond
the river at the south was a thickly
wooded swamp. The higher grounds
beyond the Battle Creek were more
sparsely covered with oak, and there
for many summers after, the tall grass
waved, and the wild lilies bloomedthe grass uncropped, and the lilies
scarcely noticed, and "wasting their
sweetness on the desert air." But in
1835 we find a road cut through the
peninsula, to form the main street of
the intended town, and a passage also
from that to the road along the creek,
which was the first opening of Jefferson street. This year the village was
surveyed, though not platted till the
next season, and a map published,
copies of which hung up in eastern
hotels and other places of public resort, with streets and cross streets of
magnificent names, showing that the
quick express of intention was determined not to wait for the slow coach
of reality. One day, about the same
time that the Halls were out by the
roadside making an ox-sled, a man
came along and surprised them by
asking the way to Battle Creek. The
traveler was most surprised to learn
that the city lay in the woods before
him. Mrs. Ella G. Smith recalled that
when they came this year and settled on the place formerly occupied
by Judge Graves, as they passed
through the woods occupying the present business center, they were disheartened to learn that a terrible road


of muddy clay, and full of stumps and
brush, was the Main street which had
made such an inviting show on the
map seen in the east. It is at this


period that we hear of the first market in our city. The market place
was a pole resting on a couple of
crutches.  The proprietor perambulated the country for miles, and
warned people of his arrival by the
tinkling of a little bell. The name of
the man who monopolized this business was Pollodore Hudson. When
the race was dug, and the children
of the Emerald Isle came on to do it,
trade so increased that he took Moses
Hall for a partner.
David H. Daniels and William H.
Coleman established themselves as
merchants in the year 1835. The former sold goods where Dr. Campbell
lives, but soon removed his business
to the village of Verona, which Gen.
Convis, having transferred his interest to Jonathan Hart and his brotherin-laws, Isaac and Joseph Merritt, was
striving to push forward as a successful rival of Battle Creek. The latter
displayed his wares in a log store on
the corner of Main and Jefferson
streets, and continued there for many
years, securing the claim of being the
proprietor of the first permanent establishment in this place.
This season brought many important accessions to the new community
and its neighborhood. One cannot, of
course, be expected to mention them
all, and to make selections from the
enterprising band who came here at
this era, and for a few years afterward, to change the whole face of our
country by their energy and labor, as
by the wand of enchantment, might
seem invidious.
In 1836, Alonzo Noble and Almon
Whitcomb, having tormed a partnership, became competitors of Mr. Coleman in the dry goods business, bringing goods into a little store upon the
corner diagonally opposite, and also
engaged in building the first grist mill
in Battle Creek, and the one now
known as the Titus & Hicks mill.
The mill was ready for custom early
the following spring, and it was truly
an important event. The people of
Battle Creek no longer went to Marshall or some distant point to mill,
and all felt to say "Good-bye, Marshall, Comstock, Bellevue, Kalamazoo,
Gourdneck, Flowerfield; Ye have supplied us with grinding and lumber,
and we now sincerely thank you, and
bid you adieu. We have, at last, a
town of our own. We wish to keep
up amicable relations, and interchange
friendly tokens of recognition; but
understand that the colony of Battle
Creek is no longer tributary. We own


our grist mill, saw mill, schoolhouse,
blacksmith shop, and other needful
places of manufacture. We have our
meat market, and if it is but a pole
28


and two sticks, we shall patronize it
with patriotic pride till we get a better."
We have thus far traced the progress of business events in our community, up to the point which we proposed. But such events, after all, can
show us but little of the real life of
our early pioneers.  We naturally
wish to know how they daily lived;
and a hundred years hence it will be
of very great interest to our descendants to know the least particulars in
regards to things which may seem to
us commonplace in the extreme.
In looking back to the days of our
antediluvians, we have found a few
things of interest in regard to their
relations with the Indians. Mrs. Samuel Convis was here when the neighbors were few, and those were distant,
and many a long summer day was exceedingly lonely; but she found that
the Indian women could, partially, at
least, make up the loss of other society. The bands of Pottawottamies
frequently encamped by hundreds
upon the ridge beyond the Battle
Creek, and above the union of the
rivers, and the squaws, according to
Mrs. Convis' statement, used   frequently to come and spend the day
with her, bringing their work-a moccasin to embroider, or something else
upon which to exercise their uncivilized, but ingenious handicraft. They
have passed away. They come to our
homes no more. They slip no longer
noiselessly to our doors; but we can
hardly fail to think of them and ask
where they are. Most of them are
likely lying under the rude mounds,
and some beyond the Mississippi may
still think of the days when they went
to the white man's home upon the
plain between the Kalamazoo and the
Wapakisco, or, as some say they termed it, the Wan-da-ga. As late as the
time of which we speak our Michigan
tribes used to go to Malden to receive
presents from the British government.
They are remembered as passing the
place in companies of several hundreds on their journey for that purpose. In long files they marched with
their ponies, men, women and children, together, along the great trail
that led through this point to Detroit.
As this was one of their important
thoroughfares for a long period, imagination will easily allow us to believe
that our ground here may have been
trodden by some of their distinguished
chiefs. And sometimes, as the writer
has looked over the events of Indian
history. he has thought that along this


trail might have passed the celebrated
Brant, when he came through this
peninsula to rise up the tribes in the
Revolutionary War; and also a few




years before, Pontiac might have stepped nimbly and resolutely along here,
when, as the American Rienzi, making
the last great stand against the power
of Britain, he came to put the spirit of
war into the more lagging bands of
the Pottawottamies and Ottawas.
Stephen Eldred relates that when
Judge Eldred's large barn was raised
upon Climax Prairie, on the 6th of
July, 1833, aid was rendered by the
aborigines.  The  country  was so
sparsely settled at the time that word
was sent far and wide through the
country. It was like a gathering of
the Highland clans. Men came from
Battle Creek, Gull Prairie, Kalamazoo, and all the adjacent region. A
beef was killed, and a caldron of
home-made beer was brewed for the
preparation. And when they gathered
there came also the red men to aid
them. They lifted, too, with zeal.
When the master carpenter cried,
"Heave, ho; heave," their chief cried
the same, and the bent moved withcombined Saxon and Pottawottamies
strength. When the work was done
all shared in the well prepared feast.
The Indians in this neighborhood
when "squabby" might be ugly as any
other man is liable to be (one in such
condition snapped his gun at Moses
Hall); they might also be careless
about their fires, negligently letting
them run into the woods, thereby destroying the early pioneers' hay-they
might be somewhat too frequent in
seeking for food at the emigrant's
door-but in this state they rarely
committed the least injury upon the
persons and property of the whites.
They peaceably yielded to the invader, helped him at his raisings, and
aided him to celebrate the Fourth of
July; for when that day was observed
in this settlement in 1835 four or five
hundred Indians are said to have been
present, and to have swept the tables
of what had been left by the palefaces.
But did not our antediluvians have
any social relations with each other?
Tradition tells us that they did. They
look back upon these as "the good old
times." The few young people about
the years of 1833-45 took their sleighrides to various parts in the vicinity.
The young men of 1834 were W. B.
Shepard, Major Gilbert, John DeGrote,
the two Langleys, Frank and Aranthus Thomas, Amos Barnes, Rustin
and George Angell, Ezra Ransom, a
Mr. Holbrook, and probably some
others not in the list. The young ladies, whose names we have not obtained, were without doubt all beauti

ful and in good demand. The common places of resort of this company
of that day was Henry's tavern at the
"Gulf," and Gilbert's in Bedford.


These places, now no longer public
inns, and the latter perfectly desolate, once used to animate with the
voices of the young and merry-making
pioneers. There were frequent assemblies at private houses, and everybody was invited in those good old
days. They may have been more rude
than they ought. Mischievous dame
rumor reports that the then young
Major Gilbert, at a social gathering
at Mr. Hudson's, in too much glee,
ran against and broke a looking glass.
And the grave matrons, even in those
days, are reported to have ridiculed
the unfortunate trespasser for his unlucky adventure under the provoking
charge that the reflected image of
Harriet Champion, or some other
beauty, had brought him into striking
and dangerous proximity to the mirror.
The young people of Marshall used
also to visit Henry's. As early as
February, 1835, one sleigh, holding
some seven happy couples, comprising nearly all of our sister city, came
cown to Goguac, stopped at Isaac
Thomas', went back to Henry's for
supper, and after a season of familiar
sociability returned, the bells ringing
out in loud melody upon the clear
night air. The young gentlemen were
L. Kingsbury, C. S. Kimble, E. Burch,
C. Wakefield, H. Vanderburg, J.
Hutchinson, and Mr. Wilder. The ladies were Minerva Greves, Harriet
Champion, E. Wakefield, E. Kimble,
A. Wilbur, and H. Clark.
But the first real party in Battle
Creek was at the home of Gen. Convis, on New Year's night, 1836. The
gentlemanly and courteous host presided at a long table with his accustomed ease and dignity. Moses Hall
was there and sat at the other end of
the table. We notice it from its being
the first real party among us, and several old settlers remember it with
great pleasure. That same night the
young people, about one hundred in
number, from the whole surrounding
region, were at Henry's, and all the
young ladies wore caps, with the exception of the Misses Bagley, Miss
Gilbert, and Miss Convis, who became
Mrs. John Van Arman, who were surprised that all the other girls dressed
like their grandmothers.
The First Marriage.
Even at the era of which we are
treating there was marrying and giving in marriage. The very day this
county was organized, March 6, 1833,
John Stewart, Jr., and Miss Auser
were married on Goguac Prairie. The


parties went to Marshall to be united
in the bonds of wedlock by Gen. Crary,
a justice of the peace, but were inforned that they must procure a li29


cense, which could only be done at
Kalamazoo. Three days were spent
in this preliminary, and then the expectant couple were made one, Gen.
Crary having come on a sunshiny day
in March to officiate. The first wedding in the limits of our present corporation appears to have been that of
James Simonds and Berthana, daughter of Daniel Thomas, Pollodore Hudson officiating, and a large assembly
being gathered. The first funeral in
the vicinity was on the Prairie. On
the 20th of September, 1832, Mrs. John
Stewart was buried, and the funeral
was attended by the Rev. Mr. Hobart
of Marshall. According to Mrs. Convis the first death occurred early in
the summer of 1834, when a child of
Ezra Convis was buried. The first
child born in our place was Henry C.
Hall, January 7, 1834. The next was
Caroline M. Convis.
Before we leave the records of these
events there is one little incident that
should not be passed over by the faithful historian. In the primitive times,
a Battle Creek justice, or rather Milton justice, for the eight towns were
first called Milton, was invited to
unite a couple on the Prairie in the
bonds of matrimony. The justice was
afflicted with the ague, and it so happened that the marriage was to be on
his "ague day." In the morning before, however, he fortified himself for
his intended task with an enormous
dose of quinine, hoping that would prevent the recurrence of the disorder fothat day at least. About noon he took
another, and started for the performance of his duty. But on arriving at
the place of the ceremony, and waiting for the parties interested to get
themselves in readiness, what with
the quinine taken, and the natural
force of his disorder, he was in a paroxysm of fever that rendered him
perfectly beside himself. The bride
and her intended waited and waited
till near the going down of the sun
for the paroxysm to subside, but in
vain. At last they were determined
not to be cheated. The officiator was
taken to the well. His wife drenched
him thoroughly with two or three pailfuls of cold water. This caused a
lucid interval for a few moments. At
that fortunate instant the procrastinated couple were joined. The lovers,
by the authority of the governor and
Territorial Council of Michigan, were
made man and wife, rejoicing abundantly in the blessed effects of the cold
water system. The parties finally


united were Mr. Frank Thomas and
Miss Amanda Goddard. In the days
of which we speak there was evidently much patriotism. The Fourth
of July was even celebrated in 1833 by




Daniel G. Guernsey, who, to please the
children, fired a couple of pistols out
of the window. The next we hear of
the Fourth, Squire Hudson exploded
a rusty gun barrel by a patriotic effort
on Goguac Prairie. But the first actual celebration of the day of our national independence was on the Fourth
of July, 1835. It was held on the little plat of ground nearly in front of
Judge McCamly's house, in view of
the junctions of the rivers. This is
universally spoken of by those present as the best ever held here. All
were united and happy. They were
all neighbors and friends, and had
come out to celebrate the day with the
deepest and sincerest feelings of fraternal fellowship.  Judge McCamly
presided. Elder Adams delivered the
oration. Moses Hall read the charter
of our liberties, and then all sat down
to a long table, and they had some
rare and good cold water toasts. One
is still remembered-remembered because it breathes such a hostile defiance to Michigan's at present most
loving sister, Ohio. Moses Hall gave
the following warlike sentiment: "Bob
Lucas and Boundary Line: may the
Wolverines stand up to the rack, fodder or no fodder."
This sketch could not be closed
without a brief allusion to the moral
and religious agencies of those days.
These wild prairies were trodden by
a few faithful and self-denying men,
who gained the sincere affections of
nearly all the old pioneers. Elder Taylor of Schoolcraft, who is said to have
preached the first sermon in Battle
Creek, at the old log dwelling house of
Daniel Thomas; Rev. Calvin Clark of
Marshall, who came along in the cholera panic, and cheered the desponding Mrs. Convis with words of hope
and consolation; the Methodist preachers who came to the settlement as
early certainly as 1832-3, men of like
character with Elders Crane and Randall Hobart, will unquestionably be
long remembered for their singlemindedness and zeal.
Conclusion.
The first settlers of the wilderness
have a peculiar experience which the
country once occupied and improved
can never afford. They had privations
which their successors, on the cultivated fields and in the thriving cities
which their enterprise has been the
-means of producing, may some of
them fail to appreciate; but the proud
consciousness that their early trials
and labors, and their once united and


'hopeful energies, gave the first im-pulse  toward   those   magnificent
changes which they now witness is of
itself something of a reward. They


may have labored, and, in some cases,
others may seem to reap the benefit;
but we may be sure that the just and
wise will always award honor to men
in proportion to the real benefits arising from what they have accomplished.
Starting Life Anew in the Woods.
A. D. P. Van Buren.
The new home was so entirely secluded in the woods, that we felt, on
entering it, like going into hemitage.
We do not know the value of a thing
until it is lacked or lost, says the
poet. We had lost a home-the old
one in New York, and here we realized its full value; for we felt homeless as we went into this rude cabin.
Nothing but ourselves and the little
household furniture we had brought,
to remind us of the old home. If, as
above stated, we missed some of our
favorite birds in the woods about us,
we, on the other hand within doors,
were not troubled with the house-fly
the mischievous mouse or the destructive rat. It was a long time before
either of them made their appearance among us. After we had been
here a year without seeing a person,
or a living thing, that we had once
known in New York, my mother, one
day, on opening a book, found a housefly that had been caught and preserved between the leaves. She exclaimed, "Here is a fly from York
state. Now children, don't touch itlet it remain here in this book, just as
it is; for it is a fly that once lived in
our old home." We had been here
five years before we saw a person
whom we had ever known before. Mr.
Wood, then living in Battle Creek,
came to see us. He had only known
of our family in New York, but here
he seemed an old time friend.
Out of doors was beautiful, wild
Michigan. Our cattle had a boundless
range to feed and roam over, in the
oak openings, which were not like the
woods of New York, "all a tangle with
cut briers, and underbrush," but clear
and trim, no fences, roads or even a
track, save, the deep paths and Indian
trails that meandered through them.
From the door of our log house we
could often see long files of Indians,
afoot and on ponies, wending their
way along on these trails that were,
in places, worn down to the depth of
two feet. There always appeared to
us, to be some strange, romantic history connected with the lives of these
wandering children of the forests.


The deer also could be seen feeding
at leisure, or trooping by the door in
droves. And occasionally, in the stilly
night, from some leafy covert, we
30


would hear the lone howl of a wolf.
The bear went foraging through the
corn fields, or snuffing round the betterments for a pig, while the fox paid
his nightly devoirs to our hen-roost.
The weather remained remarkably fine
during the fall. Such Indian summer
days used, once in a while, to visit us
in New York, but here they seemed
to be of the manor born, and we had
them by the weekfull.
One day, during the fall, we heard a
noise as of some one pounding on timber with a beetle. It was the first indication to us that we had neighbors
living nearer than Goguac Prairie.
We listened-the sound came from the
south. A few days later we ascertained that Thomas Kewney, from the
Isle of Man, was erecting a log house,
some over a mile from us in that direction. And during the next month
we found Jonathan Austin to the
southwest, Luther Olds to the west,
and Alexander Martin, from "sweet
Ireland," to the northwest, all in newly-erected log cabins, and all within
two miles of us. About the same distance to the southeast was Deacon
Solomon Case, while south of him
were Hiram Holcomb, John Crumb,
and Allan Willard; and thence to the
east were Dr. John Beach, Joseph
Stewart, Laraway, and the Morehouses. To the north was an open
glade, then finely wooded openings
some two miles to the territorial road.
Goguac Prairie was the same distance
to the northeast.
Being established in the new home,
we began to cast about us for means
of subsistence. As was most usual,
when the pioneer reached his lands
here and erected his cabin, his money
was all gone. We were left to our
only resource-labor. This was all the
capital we had. My brothers had cut
hay for the cattle from the marsh near
by. But we must have winter stores
for the family and corn for the cattle,
and pigs and hens. The two latter
yet to be procured and paid for somehow or other. The settlement on Goguac was about five years old. This
was our Egypt for wheat, corn, potatoes, and other necessary supplies.
There we found a chance to husk corn
and dig potatoes on shares, and by
dint of various kinds of labor, we becured some wheat and pork. Many
things were not to be had for money
or labor. Here the rich and poor were
on a level.
Wheat and corn suggested a grist
mill. The nearest one was at Comstock, on the west, or Marshall, on the


east; some seventeen miles to either
of them.
There was a primitive grist mill
some quarter of a mile from our home,




in a small Indian hamlet on the banks
of a rush-bordered lake. On several
occasions we had noticed the squaws
grinding corn at this mill. It was
constructed in this manner: A long
poie or sapling was pinned to a tree,
like a well sweep; a smaller pole
was suspended from the elevated end
of the sweep, the lower part of which
was pestle-shaped;  the top of a
stump was hollowed out, to hold the
corn. The sweep was then worked up
and down by one of the squaws, while
another steadied and directed the pestle, which,as it came down, mashed
the corn in this crude mortar. We
concluded not to take our grist to this
mill; and as the Battle Creek mill
was not running, we went to the one
at Marshall. This, with an ox team,
was a two or three days' trip. As
wheat was scarce, and corn was more
plenty, many settlers were compelled
to live on "Johnny cake."
"How are you getting along, Mr.
Olds?" said my mother to a neighbor,
as he called to our house. "Oh," he
replied, "we ain't getting along, we
are only staying; it's mighty hard living on Johnny cake. I shall thank
God, if we ever live to see the day
when we can have wheat bread in our
family the year round; I don't know
as we ever shall; it will be a sort of
millenium with us, when wheat bread
takes its place on our table once
more." Neighbor Olds has lived to
see that day, and Michigan to be one
of the greatest wheat-growing states
in the Union.
As there was no wheat raised the
first year, this was the discouraging
time with the settler. Corn was sooner raised and hence "Johnny cake,"
for awhile was the staff of life.
Pork was scarce from the fact that
hogs were scarce. The breeds then
in vogue were the "wind-splitters,"
the "blue-racers," and the "third or
fourth row-rooters."
Beef was scarce from the simple
reason that there were so few cattle
in the country. Everything of the cattle kind was used-the cow for milk
and butter, and the ox for labor. A
cow or stout heifer was sometimes
worked by the side of an ox.
In the spring of 1837 provision of
every kind was very scarce and very
dear. Wheat was over two dollars
per bushel, corn and oats very high
where they could be bought at all; potatoes were ten shillings per bushel,
and it was necessary to go to Prairie
Ronde, a round trip of some sixty
miles, to get them at that price. We


gave thirteen dollars to Frank Thomas
of Goguac, for a shoat of the windsplitter breed, weighing probably sixty
pounds, dressed. It was so lean it


would not fry itself. We had to boil
it in half a dozen waters, and then it
would not pass as "legal tender" with
any one who knew what pork was. We
would occasionally kill a deer, and
then venison would supply our table
with meat.
My father had brought five hundred
pounds of codfish from New York.
This we exchanged for pork with our
neighbors.  his exchanging of one
thing for another was called "paying
in dicker," a word found in old authors, but was not heretofore used in
this country. This "dicker" was all
the money we had in circulation, and
was of denominations so various that
we cannot name them here. Each
settler was a banker, and all his movable property-large and small-was
his bank stock. This he threw upon
the market, as money and used it as
such. He paid for an ox yoke by giving for it its equivalent in so many
pounds of pork. This was the first
original start of trade-giving the products of one kind of labor fcr those
of another. Dicker was all the money
the settler had until paper money or
specie found its way into the settlement, and then this old banking system was abandoned.
The pioneer did not take the poet's
advice-"neither a borrower nor a
lender be." During the first decade
of his life here he "spelled his way
along" with the ax and the plow. Borrowing, sometimes, was the very
means that helped him out of difficulty and set his enterprise going
again. Everybody borrowed and everybody lent; and by it business was
kept prosperous and suffering often
avoided. If the thing needed could
not be borrowed or paid for in dicker,
necessity then took the settler into
pupilage, and taught him how to make
what he wanted, from an ax-helve or
plow to a house and barn. Undergoing common hardships made friends
and equals of all.
For developing neighborly traits,
for leveling distinctions, and for carrying out the letter and spirit of the
scriptural rule-"do as you would wish
to be done by"-the settling of a new
country is unsurpassed. It was here
that a man went for what he was
worth; not for his station or his
wealth; whether American, Scotch,
Irish, or what not, the man was taken
into account-not the mantle.
If a settler went to mill he lent of
his grist to every one who wished to
borrow, at the log cabins ne passed,
on his road home. Sometimes, on


reaching his house, of a large grist he
would have but little left.
A shed constructed of logs, covered
with marsh hay, answered for shed
31


and barn. The first crop of wheat, cut
with the old hand-cradle, was bound,
drawn and stacked near the shed.
Near the stack a spot of earth was
cleared and made smooth and hard for
a threshing floor. On this floor the
wheat was threshed, with the old flail.
It was then cleaned of chaff by the
old hand fan. In process of time,
Dickey, of Marshall, made fanning
mills, and the threshing machine made
its appearance. Then, much labor
was saved by their use.
During the winter and spring, when
fodder became scarce, trees were cut
down, and the cattle were driven to
the tree-tops to browse on the buds
and tender parts of the limbs. By this
means, and sometimes only by this,
the cattle were carried through the
winter and spring.
In the sunny glade hard by the
stream that ran through the farm was
an Indian cornfield. The corn hills,
with the stubble yet standing in them,
marked the spot where the previous
year Mr. 'Lo" had been engaged in
corn planting. The little mounds of
earth showed where they had buried
their corn. Their favorite camping
ground was on the banks of the little
lake above mentioned. This lake was
made by the beavers. The dam, of
their construction, was at its head.
But the Indians, years gone by, had
captured all the beavers and sold their
skins to the French fur traders. The
beavers had been succeeded by those
other builders, the muskrats, who in
turn took possession of this lake, and,
erecting their houses, increased in
numbers and flourished for many
years.
The Indians getting their whisky at
Angell's distillery, would come to
their wigwams. here by the lake, and
have their pow-wows. We could hear
them yell and whoop, and see them
dance and go through with their wild
and grotesque antics.  They would
also engage in sports of the turf.
Mounting their ponies they would ride
with whip and yell, and wild halloo,
and exulted in genuine Indian style
over the pony that came out ahead.
We remember no depredations they
committed. A cold morning in winter
one came to our house. He was tall
and savage looking, with painted face,
tomahawk and scalping knife in his
belt, and gun in his hand. He "booshooed" himself into the house, and
began in deep, guttural utterances,
and fierce gesticulations, to tell about
"che-mo-ko-man's"-pointing  to  the
northwest-getting the deer he had


shot. The Indian had shot a deer, and
a settler finding it, ere the Indian
came up, took it home. The red man
tracked the settler to his cabin, where,




O


in the loft overhead, he found his deer
secreted, and claimed it. The settler
unheeding his claim, turned him out
of doors. This act, and the injustice
of taking his deer, made the Indian
mad. For a time we all feared there
would be a tragical end to this affair.
But there was nothing more heard of
it.
At another time a squaw came to
the house, and seeing a small jug in
the corner eagerly took it up, and cried
out "whis-kee." My mother told her
it was vinegar; she, shaking the jug,
retorted: "You lie-whis-kee." The
broomstick would have hit the squaw's
head if she had not dodged and ran
out of doors.
My brother was splitting rails alone
in the woods one day, when an Indian,
coming up behind him, saluted him
with a boo shoo so unexpectedly, that
he turned around to strike, with his
beetle, some animal, he supposed,
when he was confronted by a tall Pottawattomie; and the next thing he
said was, "sam-mock-me-sam-mock,"
meaning tobacco. Giving him the only
plug of tobacco he had, the Indian took
it, bit off a piece, and putting the rest
in his pocket, walked away. "That
was cool," thought my brother, "and
I five miles from another plug of tobacco."
'Tis said one of the old fur traders
was accustomed to weigh the furs he
bought of his Indian customers in the
following manner: Putting the furs
on one side of the scales he would say,
"little finger weigh so much; two fingers, so much; one hand, so much;
two hands, so much, and so on, bearing down on the scale with one finger
or two, or with the hand, as the case
might be.
During the winter of 1836, my brothers went to an evening party on Goguac Prairie. About midway through
the woods they met a large bear directly in their path. Seeing that he
was not disposed to get out of the
way, they advanced toward him swinging their hats and yelling at the top
of their voices.  He grumblingly
moved aside, and they passed on, well
satisfied to get on so easily.
Heroic But Ineffectual Struggle of
Verona to Outstrip Battle Creek.
By A. D. P. Van Buren.
Gen. Ezra Convis of Silver Creek,
Chautauqua county, New York, in company with Nedebiah Angell, visited
Michigan some time in 1832. They
examined the location at Battle Creek


and prospected about the county and
returned to their homes well pleased
with their new  land.  Mr. Convis'
brother Samuel came the same season


and made a permanent location at
battle Creek.
Early in the spring of 1833 his family, together with the families of Nathaniel Barney and Nedebiah Angell,
came to Battle Creek, occupying the
block-house that Guernsey had built
and which stood near the site of the
late William M. Campbell's residence.
Gen. Convis himself came in July,
1834.
He at once became interested in the
affairs of the young colony, and took
an active part in its enterprises. He,
in connection with Mr. Barney, his
father-in-law, became owner of onehalf of what is known as the "Guernsey purchase," a tract of over eight
hundred acres of land lying within the
present limits of the city of Battle
Creek. Here was a new and inviting
field for one of Mr. Convis' active turn
of mind, and he began the work in
earnest. He also cast about him to
see in what kind of a country he had
pitched his tent. In taking views afoot
of the region about his new home, he
found a desirable location some mile
and a half above the mouth of the
Battle Creek, which included the rapids in the stream at that point. Here
he at once saw that a water-power
could be obtained, and also in this locality there was the making of a town.
He consequently selected eight acres
of land covering the water-power, and
congratulated himself that in this purchase he was buying a prospective village. He bought other lands in the
vicinity and in other parts of the territory. He also, with Gov. Ransom,
Sands McCamly, and Moses and Tolman W. Hall, purchased a tract of
land now covered by the village of
Augusta. They afterward dug the canal that constitutes the water-power
there, erected mills, and thus really
founded the town.
Gen. Convis, in 1835, sold out his
one-half interest in the Guernsey property to Jonathan Hart and his brothers-in-law, Abraham, Joseph and Isaac
Merritt, and gave his interest in the
water-power at Battle Creek to Sands
McCamly, provided he would improve
it.
He now turned his entire attention
to building up a town on his former
purchase north of Battle Creek. Under his management he soon began to
see the village that he had in contemplation, actually springing up
about him.
Let us contrast the busy scene going on there in 1838, under his supervision, with the one going on some


mile and a half down the stream at the
same time. They had then at Battle
Creek, a saw-mill, grist mill, blacksmith shop, tavern, and two stores;
32


with a doctor, lawyer, and various mechanics. They had very much the
same at the rival town, Verona. Deacon David N. Salter was running the
saw-mill;,ol. Stewart had built the
grist mill; William Stewart was hammering iron at his forge; Willard
Mills and Ashley worked at tailoring;
and the mechanics at their trades;
David Caldwell kept the tavern and
he and his brother John had a cabinet
shop; David H. Daniels, Sylvester
Mills, and Jeremiah Teed were selling
dry goods; Brown and Brigham were
doing the same; Dr. Rhodes was attending the sick; and Felix Duffie
and Gillispie did the pettifogging. The
above-named persons and their families, with a number of other families
constituted the inhabitants of Verona.
Battle Creek had the most houses and
may have had the most trade.
But for awhile Verona was its rival,
and it was thought, that had Gen. Convis lived, he, through his influence
in the legislature, would have secured
the railroad for his own town, thus
depriving his rival neighbor of that
great aid in building up a place. But
his death in the winter of 1837-38
changed the course of affairs at Verona. The town never grew much
after that. Battle Creek got the railroad and soon became the busy, thriving town, growing rapidly year after
year, as the country became more
and more settled, till it became a
flourishing city. In the meanwhile its
old pioneer competitor, Verona, that
had started life here in the woods,
about the same time, and under
circumstances fully as favorable, now
found herself left behind in the race
for wealth and preferment. For it
was soon apparent that Battle Creek
was the business center of the surrounding country, and the once ambitious Verona lost all hopes of ever being a rival or a large town, and finally
gave up the struggle; and gradually
falling back, it disappeared from the
list of villages.  Gen. Convis was
elected, in 1835, a member of the lower house of our first legislature, and
was made the first speaker of that
house. He was re-elected a representative for the second term. It was during the winter of 1837-38 while attending the legislature in Detroit, he, with
a number, was invited by Mr. TenEyck, the famous old landlord, to attend the wedding of his daughter, at
his well known tavern, some ten miles
from the city. The party went to the
wedding in sleighs. It was while on
their way back to Detroit that the


sleigh upset and Gen. Convis was seriously injured, I think in the side. He
was taken to the city, and his wife
sent for, but he never recovered.




The first party in Battle Creek was
at Gen. Convis' house, on "New Year's
Eve," in 1836. He is thus spoken of at
tnis time:  "The gentlemanly and
courteous host presided at the table,
with his accustomed ease and dignity." Gen. Ezra Convis has left a
good record, which will ever retain a
prominent place in the early history
of Battle Creek.  He was a most
worthy and honorable man. Mrs. John
VanArman. his daughter, lives in Chi'cago, his sons, Albert and Ezra, live
in other parts of the country.
The following is quoted from "Oak
Openings," by J. Fenimore Cooper, as
descriptive of this section of Michigan
just prior to its settlement:
The region was, in one sense, wild,
though it offered a picture that was
not without some of the strongest and
most pleasing features of civilization.
The country was what is termed "rolling," from some fancied resemblance
to the surface of the ocean when it is
just undulating with a long "groundswell." Although wooded, it was not
as the American forest is wont to
grow, with tall, straight trees towering towards the light, but with intervals between the low oaks that were:scattered profusely over the view, and
with much of that air of negligence
that one is apt to see in grounds
where art is made to assume the charracter of nature. The trees, with very
few exceptions, were what is called
the "burr oak," a small variety of a
very extensive genus; and the spaces
between them, always irregular, and
often of singular beauty, have obtained the name of "openings;" the
two terms combined giving their appellation to this particular species of
native forest, under the name of "Oak,Openings."
These woods, so peculiar to certain.districts of country, are not altogether
without some variety, though possessing a general character of sameness.
The trees were of very uniform size,.being little taller than pear-trees,
which they resemble a good deal in
form; and having trunks that rarely
attain two feet in diameter. The variety is produced by their distribution.
In places they stand with a regularity
resembling that of an orchard; then,
again, they are more scattered and
less formal, while wide breadths of
the land are occasionally seen in
which they stand in copses, with va~cant spaces, that bear no small affinity to artificial lawns, being covered with verdure. The grasses are


supposed to be owing to the fires
lighted periodically by the Indians in
order to clear their hunting grounds.
Towards one of these grassy glades,


which was spread on an almost imperceptible acclivity, and which might
have contained fifty or sixty acres of
land, the reader is now requested to
turn his eyes. Far in the wilderness
as was the spot, four men were there,
and two of them had even some of the
appliances of civilization about them.
The woods around were the then unpeopled forest of Michigan, and the
small winding reach of placid water
that was just visible in the distance
was an elbow of the Kalamazoo, a
beautiful little river that flows westward, emptying its tribute into the
vast expanse of Lake Michigan. Now,
this river has already become known,
by its villages and farms, and railroads and mills; but then, not a dwelling of more pretension than the wigwam of the Indian, or an occasional
shanty of some white adventurer, had
ever been seen on its banks. In that
day the whole of that fine peninsula,
with the exception of a narrow belt of
country along the Detroit river, which
was settled by the French as far back
as near the close of the seventeenth
century, was literally a wilderness.
If a white man found his way into it,
it was as an Indian trader, a hunter,
or an adventurer in some other of the
pursuits connected with border life
and the habits of the savages.
Of this last character were two of
the men on the open glade just mentioned, while their companions were
of the race of the aborigines. What is
much more remarkable, the four were
absolutely strangers to each other's
faces, having met for the first time in
their lives only an hour previously to
the commencement of our tale. By
saying that they were strangeri to
each other, we do not mean that the
white men were acquaintances, and
the Indians strangers, but that neither
of the four had ever seen either of the
party until they met on that grassy
glade, though fame had made them
somewhat acquainted through their
reputations. At the moment when we
desire to present this group to the imagination of the reader, three of its
number were grave and silent observers of the movements of the fourth.
The fourth individual was of middle
size, young, active, exceedingly well
formed, and with a certain open and
frank expression of countenance that
rendered him at least well-looking,
though slightly marked with the smallpox. His real name was Benjamin
Boden, though he was extensively
known throughout the northwestern
territories by the sobriquet of Ben


Buzz-extensively as to distances, if
not as to people. By the voyageurs,
and other French of that region, he
was almost universally styled Le Bour33


don, or the "Drone;" not, however,
from his idleness or inactivity, but
from the circumstance that he was notorious for laying his hands on the products of labor that proceeded from
others. In a word, Ben Boden was a
"bee-hunter," and as he was one of
the first to exercise his craft in that
portion of the country, so was he infinitely the most skillful and prosperous. The honey of Le Bourdon was
not only thought to be purer and of
higher flavor than that of any other
trader in the article, but it was much
the most abundant. There were a
score of respectable families on the
two banks of the Detroit who never
purchased of any one else, but who patiently waited for the arrival of the
capacious bark canoe of Buzz, in the
autumn, to lay in their supplies of this
savory nutriment for the approaching
winter. The whole family of griddle
cakes, including those of buckwheat,
Indian, rice, and wheaten flour, were
more or less dependent on the safe
arrival of Le Bourdon for their popularity and welcome. Honey was eaten
with all; and wild honey had a reputation, rightfully or not obtained, that
even rendered it more welcome than
that which was formed by the labor
and art of the domesticated bee.
The dress of Le Bourdon was well
adapted to his pursuits and life. He
wore a hunting-shirt and trowsers,
made of thin stuff, which was dyed
green, and trimmed with yellow fringe.
This was the ordinary forest attire of
the American rifleman; being of a
character, as it was thought, to conceal the person in the woods, by blending its hues with those of the forest.
On his nead Ben wore a skin cap,
somewhat smartly made, but without
the fur; the weather being warm. His
moccasins were a good deal wrought,
but seemed to be fading under the exposure of many marches. His arms
were excellent; but all his martial
accoutrements, even to a keen, longbladed knife, were suspended from the
rammer of his rifle; the weapon itself being allowed to lean, in careless
confidence, against the trunk of the
nearest oak, as if their master felt
there was no immediate use for them.
Not so with the other three. Not
only was each man well armed, but
each man kept his trusty rifle hugged
to his person, in a sort of jealous
watchfulness; while the other white
man, from time to time, secretly, but
with great minuteness, examined the
flint and priming of his own piece.
This second pale-face was a very dif

ferent person from him just described.
he was still young, tall, sinewy, gaunt,
yet springy and strong, stooping and
round-shouldered, with a face that car



ried a very decided top-light in it, like
that of the notorious Bardolph. In
short, whiskey had dyed the countenance of Gershom Waring with a telltale hue, that did not less infallibly
betray his destination than his speech
denoted his origin, which was clearly
from one of the states of New England. But Gershom had been so long
at the Northwest as to have lost many
of his peculiar habits and opinions,
and to have obtained substitutes.
Of the Indians, one, an elderly,
wary, experienced warrior, was a Pottawattamie, named Elksfoot, who was
well-known at all the trading-houses
and "garrisons" of the Northwestern
Territory, including Michigan, as low
down as Detroit itself. The other redman was a young Chippewa, or O-jebway, as the civilized natives of that
nation now tell us the word should be
spelled.  His ordinary  appellation
among his own people was that of
Pigeonswing; a name obtained from
the rapidity and length of his flights.
This young man, who was scarcely
turned of five-and-twenty, had already
obtained a high reputation among the
numerous tribes of his nation as a
messenger or "runner."
Accident had brought these four
persons, each and all strangers to one
another, in communication in the
glade of the Oak Openings, which has
already been mentioned, within half
an hour of the scene we are about to
present to the reader. Although the rencontre had been accompanied by the
usual precautions of those who meet
in a wilderness, it had been friendly
so far; a circumstance that was in
some measure owing to the interest
they all took in the occupation of the
bee-hunter. The three others, indeed,
had come in on different trails, and
surprised Le Bourdon in the midst of
one of the most exciting exhibitions
of his art-an exhibition that awoke
so much and so common an interest
in the spectators as at once to place
its continuance for the moment above
all other considerations. After brief
salutations, and wary examinations of
the spot and its tenants, each individual had, in succession, given his
grave attention to what was going on,
and all had united in begging Ben
Buzz to pursue his occupation, without
regard to his visitors. The conversation that took place was partly in English, and partly in one of the Indian
dialects, which luckily, all the parties
appeared to understand. As a matter
of course, with a sole view to oblige
the reader, we shall render what was


said, freely, into the vernacular.
"Let's see, let's see, stranger," cried
Gershom, emphasiz'ug     the  syllable


we have put in italics, as if especially
to betray his origin, "what you can
do with your tools. I've heer'n tell of
such doin's, but never see'd a bee
lined in all my life, and have a
desp'rate fancy for larnin' of all sorts,
from 'rithmetic to preachin'."
"That comes fi,m your Puritan
blood," answered Le Bou-don, with a
quiet smile, using surprisingly pure
English for one in his class of life.
"They tell me you Puritans preach by
instinct."
"I don't know  now that is," answered Gershom, "though I can turn
my hand to anything. I heer'n tell,
across at Bob Ruly (Bois Brule), of
sich doin's, and would give a week's
keep at Whiskey Centre to know how
't was done."
"Whiskey Centre" was a soubriquet
bestowed by the fresh-water sailors of
that region, and the few other white
adventurers of Saxon origin, firstly on
Gershom himself, and secondly on his
residence.  These names were obtained from the intensity of their respective characters in favor of the
beverage named. L'eau de mort was
the place termed by the voyageurs, in
a sort of pleasant travesty on the eau
de vie of their distant, but still wellremembered   manufactures  on  the
banks of the Garonne. Ben Boden,
however, paid but little attention to
the drawling remarks of Gershom
Waring. This was not the first time
he had heard of "Whiskey Centre,"
though the first time he had ever seen
the man himself. His attention was
on his own trade, or present occupation; and when it wandered at all, it
was principally bestowed on the Indians; more especially on the runner.
Of Elk's foot, or Elksfoot, as we prefer
to spell it, he had some knowledge
by means of rumor; and the little he
knew rendered him somewhat more
indifferent to his proceedings than he
felt towards those of the Pigeonswing. Of this young red-skin he had
never heard; and while he managed
to suppress all exhibition of the feeling a lively curiosity to learn the
Chippewa's business was uppermost
in his mind. As for Gershom, he had
taken his measure at a glance, and
had instantly set him down to be what
in truth he was, a wandering, drinking, reckless adventurer, who had a
multitude of vices and bad qualities,
mixed up with a few that, if not absolutely redeeming, served to diminish
the disgust in which he might otherwise have been held by all decent
people. In the mean while, the bee

hunting, in which all the spectators
took so much interest, went on. As
this is a process with which most of
our readers are probably unacquainted
34


it may be necessary to explain the
modus operandi, as well as the appliances used.
The tools of Ben Buzz, as Gershom
nad termed these implements of his
trade, were neither very numerous
nor very complex. They were all contained in a small, covered wooden
pail like those that artisans and laborers are accustomed to carry for the
purpose of conveying their food from
place to place. Uncovering this, Le
Bourdon had brought his implements
to view, previously to the moment
when he was first seen by the reader.
There was a small covered cup of tin;
a wooden box; a sort of plate, or platter, made also of wood; and a common tumbler, of a very inferior, greenish glass. In the year 1812 there was
not a pane, nor a vessel, of clear,
transparent glass made in all America! Now, some of tne most beautiful
manufactures of that sort known to
civilization are abundantly produced
among us, in common with a thousand
other articles that are used in domestic economy.   Blurred, and of a
greenish hue, the glass was the best
that Pittsburg could then fabricate,
and Ben had bought it only the year
oefore, on the very spot where it had
been made.
An oak, of more size than usual, had
stood a little remote from its fellows,
or more within the open ground of the
glade than the rest of the "orchard."
Lightning had struck this tree that
very summer, twisting off its trunk at
a height of about four feet from the
ground.  Several fragments of the
body and branches lay near, and on
these the spectators now took their
seats, watching attentively the movements of the bee-hunter.   Of the
stump Ben had made a sort of table,
first leveling its splinters with an axe,
and on it he placed the several implements of his craft, as he had need of
each in succession.
The wooden platter was first placed
on this rude table. Then Le bourdon
opened his small box, and took out of
it a piece of honey-comb that was circular in shape and about an inch and
a half in diameter. The little covered
tin vessel was next brought into use.
Some pure and beautifully clear
honey was poured from its spout into
the cells of the piece of comb until
each of them was about half filled.
The tumbler was next taken in hand,
carefully wiped, and examined, by
holding it up before the eyes of the
bee-hunter. Certainly there was little
to admire in it, but it was sufficiently


transparent to answer his purposes.
All he asked was to be able to look
through the glass in order to see what
was going on in its interior.




Having made these preliminary arrangements, Buzzing Ben-for the soubriquet was applied to him in this
form quite as often as in the othernext turned his attention to the velvet-like covering of the grassy glade.
Fire had run over the whole region
late that spring, and the grass was
now as fresh and sweet and short as
if the place were pastured. The white
clover, in particular, abounded, and
was then just bursting forth into the
blossom. Various other flowers had
also appeared, and around them were
buzzing thousands of bees. These industrious little animals were hard at
work, loading themselves with sweets,
little foreseeing the robbery contemplated by the craft of man. As Le
Bourdon moved stealthily among the
flowers and their humming visitors,
the eyes of the two red-men followed
his smallest movement, as the cat
watches the mouse; but Gershom
was less attentive, thinking the whole
curious enough, but preferring whiskey to all the honey on earth.
At length Le Bourdon found a bee
to his mind, and watching the moment
when the animal was sipping sweets
from a head of white clover, he cautiously placed his blurred and greenlooking tumbler over it, and made it
his prisoner. The moment the bee
found itself encircled with the glass,
it took wing and attempted to rise.
This carried it to the upper part of its
prison, when Ben carefully introduced
the unoccupied hand beneath the
glass, and returned to the stump.
Here he set the tumbler down on the
platter in a way to bring the piece
of honey-comb within its circle.
So much done successfully, and with
very little trouble, Buzzing Ben examined his captive for a moment, to
make sure that all was right. Then
he took off his cap and placed it over
tumbler, platter, honey-comb, and bee,
He now waited half a minute, when
cautiously raising the cap again, it
was seen that the bee, the moment a
darkness like that of its hive came
over it, had lighted on the comb, and
commenced   filling itself with the
honey. When Ben took away the cap
altogether, the head, and half of
the body of the bee was in one of the
cells, its whole attention being bestowed on this unlooked-for hoard of
treasure. As this was just what its
captor wished, he considered that part
of his work accomplished. It now became apparent why a glass was used
to take the bee, instead of a vessel of


wood or of bark. Transparency was
necessary in order to watch the movements of the captive, as darkness was
necessary in order to induce it to


cease its efforts to escape, and to settle on the comb.
As the bee was now intently occupied in filling itself, Buzzing Ben, or
Le Bourdon, did not hesitate about removing the glass. He even ventured
to look around him, and to make another captive, which he placed over
the comb, and managed as he had done
with the first. In a minute, the second
bee was also buried in a cell, and the
glass was again removed. Le Bourdon now signed for his companions
to draw near.
"There they are, hard at work with
the honey," he said, speaking in English, and pointing at the bees. "Little
do they think, as they undermine that
comb, how near they are to the undermining of their own hive! But so it
is with us all. When we think we
are in the highest prosperity we may
be nearest to a fall, and when we are
poorest and humblest, we may be
about to be exalted. I often think of
these things, out here in the wilderness, when I'm alone, and my thoughts
are actyve."
Ben used a very pure English, when
his condition in life is remembered;
but, now and then, he encountered a
word which pretty plainly proved he
was not exactly a scholar. A false emphasis has sometimes an influence on
a man's fortune, when one lives in
the world; but it mattered little to
one like Buzzing Ben, who seldom
saw more than half a dozen human
faces in the course of a whole summer's hunting. We remember an Englishman, however, who would never
concede talents to Burr, because the
latter said, a l'Americaine, European,
instead of European. (Accent on the
"o' in the first instance, and on the "e"
in the last.)
"How hive in danger?" demanded
Elksfoot, who was very much of a
matter-of-fact person. "No see him,
no hear him-else got some honey."
"Honey you can have for the asking,
for I've plenty of it already in my cabin, though it's somewhat 'arly in the
season to begin to break in upon the
store.  In general, the bee-hunters
keep back till August for they think
it better to commence work when the
creatures,"-this  word  Ben   pronounced as accurately as if brought
up at St. James's, making it neither
"creatur'" nor "creatoore"-"to commence work when the creatures have
had time to fill up, after their winter's
feed. But I like the old stock, and,
what is more, I feel satisfied this is
not to be a common summer, and so


I thought I would make an early
start."
As Ben said this, he glanced his
eyes at Pigeonswing, who returned
35


the look in a way to prove there was
already a secret intelligence between
them, though neither had ever seen
the other an hour before.
"Waal!" exclaimed Gershom, "this
is cur'ous, I'll allow that; yet, it's
cur'ous-but we-ve got an article at
Whiskey Centre that'll put the sweetest honey bee ever suck'd altogether
out o' countenance!"
"An article of which you suck your
share, friend, I'll answer for it, judging by the sign you carry between the
windows of your face," returned Ben,
laughing;  "but hush, men, hush.
that first bee is filled, and begins to
think of home. He'll soon be off for
Honey Centre, and I must keep my eye
on him. Now stand a little aside,
friends, and give me room for my
craft."
The men complied, and Le Bourdon
was now all intense attention to his
business. The bee first taken had,
indeed, filled itself to satiety, and at
first seemed to be too heavy to riseon the wing. After a few moments of
preparation, however, up it went, circling around the spot, as if uncertain
what course to take. The eye of Ben
never left it, and when the insect darted off, as soon it did, in an air-line,
he saw it for fifty yards after the
others had lost sight of it. Ben took
the range, and was silent fully a minute while he did so.
"That bee may have lighted in the
corner of yonder swamp," he said,
pointing, as he spoke, to a bit of low
land that sustained a growth of much
larger trees than those which grew in
the "opening" if it has not crossed the
point of the wood, and struck across
the prairie beyond, and made for a bit
of thick forest that is to be found
about three miles farther. In the last
case, I shall have my trouble for nothing."
"What t'other do?" demanded Elksfoot, with very obvious curiosity.
"Sure enough; the other gentleman
must be nearly ready for a start, and
we'll see what road he travels. 'Tis
always an assistance to a bee-hunter
to get one creature fairly off, as it
helps him to line the next with greater
sartainty."
Ben would say actyve and sartain,
though he was above saying creatoore,
or creatur'. This is the difference between a Pennsylvanian and a Yankee.
We shall not stop, however, to note
all these little peculiarities in these
individuals, but use the proper or the
peculiar dialect, as may happen to be
most convenient to ourselves.


But there was no time for disquisition, the second bee being now ready
for a stait. Like his companion, this
insect rose and encircled the stump




several times ere it darted away towards its hive, in an air-line. So small
was the object, and so rapid its movement, that no one but the bee-hunter
saw the animal after it had begun its
journey in earnest. To his disappointment, instead of flying in the same direction as the bee first taken, this little
fellow went buzzing off fairly at a
right angle! It was consequently clear
that there were two hives, and that
they lay in very different directions.
Without wasting his time in useless
talk, Le Bourdon now caught another
bee, which was subjected to the same
process as those first taken. When
this creature had filled itself, it rose,
circled the stump as usual, as if to
note the spot for a second visit, and
darted away, directly in a line with
the bee first taken. Ben noted its
flight most accurately, and had his
eye on it until it was quite a hundred
yards from the stump. This he was
enabled to do by means of a quick
sight and long practice.
"We'll move our quarters, friends,"
said Buzzing Ben, good-humoredly, as
soon as satisfied with this last observation, and gathering together his
traps for a start. ' must angle for
that hive, and I fear it will turn out to
be across the prairie, and quite beyond
my reach for today."
The prairie alluded to was one of
those small, natural meadows, or pastures, that are to be found in Michigan, and may have contained four or
five thousand acres of open land. The
heavy timber of the swamp mentioned
jutted into it, and the point to be determined was, to ascertain whether the
bees had flown over these trees, towards which they had certainly gone
in an air-line, or whether they had
found their hive among them. In order to settle this material question,
a new process was necessary.
"I must 'angle' for them chaps," repeated Le Bourdon; "and if you will
go with me, strangers, you shall soon
see the nicest part of the business of
bee-hunting. Many a man who can
'line' a bee can do nothing at an
'angle.' "
As this was only gibberish to the listeners, no answer was made, but all
prepared to follow Ben, who was soon
ready to change his ground. The beehunter took his way across the open
ground to a point fully a hundred rods
distant from his first position, where
he found another stump of a fallen
tree, which he converted into a stand.
The same process was gone through
with as before, and Le Bourdon was


soon watching two bees that had
plunged their heads down into the
cells of the comb. Nothing could exceed the gravity and attention of the


Indians all this time. They had fully
comprehended the business of "lining"
the insects towards their hives, but
they could not understand the virtue
of the "angle."  The first bore so
strong an affinity to their own pursuit
of game as to be very obvious to their
senses; but the last included a species of information to which they were
total strangers. Nor were they much
the wiser after Le Bourdon had taken
his "angle;" it requiring a sort of
induction to which they were not accustomed, in order to put the several
parts of his proceedings together, and
to draw the inference. As for -ershom, he affected to be familiar with
all that was going on, though he was
just as ignorant as the Indians themselves. This little bit of hypocrisy
was the homage paid to his white
blood; it being very unseemly, according to his view of the matter, for a
pale-face not to know more thar a redskin.
The bees were some little time in
filling themselves. At length one of
them came out of his cell, and was
evidently getting ready for his flight.
Ben beckoned to the spectators to
stand farther back, in order to give
him a fair chance, and, just as he had
done so, the bee rose. After humming
around the stump for an instant, away
the insect flew, taking a course almost
at right angles to that in which Le
Bourdon had expected to see it fly.
It required half a minute for him to
recollect that this little creature had
gone off in a line nearly parallel to
that which had been taken by the second of the bees, which he had seen
quit his original position. The line
led across the neighboring prairie, and
any attempt to follow these bees was
hopeless.
But the second creature was soon
ready, and when it darted away, Le
Bourdon, to his manifest delight, saw
that it held its flight towards tne point
of the swamp, into or over which two
of his first captives had also gone.
This settled the doubtful matter. Had
the hive of these bees been beyond
that wood, the angle of intersection
would not have been there, but at the
hive across the prairie. The reader
will understand that creatures which
obey an instinct, or such a reason as
bees possess, would never make a
curvature in their flights without some
strong motive for it. Thus, two bees
taken from flowers that stood half a
mile apart would be certain not to
cross each other's tracks, in returning
home, until they met at the common


hive; and wherever the intersecting
angle in their respective flights might
be, there would that hive be also.
As this repository of sweets was the
36


game Le Bourdon had in view, it is
easy to see how much he was pleased
when the direction taken by the last
of his bees gave him the necessary
assurance that its home would certainly be found in that very point of
dense woods.
CHAPTER II.
How skillfully it builds its cell,
How neat it spreads the wax,
And labors hard to store it well,
With the sweet food it makes.
-Watts's Hymns for Children.
The next thing was to ascertain
which was the particular tree in which
the bees had found a shelter. Collecting his implements, Le Bourdon was
soon ready, and with a light, elastic
tread he moved off towards the point
of the wood, followed by the whole
party. The distance was about half a
mile, and men so much accustomed
to use their limbs made light of it.
In a few moments all were there, and
the bee-hunter was busy in looking for
his tree. This was the consummation
of the whole process, and Ben was not
only provided for the necessities of
the case, but he was well skilled in
all the signs that betokened the
abodes of bees.
An uninstructed person might have
passed that point of wood a thousand
times, without the least consciousness
of the presence of a single insect of
the sort now searched for. In general
the bees flew too high to be easily
perceptible from the ground, though a
practiced eye can discern them at distances that would almost seem to be
marvelous. But Ben had other assistance than his eyes. He knew that the
tree he sought must be hollow, and
such trees usually give outward signs
of the defect that exists within. Then,
some species of wood are more frequented by the bees than others, while
the instinct of the industrious little
creatures generally enables them to
select such homes as will not be very
likely to destroy all the fruits of their
industry by an untimely fall. In all
these particulars, both bees and beehunter were well versed, and Ben
made his search accordingly.
Among the other implements of his
calling, Le Bourdon had a small spyglass; one scarcely larger than those
that are used in theatres, but which
was powerful and every way suited
to its purposes. Ben was not long in
selecting a tree, a half-decayed elm,
as the one likely to contain the hive;
and by the aid of his glass he soon
saw bees flying among its dying


branches, at a height of not less than
seventy feet from the ground. A little
further search directed his attention
to a knot-hole, in and out of which




the glass enabled him to see bees passing in streams.   This decided the
point; and putting aside all his implements but the axe, Buzzing Ben
now set about the task of felling the
tree.
"Stranger," said Gershom, when Le
Bourdon had taken out the first chip,
"perhaps you'd better let me do that
part of the job. [ shall expect to come
i. for a share of the honey, and I'm
willing to 'arn all I take.  I was
brought up on axes, and jackknives,
and sich sort of food, and can cut, or
whittle, with the best chopper, or the
neatest whittler, in or out of New England."
"You can try your hand if you wish
it," said Ben, relinguishing the axe.
"I can fell a tree as well as yourself,
but have no such love for the business
as to wish to keep it all to myself."
"Waal, I can say, I like it," answered
Gershom, first passing his thumb
along the edge of the axe, in order to
ascertain its state; then swinging the
tool with a view to try its "hang."
"I can't say much for your axe,
stranger, for this helve has no tarve
to 't, to my mind; but sich as it is,
down must come this elm, though ten
millions of bees should set upon me
for my pains."
This was no idle boast of Waring's.
Worthless as he was in so many respects, he was remarkably skillful
with the axe, as he now proved by the
rapid manner in which he severed the
trunk of the large elm on which he
was at work. He inquired of Ben
where he should "lay the tree," and
when it came clattering down it fell
on the precise spot indicated. Great
was the confusion among the bees at
this sudden downfall of their long
cherished home. The fact was not
known to their enemy, but they had
inhabited that tree for a long time;
and the prize now obtained was the
richest he had ever made in his calling. As for the insects, they filled
the air in clouds, and all the invaders
deemed it prudent to withdraw to
some little distance for a time, lest
the irritated and wronged bees should
set upon them and take an ample revenge. Had they known their power,
this might easily have been done, no
ingenuity of man being able to protect him against the assaults of this
insignificant-looking  animal,  when
unable to cover himself, and the angry little heroes are in earnest. On
the present occasion, however, no
harm befell the marauders. So suddenly had the hive tumbled, that its


late occupants appeared to be astounded, and they submitted to their fate
as men yield to the power of tempests
and earthquakes. In half an hour most


of them were collected on an adjacent
tree, where, doubtless, a consultation
on the mode of future proceedings was
held, after their fashion.
The Indians were more delighted
with Le Bourdon's ingenious mode of
discovering the hive than with the
richness of the prize; while Ben, himself, and Gershom, manifested most
satisfaction at the amount of the earnings. When the tree was cut in pieces
and split, it was ascertained that years
of sweets were contained within its
capacious cavities, and Ben estimated
the portion that fell to his share at
more than three hundred pounds of
good honey-comb included-after deducting the portions that were given
to the Indians, and which were abstracted by Gershom. The three last,
however, could carry but little, as they
had no other means of bearing it away
than their own backs.
The honey was not collected that
night. The day was too far advanced
for that; and Le Bourdon-certainly
never was name less merited than this
soubriquet, as applied to the active
young bee-hunter-but Le Bourdon, to
give him his quaint appellation, offered
the hospitalities of his own cabin to
the strangers, promising to put them
on their several paths the succeeding
day, with a good store of honey in
each knapsack.
"They do say there ar' likely to be
troublesome times," he continued, with
simple earnestness, after having given
the invitation to partake of his homely
fare; "and I should like to hear what
is going on in the world. From Whiskey Centre I do not expect to learn
much, I will own, but I am mistaken if
the Pigeonswing here has not a message that will make us all open our
ears."
The Indians ejaculated their assent;
but Gershom was a man who could
not express anything sententiously.
As the bee-hunter led the way towards
his cabin, or shanty, he made his comments with his customary freedom.
Before recording what he communicated, however, we shall digress for
one moment in order to say a word
ourselves concerning this term "shanty." It is now in general use throughout the whole of the United States,
meaning a cabin that has been constructed in haste, and for temporary
purposes. By a license of speech, it
is occasionally applied to more permanent residences, as men are known
to apply familiar epithets to familiar
objects. The derivation of the word
has caused some speculation. The


term certainly came from the West,perhaps from the Northwest,-and the
best explanation we have ever heard
of its derivation is to suppose "shan37


ty," as we now spell it, a corruption of
"chiente," which it is thought may
have been a word in Canadian French
phrase to express a "dog-kennel."
"Chenil," we believe, is the true
French term for such a thing, and our
own word is said to be derived from it
-"mente" meaning "a kennel of
dogs," or "a pack of hounds," rather
than their dwelling. At any rate,
"chiente" is so plausible a solution of
the difficulty that one may hope it is
the true one, even though he has no
better authority for it than a very
vague rumor. Curious discoveries are
sometimes made by these rude analogies, however, though they are generally thought not to be very near
akin to learning. For ourselves, now
we do not entertain a doubt that the
soubriquet of "Yankees," which is in
every man's mouth, and of which the
derivation appears to puzzle all our
philologists, is nothing but a slight
corruption of the word "Yengeese,"
the term applied to the "English" by
the tribes to whom they first became
known. We have no other authority
for this derivation than conjecture
and conjectures that are purely our
own; but it is so very plausible as almost to carry conviction of itself.
The "chiente," or shanty of Le Bourdon, stood quite near to the banks of
the Kalamazoo, and in a most beautiful grove of the burr oak. Ben had
selected the site with much taste,
though the proximity of a spring of
delicious water had probably its full
share in influencing his decision. It
was necessary, moreover, that he
should be near the river, as his great
movements were all made by water,
for the convenience of transporting
his tools, furniture, etc., as well as his
honey. A famous bark canoe lay in a
little bay, out of the current of the
stream, securely moored, head and
stern, in order to prevent her beating
against any object harder than herself.
The dwelling had been constructed
with some attention to security. This
was rendered necessary, in some
measure, as Ben had found by experience, on account of two classes of enemies-men and bears. From the first,
it is true, the bee-hunter had hitherto
apprehended but little. There were
few human beings in that region. The
northern portions of the noble peninsula of Michigan are somewhat low
and swampy, or.are too broken and
savage to tempt the native hunters
from the openings and prairies that
then lay, in such rich profusion, far

ther south and west. With the exception of the shores, or coasts, it was
seldom that the northern half of the
peninsula felt the footstep of man.




With the southern half, however, it
was very different; the "openings"
and glades and water-courses offering
almost as many temptations to the
savage as they have since done the
civilized man. Nevertheless, the bison, or the buffalo, as the animal is
erroneously, but very generally termed
throughout the country, was not often
found in the vast herds of which we
read, until one reached the great
prairies west of the Mississippi. There
it was that the red-man most loved to
congregate; though always bearing,
in numbers, but a trifling proportion to
the surface they occupied. In that
day, however, near as to the date, but
distant as to the events, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, kindred
tribes, we believe, had still a footing
in Michigan proper, and were to be
found in considerable numbers in what
was called the St. Joseph's country,
or along the banks of the stream of
that name; a region that almost merits the lofty appellation of the garden
of America. Le Bourdon knew many
of their warriors, and was much esteemed among them; though he had
never met with either of those whom
chance now had thrown in his way.
In general, he suffered little wrong
from the red-men, who wondered at
his occupation, while they liked his
character;  but he had   sustained
losses, and even ill treatment, from
certain outcasts of the tribes, as well
as from vagrant whites, who occasionally found their way to his temporary dwellings. On the present occasion, Le Bourdon felt far more uneasiness from the circumstance of having
his abode known to Gershom Waring,
a countryman, and fellow Christian,
in one sense, at least, than from its being known to the Chippewa and the
Pottawattamie.
The bears were constant and dangerous sources of annoyance to the
bee-hunter. It was not often that an
armed man-and Le Bourdon seldom
moved without his rifle-has much to
apprehend from the common brown
bear of America. Though a formidable looking animal, especially when
full grown, it is seldom bold enough to
attack a human being; nothing but
hunger or care for its young ever inducing it to go so much out of the
ordinary track of its habits. But the
love of the bear for honey amounts
to a passion. Not only will it devise
all sorts of bearish expedients to get
at the sweet morsels, but it will scent
them from afar. On one occasion, a
family of Bruins had looked into a


shanty of Ben's that was not constructed with sufficient care, and consummated their burglary by demolishing the last comb. That disaster al

most ruined the adventurer, then quite
young in his calling; and ever since
its occurrence he had taken the precaution to build such a citadel as
should at least set teeth and paws at
defiance. To one who had an axe,
with access to young pines, this was
not a difficult task, as was proved by
the present habitation of our hero.
This was the second season that Le
Bourdon had occupied "Castle Meal,"
as he himself called the shanty. This
appellation was a corruption of "Chateau au Miel," a name given to it by
a wag of a voyageur, who had aided
Ben in ascending the Kalamazoo the
previous summer, and had remained
long enough with him to help him put
up his habitation. The building was
just twelve feet square, in the interior,
and somewhat less than fourteen on
its exterior. It was made of pine logs,
in the usual mode, with the additional
security of possessing a roof of
squared timbers, of which the several
parts were so nicely fitted together
as to shed rain. This unusual precaution was rendered necessary to protect the honey, since the bears would
have unroofed the common bark coverings of the shanties with the readiness of human beings, in order to get
at stores as ample as those which the
bee-hunter had soon collected beneath
his roof. There was one window of
glass, which Le Bourdon had brought
in his canoe; though it was a single
sash of six small lights that opened
on hinges; the exterior being protected by stout bars of riven oak securely
let into the logs. The door was made
of three thicknesses of oaken plank,
pinned well together, and swinging
on stout iron hinges so secured as not
to be easily removed. Its outside fastening was made by means of two
stout staples, a short piece of ox-chain,
and an unusually heavy padlock.
Nothing short of an iron bar, and that
cleverly applied, could force this fastening. On the inside, three bars of
oak rendered all secure when the master was at home.
"You set consid'rable store by your
honey, I guess, stranger," said Gershom, as Le Bourdon unlocked the fastenings and removed the chain, "if a
body may judge by the kear (care)
you take on'! Now, down our way,
we an't half so partic'lar; Dolly and
Blossom never so much as putting up
a bar to the door, even when I sleep
out, which is about half the time, now
the summer is fairly set in."
"And whereabnuts is 'down our way,'
if one may be so bold as to ask the


question?" returned Le Bourdon, holding the door half opened, while he
turned his face towards the other, in
expectation of the answer.
38


"Why, down at Whiskey Centre, to
be sure, as the v'y'gerers and other
boatmen call the place."
"And where is Whiskey Centre?"
demanded Ben, a little pertinaciously.
"Why, I thought everybody would
a' known that," answered Gershom;
"sin' whiskey is as drawin' as a blister. Whiskey Centre is just where I
happen to live; bein' what a body
may call a travelin' name. As I'm now
down at the mouth of the Kalamazoo,
why Whiskey Centre's there, too."
"I understand the matter, now," answered Le Bourdon,composing his wellformed mouth in a sort of contemptuous smile. "You and whiskey, being
sworn friends, are always to be found
in company. When I came into the
river, which was the last week in
April, I saw nothing like whiskey, nor
anything like a Centre at the mouth."
"If you'd a' be'n a fortnight later,
stranger, you'd a' found both. Travellin' Centres, and stationary, differs
somewhat, I guess; one is always to
be found, while t'other must be
s'arched a'ter."
"And pray who are Dolly and Blossom; I hope the last is not a whiskey
blossom?"
"Not- she; she never touches a
spoonful, though I tell her it never
hurt mortal! She tries hard to reason
me into it that it hurts me; but that's
all a mistake, as anybody can see that
jest looks at me."
Ben did look at him; and, to say
truth, came to a somewhat different
conclusion.
"Is she so blooming that you call
her 'Blossom?'" demanded the beehunter, "or is she so young?"
"The gal's a little of both. Dolly is
my wife, and Blossom is my sister.
The real name of Blossom is Margery
Waring, but everybody calls her Blosson; and so I gi'n into it, with the
rest on 'em."
It is probable that Le Bourdon lost
a good deal of his interest in this
flower of the wilderness as soon as he
learned she was so nearly related to
the Whiskey Centre. Gershom   was
so very uninviting an object, and had
so many palpable marks that he had
fairly earned the nick-name which, as
it afterwards appeared, the western
adventurers had given him. as well as
his abode, wherever the last might be,
that no one of decently sober habits
could readily fancy anything belonging
to him. At an-' rate, the bee-hunter
now led the way into his cabin,
whither he was followed without unnecessary ceremony, by all three of his


guests.
The interior of the chiente, to use
the most poetical if not the most accurate word, was singularly clean for




an establishment set up by a bachelor,
in so remote a part of the world. The
honey, in neat, well-constructed kegs,
was carefully piled along one side of
the apartment, in a way to occupy the
minimum of room, and to be rather ornamental than unsightly. These kegs
were made by Le Bourdon himself,
who had acquired as much of the art
as was necessary to that object. The
woods always furnished the materials;
and a pile of staves that was placed
beneath a neighboring tree sufficiently
aenoted that he did not yet deem that
portion of his task completed.
In one corner of the hut was a pile
of well-dressed bear skins, three in
number each and all of which had been
from the carcasses of fallen foes within the last two months. Three more
were stretched on saplings, near by,
in the process of curing. It was a material part of the bee-hunter's craft to
kill this animal, in particular; and
the trophies of his conflicts with them
were proportionately numerous. On
the pile already prepared he usually
slept.
There was a very rude table, a single board set up on sticks; and a
bench or two, together with a wooden
chest of some size, completed the furniture. Tools were suspended from the
walls, it is true; and no less than
three rifles, in addition to a very neat
double-barreled "shot-gun," or fowling
piece, were standing in a corner.
These were arms collected by our hero
in his different trips, and retained
quite as much from affection as from
necessity or caution. Of ammunition
there was no very great amount visible; only three or four horns and a
couple of pouches being suspended
from pegs; but Ben had a secret
store, as well as another rifle, carefully secured in a natural magazine
and arsenal at a distance sufficiently
great from the chiente, to remove it
from all danger of sharing in the fortunes of his citadel, should disaster
befall the last.
The cooking was done altogether
out of doors. For this essential comfort Le Bourdon had made very liberal
provision. He had a small oven, a sufficiently convenient fire-place, and a
store-house, at hand,-all placed near
the spring and beneath the shade of
a magnificent elm. In the store-house
he kept his barrel of flour, his barrel
of salt, a stock of smoked or dried
meat, and that which the woodsman,
if accustomed in early life to the settlements, prizes most highly, a halfbarrel of pickled pork. The bark ca

noe had sufficed to transport all these
stores, merely ballasting handsomely
that ticklish craft; and its owner relied on the honey to perform the same


office on the return voyage, when trade
or consumption should have disposed
of the various articles just named.
The reader may smile at the word
"trade," and ask where were those to
be found who could be parties to the
traffic. The vast lakes and innumerable rivers of that region, however,
remote as it then was from the ordinary abodes of civilized man, offered
facilities for communication that the
active spirit of trade would be certain
not to neglect. In the first place,
there were always the Indians to barter skins and furs against powder,
lead, rifles, blankets, and unhappily
"fire-water."  Then the white men
who penetrated to those semi-wilds
were always ready to "dicker" and to
"swap," and to "trade" rifles and
watches, and whatever else they might
happen to possess, almost to their
wives and children.
But we should be doing injustice to
Le Bourdon were we in any manner
to confound him with the "dickering"
race. He was a bee-hunter quite as
much through love of the wilderness
and love of adventure as through love
of gain. Profitable he had certainly
found the employment or he probably
would not have pursued it; but there
was many a man who-nay, most men,
even in his own humble class in life
-would have deemed his liberal earnings too hardly obtained when gained
at the expense of all intercourse with
their own kind. But Buzzing Ben
loved the solitude of his situation, its
hazards, its quietude, relieved by passing moments of high excitement; and,
most of all, the self-reliance that was
indispensable equally to his success
and his happiness. Woman, as yet,
had never exercised her witchery over
him, and every day was his passion for
dwelling alone, and for enjoying the
strange but certainly most alluring
pleasures of the woods, increasing and
gaining strength in his bosom. It was
seldom, now, that he held intercourse
even with the Indian tribes that dwelt
near his occasional places of hunting;
and frequently had he shifted his
ground in order to avoid collision,
however friendly, with whites who,
like himself, were pushing their humble fortunes along the shores of those
inland seas, which, as yet, were rarely
indeed whitened by a sail. In this respect Boden and Waring were the very
antipodes of each other; Gershom being an inveterate gossip, in despite of
his attachment to a vagrant and border life.
The duties of hospitality are rarely


forgotten among border-men. The inhabitant of a town may lose his natural disposition to receive all who offer at his board, under the pressure
39


of bociety; but it is only in most extraordinary exceptions that the frontier man is ever known to be inhospitable. He has little to offer, but that
little is seldom withheld, either
through prudence or niggardliness.
Under this feeling, we might call it
habit also, Le Bourdon now set himself at work to place on the table such
food as he had at command and ready
cooked.  The meal which he soon
pressed his guests to share with him
was composed of a good piece of cold
boiled pork, which Ben had luckily
cooked the day previously, some
bear's meat roasted, a fragment of
venison steak, both lean and cold, and
the remains of a duck that had been
shot the day before, in the Kalamazoo,
with bread, salt, and what was somewhat unusual in the wilderness, two
or three onions, raw. The last dish
was highly relished by Gersnom, and
was slightly honored by Ben; but the
Indians passed it over with cold indifference.  The dessert consisted of
bread and honey, which were liberally
partaken of by all at table.
Little was said by either host or
guests until the supper was finished,
when the whole party left the chiente
to enjoy their pipes, in the cool evening air, beneath the oaks of the grove
in which the dwelling stood. Their
conversation began to let the parties
know something of each other's movements and characters.
"You are a Pottawattamie, and you
a Chippewa," said Le Bourdon, as he
courteously handed to his two red
guests pipes of theirs that he had just
stuffed with some of his own tobacco,
"I believe you are a sort of cousins,
though your tribes are called by different names."
"Nation, Ojebway," returned the
elder Indian, holding up a finger, by
way of enforcing attention.
"Tribe, Pottawattamie," added the
runner, in the same sententious manner.
"Baccy, good," put in the senior, by
way of showing he was well contented
with his comforts.
"Have you nothin' to drink?" demanded Whiskey Centre, who saw no
great merit in anything but "firewater."
"There is the spring," returned Le
Bourdon, gravely; "a gourd hangs
against the tree."
Gershom made a wry face, but he
did not move.
"Is there any news stirring among
the tribes?" asked the bee-hunter,
waiting, however, a decent interval,


lest he might be supposed to betray a
womanly curiosity.
Elksfoot puffed away sometime, before he saw fit to answer, reserving a




salvo in behalf of his own dignity.
Then he removed the pipe, shook off
the ashes, pressed down the fire a little, gave a reviving draught or two,
and quietly replied,"Ask my young brother-he runner
-he know."
But Pigeonswing seemed to be little
more communicative than the Pottawattamie. He smoked on in quiet dignity, while the bee-hunter patiently
waited for the moment when it might
suit his younger guest to speak. That
moment did not arrive for some time,
though it came at last. Almost five
minutes after Elksfoot had made the
allusion mentioned, the Ojebway, or
Chippewa, removed his pipe also, and
looking courteously round at his host,
he said with emphasis,"Bad summer come soon. Pale-faces
call young men togedder, and dig up
hatchet."
"I had heard something of this," answered Le Bourdon, with a saddened
countenance, "and was afraid it might
happen."
"My brother dig up hatchet too,
eh?" demanded Pigeonswing.
"WVhy should I? I am alone here on
the Openings, and it would seem foolish in me to wish to fight."
"Got no tribe-no Ojebway-no Pottawattamie, eh?"
"I have my tribe, as well as another,
Chippewa, but can see no use I can be
to it nere. If the English and Americans fight, it must be a long way from
this wilderness, and on or near the
great salt lake."
"Don't know-nebber know, 'til see.
English warrior plenty in Canada."
"That may be; but American warriors are not plenty here. This country is a wilderness, and there are no
soldiers hereabouts to cut each other's
throats."
"What you t'ink him?" asked Pigeonswing, glancing at Gershom, who,
unable to forbear any longer, had gone
to the spring to mix a cup from a
small supply that still remained of the
liquor with which he had left home.
"Got pretty good scalp?"
"I suppose it is as good as another's; but he and I are countrymen, and we cannot raise the tomahawk on one another."
"Don't t'ink so.  Plenty Yankee,
him!"
Le Bourdon smiled at this proof of
Pigeonswing's sagacity, though he felt
a good deal of uneasiness at the purport of his discourse.
"You are right enough in that," he


answered; "but I'm plenty of Yankee,
too."
"No-don't say so," returned the
Chippewa; "no, mustn't say dat. Eng

lish; no Yankee. Him not a bit like
you."
"Why, we are unlike each other, in
some respects, it is true, though we
are countrymen, notwithstanding. My
Great Father lives at Washington, as
well as his."
The Chippewa appeared to be disappointed;  perhaps  he  appeared
sorry, too; for Le Bourdon's frank
and manly hospitality had disposed
him to friendship instead of hostilities, while his. admissions would
rather put him in an antagonistic position. It was probably with a kind motive that he pursued the discourse in
a way to give his host some insight
into the true condition of matters in
that part of the world.
"Plenty Breetish in woods," he said,
with marked deliberation and point.
"Yankee no come yet."
"Let me know the truth at once,
Chippewa," exclaimed Le Bourdon.
"I am but a peaceable bee-hunter, as
you see, and wish no man's scalp, or
any man's honey, but my own. Is
there to be a war between America
and Canada, or not?"
"Some say yes; some say no," returned Pigeonswing, evasively. "My
part, don't know. Go, now, to see.
But plenty Montreal belt among redskins; plenty rifle; plenty powder,
too."
"I heard something of this as I
came up the lakes," replied Ben; "and
fell in with a trader, an old acquaintance, from Canada, and a good friend,
too, though he is to be my enemy, accordin' to law, who gave me to understand that the summer would not go
over without blows. Still, they all
seemed to be asleep at Mackinaw
(Michillimackinac) as I passed there,"
"Wake up pretty soon. Canada warrior take fort."
"If I thought that, Chippewa, I
would be off this blessed night to give
the alarm."
"No —t'ink better of dat."
"Go, I would, if I died for it the next
hour!"
"T'ink better-be no such fool, I tell
you."
"And I tell you, Pigeonswing, that
go I would, if the whole Ojebway nation was on my trail. I am an American, and mean to stand by my own
people, come what will."
"T'ought you only peaceable beehunter, just now," retorted the Chippewa, a little sarcastically.
By this time Le Bourdon had somewhat cooled, and he became conscious
of his indiscretion. He knew enough


of the history of the past to be fully
aware that, in all periods of American history, the English, and, for that
matter, the French, too, so long as
40


they had possessions on this continent,
never scrupled about employing the
savages in their conflicts. It is true
that these highly polished, and, we
may justly add, humane nations (for
each is out of all question entitled
to that character in the scale of comparative humanity as between communities, and each, if you will take
its own account of the matter, stands
at the head of civilization in this respect) would, notwithstanding these
high claims, carry on their American
wars by the agency of the tomahawk,
the scalping-knife, and the brand.
Eulogies, though pronounced by ourselves on ourselves, cannot erase the
stains of blood. Even down to the
present hour a cloud does not obscure
the political atmosphere between England and America that its existence
may not be discovered on the prairies
by a movement among the Indians.
The pulse that is to be felt there is a
sure indication of the state of the relations between the parties. Every
one knows that the savage, in his warfare, slays both sexes and all ages;
that the door-post of the frontier cabin is defiled by the blood of the infant
whose brains have been dashed
against it; and that the smouldering
ruins of log houses, oftener than not,
cover the remains of their tenants.
But what of that? Brutus is still "an
honorable man," and the American
who has not this sin to answer for
among his numberless transgressions,
is reviled as a semi-barbarian! The
time is at hand when the Lion of the
West will draw his own picture, too;
and fortunate will it be for the character of some who will gather around
the easel, if they do not discover
traces of their own lineaments among
his labors.
The feeling engendered by the character of such a warfare is the secret
of the deeply-seated hostility which
pervades the breast of the Western
American against the land of his ancestors. He never sees the "Times,"
and cares not a rush for the mystifications of the "Quarterly Review;" but
he remembers where his mother was
brained, and his father or brother tortured; aye, and by whose instrumentality the foul deeds were mainly done.
The man of the world can understand
that such atrocities may be committed, and the people of the offending nation remain ignorant of their existence, and, in a measure, innocent of
the guilt; but the sufferer, in his provincial practice, makes no such distinction, confounding all alike in his


resentments, and including all that
bear the hated name in his maledictions. It is a fearful thing to awaken
the anger of a nation; to excite in it




a desire for revenge; and thrice ls
that danger magnified when the people thus aroused possess the activity,
the resources, the spirit, and the enterprise of the Americans. We have
been openly derided, and that recently,
because in the fullness of our sense of
power and sense of right language
that exceeds any direct exhibition of
the national strength has escaped the
lips of legislators, and, perhaps justly,
has exposed them to the imputation
of boastfulness. That derision, however, will not soon be repeated. The
scenes enacting in Mexico, faint as
they are in comparison with what
would have been seen had hostilities
taken another direction, place a perpetual gag in the mouths of all scoffers. The child is passing from the
gristle into the bone, and the next
generation will not even laugh, as does
the present. at any idle and ill-considered menaces to coerce this republic;
strong in the consciousness of its own
power, if any future statesman should
be so ill-advised as to renew them,
with silent indifference.
Now Le Bourdon was fully aware
that one of the surest pulses of approaching hostilities between England
and America was to be felt in the far
West. If the Indians were in movement, some power was probably behind the scenes to set them in motion.
Pigeonswing was well known to him
by reputation; and there was that
about the man which awakened the
most unpleasant apprehensions, and
he felt an itching desire to learn all
he could from him, without betraying
any more of his own feelings, if that
were possible.
"I do not think the British will attempt Mackinaw," Ben remarked, after
a long pause and a good deal of smoking had enabled him to assume an air
of safe indifference.
"Got him, I tell you," answered Pigeonswing, pointedly.
"Got what, Chippewa?"
"Him-Mac-naw-got fort-got so'gers-got whole island. Know dat,
for' been dere."
This was astounding news, indeed!
The commanding officer of that illstarred garrison could not himself
have been more astonised when he
was unexpectedly summoned to surrender by an enemy who appeared
to start out of the earth,, than was
Le Bourdon at hearing this intelligence. To Western notions, Michillimackinac was another Gibraltar, although really a place of very little


strength, and garrisoned by only one
small company of regulars.    Still,
habit had given the fortress a sort of
sanctity among the adventurers of


that region; and its fall, even in the
settled parts of the country, sounded
like the loss of a province. It is now
known that, anticipating the movements of the Americans, some three
hundred whites, sustained by more
than twice that number of Indians,
including warriors from nearly every
adjacent tribe, had surprised the post
on the 17th of July, and compelled the
subaltern in command, with some
fifty odd men, to surrender. This rapid
and highly military measure on the
part of the British completely cut off
the post of Chicago at the head of Lake
Michigan, leaving it isolated on what
was then a very remote wilderness.
Chicago, Mackinac, and Detroit were
the three grand stations of the Americans on the upper lakes, and here were
two of them virtually gone a; a blow!
ATHENS.
Hiram Doubleday, from Yates county, New York, was among the early
settlers, coming about 1833.  Peter
Beisel arrived about the same time,
from Pennsylvania.
Lot Whitcomb came in 1832, from
Vermont. He, in company with Peter
Beisel, built the first saw mill in 1835.
The first store in the township was
kept by Mr. Underdunk as early as
1838. The first female child born in
Athens was Mary, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Lot Whitcomb, in 1832, and the
first male child was a son of Ambrose
Nichols, also born in 1832.
The first township meeting convened
April 6, 1835. Henry C. Hurd was
elected supervisor; Benjamin F. Ferris, town clerk; George Clark, Granville Beardsley and William Adams,
assessors.
ALBION.
The site of Albion at once attracted
the attention of early explorers, who
foresaw in this spot the ultimate establishment of a business center by
enterprising millers and manufacturers. That the valuable water-power
has been utilized, and that those explorers were not deceived in judgment,
is verified today in the existence of a
thriving and populous village.
The south half of the northeast
quarter of section 2, entered Oct. 16,
1830, by Ephraim Harrison, was the
first land transaction in the township
of Albion. In 1831, Darius Pierce of
Washtenaw county, Michigan, entered
tne northwest quarter of the same
section, the same being known as the
"Forks of the Kalamazoo," and now


occupied by the main part of Albion
village.
In 1837 a saw mill was built by Elijah Green and Zenas Stowell on sec41


tion 1. A store was kept by Lucas
Horton in a building which occupied
the present site of Dr. Steve's residence. The first crop of wheat was
sown by Charles Blanchard, upon land
now covered by the seminary buildings.
The incorporation of the village of
Albion was effected in 1856. At the
first village election the following
names were chosen:    George Hannahs, president; George J. Piphany,
recorder; W. H. Johnson, treasurer;
Marcus H. Crane, marshal;    Alvin
Peck, attorney.
THE CITY OF BATTLE CREEK.
Written in 1878.
In June, 1831, Sands McCamly and
George Redfield viewed the spot where
Battle Creek now stands, and liking
the appearance of it decided to secure
it to themselves. Arrived at the land
office at White Pigeon they found that
J. J. Garnsey and two government
surveyors were ahead of them. The
surveyors were bought off, and it was
agreed that Garnsey should enter 837
acres where the city now stands, at
the junction of the Kalamazoo river
and the Battle Creek; Sands McCamly
and Daniel G. Garnsey to be allowed
to buy of him, each a one-third interest. They were to meet in Detroit the
next October and settle the matter
and then come on, each placing $2,000
in bank as a fund for founding and
developing a city. Their plans all fell
through; but this is given to show
that Battle Creek was marked for cityhood before the white man disturbed
the soil.
Meanwhile settlers began to locate
in this county round about, and in
1831 Daniel, Jonathan, and Isaac
Thomas, John Stewart and his four
sons and two daughters, and Josiah
Goddard and family settled on Goguac
Prairie. In 1832 Samuel Convis, Moses Hall, Polodore Hudson, Roswell
Crane, John Conway and the Langley
brothers came into the present city
limits; but Mr. Hudson was the only
one who remained at that time,
Messrs. Hall and Convis not bringing
their families till the next year, and
the others settling finally in other
parts of the county. In 1833 Nathaniel
Barney and the family of Ezra Convis
and Nedebiah Angell came in, and in
1834 Judge Tolman W. Hall, Ezra Convis, Warren B. Shepard, Josiah Gilbert, Joseph Farnsworth and Deacon
David Salter. In 1835 there were im

portant accessions to the little colony. Among those who came in that
year are: William H. Coleman, and
David H. Daniels, the pioneer merchants; Rev. Robert Adams, the first




Baptist preacher; John Marvin, the
first blacksmith; and Judge Sands
McCamly, who first began to develop
the water-power. The list need not
be extended further. The history is
that of all histories of early settlements in this section; the settlers'
weapons were axes, which they
wielded against the trees of the forest, and the foes with which they had
the bitterest struggles were fever and
ague. The Indians were friendly and
even helpful, and no trouble with them
is on record since the row which gave
the name to the stream for which the
city was christened. The story goes
that in the winter of 1823-24, when
the survey of the state under Col.
John Mullett, was being made in this
section, the Indians did all they could
to hinder the work. One day when
the surveyors were at work in the
woods, two very large Indians attacked the two men left in charge of
the camp with intent to rob them. A
fight followed, in which one of the Indians snatched up Mullett's rifle and
sent a ball from it through a coat worn
by one of the whites. The Caucasian
wrested the gun from the red man and
broke his skull with it, and badly hurt
his companion. When the rest of the
party learned of the affair they
thought it best to run away, and went
to Detroit. General Cass settled the
matter and the survey was resumed
in the spring. This scuffle took place
at the juncture of Battle Creek and the
Kalamazoo, and is the battle which
gave the creek its name.
A more romantic story, but not so
well authenicated, has it that,' many
generations ago, two strong tribes of
Indians fought here all day long, until the limpid waters of the stream ran
red, like frothing wine, and the Indians named it Waupokisco, "River
of Battle," or "River of Blood." This
is said to be confirmed by traditions
of Canadian Indians.
The first log house in Battle Creek
was built for Daniel Garnsey, by Sherman Comings of Toland Prairie, in
September, 1831.  The first frame
house was built in the Gardner settlement in 1834, by John V. Henry,
five miles from the city, and was
moved in 1836 upon the spot where
the American hotel now is. Judge T.
W. Hall put up the first frame house,
built in the city in 1837, and it is now
a part of the Bristol (Halladay) house.
The first brick house was built in 1846
by Johathan Hart, on Maple-st.
In 1834 the first school district was


organized and a tax of $60 was levied
to build a school house. The house,
a log one, was put up the same year
on the corner of Main and East Canal


streets. Warren B. Shepard was the
first teacher.
The Methodists were first on the
ground here, and formed a class on
Goguac   Prairie  in  1833.  Daniel
Thomas and wife, their son Aranthus,
and their daughter Parthenia, and a
nephew Jonathan Thomas, were the
members. The church first held its
services in the log school house. Its
first church was built in 1841. It was
a small frame and was sold to the colored Baptists in 1859. The present
church edifice was built in 1859.
The first store was opened by William H. Coleman in 1835, and was kept
in a log house -on the site of James L.
Whitcomb's block, corner of Main and
Jefferson streets.
The Michigan Central railroad was
completed to Battle Creek in December, 1845, and great was the rejoicing
when the "Battle Creek" first woke the
echoes in the city.
The postoffice was established in
Battle Creek when Andrew Jackson
issued a commission as postmaster to
Polodore Hudson; and the office was
located in Mr. Hudson's log house.
His successors were Nathaniel Barney,
Sands McCamly, John L. Holcomb,
Alonzo Noble, two terms; Leon H.
Stewart, William  S. Pease, William
M. Campbell, George Mead, T. W. Hall,
Edward Van DeMark, Chandler Ford,
James S. Upton, D. V. Bell and William Wallace.
The village of Battle Creek was
platted in 1836, and chartered in 1850.
William Brooks was its first president
and Isaac C. Mott, first clerk. It was
incorporated as a city February 3,
1859, and the first city election was
held in the ensuing April. E. W. Pendill was its first mayor, and Wm. F.
Neale, first recorder.
BEDFORD.
Bedford was organized in 1838. At
the first town meeting, held in April,
1839, Caleb Kirby was elected supervisor, John Meacham, town clerk and
justice of the peace. The first entry
of lands in this town was on April 19,
1832-John Bertram, 160 acres; also
July 19, 1832, John Bertram, 80 acres;
685 acres were entered in the year
1833. John Bertram purchased the
land before named as a matter of speculation. He resided in the township
of Marshall a few years, then went
south, where he was unfortunate in
business, and finally returned to England, his native land.
Settlements were made at several


different points in this town at an
early day, and by men of some means
and great worth. Many of them were
Quakers, who illustrated by their in42


dustrious habits, their scrupulous integrity, and staid deportment, the
principles they professed.
The first saw mill put in operation
in this town was in the fall of 1837.
A stage and mail route was established
in and through Bedford enroute from
Battle Creek to Hastings in 1842. A
postoffice had been opened in 1840 at
Bedford Centre, E. R. Wattles, postmaster.  The first grist mill was
erected by H. M. Marvin, and went
into operation in 1856. This mill is
the nucleus of the village of Bedford.
In 1840 some missionaries laid out the
village of Harmonia, and built a large
school building where the children of
spiritualistic parents were to be educated, etc. Nothing is left of this
magnificent enterprise but heart burnings and a dilapidated exchequer. The
town is rather rolling, in many places
beautiful, and produces wheat and
other grains, and is a good wheat
growing town. There are three places
of worship, and three or four organized religious societies in Bedford.
The mail carrier between Marshall
and White Pigeon, in 1835, was Nathaniel Barney, who also carried passengers in a small and cheap way.
Mr. Barney resided in Battle Creek,
and many anecdotes are told of his
numerous deputy carriers, it not always being convenint for him to leave
home.   Upon   one  occasion  John
Meacham, Esq., was deputed for that
purpose, and to please the fastidious
postmaster at Marshall, ne was sent
to Polodore Hudson, justice of the
peace, who administered the oath,
which conferred upon Mr. Meacham
authority to carry the United States
mail, which probably at that time contained one or two letters, and possibly the mail bag, at times, was entirely empty.
John Meacham, Esq., came into the
county of Calhoun in August, 1835,
and settled in the township of Milton,
since called Bedford. He was the first
town clerk of Bedford, and was annually elected to the office up to 1846,
when he was elected county clerk,
which office he held for four years.
He has been a justice of the peace,
also, in Bedford and Battle Creek, and
in every official position he has discharged his duties with great fidelity
and usefulness. His quiet, amiable
manners indicate an early training
among the Quakers of Philadelphia,
his native city.
BURLINGTON.


Burlington was organized in 1837,
and held its first township meeting
April 3 of that year, electing Justus
Goodwin, supervisor; 0. C. Freeman,




town clerk; Justus Goodwin, Zebesia
Sanders and Moses S. Gleason, justices of the peace; Levi Haughtailing,
constable and collector. Established
six road districts;  voted $100 to
build a bridge across the St. Joseph
river; and $50 for bridging the Nottawa creek. Voted $50 for common
schools and $5 bounty for wolf scalps.
Forty votes were cast for representative in place of Ezra Convis.
Sands McCamly received 39. At an
election held August 21, 1837, Isaac
E. Crary received 20 votes, and Hezekiah G. Wells 13 votes for representative in congress.
CLARENDON.
Clarendon was organized in 1838.
For four years prior thereto it constituted an important part of the township of Homer. The following persons
located lands in this township as follows:
March 5, 1832, John Kenuady, 146
acres. April 2, 1832, Anthony Doolittie, 160 acres. May 17, 1832, Barnes
Kennady, 160 acres. June 21, 1832,
T. J. Rosoman, 67 acres. July, 1832,
Enos and Keep, 160 acres.
CONVIS.
Convis held its first township meeting at the house of James Lane, April
3, 1837, and elected Elisha Brace, supervisor;  Thomas   S. Vangenson,
town clerk; Ashael Hawkins, Ira H.
Ellsworth, assessors; Elisha Brace
and Ashael Hawkins, S. D. Barden,
justices of the peace; Levi Rowley,
constable and collector. Resolved to
pay $5 bounty for each scalp of a wolf,
killed in the town this year. Five
school districts were organized. There
is in town one postoffice, one tavern,
two saw mills, one church edifice, one
organized church.
The Peninsular railway crosses the
northwest corner of the town. Surface rolling, in some locations rather
hilly. Marshall is the market town.
Pioneers are Ashael Hawkins, Elisha
Brace, James Lane, John King, Joseph
Bentley. All these persons, except
Elisha Brace, are now highly respect-ed residents of the county, and all in
easy circumstances. There is no record of lands entered in this town in
1830-1-2.
Ashael Hawkins and family were
residents of the town before its organization, and were in virtue of their
intelligence and thrift, a leading family. For 30 years or more Mr. Hawkins held important town offices. He


was postmaster until the office was removed. A daughter and son of Mr.
Hawkins are supposed to be the first,white children born in the town. One


of the sons, who was a lawyer by profession and practice, died some years
since in Iowa. Mr. Hawkins resides
upon the old homestead.
The town was named after Gen.
Ezra Convis, who was in the legislature and introduced the bill for its
organization, but died before the act
was passed.
PINCKNEY, NOW CLARENCE.
Was organized in 1839, and elected
the following persons, to-wit: Andrew
Bell, supervisor; Cook Tyler, town
clerk; A. lM. Green, treasurer; W. B.
Noble, C. W. Clapp, Samuel Sellers,
A. P. Bell, justices of the peace; 0.
S. Bell, collector; W. B. Noble, C. W.
Clapp, Norris Barnes, school inspectors.
At the general election held in this
town in November, 1839, Elon Farnsworth and William  Woodbridge received each 15 votes for governor.
Thomas Fitzgerald and J. Wright Gordon received each 15 votes for lieutenant governor. John Ball received 16
votes for senator, and P. Bridge 14
votes for the same.
Andrew L. Hays and Harris C. Goodrich received each 15 votes for represesentative. Jonathan Hart and Henry
Cook received each 15 votes for representatives. No political party seems
to have led at this election. Whole
number of votes cast, 30. At the next
general election held in November,
1840, 46 votes were cast for presidential electors, designated Whig 26, Democratic 16.
The town re-elected the officers of
the preceding year at its next town
meeting. As a matter of history, indeed natural history, I transcribe literally the following entry from the
town record:  "Received fifteen dollars, it being the avails of the sale of
a pony taken up as a stray by A. I.
Swain which was sold on the 17 day
of Dec. 1840."
The first town meeting in the township of Clarence was held April 5,
1841. The town is broken, abounds
in lakes and marshes, but is nevertheless healthy and productive. The timber is principally oak of a good quality. Beach and maple is found in the
north part of the town. The products
are wheat, pork, wool, and apples,
which are sold at Albion and a near
station on the railroad in Springport,
Jackson county. Mrs. A. M. Green
was the first white woman who
crossed Rice creek in this town. Indians, game and fish were abundant.


The patriotic citizens celebrated the
Fourth of July, 1838,, at the south end
of Duck lake-the whole number of
men, women and children just a dozen
43


souls. The Declaration of Independence was read by C. W. Clapp. Cook
Tyler, Esq., read an interesting "Essay of the Future Development of the
Surrounding Country."
The statistics of the town were as
follows:  One doctor, one resident
minister, one town house, eight district
schools, one saw mill, three organized
churches.
Duck lake is a large, beautiful
sheet of water, and abounds in fine
fish. The late Jesse Crowell of Albion, built and operated a steam saw
mill near the north border of this lake,
around which clustered a few residences and shops. From this saw mill,
great quantities of lumber were sent
to all the surrounding country, rendering the mill and Duck lake famous.
Rice creek rises at Springport, Jackson county, runs through the towns
of Clarence, Sheridan, Marengo, and
Marshall, and empties into the Kalamazoo river in the city of Marshall.
It affords a moderate amount of water
power. It traverses quite a number
of small lakes, but does not lose its
identity.
Battle Creek is the outlet of Duck
lake, which emerges from the north
end, in section number nine, soon passing into Eaton county, and enters this
county in the town of Convis, thence
through Pennfield and across the
northwest corner of Emmett, and finally empties into the Kalamazoo
river in the city of Battle Creek.
This is a large stream and affords an
abundant water-power. The Indian
name of this stream was Waupakisco,
the "River of Blood." A not well-authenicated legend is, that Battle Creek
derived its name from the supposed
fact that a bloody fight occurred on
its banks between the Indians and a
party of engineers.
The following named persons were
pioneers in the town of Clarence, viz:
Theoran Hamilton, A. M. Green, B. R.
Gillet, Y. M. Hatch, Andrew Bell, J.
R. Palmer, Cook Tyler, Norris Barnes,
C. W. Clapp, etc.
ECKFORD.
Oshea Wilder entered 80 acres of
land in this town in 1831. In 1832
Oshea Wilder, E. S. Rogers, Chas. K.
Palfer and others entered 1,705 acres.
Names of pioneers: Oshea Wilder,
Chas. Olin, Joel B. Marsh, Thos. J.
Walker, Eli T. Chase, Elijah Cook,
Jr., Joseph Otis, Joseph I. Ehle, Daniel Dunnakin.


EMMETT.
Emmett, formerly called Casey, was
organized in 1838. Some years previ



ous the following lands were located,
to-wit:
June 17, 1831, John J. Gurnsey, 404
acres; Estes Rich, 160 acres; Jeremiah Gardner, 160 acres; Michael
Spencer, 160 acres; Sylvester Sibley,
18 acres..  July 27, 1831, John V.
Henry, 160 acres. July 25, 1831, Benj.
F. Dwinnell, 322 acres. February 2,
1832, John Bertram, 474 acres. -'pril
10, 1832, Henry L. Dwinn3ll, 80 acres.
August 6, 1833, Royal Stiles, 259 acres.
August 7, 1833, John Harper, 134
acres. June 21, 1834, Robert Wheaton,
149 acres.
FREDONIA.
Fredonia held its first township
meeting at the house of Ebby Hyde,
April 2, 1838. John Houston was the
moderator, and James Winters and
A. H. Blakeley, clerks. The election
resulted as follows: Solomon Platner,
supervisor;  James   Winters, town
clerk;  Putnam  Root, collector. At
this first meeting one hundred dollars was raised for schools, and fifty
dollars for the relief of the poor. This
particular fifty dollars was deposited
for safe keeping against the time of
need, in Calhoun County bank, which
long since became itself a pauper. At
a special town meeting held January
7, 1839, Ebby Hyde was elected supervisor. At the second annual election
John Houston was elected supervisor;
Putnam Root, town clerk; David Aldrich, town treasurer.
The corn lands of the Indians, whose
home was between South Fish and
Pine lake, were distinctly visible in
1836, and the finding of Indian curiosities, so-called, was by no means uncommon. The first school house, built
of logs, was in the neighborhood of
David Aldrich, and the first teacher
was Miss Janette Baldwin.
HOMER.
In the spring of 1832 two brothers,
Henry and Richard McMurtrie, and
Powell Grover, single men, came from
Pennsylvania and entered land, built
log houses, and inaugurated the settlement of the township.
Milton Barney is justly entitled to
the credit of having the village. In
1832 he built a saw and grist mill, and
in 1833, a store.
Homer held its first township meeting at the house of Milton Barney, first
Monday of April, 1834; Henry Cook,
moderator;   Oshea   Wilder, clerk.
Elected Stephen S. Powers, supervisor;;  Chauncey  C. Lewis, town
clerk.


LEROY.
Leroy was organized in 1838, and at
a town meeting held April 2, 1939, D.


N. Bushnell was elected superv'sor;
J. C. Molhollen, town clerk; Joshua
Robinson, treasurer; Polodore Hudson, H. M. Burdic, Silas Kelsey, T. B.
Barnum, justices of the peace; Polodore Hudson, D. N. Bushnell, C. L.
Newark, school inspectors.
The oqly lands entered in this toovn
in 1832-3 were as follows:
August 15, 1832, William A. Bishop,
88 acres. April 17, 1833, William A.
Bishop, 79 acres.
LEE.
Lee held its first township meet lug
April 6, 1840, and elected John Weaver
supervisor; Frederick Garfield, town
clerk; Jesse Ackley, treasurer; Benjamin Thomas, collector. Whole nimber of votes polled, twelve. No pUblic
lands entered in this town nr'or to
1831. One town house (at Lee Centre)
fiver oganized churches, no church edifice, no mills, one doctor no lawyer,
one clergyman.
MARENGO.
Marengo, from its immediate proximity to Marshall may be said to have
had a simultaneous growth with it.
In 1831 3,621 acres of land were entered in this town. On the 16th of
June of that year, the following persons entered lands, to-wit:  Elijah
Crane, 135 acres; Seeley Neale, 400
acres; Ashael Warner, 80 acres; Horace P. Wisner, 87 acres; Augustus
Dustain, 49 acres. The only prior entries were as follows: June 7, 1831,
Solomon M. Allen, 40 acres; Erastus
Kimball, 80 acres.
Nathan Pierce, by his purchase of
843 acres, made him the owner of the
greatest amount of land in this town
in this year.
The following persons purchased
lands and became honored residents
of the town in the year 1831: Thomas
Chisholm, Col. John Amsley, Deacon
Elijah A. Bigelow, Erastus Kimball,
Francis Phillips, Reuben Abbott.
The first town meeting was held at
the house of Joseph Ames on the first
Monday of April, 1833, and the election resulted as follows, to-wit: Seeley Neale, supervisor; Harmon Neale,
town clerk; Alfred Killham, Reuben
Abbott, Seeley Neale, assessors; Joseph Ames, Seeley Neale, Benjamin
Wright, commissioners of highways.
"Resolved, That a bounty of $3 be
paid for every wolf Killed in this town
by any inhabitant thereof the coming
year."
At the second townsnip meeting,


Horace Brace was elected supervisor
and Loren Maynard, town clerk. Repealed the wolf bounty this year, but
renewed it in 1836, increasing the
44


bounty to $5 a head or scalp. The
town ceased to offer this bounty in
1839. At the fifth town meeting 91
votes were polled.
MARSHALL.
The village of Marshall was first
incorporated Oct. 28, 1837. At the
meeting held for deciding the question
of incorporation, Dr. A. S. Hays and
Sidney S. Alcott were judges of the
election, and David L. Johns the clerk.
henry Hewitt, a justice of the peace,
administered the oath of office to the
officials.  There  were thirty-seven
votes polled, Sidney S. Alcott receiving thirty-five of them for president of
the corporation, and Dr. Hays, David
L. Johns, Chas. T. Gorham, Chas. D.
Smith, John Hutchinson, and Luther
W. Hart.were elected trustees, and
Cyrus Hewitt, recorder.  These officials were in no haste to assume their
brief authority, as they did not qualify by taking the oath of office until
Jan. 6, 1838, Esquire Hewitt "swearing
them in." On the 19th of July following, the president and Trustees Johns
and Hays were appointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws and ordinances for the government of the
board and its officials. Householders
were directed, under rigorous penalties to keep their sidewalks clear and
take special care of their ashes. Grocers were prohibited from selling
their "wet groceries' on the Sabbath
day, and exhorted vigorously to prevent "loafing" about their premises on
the same day, and to prevent all unnecessary noise thereon.
PENNFIELD.
The first step towards the settlement of this township was taken in
1831, by Albert H. Smith, who, on the
10th of that year, entered a tract of
land on section 29. Mr. Smith never
became an active settler, being an
early settler and then a resident of
Climax. In 1834, Avery Lamb and
Ezra Convis entered land in this township, and the year following the first
active settlement was made by Estes
Rich, who was undoubtedly the first
white settler in the township.
Samuel Convis purchased the Rich
place this year. We give the names
of some of the most prominent of the
pioneers:  Jabez Lamb, Samuel D.
Moon, Charles McMurray, Isaac Bodine, Henry Parsons, W. K. Adams
and son John, Barnabas Newton, John
S. Halladay, Stephen Aldrich, Samuel P. Wells, Asa Weave, J. P. Mark

ham, Anson Sharpsteen. Warren Joy,
Mason Morey.    The year following
Eli Morey, John S. Gifford and Rufus
Wells came.




The first wedding ceremony performed in the township was at the
house of Anson Sharpsteen in the fall
of 1837, William  G. Wheaton and
Amanda Parker being the happy
couple.
The first female birth was that of
Palmyra Wells in February, 1836. The
first death was that of Emeline Weare,
who died in the fall of 1836.
The first sermon preached in the
town was by Elder Elijah Crane, at
the house of George Lowree.
The tenant house of John Wolf was
used as the first school house and the
school was kept by Miss Lucy Y.
Hicks.
NEWTON.
Newton held its first township meeting at the house of Eleazer Donnelly
on the first Monday of April, 1838, and
elected Eleazer Donnelly, supervisor;
Stephen Graham, town clerk, and David Merrill, justice of the peace.
Twenty-five dollars was raised for
highway, and five dollars for causeway purposes, at this meeting.
January 1, 1833, Granville Beardsley entered 160 acres of land in this
town, being the first lands entered
therein.
The religious and educational interests of the settlers were successfully
looked after by Prof. Eastman, Deacon
Daniel Merrill, Benjamin Chamberlain,
Granville Beardsley, L. L. Downs and
others.
SHERIDAN.
Sheridan held its first township
meeting at the house of Reuben Abbott, April 5, 1836, and elected Chandler M. Church, supervisor; Howell
Bidwell, town clerk and collector;
Orris Clapp, William C. White, and
Reuben Abbott, assessors;  William
M. Pearl, Daniel Rossetter, Martin
Tichnor and Howell Bidwell, justices
of the peace. In a log house located
on the territorial road in the west
part of the town, Reuben Abbott started the first tavern, it was long a landmark for westward bound travelers.
The town offered a wolf bounty of $5.
TEKONSHA.
Tekonsha held its first township
meeting April 13, 1837, and elected
Eli Stone, supervisor, and John A.
Rice, town clerk. The first lands of
record are as follows: May 29, 1832,
Darius Pierce, 320 acres. In 1833 the
entries only amounted to 440 acres.


s~s --- -- ------ -W W - -.0-,
BlOOORfPHIES OF!
Prominent
itizens. i
HON. B. F. GRAVES.-Hon. Benjamin Franklin Graves, formerly a
judge of the supreme court, was born
at Gates, near Rochester, N. Y. His
boyhood was spent in the common
schools and working on a farm. He
was fond of study and took much
pleasure in reading, but his means for
gratifying this taste were very limited.
During early childhood he was quite
delicate, but as no other life opened
to him, he was obliged to engage in
manual labor. In the winter of 1837
he was attacked by a dangerous illness, and was sick many weeks. During his convalescence he learned from
his physician that he could not continue physical labor without great
risk to his life, and he at once decided
to study law. He was not ignorant of
his great lack of physical culture and
mental discipline, nor unmindful of
the severity and duration of the task
before him. He saw clearly how much
he had to accomplish without pecuniary help or the aid of influential
friends. In the spring of 1837 with the
assistance of an uncle-in-law, he obtained a place in the law office of Curtis & Thomas of Albion, New York.
They were gentlemen of character and
learning and at once gave him all possible help and encouragement.  He
remained with them until fall, and at
that time was enabled to change his
situation for another in which he
could make small earnings. He accordingly entered the office of Mortimer F. Delano, at Rochester. Mr. Delano then held the office of Surrogate
in connection with Addison Gardner,
who was judge and vice-chancellor of
the great western circuit of the state.
In the course of a few months Judge
Gardner resigned, and formed a law
partnership with Mr. Delano.  Mr.
Graves became a student with the
firm and with some intermission continued until his own admission to the
bar; this took place at Rochester in
October, 1841.  The supreme court
was then composed of Messrs. Nelson,
Cowen and Bronson. Mr. Graves gratefully remembers the kindness he received from his preceptors and their
families, especially the. cordiality and
encouragement of Judge Gardner, in


whose family he resided many months.
In the winter succeeding his admission to the bar, Mr. Graves was invited by Mr. Elwood, who was then
45


clerk of the state senate to accept the
position of journalizing clerk for that
season. He accordingly went to Albany, and acted until the legislature
adjourned.  As he did not find an
agreeable opening for practice in New
York, Mr. Graves turned his attention
toward Michigan. After some inquiry


Hon. B. F. Graves.
he was led by representations of
friends toward Battle Creek, then a
small hamlet, but containing the germ
of a prosperous and thrifty town.
Reaching the place in the spring of
1843, he immediately commenced practice, which he continued until 1857, a
period of fourteen years. In the meantime he was appointed master in chancery and was three times elected magistrate. His business was never extensive. his taste led him to prefer
judicial service, and to evade indiscriminate practice.  The legislature
of 1857 provided for an independent
supreme court, to supersede, from the
beginning of 1858, the old supreme
court, composed of the circuit judges
whose terms expired in 1857. The
new supreme court was to consist of
four judges, to be elected at the time
of the election of the circuit judges,
but by the vote of the people at large.
The full term was fixed at eight years,
and the first term was ordered to begin January 1, 1858. Judge Graves
was elected circuit judge of the fifth
judicial circuit, which at that time,
comprised the counties of Eaton, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Allegan, and Van
Buren. In the next session of the legislature, Allegan was taken off and
united with other counties to form the
ninth circuit. Until that time there
had been but six circuits. Hon. Abner




Pratt resigned his position as judge
of the circuit in June, 1857, and Judge
Graves was immediately appointed to
fill the vacancy. He was, accordingly,
judge of the old supreme court during
the rest of its existence. When his
term as circuit judge expired, he was
re-elected, receiving, quite generally,
the votes of both parties. His labors
were heavy; he was required to hold
sixteen circuits a year, eight of which
were held in the populous counties of
CalhLou and Kalamazoo. He was exceedingly strict and firm in matters
of practice, and the bar soon learned
to understand his methods and act accordingly. In the winter of 1866, from
overwork in badly ventilated rooms,
he was threatened with an attack of
paralysis. He was compelled to allow suspensions of service, and to discontinue for most part, night sessions.
Finally, becoming convinced that entire rest was necessary, he sent in his
resignation to take effect July 1, 1866.
He then made a journey to the east
with his family. After returning in
the fall, he engaged in counsel business, and acted occasionally as referee. He had sold his homestead and
purchased a small farm which he proceeded to improve.   He was then
elected justice of the supreme court,
his term to begin January 1, 1868. At
the expiration of that term, he was reelected by the unanimous vote of both
parties.
He was originally a member of the
democratic party, but early became
dissatisfied with its course in regard
to matters of slavery. He favored the
position taken by Van Buren and
Adams in 1848, believing that it would
help to check all sentiments opposed
to the right and duty of congress to
forbid slavery in the western territories. Mr. Graves voted for Mr. Van
Buren and was steadfast in the views
which actuated that vote, but he was
reluctant to sever fully his early party
connections until the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, and the efforts
made to enforce the entrance of slavery into Kansas. That act decided
him. He voted for Fremont against
Buchanan, and has since continued
with the republican party.
Judge Graves has a large library of
all the leading law publications. He
is pleasant and social in manner and
highly esteemed.
DR. SIMEON     STARKWEATHER
FRENCH, M. D.-The 4ist maxim
among philosophers is, that mZrit only


makes distinction. This being true,
Dr. French may well De called a distinguished citizen of Battle Creek. as
his conduct, both in business and pri

vate life, during several decades of
residence here has been in a high degrc? meritorious. He has held various
positions of public responsibility and
trust, has had much to do witil political questions in this section and has
attained a high standing in the ranks
of the medical profession.  We are


Dr. S. S. French.
pleased to present to our readers a
portrait of this pioneer and prominent
citizen, without whose biography our
souvenir would be incomplete.
Luther French, father of our subject, was a physician and surgeon who
served in his professional capacity in
the war of 1812, and who died at the
early age of 39 years, leaving a large
practice.  His wife, formerly Lucy
Park, to whom he was married in 1811,
survived him, living to be 83 years
of age. Both the French and Park
families had a natural bent toward the
profession of medicine. The brothers
of Mrs. French and their sons in turn
being physicians. Probably the influence of these relations combined with
the revered memory of his father, were
potent factors in leading our subject
to make a choice of the same calling.
Dr. French has Revolutionary blood in
his veins, his grandfather, Ebenezer
French, having joined the Colonial
army immediately after the battle of
Bunker Hill, when but 19 years old.
Although wounded at the crossing of
the Delaware, he survived the long
struggle and years of colonial life, living to be 87 years and 6 months old.
The natal day of Dr. S. S. French
was August 25, 1816, his birthplace
Otisca, Onondaga county, N. Y., where
his father died before the lad was five
years old. Early in life he was thrown
46


upon his own resources and secured
an education entirely by his unaided
exertion. He began teaching at the
early age of 18 years. He completed
his literary studies at Onondaga Academy and in January, 1842, was graduated with honors from the Geneva
Medical College, N. Y. He immediately began practice at Onondaga, but
subsequently came to Battle Creek,
where he has been entirely engaged
in professional work for these many
years. In his private practice he has
successfully performed many delicate
surgical operations and the Surgical
History of the Rebellion reports a
number of intricate operations performed by him during his connection
with the army. During the first year
of the Civil War Dr. French was appointed assistant surgeon of the 6th
Michigan Infantry, and the ensuing
year became surgeon of the 20th Michigan Infantry. He traveled in eleven
states and was present at many
bloody engagements.  He was constantly on the operating staff and a
portion of the time acted as brigade
and division doctor. After three years
of faithful attention to the duties devolving upon an army surgeon, illhealth compelled his resignation. Since
the war he has been examining surgeon, both single or a member of the
board, for several years. He is a member of various medical societies, and
has been honored by being made president of the State Medical Society, a
position he filled with credit.  Dr.
French was originally a whig in politics. To him belongs the honor of
reading the first resolutions which resulted in the forming of the present
Republican party. The first meeting
held was in Battle Creek, an account
of which was published by W. W.
Woolnough, and subscribed to by Dr.
French, W. W. Woolnough, Orlando
Moffatt, Charles S. May and Chandler
Ford.  The proceedings were published by other papers and resulted in
the great mass meeting under the oaks
in Jackson, when the party was fully
organized and put in motion.
Dr. French was united in marriage,
July 18, 1842, with Ruth A. Cox, a sister of Dr. Edward Cox, one of the physicians of the state. Their union was
blessed by the birth of two children,
a daughter and a son. The latter, Edward, was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in the class of 1872. The daughter passed from earth February 28,
1887, less than two years after the demise of the mother, which occurred


in October, 1885.
The doctor was a second time married June 28, 1887, choosing as his
wife, Mrs. Libbie Jackson, and they




have become the parents of one child,
Theresa, born August 28, 1889. The
family is highly esteemed in the social circles of the community and in
their charming  home   their many
friends are wont to gather and pass
pleasant hours in the companionship
of the genial host and hostess.
Dr. French has been a member of
the Odd Fellows fraternity since 1848,
and has received all the honors in the
gift of the state, having been elected
grand patriarch and grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge.
He was township superintendent of
schools while living in the Empire
state and in Battle Creek has been a
member of the school board for several years.
In 1847, partly through his efforts,
the different districts in and adjoining
Battle Creek were united and the first
union or graded school in the state
was formed. In 1843, while superintendent of schools in Onondaga, N. Y.,
where the Onondaga tribes of Indians
are located, and by the order of the
school authorities he established what
is supposed to have been the first public school for the Indians in the United
States.
The doctor has served as mayor of
Battle Creek two terms, as alderman
one term, supervisor several terms,
and health officer fourteen terms.
His religious membership is in the Independent Congregational church. He
enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens and is most highly esteemed where he is best known, being
kind and courteous at all times and
under all circumstances. Possessed
of warm sympathies and generous impulses, and noted by his high sense of
honor and his ready response to the
call of his work.
LEON M. GILLETTE, M. D.-The
calling of a physician is an arduous
and responsible one, and brings into
play some of the most important characteristics of man. A successful practitioner must have a broad knowledge
of the construction and needs of the
body, keen perceptions and a thorough
understanding of the principles upon
which therapeutic science is based.
The best success cannot be attained
without a generous sympathy and tender regard for the suffering whom it is
the province of the physician to relieve.  His extensive practice and
many friends attest to the professional
skill and popularity of our subject.
Leon M. Gillette was born Oct. 20,


1860, in Lexington, Mo., came to Battle Creek when a boy and through his
perseverance and indomitable will
power has worked his way up to the


Dr. L. M. Gillette, Mayor.


honors which his fellow men have bestowed upon him.
He graduated from the high school
in 1880, spent two years in the literary
department of the University of Michigan, and graduated from tie medical
school of the same institution in 1887.
He began his practice here and met
with marked success. In 1891 he took
a post-graduate course in the New
York Polyclinic school.
Not only in the field of medicine has
Battle Creek recognized Dr. Gillette's
merit, but the populace has honored
him by selecting him as an officeholder. H4e was coroner for four years,
during which time, in 1893, was the
memorable Grand Trunk disaster, and
his clear-headed management won him
admiration from all. In 1898 he was
chosen to represent the third ward in
the city council and in that capacity
he did not disappoint his people, for in
every way he proved that he was the
right man in the right place. Dr. Gillette was called to the position of
health officer for a year, and met the
duties thereof in a manner satisfactory to the city.
In educational matters Dr. Gillette
has ever taken a deep interest, and
when nominated for a member of the
school board he was elected by a large
majority, and during his term of office
he strongly favored all lines of pro47


gression. He had the honor of being
president of the board of education
for one year, and the thoroughness
which ever characterized his work
was manifested in a marked degree.
The city of Battle Creek sought Dr.
Leon M. Gillette as mayor in 1900, and
as he had the interests of the city at
heart, which was shown by the judicious expenditures of public money, he
was again honored by being re-elected
in 1901, and by the magnificent plurality of 998, which, in itself, stands out
as a pre-eminent endorsement for his
first year's mayorship. When he was
elected last year there was an overdraft of nearly $27,000 in the city's
funds, and in a year has been completely wiped out, while there is now
a balance on hand of $4,000 or thereabouts in the city's strong box. Then,
too, an extra $2,000 was appropriated
to the sewer fund, when needed, during the past year. In addition to this,
ten thousand dollars in city bonds maturing during the year, was paid.
Dr. Gillette has not sought office, but
he has honored the positions to which
his city has called him. He has manfully met his duties as a citizen, and
his administration has been a notable
one in the annals of the city.




X4                   -A a A -A  OS^HA A t  X4 A X4 A X  A
THE fIMERI6fIN STEfM  PUMP 6O.;   i2h
~32t'             2


Among the industrial enterprises
of note in the city of Battle Creek
none are more entitled to a place of
prominence than the American Steam
Pump Company. While this concern
has been heralding the industrial fame
of Battle Creek abroad it has in its
growth and progress been instrumental in bringing about the prosperity
which marks the condition of our leading industries at the present time.
From a very small beginning in 1873


can Steam Pump Co., and as such it is
recognized in the local and wider industrial world.  The officers are:
William H. Mason, president; Joseph
M. Ward, vice president; Edward C.
Hinman, secretary and treasurer; Albert C. Perkins, assistant secretary,
all of whom, with Leopold Werstein
constitute the directorate of the company. The capital stock of the company is $400,000.
Since the inauguration of the pres

l;shed agencies in all the prominent
cities of the United States, and in
nearly all of the foreign countries. As
to their exportations their business is
extensive, as fifty per cent. of their
orders are beyond the borders of this
country.  During 1899 the company
did 120 per cent. more business than
in the year 1897, and 55 per cent. more
than in 1896. During January, 1900,
they handled 100 per cent. more business than they did in the correspond

`5" —_


this establishment has evolved to its
present large proportions. Originally
the plant was a small one, its first incorporation dates from the year 1873,
when it took the name of Battle Creek
Machinery Co. In 1891 the ownership
and management came into the hands
of its present officers, and since that
time the development and prosperity
of the company has been marked. In
1899 the company was incorporated
under its present name, as the Ameri

ent management in 18i1, tile company
has rebuilt and re-equipped its entire
plant, making extensive improvements
and additions in every department.
These improvements have enabled
them to keep pace with the latest
methods of manufacture, and to greatly enlarge the scope of their operations. At the present time they are
manufacturing steam pumps designed
for every manner of service to which
pumps can be put. They have estab48


ing month of 1899.
The demands of the constantly increasing trade has been so great that
in order to meet them extensive improvements to the plant have been
added. These include a large addition to the machine shop, and the in.
stallation of a new power-plant, for
which a new building and equipment
throughout has been provided.
The location of the Amerioan Steam
Pump Co. is of the best, being at a




point very near the center of the city,
between the Michigan Central R- R.
tracks and North Jefferson and Division streets. Private tracks connect
the yards of the company with the
Michigan  Central. affording  ample
facilities for the receiving and shipping of goods. The buildings are of
red brick, substantial and modern in
style.


The third floor is used for supplies,
and the basement for storage purposes.  Three elevators are in the
main building.
During the fall of 1900 the company
built their new power house, facing
on Monroe street north. The building is of brick, has 16-inch walls, with
tile roof and steel frame. The chimney is round, 115 feet high, with a flue


kind in Michigan, if not in the northwest.
The company has had the forethought to establish a private system
for fire protection, including fire alarm
boxes in every room throughout the
plant, and public tire alarm box as
well. The plant is connected with the
public mains, but has its private
mains, water supply, pumps and sev

Interior Views American Steam Pump Co.
The plant, which occupies ground    52 inches in diameter, contains 75,000  eral hundred feet of hose, all of which
with a frontage of 157 feet and ex-   brick, and has ample capacity for 400-  can be used in case of fire. A private
tending 531 feet to the rear, comprises  horse power.                      telephone system extends throughout
an office, two machine shops, core     The company have not spared either  the plant.
room, foundry, store house, detached                                         The handsome offices are perfect in
warehouse, engine room, boiler room     ught or money in the effort        their appointments.  On the main
and testing room, all on the main floor,  this power house complete in every  floor there is an ante-room, a general
On the second floor are located the  detail. We understand it is up-to-date  office and private office; on the secdrafting room, repair department, pat-  in every particular, and taken as a  ond floor is the drafting room and
tern room, machine and stock room.    whole, is the finest equipment of the  stock-keeper's office, the wood work


49




and furniture of all is of oak, the ceilings are of steel, the whole comprising
model business apartments.
The main building is 157x246 feet
in dimension, including the central
court, and contains a number of distinct departments which may be mentioned as follows:  In the machine
shop there is the latest improved machinery and appliances required for
the manufacture of the special products of the company, which includes
planers, shapers, lathes, etc., they having a tool room for this purpose.
From their thoroughly equipped
blacksmith shop they forge the tools
used in the plant, and turn out the
tools for wood-working as well. In
their immense foundry is located a
large core oven, a cupola for iron
and furnaces for brass and aluminum casting. All the materials needed in the making of its pumps are
manufactured from ihe raw materials
by the company. A track system.
fitted with two 5-ton traveling cranes
operated by compressed air, are used
in the foundry for handling heavy
castings.
An overhead trolley system is employed for conveying heavy castings
from one room to another. The tracks
extend through the plant, and by this
system the various parts are carried
to the erecting room, where they are
put together. From this room they
are carried to the testing department,
where every pump is given a thorough
test in actual operation before it is allowed to pass to the paint shop. From
the shipping room the pumps can be
loaded directly on the cars.
In the brass working department
are located the bolt cutters, and various brass working machinery, including a machine for separating brass
and iron chippings, in order that the
brass thus saved may be sent to the
furnace for recasting.
The electric lighting plant supplies
the current for the 600 incandescent
lamps used in the plant. The four
boilers in the engine room are batteries of 100-horse power, fitted for either
coal or oil, and a 200-horse power compound Buckeye engine which supplies
the power for the plant.
We give below a list of the pumps
made   by the  establishment:  Air
pumps, Air and Circulating pumps,
Air Compressors, Automatic Feed
Pump and Receiver, Boiler Feed
Pumps, Combined Air and Circulating Pumps, Combined Air and Feed
Pumps, Creamery Pumps, Condensation Pumps, Compound Pumps, Dry


Vacuum Pumps, Deep Well Pumping
engines, Hydraulic engines, Filter
Press Pumps, Fire Pumps, Hydraulic
Pumps, Heavy Liquid Pumps, Marine


E. C. Hinman.


Pumps, Milk Pumps, Naptha Pumps,
Sinking Pumps, Sugar House Pumps,
Sweet Water Pumps, Traction Engine
Pumps, Vacuum Pan Pumps, Tank
Pumps, Yacht Pumps, and, in fact, all
kinds of pumps, pumping outfits and
pumping appliances. With every pump
the company furnish a full set of
wrenches, drip cocks. sight-feed lubricator, and extra packing for water
piston.
EDWARD C. HINMAN.-E. C. Hinman is a son of the late John F. Hinman, one of the pioneer residents of


gan university. Soon after he was employed by the government as overseer
and assistant engineer, and for six
years was connected with the engineer
corps on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. Later, in 1880, Mr. Hinman engaged in grain business at Port Huron. From 1882 to 1888 he was identified with Mr. F. W. Ward of this city,
in the milling business. In 1891, with
several others, Mr. Hinman bought into
the Battle Creek Machinery Company,
since which time it has been incorporated under the name of the American




Residence of E. C. Hinman.


Battle Creek. Our subject began his
education in the public schools of Battle Creek, and in 1874, graduated from
the literary department of the Michi50


Steam Pump Company, with Mr. Hinman as secretary and treasurer. The
remarkable growth and success of this
extensive plant is largely due to Mr.




Hinman's business sagacity and management, for he has a personal supervision over all departments.
Mr. Hinman is a member of the Masonic order, being a member of Blue
Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, and Order of the Mystic Shrine, a member of
the National Union, A. 0. U. W., Elks,
the Sons of the American Revolution,
the Michigan Club, the Athelstan
Club, and is secretary of the Battle
Creek board of trade.
In politics, Mr. Hinman is a republican. In 1885-6 he served the fourth
ward as alderman, and has been a
member of the state central republican committee. President McKinley
appointed Mr. Hinman as a member of
the board of visitors to the United
States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
In his church relations he is identified with the Episcopal church, being
a member of the vestry of St. Thomas'
Episcopal church of this city.
In 1876 Mr. Hinman married Miss
Carrie L. Risdon of Ann Arbor, who
died in 1887, leaving two daughters,
Gertrude R., and Belle R. On June 11,
1891, Mr. Hinman married Isadore
Risdon of Ann Arbor.   The family
residence is one of the most beautiful
and attractive homes in the city, and
is noted for its social gatherings as
well as for true hospitality.
WILLIAM   H. MASON.-The president of the American Steam   Pump
Company, Mr. William H. Mason, a
resident of the Queen City from his
birth, is a public-spirited citizen and
a promoter of large enterprises, which
brings him into prominence as a business man of the city.
Mr. Mason was born November 9,
1842, in the village of Battle Creek.
He attended the graded school and the
high school, served through the Civil
War in Company C, 2d Mich. Infantry,
and then entered upon a business career with Mr. Rathbun, in 1868,
in the lumber business on the
corner of McCamly and West Main
streets. From Mason & Rathbun the
firm name was changed to Mason,
Rathbun  &   Co., by taking  in  a
partner, who was succeeded in 1874
by Mr. James Green, who continued as
a partner in the business until it was
sold in January, 1899, to Rathbun &
Kraft.
In 1891, when the American Steam
Pump Company reorganized, Mr. Mason was chosen its president, which
position he now holds. He is actively
interested in the Advance Thresher
Co., and is a senior member of the


board of directors.
Mr. Mason has always taken an active and intelligent interest in the public affairs, and has filled a number of


William H. Mason.


positions of trust. He has represented the second and third wards in the
city council, of which body he was a
member for ten years. From 1890 to
1894 he was postmaster of Battle
Creek, and his administration was business-like and  satisfactory.  He is
much interested in matters pertaining
to public education and is a member
of the city school board at the present
time. Mr. Mason is also the president
of the Battle Creek board of trade, and
the Calhoun County Republican club,
with which political party he has always been identified.
Mr. Mason's popularity is due to his
marked affability with all classes, as
well as to his interest and devotion to
movements which    were connected
with the welfare and prosperity of the
Queen City. In 1870, Mr. Mason was
united in marriage with Miss Tryphena   Kneeland  of   Montgomery
county, N. Y. Their only daughter,
Cora, now Mrs. H. H. Flint, resides
in Chicago.
Mr. Mason is now residing temporarily in Bakersfield, Cal., where he is
the manager and president, of the Alma
and the Black Jack Oil Companies.
J. M. WARD.-Mr. J. M. Ward, who
has since become so thoroughly identified with the milling interests of this
city, came here in 1845. and established himself in the livery and stage
51


business. From 1848 to 1860, he was
engaged in the manufacture of woolen
goods. In 1861 Mr. Ward bought a
wooden building which stood where
the office of the Ward mill does now,
and turned it around so as to face Jefferson street, and here he embarked
in the milling business. He fitted up
the mill with a special view to custom work, the other mills paying more
attention to outside orders. In addition to this, he handled farm produce,
shipping in large lots to eastern cities.
He soon became known to the farmers of this county and from that time
to the present, no man has held a
higher place in their estimation. Besides his mill at Battle Creek, he had
built several elevators along the line
of the Chicago & Grand Trunk railway, the one at Port Huron being second in point of size in the state. He
was one of the first charter members
of the Battle Creek fire company and
one of the originators and first directors of the Peninsular Railway Company, now the Grand Trunk Western.
Mr. Ward had charge of the building
of the gas works, and was a director
and president of that company, which
he aided to organize, he is also a director of the City bank. He has served as
alderman with credit to himself and
to the advantage of the city. He is a
stockholder and director of the Battle




carried on business as a successful
farmer, but his health becoming somewhat impaired, he concluded to take
a trip to what was then, the west, and
having a brother, Charles Shepard,
living here, he came to Battle Creek,
and being favorably impressed with
this locality, decided to make it his
permanent home. Having a natural
taste for mechanical work and being
introduced by his brother to John
Nichols, he readily fell in with a proposition to go into the manufacturing
machinery business with him, and
after a very brief acquaintance, these
two men, who had, up to this time,
been perfect strangers to each other,
formed a partnership which was destined to last throughout the lifetime
of Mr. Nichols, and one which had a
powerful influence upon the destiny of
the place in which they decided to locate their then small factory. The
history of the wonderful growth and
prosperity of this business, in which
every resident of our growing city
feels pride, is given in this issue, as
well as the illustration of a front view
of the now extensive works of the
Nichols & Shepard Company, manufacturers of the famous vibrator
thresher with its world-wide reputation.
Mr. Shepard has been a quiet man
who worked day by day with a steadfast determination to succeed and do
all in his power to turn out from the
factory in which he was interested,
good. honest machinery. And if there
is any one thing in which he feels
pride more than another, it is the high


Joseph M. Ward.


Creek Machinery Company, which has
not shut down for twenty-two years
except for necessary repairs. He is
a large stockholder and director of the
Ward Lumber Co., with mills at Whiting, Mo., and headquarters in Chicago;
was one of the first members of the
board of public works, and devoted
much time for six years with others of
the board in planning and building our
excellent system of water supply of
which there is no better in the state.
It is largely owing to his efforts
that Battle Creek is a division point
on the Grand Trunk Western railway.
After the consolidation of the Peninsular Railway with the Grand Trunk
system had been decided upon, E. C.
Nichols, J. M. Ward, and L. D. Dibble
were appointed a committee to meet
the directors of the Peninsular company. Then and there through the efforts of these gentlemen, the agreement was made which brought the division headquarters to this city. Mr.
Ward has three sons, all successful and
honorable business men. He resides
with his wife in a handsome residence
owned by him on Maple street, and is
situated to enjoy the fruits of his well
directed industry and a life of honorable business success and attainment.
That he may be spared for many years
to come, to continue to take an interest in, and assist in the advancement


and prosperity of Battle Creek, with
which city he is so thoroughly identified, is a wish in which we are sure
that every reader of the Journal will
cordially unite.


J. M. Ward's Residence.


DAVID   SHEPARD.-Mr. Shepard
was born October 1, 1820, in New York
state, coming to Battle Creek when
he was 29 years of age. Up to that
time, he had worked on a farm and
52


reputation enjoyed by the Nichols &
Shepard Company, for strict integrity,
honorable dealing and superiority of
machinery manufactured. Mr. Shepard
also takes pride in the growth of the




city which he has done so much to
build up.
He has a pleasant home situated on


ment in municipal affairs is proved by
his election to the office of mayor on
the prohibition ticket, against the
other active parties in the field, an office which was held to the satisfaction of all.
Prof. Dickie has won many stanch
friends for himself, not alone among
those' of wealth and influence but
among the lowly, in whose homes the
temperance question means happiness
or misery.
As a lecturer he has gained popularity; he is original in thought, precise in logic, terse in statements, still,
his success in this line is largely due
to his intense earnestness in his subject and his strong personality. Naturally a public-spirited man he has been
chosen to fill many offices of trust and
responsibility where tactful business
co-operation was required.
At the present time Prof. Samuel
Dickie is the acting president of Al

est convictions of his heart, even when
not with the popular swaying majority.
Prof. Dickie has drawn friends to himself by his determination to speak for
right at all times and all places.
WILLIAM     A.   LANE.-Worldly
goods and an influential position have
been won by this gentleman, who is a
native-born citizen of Calhoun county.
Dr. William A. Lane was born in the
township of Convis, March 1, 1845, and
practically all his life has been spent
here. His parents, James and Sarah
Lane, who came from England in 1835,
constituted one of the three first families which settled in that township.
They were devoted christians and
were each endowed by nature with
those attributes of mind and character
which, broadened by education, made
them useful and valuable members of
society.
William, the youngest of the five
children, spent his boyhood days on
the farm receiving his early education
in the district school, afterwards attending Vermontville Academy and
Olivet College. He then entered the
University of Michgan, where he pursued a full course in medicine, and in
1867 received his degree as doctor of
medicine at Philadelphia, and in later
years spent several months visiting
the leading hospitals and medical colleges of Europe. For thirty years he
practiced his chosen profession at
Homer, and was an active participant
in every important public and social
movement in that community.
Dr. Lane has been eminently successful, not only in his professional


David Shepard.
Maple street, an estimable wife, and
two sons who are successful business
men, and now surrounded by all that
can tend to make life pleasant, he is
enjoying in his later years the fruits
of his well-directed industry an honorable, as well as successful business
career.
SAMUEL DICKIE.-The name of
Samuel Dickie is a prominent one
throughout the state of Michigan,
made so by the impress which he has
had on the political, social, and industrial life. Born June 6, 1851. at Oxford county, Canada. His father was
William Dickie, who was a native of
Scotland, coming to Canada, thence
settling in Ingham county near Lansing, engaging in farming.
On Dec. 22, 1872, Samuel Dickie was
united in marriage with Miss Mary A.
Brockway, the daughter of Hon. W. H.
Brockway of Albion. To them   four
children have been born:  Clarissa,
born May 22, 1875; Ada, born June
6, 1877; Mary, born Sept. 29, 1880;
William Brockway, born Aug. 29, 1891.
In 1877 Mr. Dickie accepted a position as professor at Albion College,
where his powers as an instructor, his
influence as a leader have been
brought forth to public notice. His
fame has widened as is natural to one
of such remarkable resources.
For twelve years he has been chairman of the National Convention of the
prohibition party, and a delegate to
the same four times. That the city of
Albion holds him in the highest esteem and fully relies upon his judg

Samuel Dickie.
bion College, president of the Musical
Festival Association, president of the
Albion Buggy Co., secretary of the
College Corporation, treasurer of College Endowment Fund, and director
of the Commercial and Savings bank.
For many years Prof. and Mrs.
Dickie have been active, zealous members of the Methodist church of Albion, and in no other field of work
have their interests and influence been
greater and wider.
On account of his earnestness as a
speaker and his power as a debater
he has been called in the discussions
of the great questions of the day that
have agitated the country, and he
never speaks for oratorical effect, but
his words go like bullets to the mark,
Gifted with quick perceptions, a logical mind and a ready tongue combined
with a courage to advance the hon53


Hon. William A. Lane.
career but in any and all public matters with which he has been identified.
He is one of the best known men in
the county.




Notwithstanding Dr. Lane is a democrat, he has four times been elected
president of that republican stronghold, the village of Homer, and is the
first member of that party, who has
been called to the position which he
now holds in nearly fifty years. He
was elected judge of probate of Calhoun county in 1896 by a plurality of
281. He was re-elected in 1900 by the
increased plurality of 654, notwithstanding the fact that the republican
presidential electors carried the county by a plurality of 763.
In all the varied work coming under
his jurisdiction in the office he holds
he has shown discretion, ability and a
high moral purpose, which makes the
right man indispensable in a position
of such importance, and in all he has
presided as a fearless, impartial judge,
and one whose record is an honor to
the county.
In religion Judge Lane is a Presbyterian, fraternally he is a member
of several lodges of high order; he is
a Mason, a Knight Temnplar, an I. 0. 0.
F., a K. O. T. M., and an A. O. U. W.
His family consists of the wife and
two daughters, Mrs. Dwight \v. Knickerbocker of Marshall, and Miss Mabel
I. Lane, with her parents of that city.
NELSON    ELDRED.-Hon. Nelson
Eldred, banker and capitalist, was
born in Otsego county, N. Y., Jan. 9,
1822, and came to Michigan with his


known as the "Institute." Mr. Eldred became owner of one of the finest farms of 300 acres on Climax
prairie, and being in possession of
strength and good health, and with
habits of industry and a sturdy capacity for hard labor, he made the
reputation of being one of the most
successful farmers and stock raisers
in the state, and one who had gained
wealth by fair and honorable means.
Mr. Eldred was married in the year
1848, the bride being Miss Sarah Holden, with whom   he lived fifty-two
years. The golden wedding being celebrated in 1898.
Mr. Eldred resided on his Climax
farm till 1865, at which time he came
to Battle Creek, engaging in the hardware business under the firm name of
Eldred & Peters, until 1871, when he
became connected with the City bank
of which he has been the president
since 1877, being the only charter
stockholder now connected with the
bank.  The success of this bank
is the best recommendation that can
be mentioned of Mr. Eldred's business
ability, tempered by that conservatism so necessary to the success which
he and his business connections have
acquired. In 1868 he was elected to
the school board and in 1871, to the
office of mayor of Battle Creek, and
in both positions he has served his fellow men with a thoughtful prudence
which has characterized his life.
Among the leading men who are
identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Battle Creek,
there are few who stand out with the
pre-eminence as does Hon. Nelson Eldred, the respected president of the
City bank. While Mr. Eldred is a
quiet and somewhat reserved man, he
is one who invariably gives courteous
and polite attention to all with whom
ne has social and business relations.
He has often proved himself a friend
in the hour of need, and many of our
successful business men can recall
the time when the financial aid of Mr.
Eldred, together with sound and excellent advice have tided them over
many crises in their business history,
and while extending these favors to
friends and patrons he has been quiet
and unostentatious. He has ever been
an honorable, upright business man,
prompt in meeting obligations and one
whose word was as good as his bond;
he is one to whom it is safe to depend upon in any emergency.
After years of honorable and continued labor he is now enjoying the


fruits of his well-directed industry.
He is located on Maple-st, surrounded
by comforts, where he has the goodwill and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
54


GEORGE W. GREEN.-There is no
state in the Union within whose
bounds a greater number of first-class
physicians can be found than Michigan, and Calhoun county is the home
of not a few of these skillful and earnest men, among them Dr. George W.
Green, who has won for himself an
enviable position as a man of learning and ability.
He is the son of Jesse M. and Zilpha
(Lovell) Green. His grandfather, Jo

Dr. G. W. Green.
seph Green, was a soldier in the war of
the Revolution, enlisting at the early
age of 12, and was the youngest active
soldier in the service, as the records
show.
Dr. Green was born on a farm in
Lake county, Ohio, March 6, 1837,
where he experienced all the vicissitudes incidental to pioneer farm life.
His education was begun in the primitive district schools, later he entered
Madison seminary for the winter
months, working on the farm through
the summer. At the age of 20 he entered the collegiate department of
Oberlin College, spending three years
on a literary course. In 1860 he became a student in the medical department of the University of Michigan,
graduating in 1862. The degree of
A. M. was bestowed upon him by Kalamazoo College in 1882.
In the Civil War Dr. Green served as
assistant surgeon of the 28th Michigan Infantry, acting in that capacity
during the entire time of the organization of the regiment, serving his country with a skill, zeal and fidelity that
will be remembered by hundreds of
his comrades so long as they live. At
the close of the war Dr. Green settled
in Hudson, Michigan, where he continued in general practice for ten
years.
In 1889, having decided to specialize,


Hon. Nelson Eldred.
parents in 1831, locating on Climax
prairie. The first saw mill in Kalamazoo county, which was located at Comstock, was erected by Caleb Eldred,
the father of our subject. Nelson Eldred received such educational advantages as could be obtained at the common schools. subsequentlv taking a
course at the Kalamazo College, then




Dr. Green spent six months in postgraduate work in New York City, since
which time he has limited his practice to ear, eye, and throat diseases,
in which branches he has achieved a
marked success.
On June 25, 1862, George W. Green,
was united in marriage with Miss
Nancy Bugbee.   Their children are
rank, Walter, Blanche, Grace and
George. The sons r'rank and Walter,
are dentists in Ashtabula county, 0.
Blanche is the wife of Gilbert Nichols
of Battle Creek.
Dr. and Mrs. Green have been earnest, faithful members of the Baptist
denomination for many years, and are
living the principles which they profess.
In 1889, Dr. Green located in Battle
Creek, where he has a beautiful residence, and one of the best business
blocks in the city, in which he has his
well appointed office. He is a practical optician as well as occulist, keeping a full line of spectacles and lenses.
GEORGE     H.  PHILLIPS.-Battle
Creek has many men of prominence,
and among them we find the name of
George H. Phillips, who is a man of
marked business ability combined
with genial, affable manners.  Mr.
Phillips was born in Ypsilanti and
spent the early part of his life at that
place. In 1867 he moved to Kalamazoo, where he engaged in the music


carriages, which includes fashionable
conveyances of all styles, is a most attractive place for all lovers of handsome vehicles.
The farmers of this community find
Mr. Phillips' place of business well
stocked with tools and implements of
a high grade, and when dealing with
him they ever meet with courtesy,
which accounts, in a measure, for his
being one of the most popular merchants of the Queen Cily.
The home of Mr. Phillips is one of
the handsomest in Battle Creek, in a
beautiful location and commanding a
fine view of the city; his family consists of a wife, who was Miss Clara
Ensign, the daughter of Mr. Benson
Ensign of Kalamazoo, and two daughters, Mrs. May Rorabacher and Mrs.
Wayne Johnson.
The populace has recognized Mr.
Phillips' tendency  to  progression,
thereby electing him to represent his
ward as alderman. a position which
ne fills most creditably as he is a
champion of all advancing theories,
and a friend to the laborer by favoring
an ample compensation for a day's
work. In all municipal affairs Mr.
Phillips is ever known as being a
stanch  promoter  of  any  theory,
which means the greatest good for his
fellow men and his community, therefore, he is looked upon as an up-todate business man, a popular citizen,
and a most courteous gentleman.
NIRUM LEONARD SPAULDING.Among   those  intimately identified
with the early growth and subsequent
development of Emmett township,
none deserve more honorable mention
than does he of whom we write. Belonging as he does to a prominent pioneer family he has had much to do
with making his vicinity a wealthy,
agricultural district. His experience
as a farmer and a stockman have
placed him among its richest and most
influential citizens.
Jacob Spaulding, the father of our
sketch, was born in Lisle, Broome
County, N. Y.. March 3, 1790, where he
resided until he with his elder brother,
Lynos, went to Holland purchase, and
jointly located one hundred and sixty
acres, which might have continued to
be his home had not the ague selected
Jacob as a shaking victim, which so
discouraged him that he sold to his
brother and returned to his native
town. There he remained till he married Miss Samantha Allen. ',e event
being consummated Feb. 2, 1815.
Five children were born to them,


viz: John A., born March 28, 1817;
Rachel L., May 26, 1819; Albert N.,
Sept. 30, 1820; Nirum L., Aug. 23, 1824;
Fannie C., Feb. 2, 1829.
55


In May, 1835, Jacob Spauiding came
west to Calhoun county, Mich., and located one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Emmett township, bringing
his family the year following as far
as Buffalo by team, then embarked on
board the old steamer "Monroe," for
Detroit, and  from   thence  drove
through to Calhoun county in three
days. Here he lived till his death,
Oct. 15, 1840.
The son Nirum  was sixteen when
his father was called hence; he worked
the farm on shares for four years,
when he bought eighty acres of land,


* ~iZ;::r:::::::::::::::::::::::
i-i
f:
i'::::::::::::::::::::::~:::::_:::..:::::i.i-_-:::::::::::::-:':':::'-::::- —::':-:::::::::


Nirum L. Spaulding.
and after winning for his bride Miss
Lucy Thurstin, settled on his own
farm. The marriage took place Gct.
10, 1844. In time six children gathered about their fireside: Martha M.,
born Oct. 1, 1845, and died Dec. 4,
1872; Emma A. and Ellen E., (twins)
born Sept. 17, 1853, the former dying
Nov. 29, 1856, and the latter, Sept. 20,
1853; Ida A., born Aug. 22, 1853, married Wiesley Underwood of Athens,
July 8, 1875; Nellie A., born Oct. 10,
1862; Eva L., Aug. 8, 1868, and was
married to Alfred A. Cowles, Nov. 5,
1885.
When Mr. Nirum    Spaulding began
his career as a farmer he had fortyfive dollars in money, a yoke of oxen,
thirty-two acres of land from his
father; but he and his estimable wife
possessed stability of character as
well as stout hearts which never
failed them when the vicissitudes of
life looked dark and trying.
Mr. Spaulding, bv years of labor and
frugality has added to his farm until
ne now owns four hundred and fifty
acres of well improved and highly cultivated land, eighty acres of which is
a much admired wood lot of the finest
of forest trees. In politics he is a re

George H. Phillips.
business, which he made a success, being specially adapted to the business.
In 1889, he came to Battle Creek and
purchased his present business, that
of agricultural implements and carriages. His establishment at 33 Jackson street west, is excelled by none of
the kind in the city; the emporium of




publican. In religion, a liberal thinker, but, while believing in christianity,
he has never united with any denomination. His esteemed wife and daughters are worthy members of the Baptist church.
The Spaulding home is a most interesting one, in some respects beyond the ordinary; besides being a
model in furnishings, all of which bespeak cheer and comfort to all who
enter its hospitable doors, it is replete  with  interesting  curiosities,
which Mr. Spaulding, himself, has


celler t housekeeping  qualifications,
holding with a gentle grasp the love
and harmony of her household.
BATTLE CREEK GAS COMPANY.
-The Battle Creek Gas Company was
incorporated September 28, 1899, being the successor to the Battle Creek
Gas Light Company.     The capital
stock was placed at $100,000 and the
incorporators were the late David Henning and W. A. Foote. After these
gentlemen became identified with the
plant  radical  improvements  were


apparatus, gas pumps, three large
tanks, namely, tar extractor, scrubber,
and condenser, is 100x50 feet. There
are four purifying boxes 12 feet square
and four feet deep. The gas passes
through these and is purified. The
plant has a capacity of about 250,000
feet of gas in 24 hours, and a large
meter measures all the gas manufactured by the plant.
From January 1 to June 1 the company put in 350 gas stoves, and from
present indications of the business,
that number will be greatly exceeded




found time to gather and is treasuring
in handsome cabinets made for the
purpose. He has 1,700 Indian relics,
battle axes wielded by savages. One
hundred different kinds of stone pipes,
flints, arrow-heads, deer heads, elk
horns, etc.
While Mr. Spaulding has been wielding an influence far and wide in his
community as an honorable and highly
successful business man, Mrs. Spaulding deserves no less praise in being
a woman of fine intelligence and ex

The City Gas Works.
made. The plant of the Battle Creek
Gas Company is located on Fountainst east. It consists of two large holders, one a new steel tank of telescope
construction, with a capacity of 100,000 feet of gas. This tank is of the latest design and holds 420,000 gallons of
water. The old tank, which is still in
service, has a capacity of 40,000 feet of
gas. The main building of the plant
is of brick construction and contains
five ovens, with six retorts each. The
building which contains the purifying
56


within the next six months.   The
amount of gas mains that have been
laid in the new streets thus far during 1901 are about seven car loads of
pipes.
The new building soon to be erected
on the corner of Main and Monroe
streets is to be a handsome threestory structure, and in every way fitted for the convenience of the company. The first floor will be given
up to offices and the tastefully fitted
up display rooms for gas fixtures,




globes, lamps, etc. On the second floor
will be a private office and other apartments suited to their needs. The third
floor will be devoted entirely to store
rooms, while the basement will be
given up to gas fitting shop. The company handles a complete line of gas
fixtures, and every discription of incandescent gas lamps, including the
famous Welsbach light.
The officers are as follows: E. Hen

enterprising and progressive business
men in this section of the state. He
is prominently idontifiod with a number of extensive electrical enterprises,
including power plants, electric light
works and electric railway companies.
Mr. Foote's home is in Jackson, Mich.
CURRIE & MILLS.-Currie & Mills,
successors to Weiiing & Co. The attractive, well-arrangea, and in every
way inviting establishment of the well
known bicycle firm of Currie & Mills
is prominently located at 81 Main
street west. This firm has been In
business only about one year, but during that comparatively short time it
nas succeeded in building up a reputation for excellence of work, and honorable dealing in which the partners may
well take justifiable pride, and which
is steadily adding to the already prosperous business.  The enterprising
firm of Currie & Mills not only do repair work in bicycles, but are also
agents for the wheels of leading manufacturers, including the celebrated
Yale bicycle a-'a also the incomparable Racycle.  Of the many wheels
which they have sold in the past year
none have failed to give entire satisfaction to their purchaser.  Their
prices for the quality of the wheels
sold are down to the lowest reasonable limit; any person whose wheel
needs cleaning, repairing in any way


selves and show the industry, perseverance and close attention to details
as these young men have done they
deserve and cannot help but win success.
Mr. C. C. Currie has resided in Battle Creek, and is well known; he was
formerly in partnersuip with Mr. Welling, and gives to the firm the benefit
of extended knowledge. Mr. C. V.
Mills has been in Battle Creek some


C. V. Mills.


David Henning.
ning, president; W. A. Foote, vice
president; S. S. Hulbert, secretary;
D. Henning Frazer, treasurer, who is
also the active business manager.
The late David Henning, who was
the originator of the incorporation,
was a native of Ireland, coming to
this country when a boy. He became
one of the most successful commission dealers in the state, and maintained shipping stations at almost
every important point. Mr. Henning
retired some years ago from his commission business and gave his attention to the gas plants with which he
was identified. one at Springfield, Mo.,
Leavenworth, Kan., and to his orange
grove in California, at which place
he spent the winter months. Mr. Henning died in April of the present year,
leaving a host of friends who will
ever remember him as a thoroughgoing enterprising man, whose judgment relative to business was beyond
toe ordinary.
Mr. D. Henning Frazer is a native of
Chicago. From Chicago, Mr. Frazer
went to Springfield, Mo., where he was
employed in the office of the local
gas company. His connections with
the Battle Creek Gas Company dates
from June, 1898.
W. A. Foote is a man well known to
our citizens, as he is one of the most


years, but went to Denver, Col., and
there perfected himself in his line of
work, having experience as a coworker with some of the best workmen of the west.
The firm of Currie & Mills are to be
congratulated on what they have already accomplished, and we predict
that they will, by a continuance of
their energetic efforts along the same
line of industry, integrity, and right
dealing, build up for themselves a conspicuous success in the enterprising
city of Battle Creek.
JOHN G. PETERSON.-Among the
men engaged in the plumbing and
heating business in Battle Creek, perhaps none are better known or more
firmly established than Mr. John G.
Peterson, the proprietor of the business at Nos. 85-37 Washington-st
north. Mr. Peterson has been identiried with the plumbing business in
this city for some time, and is thoroughly equipped for turning out work
in every department of the trade. In
addition to general plumbing and
steamfitting, Mr. Peterson has a well
appointed machine shop, and makes a
specialty of forging die work and the
threading of pipe by machinery. His
store is fully stocked with materials


C. C. Currie.
will find that he will make no mistake if he employs the careful firm of
Currie & Mills, for this.firm not only
sell high grade and do repair work that
is unexcelled, but they also make a
specialty of dealing in phonographs
and repairing same. They are experts
in this line of work. When young
men embark in business for them

57




used in the plumbing and heating business, and the entire plant is operated
by steam power, is heated by the hot
air blast system, and is equipped with
modern machinery and tools.
Mr. Peterson contracts for all kinds


E. J. PIPER'.-The accompanying
cut is an interior view of the establishment, rooms 5 and 6 Hammond
block, Main-st west, carried on by E.
J. Piper, who is an up-to-date man in
his line of business, and has built up


gained an enviable patronage in his
particular line of work, that or mending and re-covering umbrellas, repairing shears, razors, lawn mowers,
trunks, satchels, etc. All of which he
does in first class order, giving entire
satisfaction to each and every patron.
Mr. Piper is a locksmith who understands his business, and for that reason is considered the official locksmith of the city.
LEWIS C. WOODWARD.-The subject of our sketch was born Jan. 11,
1835, in the township of Emmett, Calhoun county, where he now lives. His
parents, Acle and Minerva (Harper)
Woodward, came to Michigan from
Batavia, New York, in the spring of
1833, settling in Marshall township.
The life of the pioneer with its hardships and privations was before them
and with undaunted courage Mr.
Woodward and his family faced their
trials and shouldered their burdens
with remarkable fortitude.
On November 8, 1857, Lewis Woodward was united in marriage with
Miss Catherine VanNocker, the daughter of John and Nancy (Vedder) VanNocker of Pennfield township.
Aside from being a tiller of the soil,
Mr. Lewis Woodward has been a sawyer, owning and putting in operation
several different machines of widely
different makes. His aptitude for this


John G. Peterson Business Block.


of plumbing, roofing, furnace heating,
tinning and sheet metal work, all of
which are of modern type.
John G. Peterson was born in southern Sweden, Aug. 24, 1865, where he
lived until 1876, when, with his parents
he moved to the United States, settling in Ford county, Illinois, where he
attended the public schools anu later
received educational advantages in
Rankin, Ill., at which place he became
an apprentice in the metal working
business.  Later, being impaired in
health, he spent some time at the Battle Creek sanitarium, and was subsequently a student at the college. For
six years he was employed at the sanitarium in the capacity of electrician
and machinist, then removed to Chicago, where he entered the employ of
the Chicago Edison Co., devoting much
time to the study of mechanical engineering. In 1893 he took his license
as a plumber and returning to Battle
Creek opened a store on Main-st west,
but removed to his,present location
later in the same year.
Mr. Peterson is an enterprising man
and is in every way fitted to succeed
in his present business. His patrons
have ever found him to be courteous
and obliging, besides doing first class
work at the lowest possible rates. The
two-story building which he occupies
on the corner of Washington-ave north
and Van Buren-st west is the property
of Mr. Peterson.


for himself a successful trade.
Mr. Piper was born in Battle Creek
in 1862, receiving his education at the
public schools in the city. He is well


Piper's Repair.


and favorably known in the community
where, by strict attention to business
and careful thorough work he has


wclik was beycud the ordinary and
was recognized in his community
which is attested by the large amount




of work which he has been called upon
to do.
In h's church relations Mr. Woodward is liberal, taking the line thav a
good life is the right principle. Mrs.
WVoodward is a member of the Baptist


the city. Mr. Curtis was first elected
supervisor of his township in 1891,
and has represented his district in the
state legislature, having been elected
to the house of representatives in
1894, serving during the session of
1895. He was mayor of Battle Creek
in 1898.
While the official positions with
which he has been honored sufficiently
attest the estimation in which he Is
held by the business and social circles
of his home, Mr. Curtis is perhaps more
widely known through his connection
with the Knights of Pythias, of which
order he has been a member since
1879. He was at once chosen as prelate, and thus became a past chancellor. He received the rank of P. C. In
the grand lodge in 1880, and in 1885
was chosen as grand outer guard. By
steady progress he came into the occupancy of every position in the grand
lodge from grand outer guard to
grand chancellor, his administration
of the latter office being marked with
unusual success. At the session of
the grand lodge held in Kalamazoo in
1895, he was chosen for the office he


now holds, that of grand keeper of the
records and seal. His unswerving devotion to the interests of his chosen
orotherhood has won for Mr. Curtis the admiration and respect of the
entire order throughout the state. His
well-balanced mind and excellent judgment make him an efficient guide.
While possessed of the courage of his
convictions he has the happy faculty
of differing with and yet not antagonizing his opponent. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, of the Royal Arcanum and of the Elks.
In 1879 Mr. Curtis married Miss
Mary Nye of Battle Creek.     They
have two sons, Lorell, a bookkeeper in
the Merchants' Savings bank of Battle Creek, and Claude, a clerk in the
city postoffice.
A. T. METCALF.-Abraham Tolles
Metcalf, D. D. S., is the son of David
and Mabelle Ball Metcalf, and was
born February 26, 1831, in Whitestown, N. Y. He is a lineal descendant
of Rev. Leonard Metcalf, rector of
the Cathedral of Tatterford, in Fakenham, Norfolk county, England.    In


Lewis C. Woodward.
church, and has ever been an earnest,
zealous worker, and one whose religion shows itself in her every day life,
toward her family and neighbors.
The Woodward home contains 40
acres on which is raised some of the
finest fruits produced in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have one
child, a son born April 30, 1861, who
is now in the employ of the Grana
Trunk Western R. R., while his parents are quietly living in their old
homestead and enjoying to the fullest the fruits of their labors. Mr.
Woodward has always done his duty
as a citizen, and his reputation as an
honorable, upright man is of the highest. In him the republican party has
found one of its firmest supporters.
MILES S. CURTIS.-Mr. Curtis is
a native of Ohio, born in Ashtabula
county, April 1, 1852. His early life
was spent on a farm and his rudimentary education obtained in a district school. At the age of 14 he entered a select school and from this
was graduated to the Austinburg Institute, where he remained for six
years. At the age of 21 he came to
Michigan and began the study of law
in the office of W. J. Baxter of Jonesville, but he was obliged to give this
up and return to farming, his father
requiring his assistance. This brought
him in the vicinity of Battle Creek,
and there he has since lived, dividing
his time between a farm on the outskirts of the city and business within


--: —:::-. —.
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- i::::
-:::::::-::-::::i_-::::-:
_:::::
-: ---
-
_i~;::::::ii::~:1-::
_:::_:_::::-: —
-:::
-~ --- —::i;ii-!-:-:-i-i:-:::::::::::::j:: ::::::-::::::-::::::::::::- -::-::::::'-:.': —:i::.:::::::::::


Miles S. Curtis.


59




1616, Leonard Metcalf's son Michael,
renounced the faith and united with
the established church. Afterwards,
on account of the arbitrary decrees of
Bishop Wren, and his dean, Doctor
Corbett, Michael Metcalf became a
dissenter. He was accused of heresy
and committed to prison, from which
he escaped and came to America, landing in Boston, April 13, 1637.
Dr. Metcalf received a limited education at the old academy in his na

soon after Louisiana had passed the
ordinance of secession, Dr. Metcalf
was imprisoned for treason against
the state. The following is a part only
of the affidavit upon which he was arrested: "On the night of Monday, the
16th day of March, 1861, in the fourth
district of this city, one Doctor Metcalf uttered seditious language against
the government, saying that, if he were
in Lincoln's place, before a single -tate
should be allowed to go out (  the
Union, he would burn the city of
Charleston to the ground, and, by
cutting the levees, drown the city of
New Orleans with the waters of the
Mississippi; and using other incendiary language. All of which shows that
he, Metcalf, was adhering to the enemies of the state." A New Orleans paper of April 21, 1861, had the following relating to his arrest:  "Doctor
Metcalf, a dental surgeon, who has
enjoyed a highly respectable practice
in this city for some time, and is, we
believe, a native of New York state,
was arrested by special officers of the
chief of police, on a charge of treason
against the state of Louisiana. This
is the first arrest upon this charge
which has been made in New Orleans
within our recollection.  The party
accused has many friends here, but it
is a serious charge. The law of our
state is fully equal to the punishment
of the crime, if he is guilty, and to his
vindication, if he is innocent."  Dr.


has been greatly interested in the
welfare of the public generally. He
was among the foremost in the organization of the Michigan State Dental
Association, which held its first meeting in 1855. He was for several years
a member of the board of education
and of the board of trustees in Kalamazoo and elected president of the village in 1819. He represented the second district of Kalamazoo county in
the state legislature in 1875-76, and, in
that capacity, was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the
College of Dental Surgery in the University of Michigan. He invented the
dental engine and the dentist's annealing lamp, which was invaluable previous to the introduction of adhesive
gold foil. He was also the first to introduce the preparation for filling
teeth known as sponge gold. He and
his brother invented the tinman's pattern sheet, an ingenious scientific device for the.use of manufacturers of
wares made of sheet metal. He has
been a zealous and prominent member
of the Masonic fraternity, having been
twice elected grand master of the
state. He is an active member of the
supreme council thirty-third and last
degree. In 1872, the degree of Doctor
of Dental Surgery was conferred upon
him by the New Orleans Dental College.
He married, in 1857, Miss Helen E.
Noble, daughter of Hon. Alonzo Noble.


A. T. Metcalf.
tive place. After leaving school, he
served a brief apprenticeship in his
brother's establishment for the manufacture of tin, copper and sheet-iron
ware. In 1848 he moved with his
father's family to Battle Creek, where
he remained but a few months. He
returned to New York and commenced
the study of dentistry, in the office of
Dr. H. R. White of Utica. In 1854 he
visited his father at Battle Creek, and
at the solicitation of Governor Ransom, who desired his professional
counsel, went to Kalamazoo. His presence and success were soon known,
and his services were in such demand
that in February, 1856, he gave up his
practice in Utica, and settled in Kalamazoo. From the effect of the climate and severe application to business, his health soon gave way, and
in December, 1857, he went to New
Orleans, La. There he rapidly recovered, and associating himself with Dr.
A. P. Dostie, he opened a branch office
where he spent the winters in the
practice of his profession, until the
breaking out of the Civil War in 1861.
Dr. Dostie was killed in August, 1866,
at the "Massacre of Mechanics Institute," while in attendance upon the
Constitutional Convention, as one of
the delegates. In the spring of 1861,




The Noble and Annex Blocks.
Metcalf was released from prison on   Mrs. Metcalf died in Los Angeles, Cal.,
the authority of the attorney-general  Feb. 26, 1898.
of the state. He has always been a      In 1890 Dr. Metcalf became a resizealous worker in his profession, and  dent of this city, and engaged In real
60




estate transaction and at once took
an active interest in its growth and
prosperity.
In the spring of 1897 Dr. Metcalf
was elected mayor of the city, during
which time he made many important
improvements. His knowledge of parliamentary rules made him an ideal
presiding officer, and during his term
of office visitors from abroad who attended meetings in this city invariably were profuse in their favorable
comments of his dignity when presiding. His administration was not only
enterprising and progressive, but was
also an economical one.
A IONZO   NOBLE.-Alonzo    Noble
was born in Richmond, Vermont, June
3, 1809. The first twenty-seven years
of his life were passed in the vicinity
of his birth, and at the age of twentyfour he was united in marriage to Miss
Rhoda M. Murray, with whom he lived
most happily for over half a century,
and who survives him.
The first three years subsequent to
his marriage was devoted to mercantile business in Milton, Vt., not far
from the home of his boyhood, and
with a success that marked his entire
business career.
In 1836 he removed with his family
to this city, then village, which had
not at that time completed the fourth
year from its first settlement. He established himself in the mercantile
business at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, the spot where the
Noble block now stands. At that time
Battle Creek was still without a grist
mill and Mr. Noble, in partnership
with the late Almon WVhitcomb, immediately took measures to supply the
want, and during the first season of
his residence here commenced the
erection of the mill on the site of the
one now occupied by Titus & Hicks,
and put the same in operation in the
spring of 1837.
Mr. Noble continued his business
pursuits for many years and by energy
and good management amassed an
amount of wealth which, together with
his prudent real estate investments
in our city, enabled him for a number
of years previous to his death in 1884,
to retire from active business.
Mr. Noble was postmaster for eight
years. He was trustee under the old
village organization and in 1862 he
was elected mayor of the city.
He was a prominent member of the


Masonic order and a Knight Templar.
He left behind him a record in which
his descendants and surviving friends
can feel pride.


GEORGE W. HAMM.-The gentleman whose likeness accompanies this
sketch is the well known, genial occupant of the office of city recorder.
George W. Hamm was born, of Irish
parentage, in Stansted county, Quebec,
Oct. 3, 1857, where he lived on a farm
until his sixteenth year. After his


qualities requisite for the position to
which he was elected, and still holds,
that of city recorder, in the year 1899,
the duties of which office he has performed with good judgment and just
fairness, showing in many cases a
charitableness which is not always
found in a recorder's court.


George W. Hamm.


graduation from the high school at his
native place he followed the occupation of teaching for two years near his
home, and later in Vermont.
In 1878, Mr. Hamm came to Battle
Creek on a visit and was so much impressed with the business enterprise
and rapid growth of the city that in
two years' time, after closing his bulsiness connections elsewhere, he returned to make this city his home. He
entered the employ of the school seat
factory, and later, recognizing his accuracy in business affairs and his close
attention to all details, he was placed
in charge of the packing and shipping
department, remaining in the service
of that establishment as one of the
most valuable employes for ten years,
when the factory was destroyed by
fire. Mr. Hamm. in 1892, accepted a
position with the Advance Thresher
Company as shipping clerk in the retail department, a responsible position
which he held satisfactorily for his
sterling integrity and excellent judgment.
In April, 1898, Mr Hamm was elected
to the office of alderman of the second
ward, and during his term of office
served as chairman of the street and
bridge committee. The city of Battle
Creek recognized in Mr. Hamm the
61


WALTER S. POWERS.-That the
development of a country depends
upon the energy and industry of its
individual citizens cannot be better
illustrated than by the career of Mr.
Powers, whose picture accompanies
this sketch.  Indefatigable, self-reliant and persistent, with genial manners and kindness of heart, it is not


W. S. Powers.
to be wondered that his influence is
great.
Walter S. Powers was born in Genesee county, New York, on January 14,
1849, and is the son of John R. and
Hannah (Johnson) Powers, who came
to Michigan in 1851, and lived In




Barry, and later in Calhoun county, at
which place they still reside.
Our subject. having been raised Hn
a farm had the usual experience ot
the farmer boy, that of working during the summer months and attending
district school in the winter, till he
was competent and eligible to teach
school, which he did in different localities and with marked success. In
1876 he began reading law in New
London, O., remaining there till he
was admitted in the district court. He
entered the law department at Ann
Arbor, and was graduated in 1877, began practicing in Bellevue, but removed to Nashville, from which place
he came to Battle Creek, in October,
1899, purchasing a fine business block
on Main-st west, known as the Powers
block, in which he has his well-appointed offices, conspicuous among
the furnishings of which is a valuable
law library.
Mr. Powers has never been an aspirant for public office, but the towa of
Nashville, chose him for its president
for several terms, and he also acted
as president of the school board, ana
in the management of both positions
he received the admiration of his peeple. For 15 years he was the attorney for the village, and in that capacity it was the concensus of opinion
that he was governed by a fair judiciary mind rather than by personal
prejudices.
On May 24, 1877, Mr. Powers waC
united in marriage with Miss JullGeer of Pennfield township.  They
have two children, namely: Blanche
and Aubra S. Mr. Powers owns one of
the pleasant homes on North-ave. He
and his family attend the Methodist
church. Walter S. Powers is a man
deserving of great praise, for it is by
his own exertions that he has reached
the social, financial, and professional
position which he now enjoys. As a
lawyer he is gifted with keen perceptions, a logical find and a ready
tongue; 'his words are never uttered
for oratorical effect, but carry weight
and force. In politics, Mr. Powers is
a democrat, and has ever been a loyal
friend to the party.
EDWARD AUSTIN.-It would be
impossible in the space allotted to
give full credit for the exemplary and
business-like way that County Clerk
Austin has discharged the duties of
the office, which he has held since
1896. He is not only one of the most
popular men in the county, but one
of the most popular officials, having a


host of friends in all parties.
Although at present residing in Marshall in the discharge of his official
duties, Mr. Austin's home is in the


city of Battle Creek. He is a native
of Ontario county, N. Y., where he was
born April 8, 1861, removing with his
parents to Michigan in 1866, locating
on a farm near Battle Creek. He enjoyed the usual country school advant
ages available to a farmer boy until
he was 15 years of age, when he en
tered the high school, graduating
therefrom in 1879. He spent two yearE
at the University of Michigan in th,
literary department.  Upon leaving
school Mr. Austin took charge of the
home farm, handling stock and run
ning a dairy in an extensive and suc
cessful manner.
Mr. Austin has ever been a friend tc
fraternal organizations, is a membei
of the Masons, being a Knight Tem.


ticket elected, and was again reelected in 1900. Mr. Austin is a man
who entered the political arena, not
for the sake of place or position, but
with an honest desire to benefit his
fellow citizens; and even those who
disagree with him politicaiuy, feel
bound to respect his honest and sincere efforts for a reform which he believes is necessary for the public
good.
JOHN GEISEL.-Those who bore a
part in the labors by which Calhoun
county has been robbed of its primitive wilderness and made into a fruitful expanse, are certainly deserving
of the respect and gratitude of those
who are enjoying the result of their


Edward Austin.


plar and a member of Marsnall Conmandery, No. 17, also a member of
the Knights of tLi? Maccabees and the
Modern Woodmen.
Mr. Austin was elected town clerk
when he was 21 years of age and afterwards to all the minor offices of the
township: he was a delegate from the
Farmer's Alliance to St. Louis in 1892,
when the peoples' party was organized, was a delegate-at-large to the
Omaha convention in 1892, when
James B. Weaver was nominated for
president, and a delegate from that
district to St. Louis convention in 1896
when Bryan was endorsed, and was
one of Michigan's five delegates that
stood for Bryan from the beginning.
In 1896 he was elected county clerk
of Calhoun county and re-elected in
1898, being the only democrat on the


toil. The portrait accompanying this
sketch is one who has labored long
and well in connection with the development of Tekonsha township.
John Geisel was born in Germany
on June 24, 1822, coming to America
with his parents, arriving at Monroe,
Mich., in 1842, spending some years
in that region and surrounding country, where he learned the trade of
wheelwright and Decame a skilled
mechanic. Later, he spent part of one
year in Coldwater and came to Tekonsha May 19, 1854.
On May 13, 1854. he was united in
marriage with Miss Christine Eisenman, to whom nine children have been
born, namely:
Minnie, born Sept. 1, 1858, is now
the wife of William Kramer, residing in Coldwater; Mame, born Nov. 1,


62




1858, is at home with her parents;
Henry C., born Nov. 5, 1860, resides
at Farlow, Ind.; Carolyn, born Dec. 29,
1862, is a medical student in Battle
Creek, and a prominent worker in the
W. C. T. U. society. She is a woman
of large resources and firmness of
character. Mattie, born Dec. 9, 1864,
and died March 31, 1888; Fred C., born
Sept. 24, 1868, now living in the village of Tekonsha; Lulu, born Jan. 16,
1871, living at home.; Alice, born July
18, 1873, also living with her parents.
Mr. Geisel is a man who has derived great pleasure in the study of
biblical history and is so well versed
that he is considered authority on
scriptural subjects, and is one of those
citizens who, by the exercise of unflagging  industry,  wise  economy,


fact there is no citizen who is more
deserving of credit for his enterprise
and public spiritedness than our subject. As banker and capitalist he is
well and widely known through southern Michigan, and was a most important factor in the development of
Homer township, and village. His
wealth, accumulated wholly by his own
efforts, has been the means of starting
various useful enterprises which have
tended to develope the natural resources of the county. In all worthy
objects tending to progress the name
of Thomas Lyon has ever been found
among the largest subscribers, and to
the man in business who needed ready
means in times when currency was
scarce he seemed to delight in reaching out a helping hand.
Coming to this state in its pioneer
days he proved to be the man needed
to aid a struggling organization to get
and keep a footing. His judgment
was soon sought on public as well as
private matters; he soon became a
counselor for both young ana old.
His parents were Thomas and Lois
(Holmes) Lyon, and the time of his
birth was May 22, 1819, in Bethel, Sullivan county, N. Y.; he was the youngest of eight children, only one of whom
is living, a brother in New York, who
is ninety-one years of age.
The father of our subject came to
New York from   Fairfield, Conn., In
May, 1808; he made the journey to
Bethel in an ox-cart accompanied by
his wife and three children, with a
cow following the load.
In 1842 he was summoned as supervisor to witness the first hanging in
Sullivan county. He built the first
saw mill in 1845, and lived to see sevoral sets of milling machinery worn
out and replaced by new. When he
moved to New York the state was a
wilderness except the valleys of Hudson and Mohawk. Mr. Lyon choose a
farm in the unimproved region, cleared
it, and made a home for his family.
Thomas Lyon attended the common
school and finished his education with
a year at Armenia Seminary, New
York, after which he engaged in teachiug for several years.  In 1850 he
came to Washtenaw    county, Mich.
Following in the line of his puritanical ancestry it is no wonder that he
listened to a mandatory voice which
called him to preach the gospel, a calling he followed for twenty-eight years.
eighteen years of his ministerial work
being in this state, joining the Michgan conference in September, 1854.
As a pastor and presiding elder he


was faithful, zealous and earnest, dispatching all duties with a conscientiousness which has ever characterized his life. In 1869 he was compelled
63


to leave the ministry owing to a throat
difficulty.
In March, 1870, Mr. Lyon settled in
Homer and opened the Exchange bank
in a little wooden building on Sophia
street. Later, he erected a three-story
business block at the corner of Main
and Sophia streets, which contains
three stores and the postoffice. Here
he continued his banking business until he erected in 1887, a building expressly for banking purposes, which
is said to be one of the finest bank
buildings in Calhoun county, owned by
its occupants.
Mr. Lyon has been twice married;
his first wife was Miss Susan Brown,
a noble woman, beloved by all, who
knew her. Her death occurred Jan.
20, 1884. His second choice was Miss


John Geisel.
coupled most assuredly with the assistance of his estimable wife, he has
secured a comfortable home and a
competence. Mr. Geisel has always
been a great reader of the best literature; a fact which goes to show that
"where there's a will there's a way"
of storing the mind with useful knowledge even when the duties of life are
pressing.
When Mr. Geisel moved in the township of Tekonsha his entire capital
consisted of good health, clear conscience and a strong heart. He is now
enjoying the fruits of his labors, and
for his blameless, useful lfe he Is
worthy of the high respect in which
he is held by all who know him.
He and his family attend the Presbyterian church and are zealous active members of the same.
REV. THOMAS LYON.-Among the
representative men of Homer we give
Thomas Lyon a prominent place. In


Rev. Thomas Lyon.
Lottie L. Rice, an estimable woman
who, as to business qualifications, Is
far beyond the ordinary, managing her
financial affairs most judiciously; one
child was born to them, a son.
The last twenty-eight years of Mr.
Lyon's life was spent in Homer, interested and active to the last in church
and social duties, his death occurring
March 30, 1898.
NORTH & STRONG.-The firm of
North & Strong occupies a prominent
place in the lumber trade of the city,
having an extensive and well established business with every facility for
the handling of lumber and builders'
materials in large quantities. Both
members of the firm are men of wide
practical experience in this line of
trade, and with a thoroughly established reputation for business ability
and integrity.
These enterprising men located
at 149 Jefferson-ave south, in Febru



ary, 1889, at which time the present
proprietors, E. L. North and J. E.
Strong, bought out the business of Piper & Estell.
Success has followed the exertions
of North & Strong; they have built


WILLIAM T. DAVIS & CO.-Among
the industrial enterprises of the Queen
City is the firm of William T. Davis
& Co., situated on Hamblin-ave and
Putnam-st, where the company has a
completely equipped' machine shop,


cl — - - - -         --


- -


ble started a shop on Barney street for
t ie manufacture of engines, where he
remained three years, removing in
1890 to his present location on Hamblin-ave, where he purchased two acres
of ground and erected the machine
shop he now occupies.
Mr. William T. Davis was born July
15, 1857, in the town of North Burwick, York county, Maine. As our
subject spent the early part of his
life in the New England states he
came naturally by the thrifty energetic traits common to the "Yankee,"
which has been the secret of his success in business. With shrewd insight
he is ever on the lookout for improvements in his business. Mr. Dav s is
a man who stands well in the estimation of his fellow citizens, being upright in his dealings.
The success achieved by Mr. Davis
in his chosen line of work has been
one by earnest and persistent effort.
He has attended to his business day
by day, allowing himself no time for
pleasure or relaxation, and this intense application and industry has,
together with the natural ability,
forced Mr. Davis to the front in his line
and we are sure that our readers will
unite with the Journal in hearty congratulations upoiL he substantial success which he has achieved during the
15 years in which he has been established in our city.
JOHN    R. ALLEN.-Every     one
comes within the observation of
others, and the impress of character
is unconsciously received, not alone
by personal association but by record
of existence. Hence the advantage


North & Strong's Mill.


up a large trade, as both are thoroughly business-like and conduct their arfairs on their established principles.
The yards on Jefferson-ave south occupy an acre of ground, are well
equipped with sheds and every facility to meet their requirements. The
Cincinnati Northern tracks are connected with their yards, by which
means they reach the other railroads
of the city, giving them ample shipping facilities.
Their business comprises lumber,
shingles, doors, sash and mouldings
and such materials as are used by
builders generally.
Mr. E. L. North was born October
31, 1847, near Sturgis, St. Joseph
county, Michigan. At Burr Oak he
spent 12 years in the lumber business,
but since 1889 he has been identified
with his present business.
Mr. J. E. Strong is the junior partner of the firm. He was born December 23, 1863, his early life being spent
on a farm, but subsequently he was
engaged in the lumber business in
Kalamazoo.
Teams are employed in the delivery of lumber to the local trade, the
business of the firm being largely in
Battle Creek, however, they have
built up a flourishing trade with surrounding towns, and its substantial
success is certainly well merited.


--- -




steam power plant, etc. The company is a flourishing one in manufacturing engines, engine governors, boilers and other special machinery, besides dealing in new and second hand
engines.
Mr. Davis, in 1876, went into business for himself as a manufacturer






William T. Davis & Co.


and dealer of guns, sporting goods,
etc. After two years he removed his
shop to larger auarters and again as
business prospered he was forced to
alarge his accommodations. In 1887
64


of extending the field of biographic research and entrancing examples, not
among the opulent and entitled, but
among the conservative and substantial middle class.




A fit subject in this connection is
found in the life and service of John
R. Allen, son of Truman Allen, born
March 22, 1821, in the state of New
York, coming to Calhoun county,
Michigan, township of Emmett, with
his parents, in 1836. The family endured their share of the hardships
common to the pioneers of the state,
full of the arduous toils consequent
upon clearing up heavily-timbered
farms, and checkered with the incidents that unavoidably attend life in
a new and wild country. It certainly
calls for more bravery than the rising
generation realize to face the dangers
and privations of life in a new country.
The grandfather of our subject,
Jchn Allen, was a well-to-do farmer
near Bennington, Vermont. He served


--
li_:
-:diiil-;'''"-: —:-::::::-::-:: I'ill:li_::li:lil


life's work by the side of the man
of her choice.
Mr. Allen casts his vote with the republicans, and is loyal to the party,
and yet, although interested in public
affairs he has never taken active part
in politics, prefering to devote his
time to the interests of his home and
family.
His life has been a busy and useful one; by labor and frugality he has
acquired his pleasant home, which he
enjoys to the fullest extent, and wel
comes friends and neighbors under its
hospitable roof. Mr. Allen is a member of the Congregational church, but
holds that right living has more
weight than church creed.
MRS. JAMES M'NEIL.-The fine
farm owned and occupied by Mrs.
James McNeil gives evidence of the
care bestowed upon its culture and
improvement. It consists of 138 acres
in Leroy township, whereon may be
seen a good dwelling standing on a
slight eminence and surrounded by
flowers from spring till the month of
snow. The other buildings are substantial and ample in size and number for the convenience of the farmer,
and with the adornment of fruit and
shade trees, shrubs, and vines that
so fittingly accompany a rural residence. Neatness and order prevail
everywhere, and careful tillage is the
rule on every part of the estate.
Mrs. McNeil is a daughter of the
late Alfred Jay and Paulina (Jeffrey)
Hathaway. She was born Feb. 9, 1843,
in Niagara county, N. Y,, and has lived
on the farm she now owns for 53
years. On August 22, 1867, she became the bride of Alonzo H. Beebe,
with whom she lived happily for 26
years, he being called hence on Jan.
23, 1893, the demise taking place in
Louisiana. Mrs. Beebe was married
the second time to Mr. James McNeil,
the marriage being solemnized Oct.
14, 1895. Whereas Mrs. McNeil has
never become a mother she has ever
fostered the homeless, and given love
and cheer to the hearts of the little
ones who would otherwise have felt
the want of a mother's care. Miss
Fanny Pippin, a niece of our subject,
lived with her for 21 years, became
the wife of Mr. Trethrick, but when
life was fullest of bright hopes relent.
less death took her from tne midst of
loved ones. Another child, Miss Rose
Robinson, grew to womanhood under
the careful guidance of Mrs. McNeil,
was married to Mr. Coleman, dying
some time ago to be mourned by many


friends.
Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have within
their home two children from the state
school at Coldwater, who are receiv.


ing home instructions by their caretakers.
Mrs. McNeil's father, after engaging
in the occupation of farming for many
years, entered the ministry at the age
of 58, and continued in his earnest,
zealous work until his death, March
1, 1888. His son, Daniel E. Hathaway,
was educated at Oberlin, O., and was
also a Congregational minister. He
died in Crete, Neb., Dec. 16, 1888.
Mrs. James McNeil was educated at
North Leroy school and at Oberlin,
O. She is a woman who is known by
her good works as her words and
deeds of kindness can be recalled by
many who are less fortunate. She is
held in the highest esteem by all in
her community where she has been for
many years a type of christian womanhood. She is a working member of


John R. Allen.
for some time in the Revolutionary
war. His wife was Rachel (Hendricks) Allen, a descendent of John
Rogers of New London, Conn.
John R. Allen on Oct. 5, 1851, married Charlotte Eliza Collins, the second child of Gilbert and Sarah (Whitney) Collins.
Mrs. Allen came from a family of
teachers, her mother acting in that capacity in the schools at Stillwater, N.
Y., for some years, and Mrs. Allen herself, before her marriage, was following that branch of employment. We
cannot speak too highly of a woman
who gives up her time to conscientiously instruct the young which are
put in her charge; she not only
teaches from their text books but a
careful, thoughtful woman has the
manners and morals of her pupils at
interest. Such a teacher was Mrs. Allen, but romance came her way and
she was persuaded to take up her


Mrs. James McNeil.
the WV. C. T. U., and of the M. E.
church, has been the recording secretary of the Missionary society, press
superintendent of the W. C. T. U., and
a member of the Royal Neighbors of
America, and twice a delegate to the
county convention from  the WT. C.
T. U.
Mrs. McNeil can recall seeing copies
of the Battle Creek Journal during its
first year of publication, and has not
only been an interested reader but
has contributed the Leroy notes to its
columns for some years, which have
been greatly appreciated by both
press and reader.
JABEZ MORGAN.-When contemplating the present condition of this
state and noting the wonderful development of its resources, and growth
of its civilization, due credit should
be given to those who stood in the van
guard and bore many privations which


65




we of the present generation find it
hard to realize. Jabez Morgan was
born in Kent county, England, and the
date of the event was Nov. 2, 1821.
His parents, whose names were William and Susan (Crook) Morgan, were
both born in England, near the city of
Liverpool. Having determined to establish a home in the New World the
parents set out on what proved a tedious voyage of six weeks, and after
landing at New York City proceeded
to Rochester, staying there but a year
when they set out to Chautauqua
county with an ox team. There they
purchased a small piece of land in the
dense woods, built a primitive house
and moved into the same before the
doors were hung or the windows set.
They lived there for many years, but
later moved to Ripley in the same
county, afterwards to Erie, Pa., where


The true-hearted woman whom Mr.
Morgan was so fortunate as to win for
his third wife bore the maiden name of
Anna Lederer, and their happy union
was blessed by the birth of four children, viz: Alfred J., born April 25,
1860; Owen T., born Sept. 11, 1864;
Ernest, born Sept. 8, 1867; Eliza, born
Aug. 15, 1871.
Mr. Morgan owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Leroy township, which is a most productive one
and one of the most desirable in his
locality. It is supplied with neat and
substantial buildings; its well cultivated fields yield fine harvests, and
its pastures are well stocked. Mr.
Morgan has raised grain and stock,
paying about equal attention to each.
Although he has not made a specialty
of stock raising, yet he has marketed
many sheep and cattle, and in that
branch of his occupation has taken delight.
He identified himself with the republican ranks many years ago in
which he has held an unfaltering
course to the present time.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are honorable
and zealous members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and have given liberally to its support. In fact they give
aid to any worthy cause, and hospitality is so prominent a characteristic of
the family that it cannot pass unnoticed. They have an attractive home
that is replete in comfort where their
friends often gather to enjoy the
charming hospitalities extended by so
gracious a hostess and so genial a
host.
JEROME W. JOURDAN.-Conspicuous among the prominent farmers of
Battle Creek township we have the
name of Jerome W. Jourdan, a man
who has had varied experiences compared to the routine of the life of a
farmer. His father was John Anderson Jourdan, born in Pennsylvania,
Feb. 10, 1835, came to Michigan with
his family, a wife and five children, of
which our subject is the third.
Nov. 20, 1877, was the day on which
the nuptials of Jerome Jourdan and
Emma A. Beckley were solemnized,
the bride was a daughter of Ira and
Betsey (Nowland) Beckley, and was
born in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mr. Jourdan has always cast his
vote with the republican party, but has
not taken an active part in politics,
not through lack of interest, however,
but his farm of one hundred acres,
which he has cultivated thoroughly
and well, has occupied his entire time


and attention.
During the fall of '97 Mr. Jourdan
became so imbued with thought of the
klondyke, and feeling sure that riches
66


were to be had for those who persevered he joined a party of Battle
Creek men, among whom were A. J.
White, Charles Earl and Cassius Richardson, well known men in the community, and taking all the necessary
equipments for the hardships which he
knew were to be met he set out with
the party on Jan. 31, 1898. The severe
trials which tne party experienced
has been related over again, but
through it all our subject was the life
of the party; naturally of a hopeful
disposition he was the one who urged
tnem on when at times to press onward seemed inevitable death. His
buoyancy upheld him when his own
spirits were flagging, and his ambition was an example which enthused
his companions to move forward with
the hope that the reward they sought
was before them.


Jabez Morgan.
they lived until 1868, when they came
to Michigan, Calhoun county, both dying in Leroy township. They reared
a family of six children to useful pursuits.  Their names are:  J. Jabez,
Mrs. Susan Hyde, Mrs. Rebecca Hyland, Miss Mary Morgan, William and
Benjamin, all of whom live in this vicinity and are highly respected citizens.
Jabez Morgan won for his bride Miss
Mariam Winter, their marriage being
solemnized Oct. 16, 1846. Five children were born to them: George B.,
Delos L., Eugene A., Jared B., and
Lillie M. The peaceful happiness of
the abode was broken by the death of
the wife which occurred Jan. 28, 1857.
Mr. Morgan's second marriage was
with Miss Elizabeth Winter, but death
again entered the Morgan home, taking his companion from his side, Aug.
5, 1858.


Jerome W. Jourdan.
Mr. Jourdan met success as the result of his perseverance, for his mine
in the Alaskan region is said to be
a yielding one, which is the reward
our subject reaps for having faced the
perils of snow, ice and possible starvation.
We are pleased to state that our
subject is again in our community,
and we have hopes that it will be his
judgment to give Battle Creek with
its industrial pursuits the benefit of
the wealth which is sure to be his.
C. H. IVES.-The subject of this
sketch is an intelligent, practical member of the farming population of this
county that has contributed so largely
to its prosperity. He is the proprietor
of one of the well improved farms of
Leroy township, and is rightfully considered one of the most trustworthy
citizens of his community. His father




was Abijah Ives, who was a carpenter
in Rome, N. Y., but later lived in
Vicksburg. Charles H. Ives was born
in Rome, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1829, came to
Michigan Nov. 22, 1865. settling in Leroy township.
On Sept. 25, 1856, Mr. Ives married
Caroline S. Covell, the third child of
Lorenzo Riley and Adaline (Thompson) Covell. Mrs. Ives is an estimable
woman and understands well the art
of making home pleasant and comfortable. Her wedded life has brought
her one child, a son, Willard H., by
name, born Oct. 18, 1858, in Rome, N.
Y., who lives on the homestead and
whose interests are identified with
'those of his parents. On Jan. 10. 1886,
he married Miss Dora Jacobs, the
daughter  of   Robert  and   Helen
(Monks) Jacobs.
The Ives homestead is one of 80
acres, which is under good cultivation,
buildings and fences in good condition,
in fact the entire surroundings speak
of prosperity.
Whereas, Mr. Ives has been a republican for years, and is interested in
public affairs he has not entered partisan strife, prefering rather the quiet
of a home life to a public one.
Mr. and Mrs. Ives united with the


Bock, whose portrait accompanies this
sketch, and will be recognized as that
of one of Calhoun county's most illustrious citizens, and who is especially
prominent in Battle Creek, having
been in business here since 1861. He
is now senior member of the firm of
Bock & Son, whose "Housekeeper's
Palace" is one of the business institutions of the city that attracts the attention of every stranger, and is the
source of supplies to many a housekeeper.
The parents of our subject were
Frederick C. and Harriet Bock, natives of Prussia, from whence they
came to America in 1833. Both died
of cholera in 1854. The father had
followed the business of blacksmithing in Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Charles
Bock was born Dec. 23, 1836, and was
the eldest of ten children.
When Mr. Bock was eighteen years
of age he entered the employ of Pratt
& Co., hardware dealers in his native
place and with them thoroughly
learned the business. In 1861 he came
to Battle Creek and for a time served
in the capacity as clerk for V. P. Collier. Later, he became senior partner
in the firm of Bock, Arnold & Co., a
firm which carried on successful business for four years. Wihen this firm
dissolved Mr. Bock formed another
partnership under the name of Bock
& Peters, and continued in his line of
trade for fourteen years. In 1884 he
sold out his interests to his partner
and in more spacious quarters he
opened the largest establishment in
hardware that he had ever handled,
under the name of Bock & Son. Long
years of honorable dealing have firmly
established his reputation in business
circles, and throughout the community
he is known as an up-to-date progressive merchant.
In Batavia, N. Y., on Dec. 28, 1858,
Mr. Bock and Miss Harriet Hagelbarger were united in marriage. They
have two children, Frank, who is of
the firm of Bock & Son, and Kate, wife
of G. G. Tanner, a member of the
wholesale hardware firm of Tanner &
Sullivan, at Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr. Bock served his people in the
capacity of alderman for four years.
He is a Mason and has been commander of the Commandery, High Priest
and Worshipful Master. In religion
he is an Episcopalian and in no avenue of helpfulness has Mr. Bock's best
efforts been directed than in connection with his church. He has ever
been a most interested, zealous and
generous member. He is senior war

den of St. Thomas' parish, and manifests the interest in all details of the
office which ever characterized him
in the performance of his duties.
67


The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument which adorns our city reminds
us daily of the perseverance and indefatigable energy of our fellow-townsman, Charles F. Bock, who, more than
any other one man, was instrumental
in its purchase and erection. In fact,
it can truthfully be said that Battle
Creek has no citizen who has put forth
such untiring efforts toward the advancement of any municipal enter

Charles F. Bock.
prise which tended toward the betterment of his city than has Mr. Bock.
Hie stands today as one of the most
influential and respected men of the
city for which he has aided so materially in its development.
HENRY    O. COOK.-It gives us
great pleasure to place upon the pages
of this volume, dedicated to the citizens of the county, a brief record of
this honored man, who for years has
been actively identified with farming
interests and is one of the most successful, but who is now living in honorable retirement in their beautiful
home on Main-st west, of the village of
Homer.
April 6, 1851, was the time of the
birth of Henry O. Cook, in the township of Clarendon, Calhoun county.
His early days were spent on the home
farm with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Sylvanus Cook. The father born Oct.
25, 1816, and the mother, Lucy A. (Oliver) Cook, born Dec. 27, 1819, in North
Hero, Grand Island county, Vt. The
nuptials were celebrated March, 1840.
Mr. Henry O. Cook attended school
in Homer until he was fitted for higher
branches than the village school afforded, then spending two profitable


C. H. Ives.
Congregational church in 1878 since
which time they have been untiring
in their zeal to advance religious principles, and have ever been citizens of
high moral worth and integrity, whose
examples might well be followed by
the younger generation.
CHARLES F. BOCK.-The success
which rewards the patient efforts of
mankind in any department of labor
is nowhere better exemplified than in
the life and business career of Mr.




years at the State Normal, in Ypsilanti, following with a year at the
University in Ann Arbor.
On May 2, 1877, he was united in
marriage with Miss Libbie A., the accomplished daughter of Hon. George
Ingersol of Marshall. Their domestic
happiness was darkened by the
shadow of the reaper who comes noiselessly and unbidden. Mrs. Cook died
Feb. 28, 1880.
After mourning his loss for two
years Mr. Cook won for his bride,
Miss Jennie E. Church, a lady of rare
intelligence, the daughter of Cyrus
and Lidia Church; the marriage being
consummated Oct. 10, 1882. Four children came to gladden their parents'
hearts and brighten the hearthstone:
Libbie I., born April 6, 1884; Helen
O., born May 6, 1887; Clara J., born
May 28, 1893; William C., born Feb.
16, 1901, the latter though young
seems to be the autocrat of the house.
showing no respect to age or grey
hairs.
Mr. Cook is one of the extensive
land-owners of the county, owning at
present between three and four hundred acres of the famous Cook Prairie,
which was bought by Henry Cook,
May 7, 1832, the grandfather of our
subject. Mr. Henry Cook came from
Aurelius, Cayuga county, N. Y., to
Michigan in 1831, and settled in Saline, Washtenaw county. He was a
man remarkable for his energy and
push, and when such qualities are
united with a public spirit, the township and county have a man whose influence is felt far and wide, and such


forces of man, the wilderness was
turned into fertile fields of grain and
fruit-teeming orchards, and he has
shown tie same spirit in all work
which pertained to the advancement
of education and religion.
He was an extensive owner in real
estate, controlling at one time twelve
hundred acres of land, and at the time
of his death was one of the wealthiest
men of the section.
Mr. Cook was the father of twelve
children, Sylvanus, the father of our
subject, being the third.
Mr. Sylvanus Cook, with his family,
removed to the village of Homer in
1859, where they lived for thirty-two
years in the sunsnine of their old
homestead, where he died in 1890.
For nearly half a century they have
been members of the Presbyterian
church, and their lives have been helpful in many ways to the advancement
of all good work. Mr. Cook holding
official positions to the satisfaction of
all for many years. A faithful worker
in Christ's vineyard.
Mr. Henry O. Cook has had much to
speak for him; an honorable grandfather, who won a place in the hearts
and minds of his church and community; an enterprising, public-spirited
father, commanding the respect and
esteem of all who were associated
with him, and he, Henry O. Cook, has
proved himself worthy of his ancestors, by being a man with unimpeachable integrity, a stirring citizen in
his community, an active, influential
member of its church, with a kind


Henry 0. Cook.
a man was Mr. Cook. He was instrumental in organizing the Congregational church on the prairie, which has
since merged in to the Presbyterian
church of Homer village, organized
1838, at which time he was elected
aeacon, a position he filled honorably
and well till his death, Sept. 14, 1874.
He and his estimable wife were united
in their religous faith, and gave liberally to any organzation which pertained to truth and right.
As in his early days in Michigan,
when his home was a forest one, by
perseverance he made the inert forces
of nature succumb to the animate


McCamly Park.
68




word for all, and a loving husband
and father.
He has acted as elder in his church
for fifteen years, village councilman
for six years, serving those in his vicinity to their entire satisfaction, and
on the school board for six years, aiding to decide all questions pertaining
to educational matters wisely and
well.
In politics he has always voted the
republican ticket, and was twice
elected supervisor of Homer township,
and although interested in the questions of the day, has never been led
into partisan strife.
Mrs. Cook is a woman of superior
qualifications and womanly ways; is
in full possession of the knowledge,
love and tact that commends her to
her neighbors and acquaintances, and
makes her the central figure in a
happy home. With her cheerful disposition she holds the bands that bind
the household together with love and
harmony with a gentle grasp.
FRANK H. LATTA.-Battle Creek's
popular  and  efficient  postmaster,
Mr. Frank H. Latta, was born in Lewiston, New York, July 18, 1851. His
father, Alfred Latta, a native of New
York, moved with his family to Kalamazoo, where the subject of this
sketch attended the public school till
his family moved near Ceresco, subsequently coming to Battle Creek. Mr.
Latta graduated from the high school
in 1873, then spent one year at Olivet
College. After leaving school he spent
one year in Chicago and one in Kansas, where he engaged in the cattle
business. Upon returning to Battle
Creek in the spring of 1875, he opened
a repository for the sale of carriages
and farm implements, which business
he conducted successfully until the
winter of 1898-9, when, in order to give
his individual attention to his official
duties, he disposed of the business.
Aside from his business career Mr.
Latta has manifested a public spirit
in many enterprises affecting the welfare and prosperity of the city, and
has found a congenial field in politics.
He is a stanch republican, but has
always subordinated personal prejudices to the good of his party; his interest is not confined to local politics,
but extends to state and national affairs, always attending the state conventions and nearly always as a delegate. Two years as an alderman of
his ward is the only elective political
office that he ever held.
Mr. Latta has been enthusiastic in


his efforts to add to the facilities and
convenience of the postoffice, and has
worked earnestly to secure rural delivery in this section of the country,


and his efforts are greatly appreciated
by the many patrons who are benefited by the delivery.
He is still working to further add to
the rural routes, and in the near future the results of his efforts in this
direction will materialize.
Mr. Latta has also used his influence
to obtain for Battle Creek a government postoffice building, and we trust
such a building will be secured.
Mr. Latta has taken no small interest in military affairs. He was for
four years aide on Governor Rich's
staff, with the rank of colonel, and
while serving was instrumental in obtaining the acceptance of the local
military company into the state service as Co. L, the quota of state troops
being otherwise full at the time. During the Spanish war, Mr. Latta devoted
both time and money in enlisting re

tie Upton, daughter of the late
Stephen Upton, and a daughter, who is
a student in the high school of Battle
Creek.
JEREMIAH CLARK.-This honored
man, whose demise was Sept. 24, 1900,
left a tract of well improved land
which has been brought to its present
state of perfection by his own efforts,
and which with its excellent buildings,
is a standing monument to his Industrious and prudent course in life.
Jeremiah Clark was born in Marion,
N. Y., June 3, 1828, and resided on the
homestead until he came to Michigan
in 1883, purchasing a farm south of
Kalamazoo, where he lived till 1889,
at which time he removed to Albion
township, purchasing the well-known
George Robinson farm, where he lived
till his death. Mr. Clark was counted
among the leading agriculturists of
southern Michigan, for having owned
several farms he has added vast improvements to each. His natural inclinations and tastes were those of a
farmer, and as he possessed energy
and ambition, success has been the result of his life's work.
On June 2, 1864, Mr. Clark was
united in marriage with Miss Caroline
Mason of Marion, N. Y. Three children have been born to them, namely:
James, born June 3, 1865; Fred, born
April 19, 1877, and Roy, born June 8,
1884. Miss Mary Barnard of Kalamazoo, became the wife of James Clark
in 1888, to whom one son, E. 0., was
born, Sept. 17, 1891, and one daughter,
Meta, born Nov. 4, 1896.
Fred Clark now resides on the homestead, a farm of 200 acres, and married
Miss Susie Shaffer of Sheridan township, in 1900.
Mr. Jeremiah Clark's life was one of
industry and toil. He affiliated with
the republican party but never aspired
for political honors, and although his
life was governed by christian principles, he was not a member of any denomination. He was a quiet, unassuming man, but one whose influence was
wide. His death, which occurred Sept.
24, 1900, was from heart disease, the
interment being made in the family
lot at Riverside cemetery, Albion,
Mich.
A. MORTON     SLAY.-The trusty
guardian of the public funds of the
city of Battle Creek, A. Morton Slay,
was born May 6, 1862, on a farm in
Jay county, Indiana, where he spent
the early part of his life, receiving his
education by attending school during


the winter months and working on
the farm during the summer. His parents were Anthony W. and Mary (Farrington) Slay.


Frank H. Latta.


cruits, personally  conducting  one
squad to Island Lake. He was a member of the executive board oi the State
Agricultural Society for eight years,
is president of the local branch of the
Standard Building and Loan Association of Detroit, and also a member of
the Battle Creek Board of Trato.
In 1898 his business ability a:id his
party fealty were recognized by President McKinley by his appointment as
postmaster at Battle Creek, in which
position he is doing a service to the
public and an honor to himself.
Mr. Latta's church affiliations are
with the Presbyterians. His society
connections are Masonic, including the
Knights Templar, Knights of Pythias
and Elks. He is a prosperous, energetic business man and one whose interests extend to the progression of
his fellow men. His family consists
of a wife, who was formerly Miss Kit69




When our subject was eighteen
years of age he came to Battle Creek,
and entered the employ of Nichols &
Shepard as an apprentice in the paint
department. As ambition has ever
been a strong element in his nature


On July 29, 1883, occurred the marriage ceremony which made iviiss Bertha Tichenor the bride of A. Morton
Slay. To them three children have
been born, two daughters and a son.
Mr. Slay has naught but kind words


stage route between Rochester and
Lewiston.
As a political enthusiast Mr. Church
is and ever has been of the strongest,
he remembers of swinging his cap for
Andrew Jackson, and he is yet in favor
of those who advocate true blue democracy.
In 1837 Mr. Church with his family
came to Michigan by the canal and
Lake Erie. They arrived in Barneyville, June 15. The family settled
three miles from this village, and Andrew attended school at the old log
school house. Later, he served an apprenticeship at coopering, and followed his trade for several years. On
January 1, 1848, he married Miss Mary
J. Cummings, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., Feb. 13, 1828.
Through toil and industry Mr. and
Mrs. Church have an abundance from
which to gather comfort and cheer in
their declining years. They are persons of merit, and, in consequence
have many close friends in their community who will ever remember kindness received at their hands. These
worthy pioneers and life-long companions, whose wedded life is nearing
a point bounded by nearly threescore
years, are still journeying together
near the confines of the eternal rest,
whose gates shall open ere long to receive them into heavenly mansions.
Mr. and Mrs. Church have one child,
a son, Albert B., born August 28, 1855;
Miss Minnie Dibble became his wife;


A. Morton Slay.


it showed itself in his desire to progress in his work in the paint shop,
and his efficiency was recognized by
his employers by making him foreman
of the department in February, 1893.
This position he held until July, 1898,
at which time he was appointed to the
vacancy caused by the death of City
Treasurer S. H. Corwin. As Mr. Slay
filled the position as substitute with
entire satisfaction he was elected at
the municipal election as treasurer, a
place he has most honorably held ever
since.
In- politics Mr. Slay is a republican
and has held the office of chairman of
the republican committee for three
years.
He is an interested and enthusiastic
member of several lodges, including
the Maccabees, Knights of Pythias,
and Odd Fellows, and of the latter order is of the Patriarch Militant. He
is the present finance keeper of the
Maccabees, in which order he is a past
commander. He was also president of
the Benefit Association of the Nichols & Shepard company for one year.
In his religious relations he and his
family attend the Presbyterian church.


for the public which he is serving; he
is in a community of friends and appreciates the honor bestowed on him
by the populace, whereas the city in
turn, have the utmost faith and confidence in their treasurer, and not only
consider his name a synonym of integrity and honor, but look upon him
as one of the stanch loyal citizens of
the city, upright in his deal with his
fellowmen, and careful and accurate
in his transactions of public business.
ANDREW S. CHURCH.-In noting
the great change that has taken place
in this country during the last fifty
years, due credit should be given to
those who contributed to the gratifying result by expending   physical
strength, enduring self-denial and encountering dangers while leading the
vanguard of civilization. It is due to
the gentleman whose name introduces
this biography to credit him with
more or less pioneer work.
Andrew S. Church was born in
Ridgeway, Orleans county, N. Y., Jan.
6, 1822. His boyhood days were spent
on a farm near Knowlesville on the
70


Andrew S. Church.
three children have been born to
them: Nellie, Essie and Frank.
HERBERT R. WILLIAMS.-As the
sheriff of Calhoun county Mr. Herbert
R. Williams stands out prominently as




a popular and efficient officer, serving
the law-abiding citizens in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Williams was born
in Lafayette township, Medina county,
Ohio, on January 26, 1850, and lived
upon the home farm till he was twenty
years of age, when he turned his back
on farming pursuits and engaged in


he has ever been quick to see and to
meet the needs of the people. His
line of hacks and conveyances is of
the largest and finest in style, and is
in charge of the most courteous drivers in the city. All calls meet with
prompt response. During Mr. Williams' residence in Marshall the business is in the entire control of his son,
Mr. George H. Williams, who is a most
capable business manager, and who,
by his strict attention to business interests, is making an enviable name
for himself within business circles of
the city.
VAN DUSEN & SON.-Messrs. Van
Dusen & Son, seven years ago began
business with the limited capital of
$1,000. J. S. Van Dusen is a quiet,
unassuming man, but one of high reputation as to integrity, and one who
attends strictly to business. The son,
O. A. Van Dusen, is a young man of
inevitable push and energy; it is due
to his untiring efforts combined with
his father's shrewdness that the originally small business has been built
up to its present thriving condition.
Practically out of debt, with real
estate and plant worth at least $10,000. This large increase is due not
only to energy and business sagacity
of the firm, but also to the fact that
they have established the reputation
of doing none but first class work.
Any carpet, rug or curtain which goes
to Van Dusen & Son to be cleaned is


is a new invention, and is proving a
wonderful success. By this remarkable process, and one which Van Dusen & Son have the sole use in this
section of country, the most delicate
curtain or expensive carpet is cleaned
without the slightest injury either to
color or fabric. It is a pleasure to all


H. R. Williams.
the grocery business in Oberlin, then
in Cleveland, moving later to Ravenna,
O. In 1882, Mr. Williams came to Battle Creek and purchased the livery and
hack line with which he is still identified, and which is being conducted in a
most prosperous manner.
Mr. Williams is a republican in his
party views, but is not a professional
politician, being popular with the business men of the county of all parties,
and in the administration of his office
seeks the just discharge of his duties.
In the fall of 1898, he was the candidate of the republican party for the office of sheriff, his candidacy meeting
with success. In 1900 he was again
elected to the office of sheriff, and
with an increased majority, which is
an indorsement for the high regard
in which he is held by the constituents of the county.
Mr. Williams is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias and the
Elks, in both of which he is an active,
zealous exponent. As Mr. Williams
continues in his duties as sheriff he
is winning the approbation of the voters of the county, who have reason to
think that he is fulfilling the predictions of his friends.
The livery and hack line in Battle
Creek is an extensive business, and
under the efficient management of Mr.
Williams it has become more so, for


O. A. Van Dusen.
right-minded persons to note the unqualified success of such a deserving
and enterprising firm as is Messrs.
Van Dusen & Son.
MARCELLUS J. NEWMAN.-Marcellus, son of William and Catherine
Newman, highly respected pioneers of
Calhoun county, was born Oct. 28,
1855, on the farm where he now lives.
William Newman came from the Isle
of the Emerald Green, landing at Castle Garden in the spring of 1831, when
he was twenty years of age. Life was
before him. What it held for him he
knew not, but with the undaunted fearlessness which comes with youth he
was ready to look the fact squarely
in the face and strike out for himself
for weal or woe.
Work was to be found, and William
Newman with the energy and perseverance which characterized his life,
found all that he could do, working at
different occupations and in widely
different regions of New York, as he
made his way westward toward Michigan, which place, in those days, was
the goal for the poor man starting in
life.
In 1832, Detroit was reached. The
first years of Mr. Newman's Michigan
life were filled with the hardest and
most laborious work, that of teaming
with oxen between Detroit and Calhoun county, his loads being provisions, lime, lumber, plaster, etc. His


J. S. Van Dusen.
finished in a manner that not only reflects credit upon the work, but invariably pleases the customer, and secures
his permanent trade. The firm recently put in additional expensive machinery, which enables them to clean
by the compressed air process, which
7L




family can recall hearing him relate
his experiences, hard in the main, but
many times pleasant by being thrown


of Henry Thomas of Marshall township; David, of Pennfield; Florence,
now Mrs. Edward Hamilton of Bellevue; Grizela, Mrs. Chauncey Gould of
Pennfield.
Marcellus Newman is an up-to-date
farmer, progressive and thrifty, as
would be learned by noting his buildings, ample for his needs. He is especially successful in the cultivation
of strawberries, and small fruits,
which he raises in great abundance,
disposing of same in Battle Creek.


quired those habits of industry and
prudential care, that have tended
largely to his prosperity.
As to religious views, Mr. Newman
is liberal, taking the line of a good
life for his rule of action.
Mrs. Newman is a woman of practical knowledge, and conducts her
household arrangements with care and
prudence, a capable, loving wife, making her home a dwelling place of
cheer and comfort. Three children are
around their hearthstone:  Glen R.,
born June 21, 1878; Mildred E., born
Nov. 21, 1888; Howard D., born March
3, 1892.
BUFFALO DRY GOODS STORE.Among the flourishing mercantile
houses in the Queen City we have the
Buffalo Dry Goods Store, under the
management of the efficient J. R. Robertson. This establishment is the one
known so well in this community as
the Marr & Duff dry goods house,
which was for fifteen years one of the
leading stores of the city.
Mr. J. R. Robertson, the son of Robert and Marjorie Robertson, was born
and educated in Scotland. His father
being a merchant in dry goods, the
training of the son in the same line
began early, and under the thorough
and careful supervision of the father.
He came to the United States at the
age of nineteen, entering the employ
of J. N. Adams & Co. of Buffalo, N.
Y., where he remained for five years.
He then became connected with Adam,
Meldrum, Anderson Co. of' the same
city, being in the dress goods department for two years, following with
four years in the silk department,
where he had every opportunity to in

Marcellus J. Newman.
with other friendly and hospitable pioneers, who were drawn together by a
bond of sympathy.
Later, by dint of hard work and
close economy, a farm of one hundred
and seventy acres was purchased in
Emmett township, seventeen acres
having been added since, making the
homestead one hundred and eightyseven acres.
Mr. Newman was twice married,
his first wife was Catherine VanSickle
who became the mother of three children: James V., William, and Marcellus J., our subject.  The wife and
mother was called hence at the age of
G2 years. His second choice was Mrs.
Betsey Young, who is now deceased.
Mr. Newman died May 17, 1890.
Marcellus J. Newman on Dec. 9,
1875, married Miss Jennie Badger, the
second child of Nathaniel and Mary
Badger, and it has proved a marriage
where domestic happiness reigns.
Nathaniel Badger was born in Londonderry, Ireland, July 13, 1833, came
to America in 1850 on the vessel "Mersey," was fifty-six days on board, landing in New York on June 15. For four
years Mr. Badger lived in New York,
during which time he married Miss
Mary Orr, in the year 1853. Mrs. Badger was born in Lyrone, Ireland. in
Oct. 28, 1825, came to America on
board the "Marquis of Capricorn," was
41 days on the ocean. Her first home
was in Quebec, Canada, but later
moved to Cayuga county, New York.
Six children came to bless their union:
Katherine, wife of Edward Brown of
Pennfield; Jennie, now Mrs. Marcellus
Newman of Emmett; Ada is the wife


Mrs. Marcellus J. Newman.
Mr. Newman has an eye for fine
horses and cannot be excelled in his
community in the judgment of an animal.
He is a man of excellent standing
in his vicinity, honest in his deal, and
a worthy citizen. Early in life he ac



Buffalo Dry Goods Store.


72




crease his knowledge along these
lines.
Mr. J. R. Robertson is not only a
merchant but a soldier as well, and
one who has been called upon to face
duty at the risk of his life. Upon the
outbreak of the Spanish-American war,
having been for nine years connected
with the National Guard of New York,
Mr. Robertson received a commission
as first lieutenant of volunteers from
the governor and was assigned to the
202d regiment, New York Volunteers,
in which he served throughout the
war. The record of our subject during
those trying times is an enviable one,
as he unfalteringly stood in the front
ranks of all engagements of his regiment, which was the only one of the
second army corps sent to Cuba, remaining  there  during  the  entire
trouble. The home coming of L eutenant Robertson was not till the
peace treaty was signed in April, 1898.
The world cannot give too much
praise to a man who puts to one side
the home ties and goes forth to the
call of his country, and one, too, whose
standing w th his comrades was one
of marked honor and distinction, and
whose company recalls with glowing
pride his acts of courage and bravery.
At the close of the country's hostilities Lieutenant Robertson was offered
a position by his old firm as floor
manager, and was placed in full charge
of the second floor, where he remained
until coming to Battle Creek. We
have every reason to believe that Mr.
Robertson's large experience in the
business with which he is connected,
both behind the counter and also on
the floor looking after the welfare of
the customers, has eminently fitted
him for the management of a store,
and we feel sure that the city of Battle Creek and vicinity will always find
their interests Mr. Robertson's first
thought. He assures us that he will
at all times endeavor to keep only
such goods as are up-to-date and first
class in every respect. It is his intention to visit the markets every few
weeks so as to be able to get the best
at lowest prices; it being a well
known fact that the best lines are
sold on the markets and not carried
by the drummer. By do'ng this he
will be able to keep his stock well
assorted, and by buying and selling
for cash he gives his customers the
advantage which he also receives.
The establishment carried on by J.
R. Robertson is one of unusual attractiveness; the location, of the best, the


size, ample, and every department is
so well lighted as to give customers
a pleasure in making their selections.
On the first floor the several depart

"i


Interior View-Grand Union Tea Co.
8.,.


ments are in charge of clerks who are
not only proficient in their particular
line of goods, but are ever found courteous and oblig ng to customers. The
different lines, that of suitings, dress
goods, hosiery, muslins and wash
goods, lace, gloves, and notions are
under the management of Messrs.
Marr, Wells, Gow, Owens and the
Misses Matthews, Barton, and Cummings.
The second floor. which ever presents a busy thriving scene, is in
charge of three experienced salesladies.  Miss Cornell is the reigning
spirit of the millinery department.
Mrs. Wattles is ever ready to display
her large assortment of cloaks, suits,
dress skirts, and wrappers, while Miss
Barton stands ready to please in the
line of muslin underwear, corsets,
shirt waists and under skirts. Miss
Hattie Abbey, who has served in the
capacity of cashier for six years, Is
still at her desk.
The many patrons of the Buffalo
Dry Goods Store are friends as well
of the genial merchant and his efficient
corps of helpers, and all feel sure that
success will follow the efforts which
are being put forth to meet the demands of the public.
GRAND UNION TEA CO.-Mr.
George E. Glysson, the gentlemanly
manager of the Grand Union Tea Co.,
was born in the city of Springfield,
III., in February, 1874, and was educated in the schools of that city. Upon
leaving school he entered the grocery
73


business as clerk, continuing in that
capacity for four years. His employers finding h'm to be capable, and in
every way trustworthy, made him
manager of the store, and after four
years of successful business, both for
his employers and himself, he retired


George E. Glysson.
from this and entered a Chicago store,
taking charge of the tea and coffee department. In May of 1898, Mr. Glysson, came to Battle Creek, and with
his brother, Charles, opened a small
store at 94 Main-st east, as a branch
of the Grand Union Tea Co. of New
York City, a company which was es



tablished in 1872. The Glysson brothers by their marked ability and close
attention personally to details of business were far more successful than
even their hopes anticipated, and in
1901-Mr. Charles Glysson having
died in 1900-Mr. George Glysson
sought more commodious quarters for
his prosperous business. He is now
located at 20 Main-st east, and is in
every way equipped to handle the increasing trade which is coming his
way.
The Grand Union Tea Co. is a well
established firm, retailing the greatest amount of tea and coffee of any
one company in the world, and giving
satisfaction in all places. Throughout the United States there are 200
stores and 3,000 agents, all doing a
thriving business, based on upright
principles. Besides tea and coffee the
retailers handle spices, extracts, chocolate, cocoa, and bak ng powder.
The tea and coffee are imported,
packed and shipped by the firm, the
baking powder and extracts are their
own manufacture, the spices are packed and ground by the company, which
explains the reason of the low prices
when selling to the consumer, as saving middle profits. The goods are of a
superior quality, no second rate article being handled.
The presents given with the purchases are all of the highest grade
of ware; the jardinieres, tankards,
and granite ware are manufactured
by the firm, and the china given as
presents is imported.
In entering Mr. Glysson's attractive
place of business, on the corner of
Main and Madison-sts, the neatness
which prevails is most striking; customers are cordially greeted and
promptly served. Mr. Glysson is eminently fitted for the place he fills, being well versed in his line of work.
The business under Mr. Glysson's management, has increased greatly, the
proceeds during the first month in
Battle Creek were less than $200, now
the amount runs into the thousands
per month, a fact which proves that
Mr. Glysson is eminently fitted for
carrying on the growing trade, and
that the Grand Union Tea Co. is giving satisfaction in every household,
wherever the goods are tried.
Mr. Glysson on September 4, married
Miss Marie Tunney of Springfield,
Ill., the marriage taking place in Chicago. A son was born to them on


January 7, 1901. Mr. Glysson is treasurer of the Knights of Columbus, an
organization in which he is greatly
interested.


The Johnson Machine Works.


JOHNSON    MACHINE    WORKS.The establishment under the name of
the Johnson Machine Works is one of
the recent enterprises located in our
city, having been in operation about
one year, and was at first under the
name of Johnson & Zock.
The factory is conveniently located
on Main-st west, adjacent to an excellent water power.
Mr. Adolph Johnson is an experienced man and has a thorough knowl

edge of every detail of his trade, and
takes an honorable pride in providing
the very best work in his line. He
learned his trade in one of the machine shops in Stockholm, Sweden;
after coming to th's country his skill
and ability were at once recognized
as he was employed for some time as
foreman of the Derby Bicycle Manufacturing Co. of Jackson, from which
place he went to Toledo, 0., and held
the responsible and important posi

The Johnson Machine Works, Interior View.
74




tion of foreman of the Yale Bicycle
Co. of that city, and his careful attention to the work of that company had
much to do with the conspicuous success of this bicycle.
When the firm of Johnson & Zock
was established in this city, the proprietors anticipated that by hard work
and close attention to business they
would make a success, and their anticipations were more than realized,
as the character of their work and
the just and reasonable charges made
each new customer a permanent one.
Mr. August Zock in the spring of 1901
sold his interest to Mr. Johnson, who
is sole manager of the well equipped
manufacturing and general repair
shops. He stands ready to meet all
calls in his line of business as he has
all the necessary facilities for turning
out first class work and as he has
the personal supervision of his work
rooms, he guarantees the best work
for the most reasonable prices.
Mr. Johnson is an honorable man, a
thorough mechanic, a worthy citizen,
and a gentleman whom it is a pleasure
to meet socially, and one who will give
his social or business visitors a cordial greeting. We apprehend that the
Johnson Machine Works will continue
to increase in popularity until they become one of the largest and most prosperous institutions of Battle Creek.
CHARLES     AUSTI N.-For   many
years Mr. Austin has been a prominent figure in the activities of the city
of Battle Creek. He was born in the
city of London, April 19, 1834. His
father, Charles Austin, was of the old
order of mechanics retailing his own
make of footwear. Later he moved to
New Zealand and became a Wesleyan
minister. During the disturbances and
revolution of 1848 our subject imbibed
the principles of republicanism as opposed to monarchy and with the consent of his parents he became a citizen of the United States, a step in his
life which he has never regretted.
Charles Austin earned his first dollar selling newspapers and magazines
on the streets of London. He learned
the trade of a shoemaker, and in 1852
came to New York with three dollars
and a steerage ticket as the nucleus of
his fortune. He found work at his
trade in Albany, N. Y., and later opened a shop of his own at Utica, N. Y.
In 1854 he sold his business and moved
to Concord, Jackson county. Mich.,
where he found work at his trade. In
1855 he moved to Homer, Calhoun
county, and in 1857 to Bedford, where


he opened a general store, and in 1872
moved to Battle Creek, becoming a
partner with Peter Hoffmaster in the
dry goods business, continuing in the


Charles Austin.




same for 10 years. In 1882 he became senior partner in the wholesale
grocery and commission firm of Austin, Godsmark & Co., but withdrew
from active connection with the business in 1894 to accept the position of
vice president of the National bank of
Battle Creek.
In 1876 Mr. Austin was elected
mayor of Battle Creek, in 1880 to the
lower house of the legislature, and to
the state senate in 1882 and again in
1884, and was among the most useful
and influential members of both bodies, as he showed himself to be clearheaded and incorruptible.
Mr. Austin has always manifested
a commendable public spirit, ana has
ever been ready to encourage in a substantial way enterprises that his
sound business judgment endorsed as
being of a permanent, practical ben

efit to the city, in which he takes a
deep interest. Although vice president
of the National bank and a man of
dignity and fine appearance, he is always cordial and courteous with every
one with whom he comes in contact,
and those with whom he does business
feel that he takes an interest in their
success and well being. He is conservative in his methods, but to.business men to whom he has loaned
money-when to them the loan was of
the utmost importance in their business success-he has conferred these
obligations in such a matter of fact
and unostentatious way, that those
whom he has benefitted have not had
that feeling of being patronized, which
some bank officials cause their customers to have. Mr. Austin is in every
way a model man for the highly responsible position as vice president
and manager of the National bank..11.


Charles Austin's Residence.


75




I   THE BATTLE 6REEK SANITfRIUM  I


Any history which might be written of Battle Creek without a history
of tnis unique institution would be
like that famous play of Shakespeare
with the title role of Hamlet omitted.
It is safe to say that the Queen City of
Michigan, even with its many natural
advantages, would not be known any
more than other cities of 20,000 inhabitants were it not for its noted Sanitarium, which is famed throughout the
civilized world.


considerable time spent in looking
about for the most eligible and advantageous site. The soil is a sandy loam
overlying a bed of clean gravel sixty
feet in depth. The surface is rolling,
and slopes toward the Kalamazoo
river, a  beautiful  stream  which
courses along between the hills sixty
feet below the site of the Sanitarium,
and at a distance of about one hundred rods.
The water supply is ample for the




mobb


of the   buildings.  Perfectly  kept
lawns, artistically designed flower gardens, beautiful potted plants, bordering and festooning the spacious verandas of the buildings, a generous
growth of tropical foliage, huge banana trees and century plants, splendid palms, different varieties of cactus, etc., tastefully arranged among
the native trees, and the large fountain playing just in front of the main
entrance, all combine to produce a
scene of ideal beauty and an environment at once healthy, restful and inspiring.
Having entered the building, the
visitor is struck with the princely furnishings, and the ample and comfortable accommodations afforded the
guests; and in passing, it might be
well to note that there are in all
about eighty buildings connected with
the institution, the chief of which is
tne hospital, in close proximity to and
directly north of the main building.
Here there are about twenty endowed
beds for the poor, for be it known that
the Battle Creek Sanitarium is not a
money-making institution, but one
founded by persons of philanthropic
disposition; and all the surplus earnings of the institution are, and are to
oe perpetually used for necessary improvements, for the treatment of the
sick poor, and for the furtherance of
the purposes for which the institution
was organized.
Buildings.
The Sanitarium property conprises
a large main building, a Hospital, an
annex, twenty cottages, and other
buildings, a lakeside resort and pavilion at Lake Goguac, at the end of the
electric car line, just outside the city
limits, and three dairy and small fruit
and garden farms, aggregating about
400 acres. The main building herein illustrated, is 312 feet in length,
with a rear extension of 100 feet, and
is five and six stories in hight above
mne basement. The hospital building
is 100x60 feet, five stories high. The
main building accommodates 300 persons; the hospital, 100 beds. The cottages accommodate 200 or more persons.  A recently erected five-story
brick dormitory aaccommodates a portion of the 250 nurses in the employ of
the institution.
The buildings of this institution
were constructed with special reference to the uses to which they are put,


J. H. Kellogg, M. D., Physician-in-rChiet.


Location.
Nothing is more important for a
medical institution than a salubrious
location. Pure air, pure water, and a
porous, well drained soil are among
the most essential features of a firstclass location for a sanitarium. A
happy combination of these essential
elements, found at Battle Creek, and
at the particular point selected for
this institution, was what led the
founders of the establishment to plant
it here at the inception of the enterprise, nearly thirty years ago, after a


needs of the institution, which requires from 60,000 to 90,000 gallons
per day during the busy season, and
never less than 45,000 to 60,000 gallons
daily.
First View.
The Sanitarium is situated on the
highest elevated ground in the city,
and is easily accessible from the different hotels and depots, either by
street car or by carriage. As the visitor nears the Institution, he is impressed with the beauty of the grounds
and the immensity' and architecture
76




and no pains or expense have been
spared to render their adaptation to
medical purposes as perfect as possible.
The ventilation of the institution is
ample and perfect in all its details, and
includes an independent ventilating
shaft for each room. The main building is supplied with 30,000 cubic feet
of warm air each minute in cold
weather.  The   aggregate  sectional
area of foul-air outlets in the main
building is 250 square feet; in the hospital, more than 100 square feet.
Each room is supplied with fresh
air. In winter time, the air, taken at
a distance from the building, and at
a sufficient hight above the ground to
insure absolute freedom from contamination with ground air, is received


safe and convenient outside fire escapes, easily accessible from  every
room. Only safety matches are allowed in the building, and electricity
is used extensively for lighting.
Out-of-Door Recreation.
Concrete walks, extending out over
the pleasant city, are laid out about
the spacious grounds, and smooth,
well kept lawns afford ample opportunity for lawn tennis and other
sports. Beautiful flower garuens, a
single one of which is shown in the
accompanying   half-tone  production
from a photograph, attract all who are
able to go about on their feet, or ride
in rolling chairs. The well-swept concrete walks and drives, as smooth as
a house floor, are a great delight to
bicycle riders, and induce many of the


of natural scenery in great variety;
high distant hills, rolling fields, groves,
meadows, rivers, little lakes, and winding brooks, with the pleasant little
city in the midst, make up a view
which is rarely excelled in the Middle
States.
The accompanying photo reproductions give but a very imperfect idea
of the charming scenery which greets
the eye of the invalid whenever he
peeps out of doors, and which are a
constant refreshment to the bedridden
patient or the surgical case during the
days or weeks while he is being nursed
up to a point at which he may begin to
make excursions upon the verandas
or lawns in a rolling chair.
The Parlors.
The general parlor, only a small por

- L --


Bird's-eye View of the Sanitarium.


through a mammoth tunnel into large
rooms, where, by means of immense
steam heaters placed in the warming
chambers, it is warmed and moistened
in winter to a degree sufficient to give
to it the natural agreeable softness of
the air of June. From the warming
rooms the air is distributed to the
building by means of an elaborate system of ducts, through which the air is
forced, when necessary, by two powerful fans, each capable of discharging 50,000 cubic feet of air per minute.
The main building, hospital, and
some of the cottages, are lighted by
the Edison incandescent system, thus
avoiding the dangers and other inconveniences of gas or kerosene oil.
The precautions against fire include
not only careful construction with reference to danger from this source, but


patients to accustom themselves to
this excellent mode of exercise, for
which facilities are furnished. The
well-kept city drives, reaching out into
the beautiful farming regions beyond,
afford many miles of delightful bicycle
routes, which are much enjoyed by little parties of friends competing for
Improved appetite and vigor by means
of healthful exercise.
Good facilities are also afforded for
carriage and horseback riding, at moderate rates. A carriage can be obtained at any time by ordering through
telephone at the business office. A
hack stands in waiting at the door in
readiness for immediate use.
The Surroundings.
From the roof and verandas, and
most of the private rooms, one obtains
most delightful and commanding views
77


tion of which is shown in the accompanying photo-reproduction, is 40x50
feet in size, and is luxuriantly furnished with Dhagistan rugs, easy
chairs, and every convenience to render invalids as comfortable as possible; which, with the artistic decorations of the ceiling and walls, in subdued but cheerful colors, enable the
patient who comes from a home of luxury, to feel at once at ease and at
home. Small parlors are provided on
each floor for the benefit of patients
who desire or require special quiet
and privacy.
Safety hydraulic elevators of the
most approved pattern are located
convenient to the dining-room ana the
main offices and treatment rooms.
Mode of Treatment.
This institution employs no secret




The Main Building.




The South Entrance.
78




methods, claims to possess no panacea,
does not even boast a mineral spring,
although mineral waters abound in
the immediate vicinity; it is simply
a place where, by the aid of all the
helps afforded by modern ideas of hygiene, sanitation, and rational medicine, the patient is trained and educated out of his morbid state into a
condition of health. First of all, of
course, morbid conditions must be corrected so far as medical and surgical
means can accomplish the work; but
when this has been done, there still remains a work whici is too often neglected, and which, so far as we can
learn, is not undertaken in so systematic a manner in any other institu

make of the Battle Creek Sanitarium
a thoroughly scientific health establishment. The case of every patient
who visits the institution is most thoroughly and exhaustively investigated.
Physical examination is carried as far
as rational means at present known to
the profession will allow, and includes
microscopical- and bacteriological investigations in cases upon which such
studies may throw light; in cases requiring it, an exhaustive chemical
examination of the stomach fluid obtained after a test breakfast, which includes not simply the application of a
few color reagents, but a determination of the exact amount and quality
or the digestive work done by the


Medical Appliances and Advantages
The methods of treatment include
all rational remedies for disease, and
in addition a great number of means
which can best be employed only in a
well-equipped sanitarium, embracing
the  various  resources  of hydropathy, electricity in all forms, sun
baths, Swedish movements, manual
and mechanical medicated inhalations
and atmospheres, pneumatic treatment, etc.
One of the latest additions to the
therapeutic resources of the institution is the electric light or radiant
heat bath, which was originated here,
and which proves to be a wonderfully
effective agent in certain classes of




-. r -  -.A  -.-. M!ni   R i ll-l;inr


ri-ont i-orcn oT iviam - "cm*   -


tion, although the need of it is recognized by intelligent and progressive
physicians everywhere, and the want
met so far as the home conditions of
the patient and facilities at command
will allow.
Quite a large proportion of the invalids who visit this institution are of
the most chronic and obstinate class,
and have previously visited many
"springs" and health resorts. Almost
every change has brought some relief,
but the root of the difficulty remains,
and can only be eradicated by a careful and scientifically directed course of
health culture.
The managers have undertaken to


stomach, thus ascertaining any excess
or deficiency and its amount, and
thereby obtaining data which may
form the basis of an exact diagnosis
of the condition of the stomach processes, and a rational prescription.
Careful qualitative and quantitative
analysis of the secretions is invariably
made at the first examination of each
case, and as frequently afterward as
the case may require. Careful study
of the state of the nerves, muscles, and
so far as possible of the functional
condition of every important bodily organ, is also made in each case as indicated.
79


diseases, its properties being exhilarating and tonic as well as eliminative, in which respects it is much superior to the Turkish, Russian, vapor
and other forms of eliminative baths,
although the latter are also employed,
as they have been for many years, in
cases in which they are specially indicated.
There is no specific "system" or
routine method employed in the establishment. The prescription for each
patient is based upon the results of
the careful examination made of his
particular case, the specific wants of
which are considered, and met by suitable medicinal and other treatment,




A Whee'*Chair Social on the Lawn,


The Flower Garden.
80




and an appropriate regulation of his
diet and regimen if required. Mental
and moral means are not forgotten.
The nervous patient must not only receive a suitable prescription for diet,
etc., but must be trained to self control. The neurasthenic must be taught
how to conserve nervous energy, and
how to cutivate nerve tone. The hysterical and hypochondriacal must be
convinced of the dangers arising from
self-inspection and self-centering of
tne mind, and must be cajoled into a
healthful activity cf mind and body.
A man with a bad stomach cr weak
liver must be taught how to give his
stomach and liver an easy time. The
chronic pill-swallower must be weaned


about health and wholesome living,
and that every room must be kept
aglow with mental and moral sunshine
through the agency of cheerful surroundings, kindly sympathy, and efficient and amiable service.
Special advantages are afforded
those who require treatment for such
local ailments as throat and nasal affections, diseases of the eye, genitourinary diseases, etc., by competent
specialists in these lines.
The Treatment Rooms.
Every patient receives careful prescriptions for diet and exercise, as
well as for baths, medicines, etc., when
required. Among the facilities afforded


multitude of glowing electric lights,
it may be said without exaggeration
that every fibre of the body is illuminated by exposure to the powerful influence of this remedial agent. It has
been shown that plants grow under
the influence of the electric light as
under the influence of sunlight. Seeds
germinate, and various vital processes
are carried on as though exposed to
the action of the sun's rays. The
electric light bath is perhaps a nearly
complete substitute for the sun bath,
and has the advantage that it is under
absolute control. Any degree of effect desired can be produced. This
bath was originated in this institution about two years ago, and, so far




View from the Tower of Main Building, Looking Northwest.


from his doses, and the peripatetic valetudinarian must be inspired with an
ambition to become something better
than a traveling museum of maladies.
The woman who takes an inventory of
her symptoms every morning lest one
should have disappeared over night,
must be jostled out of her invalid ruts,
and must be inspired with a wholesome hatred of disease and an earnest
determination to escape from its
thralldom.
An effort is made to inspire every
one of the three hundred nurses and
medical attendants employed in the
institution, with the thought that the
place must be kept full of sturdy ideas


by the Sanitarium, in addition to those
already referred to, are the following:
Extensive bath rooms, affording facilities for the employment of all recognized hydro-therapeutic measures;
that is, every form of bath, general and
local, hot and tepid, temperate and
cold, as the case may require; vapor
baths, Turkish baths, electric baths,
electro-vapor baths, etc. The last addition to this department is the electric-light bath, in which the advantages of radiant heat are utilized. The
heat from the incandescent electric
light is found to penetrate a long distance into the body. In fact, when the
unclothed body is surrounded with a
81


as we know, has not been scientifically
employed elsewhere.
Massage, Swedish Movements, Etc.
Special attention is given to massage, with a corps of over one hundred nurses and attendants, including
more than fifty trained manipulators.
The system employed is in some respects peculiar to the institution, although not absolutely novel. It is
made up of the most valuable features
of the French, German, English, and
Swedish systems of massage, and is
modified, of course, to suit individual
cases. In the manual Swedish movement department, persons who have
been carefully taught by trainers di



View of the Front Drive, Looking North from Main Entrance.


The Grand Parlor, during " Rest Hour."
82




rpat from Sweden, do most efficient
service in this line. The system is
not employed in a haphazard way, as
it is not left to the manipulators themselves, but is as carefully prescribed
as medicines or any other class of
curative agents.
The mechanical Swedish movement
department is unique. It includes a
larger number of different and effective machines than will be found else

tained. The electrical currents used
are dosed with the greatest care, by
neans of delicate instruments of prefision, and not only as regards the
strength of current employed, but also
with reference to the amount of actual
electrical work done during the application in cases in which large currents
are used.
Very extensive improvements have
recently been made in the bath-rooms,


as is prompted by good sense and a
thorough knowledge of the needs of invalids, and the dietetic value of the various wholesome foods and food productions produced and obtainable in
this part of the world. Great attention is given to the subject of medical
dietetics. The experimental kitchen,
which has been in operation for the
last ten years, constantly supplies new
features for the bill of fare; and the


-


View from a Third-Story Window. Looking Southeast.






where, in any country. A large share
of the machines employed have been
invented and made especially for use
in this institution, and with the exception of a few which have been
adopted, are not in use elsewhere.
Additions are frequently made to this
department to accomplish some new
object, or to accomplish an old purpose in a more effective manner.
The electrical department includes
the most elaborate outfit to be ob

)y which they have been made the
most extensive and elegantly fitted of
any in tne United States.
A Swimming Pool.-The improvements made include a large swimming
pool. in which swimming is regularly
taught as a means of healthful exercise as well as a necessary accomplishment.
The Sanitarium Dietary.
The menu of the institution is not
that of a fashionable hotel, but such
83


diet kitchen, supplied with every facility to meet the wants of the most
capricious appetite and the most obstinate stomach, serves the same purpose in relation to the diet prescriptions that the pharmacy or a drug
store serves in relation to medicinal
prescriptions.
Physical Training.
Facilities for exercise of every useful description are afforded in the capacious gymnasium, with trained in



structors who hold daily classes in
Swedish gymnastics, Delsarte, calisthenics, etc., in addition to apparatus
work, walking, carriage riding, and bicycle riding, for which facilities are
also afforded.
Before a prescription for exercise
is made, the patient is subjected to a
careful study of his physique and the
condition of his muscles. Any lateral
or posterior curvature of the spine, or
other bodily defects, are carefully
noted, the exact strength of each
group of muscles in the body, as indicated by a delicate and exact mercurial
dynamometer, is recorded, and a
chart made by which his weak points


develop respiratory activity, and to
increase their lung capacity.
The obese, the anaemic, the sedentary, and those who have become neurasthenic through idleness, must be
made to work out their salvation by
vigorous labor at the rowing machine,
the puley weights, the Swedish gymnastics, and in the tread-mill, unless
too feeble for active exercise. In such
cases, passive exercise is administered
by means of massage and Swedish
movements. Bed-ridden patients have
their appropriate active and passive
exercise, and also training by the aid
of "bed" and "wheel-chair" exercises.


markably beautiful spot are enhanced
by the delights of boating, steamer
riding, tennis, and other games on the
broad lawn, rambles in the woods, an
elegant hot dinner spiced by a keen
appetite, after-dinner speeches, and
good music by a band or orchestra.
Little parties visit the lake grounds
daily, and many patients enjoy now
and then the retirement and rest afforded by a few days' stay at the Villa, with its rustic surroundings, and
opportunities for "camping out" and
mild "roughing it" if desired.
Winter at the Sanitarium.
The abundant supply of pure air furnished bv the elaborate system of ven

The Grand Parlor, with Ladies' Parlor and Librarv,


may be instantly recognized. Such
an examination furnishes the foundation for an exact and rational prescription for the patient.
The prescription for exercise recognizes every possible condition which
can modify muscular effort. "Shortwinded" patients, and those suffering
from organic disease of the heart, must
be shown how to get the benefits of
exercise by slow and moderately heavy
exercises executed without "strain."
The aged, and those who are permanently crippled by rheumastism or
gout, must be taught the same lesson,
and must especially be shown how to


Summer at the Sanitarium.
The increasing popularity of the
Sanitarium Lakeside Resort, the site
of which is in view from the main
building, and wnich is reached by a
delightful ride over the electric railroad which passes by the institution,
renders it specially worthy of mention. The large pavilion of the Sanitarium Villa affords seating capacity
Ior 200 patients at dinner, and there is
never any room to spare on general
"picnic" days, which occur usually
every two weeks during the summer
season, and are always enjoyable occasions.
The natural attractions of this re

tilation renders the indoor air of the
institution practically equal in purity
to nature's best sample of outdoor air,
even when the season requires closure
of windows and doors. Even climatic
advantages are secured to a very large
degree. As the whole building is heated by steam, halls included, a very
nearly uniform degree of heat is maintained, the temperature being much
more even than that of the most equable climate known.
Even the effects derivable from living in the balsamic air of pine forests
are attained in a heightened degree
by means of medicated atmospheres
provided in rooms especially con

84




structed for the purpose, in which the
number of hours indicated in his case,
or the whole twenty-four hours, if necessary. This is, so far as is known,
a feature unique to this establishment.
During the winter months, a large
greenhouse supplies the house with
beautiful pot plants; and flowers are
never absent from the dining and other
public rooms. Patients are supplied
with flowers and plants in their rooms.
The greenhouse is connected with
the main building by an underground
tunnel, through which patients have
ready access to it lturing the cold
months; and here they find a nice display of tropical and other flowering


overworked, the anaemic, the neurasthenic, and the generally run down
valetudinarian, which he cannot afford to forego. Many persons are actually injured by this annual pilgrimage to escape Jack Frost, and the exposure to the relaxing, debilitating
influences of a warm, damp, "bilious,"
or malarious  climate.  To  these
classes of invalids the Sanitarium offers inducements which will be readily appreciated by physicians who
have sent their patients on long and
disappointing pilgrmages in search of
cliiatic advantages, and by invalids
who, after wearisome journeys to distant parts, and a tedious sojourn in ho

their depths a quantity of the surplus
caloric absorbed during the summer
months, slowly giving it off during the
winter season, and thus extinguishing
the fierce blizzards which rage over
the prairies of the north and northwest, and which act in turn during
the summer months as vast refrigerators, which moisten and cool the dry
hot winds of the western plains, thus
truly making of Michigan the "beautiful peninsula" which its ancient Indian
inhabitants recognized when they
gave it the name it still bears. The
climate of Michigan has been truly
said to be compounded of the summer
of the Red River country of the North

--


___*  _


A Parlor Lecture.


plants, palms, bananas, etc. One of
the chief attractions is a large orange
tree nearly fifty years old, which is
always in bloom or hanging with most
delicious fruit.
Many invalids make a mistake in
running away from cold weather.
Frost is the best of all nature's disinfectants, and the pure air of our northern winter is for most invalids much
to be preferred to the relaxing and
germ-laden atmosphere of many southern climates. The cold weather "toning up" which dwellers in northern
climes experience, is one of the best
of vital stimulants, and an advantage
to the "dyspeptic," the "bilious," the


tels and resorts provided with few of
tne comforts essential to the invalid
away from home, have often found
upon their return that at most only
slight temporary advantages have
been gained.
Sun Baths.
Are employed in proper cases and
the electric-light bath affords opportunity to obtain all the possible advantages from light and sunshine even
during the most inclement weather.
Fortunately, Mchigan weather is most
beneficently influenced by the great
la'ies.  The varying temperature of
the seasons influences but slowly these
vast bodies of water, which hold in
85


and the winter of southern Illinois
and Indiana. Its mantle of forest pro'?cts it from high winds in winter and
spring, and during the warm months
the air is constantly moistened by the
leaves of countless trees and frequent
summer showers.
The Sanitarium Hospital.
This beautiful building stands near
the main building, and was erected
for the purpose of supplying surgical
cases with all the advantages of a
thoroughly equipped hospital in addition to those of the Sanitarium proper.
The surroundings are pleasant and salubrious,-no city dust or smoke, no
sewer gas, no gutter smells, no pave



ment rattle. There are beautiful landscape views from every window, the
perfection of aseptic care and treatment, kind nurses, homelike comforts,
and a complete absence of the ordinary hospital atmosphere and surroundings.
The hospital accommodates one
hundred beds, and is supplied with
every modern appliance. It is heated
ana ventilated in so thorough a manner that "hospital smells" are only
conspicuous by their absence. Operations are performed on H ednesdays
of each week, and at other times when
emergencies require. Surgery is, of
course, employed only as a last re

are not likely to get well at home, although their cases are curable if favorable conditions and opportunities
can be secured. It is a good plan for
any one desiring to visit the Sanitarium, to consult his family physician;
and if special inquiries must be made,
the regular attending physician is better prepared to state the case and ascertain whether it is a suitable one
for treatment here, than is the patient
himself.
Incurable cases are not received, or
retained in the institution when recognized. Offensive and very troublesome patients are also refused admittance, as it is the desire of the


is open, and a corps of clerks, waiters,
and nurses on duty, at all hours of
the night, as well as during the day.
Origin of the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
A  brief statement respecting the
origin of this institution and of the
purpose of its founders may not be
out of place. In answer to the frequent inquiry, "Who is the proprietor
of the Battle Creek Sanitarium?" and,
"How did the institution originate?"
the following statement is made:The institution was organized in
1866 by a few persons interested in
the advancement of sanitary reform
and rational medicine. It was regu

The Dining-Room.


sort in cases which are clearly be
yond the reach of any other means.
Who Ought to Visit the Sanitarium?
All invalids do not need the advantages of a Sanitarium, although most
or all may be benefited by a short sojourn in such an institution as this,
through the excellent dietary and regimen to be secured, the advantages
for physical culture, etc.; but this in'
stitution is especially organized and
equipped with reference to the needs
of chronic invalids who have been
long sick, and who, in consequence of
bad conditions from which they cannot escape at home, or for lack of opportunities which their cases require,


managers of the institution to maintain a place where invalids who desire to avail themselves of every advantage afforded by modern medical
science, and who are ready to engage
in an earnest effort to recover lost
health, will find every f2cility and
means of assistance, together with
the comforts ana the surroundings of
a pleasant home.
Hacks are in waiting at all trains.
A special porter, and when necessary,
the Sanitarium ambulance, is sent to
any train to meet helpless or feeble
patients, if a proper notice is sent,
giving exact time or train when the
patient will arrive. The institution
86


larly incorporated as a stock company. TWQ years later, the stockholders found the enterprise a pronounced
success, and it also became apparent
that large demands would be made
for the treatment of the worthy sick
poor, and that constant improvements
would be necessary to meet the requirements of the developing work.
As the stockholders were persons
of philanthropic disposition, they were
easily persuaded to take such action
as would relinguish all claims upon
the earnings of the institution, and
make the original stock an endowment, the earnings to be perpetually
used for necessary improvements, the




treatment of the sick poor, and the
furtherance of the purposes for which
the institution was organized. All the
earnings of the institution have accordingly been thus used from its
foundation to the present time, and
will continue to be thus employed.
In 1887, a new main building was
erected, and since that time several
other large additions to the buildings
and other facilities have been made
from time to time. The institution
has grown from the small wooden
building occupied in 1866 to its present
proportions.  The patronage of the
institution reaches nearly four thousand persons annually. To care for


cal management, the payment of small
salaries, and the avoidance of unnecessary expenditures, the managers
have been able to expend more than
$150,000 in the treatment of the sick
poor, besides an equal amount for necessary improvements, and have annually increased the amount of philanthropic work, until within the last
two years this department has reached
over $50,000.
Provision for the Sick.
A free dispensary is maintained in
connection with the Sanitarium Hospital. The worthy poor receive gratuitous advice and treatment including
surgical operations when required, on


Variety of Treatment.
Having registered and being assigned a room, the doctors in charge
take good care that no unnecessary
time is lost in getting down to hard
work, for the management expects
every patient to co-operate with them,
and to make it his special business to
get well just as quickly as possible.
The first thing the physician in
charge of each case does, is to make
a special examination of the patient
before any remedial measures are
employed in his behalf. The first, and
probably the most important of all
tests, is that of the stomach, on the result of which depends his particular


this great family of sick people and
their friends, requires a little army of
workers. The number of physicians,
managers, nurses, attendants, domestics,  electricians,  mechanics,  and
other workmen, is never less than 350,
and during the busy months of the
year the number is considerably
larger.  Fourteen physicians devote
their entire time to the care of the
patients of the institution. Eight more
are engaged in the charitable work
connected with the institution.
The prices charged for board and
medical and surgical services are
comparatively small, yet by economi

An Ideal Swimming Pool.
three days of each week. A free bath
department is also maintained.
Particulars respecting the hours for
consultation, treatment, etc., in this
department will be given on application.
The following extract from a letter
written by a patient who arrived at
the Sanitarium, completely broken
down in health and who had only been
under treatment three weeks when he
wrote in this manner to a friend, may
be of interest to our readers, and at
the same time show the esteem in
which the institution is held by those
whom it has benefited:
87


diet. The morning after the patient's
arrival, if he is a sufferer from indigestion, he is given a test breakfast,
consisting of granose, salt and water,
which, after a retention of one hour,
is easily removed by means of a stomach tube. Then it is brought into the
laboratory, placed in a sort of filter,
the clear food passing into receivers
below.  The fluid thus obtained is
subjected to a thorough chemical examination, and the result reported to
the physician in charge of the case,
who, from the data obtained bases
his prescription for such medication
as may be necessary, or for treat



ment in the bath, electrical, massage
and other departments of the institu
tion.
Having had a thorough examination, we enter the gentlemen's bath
departments, which are on the first
floor in the rear, just opposite the
main entrance. The first compartment is devoted to the dressing and
cooling rooms. There are accommodations for about seventy-five persons
at one time, and each patient is attended by a trained masseur, who is
also skilled in the administering of all
the forms of electrical and other
baths. Space will not permit me to
give a full account of this department
as it deserves, but suffice it to say
that electricity is here applied in every
way known to medical science.
We next pass hurriedly through the


where numerous measurements are
taken to ascertain the height, the
reach, the chest and abdominal expansion, etc. We are now ushered
into a room in which are appliances
for taking strength, lung an( other
tests. The ingenious strength test
machine has met with much favor
from experts in the line of physical
culture, and is now in use at the U. S.
Military Academy at West Point, at
Yale University, and at many other
prominent educational institutions. It
is known as the dynanometer, and by
means of straps, levers and the adjustment of the machine in various ways,
twenty-four groups of muscles can be
tested. After this test, a complete
and accurate record of the result is
made on a chart, which is handed to
the physician in charge. Based upon


sits in the reception rooms, library or
grounds, and enjoys himself reading
or in social converse for thirty or forty
minutes, when he goes for his daily
bath treatment and the prescribed
gymnastic exercise, lasting from sixty
to eighty minutes. At 1:30 p. m. the
house becomes absolutely quiet, as it
is rest hour, and every one is taking
his siesta; but, unlike the Mexican or
West Indian, this is taken before, instead of after meals. From 3 to 4 p.
m. dinner is served, followed by exercise. The different exercises not already mentioned, consists of massage
and manual Swedish movements,
which is a passive exercise, walking,
horseback riding, bicycle riding, lawn
tennis and boating. That the patient
may feel more at liberty, a great deal
of his exercise is not at prescribed




Enjoying Various Games.


Russian bath department, fitted up
with marble walls, shampoo slabs, hot
and cold sprays, etc. In another part
of the bath department the visitor notices numerous attendants going in
and out of small apartments in which
various kinds of massage and other
treatments are given. He then makes
his way past private rooms for various kinds of water treatments, including the hot fomentations, and the salt
glow, to the spray and douche rooms.
Here he finds a most elaborate apparatus, by which not only the heat, but
the pressure of water is regulated, and
by a single movement of a lever, alternating currents of hot and cold
may be applied by the attendant.
The next visit in order for the patient is to the anthropometric room,


tnis test, a regular prescription for
work in the gymnasium is made out,
with a view to building up and perfecting a symmetrical development of
the entire muscular system. We next
have the spirometer and the pneumatometer, used respectively for recording the capacity and strength of the
lungs.
We are now through with the tests,
the doctors have made a careful diagnosis of our case, and there is nothing
to do but to follow the directions and
get well as quickly as possible.
The Order of Exercises.
Arising, say, at 6:30 o'clock, the patient generally takes a spray bath and
a swim in the natatorium, followed by
breathing exercises before breakfast.
Breakfast over at 9 a. m., the patient
88


hours, but he is expected to religiously take at some hour the prescribed
exercises, as the management only
profess to be able to help those who
try to help themselves by observing
the rules, etc.
The Sanitarium has a villa located
on Lake Goguac, which is easily reached in twenty minutes by electric cars
passing the Sanitarium door, or by bicycle over an excellent road. Here
are found an ample supply of row
boats, affording splendid facilities for
delightful and healthy recreation.
Diet.
This is probably the most important thing connected with the institution. The bill of fare differs materially from that of a hotel. Condiments
of all sorts, pork, pickels and other




foods universally recognized as unwholesome, are excluded from the dining room.
The first experience of the patient
here is an amusing and novel one.
He surveys his menu card much in
the same manner he would a Chinese
puzzle, but with the aid of the waitress
and some of the other patients, he
manages to get along for a day or two,
or until he solves the mystery, and
himself becomes authority and guide
to the newly arrived guest. It is safe
to say that for the first few days, few,
if any, patients are in love with the
diet, but at the end of this time it is
surprising how kindly he has taken to
it, and invariably he is making excuses for his abnormal appetite, assuring his friends it is a new experience and attributing it to a number of


word seems to be kindness and courteousness, and it must be infectious,
for during three weeks' treatment I
have yet to hear an unkind word
spoken between the employes themselves, or between an employe and
patient, or between two patients, and
the chronic dyspeptic, seems to be as
cheerful as the robust tourist who has
come to spend a pleasant holiday.
The guests, numbering at present
about six hundred, are gathered from
all parts of the United States and Canada, with an occasional one from every
country in the world. They are of all
walks in life, from the hard-working
mechanic to the multi millionaire.
Herp may be seen seated on the lawn
in one group, ministers of every denomination, university professors, cabinet ministers, and members of parlia

healthy man is about 4,300 pounds,
but since the people who come here
generally suffer from some form of
disease, their strength is usually far
below, yet it is not an unusual thing
for a patient to gain one thousand
pounds in strength in four weeks'
treatment (my gain being over eight
hundred pounds in three weeks), and
very often they double their strength
at the end of two or three months'
treatment. With such rapid gains is
it any wonder that they leave here
daily blessing the Battle Creek Sanitarium and the men at the head of the
institution, who have devoted their
lives and their abilities to the building
up of a degenerate, dying race?
Outside Gymnasium and Swimming
Pool.
The latest addition to this already


different causes, but the secret is told
in two words-healthful living-observing the laws of nature, as God intended we should do. Whenever the
patient is ready to leave for home,
not only is his disease cured, but he
is cured, and it is surprising to see
patients leaving orders for shipments
of the various health foods they learn
to enjoy.
The Staff and Organization.
Probably no other organization in
the world is so thoroughly organized
in all its departments as this. The
machinery runs without the slightest
friction. The staff and help of all
kinds  number   approximately  one
thousand, and so smoothly does everything run that the visitor is unable to
tell just who is in charge. The watch

Working at the Wood-Pile.
ment from Canada, with here and
there a United States senator, congressman or governor of a state, all
brought together for one object-to
learn how to live to be healthy. The
social life differs from the large summer resorts inasmuch as there is no
caste, but all live together as one large
happy family, wnose chief aim in life
seems to be to make one another
happy.
A few words more on the result, and
I am done. A great many patients arrive here as physical wrecks, requiring
attendants to wheel them to the baths;
but invariably in from five to ten days
they dispense with this aid, and are
able to take care of themselves.
The combined strength of the various groups of muscles of an average
89


fully equipped institution, is the establishment of the outside gymnasium
and swimming pool, and like nearly
everything else connected with the
sanitarium is the effect of one of Dr.
Kellogg's ideas. It is a well known
fact that the staff here believe in
nothing so much as pure air, pure
water, pure food and sunshine, and it
was in order to give their patients a
better chance to secure some of these
advantages that the outdoor swimming pool and gymnasium were built.
It is a favorite idea of the head of
the institution and if any one has any
doubts as to its success, he should
visit it and see for himself the
solid enjoyment the guests receive
from this one source.
The pool is 70 feet in length by 30




feet in breadth and nas a graduated
depth of from 4 to 10 feet. Steps lead
into it from the end which is the most
shallow, and every aid is furnished in
order to teach beginners how to swim.
A corps of expert attendants are always on hand, and here as elsewhere
the guest meets with nothing but
courteous treatment. At one end of
the pool is the shower and spray bath
which prepares the swimmer for the
plunge.  Commodious dressing and
toilet rooms are built at the west end
of the pool, thus affording every facility for the patrons' comfort and
convenience.
The baths open at 5 a. m. and every
hour during the day until 9 p. m., they
are in constant use, stated hours being set apart for employes, for gentle

gives an excellent idea of the work
done here. It will be seen that some
are engaged in wood chopping, others
on the Indian swing, while here and
there is to be found a bather, varying
the monotony of the water bath with
one in the sand.
CHARLES    E. HUMPHREY.-The
retail drug store carried on by C. E.
Humphrey at 47 Main street west, is
not only one of the finest stores in the
city, but one of the most complete in
all its appointments; its furnishings,
suitable to the business, are of the
best, making the store a most attractive place for the manager and customers.
C. E. Humphrey was born Dec. 11,
1850, in Bainbridge, Chenango county,


prosperous retail store, which was located on Jefferson avenue north, continuing in the same till he removed to
larger quarters, his present location.
Mr. Humphrey is an experienced man
in his line of work, has the reputation of being a careful, conscientious
druggist, making a specialty of putting up prescriptions. No soda fountain in the city is more popular than
his, at which can be found all the iced
drinks for the summer season, which
are dispensed by the most courteous of
clerks.
Mr. Humphrey, fraternally is a Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner,
a member of the Knights of Pythias,
and a D. O. K. K. Politically he is a
loyal friend to the republican party.
On Sept. 26, 1887, Mr. C. E. Hum

--


A Trip Around the Running Path.


men and for ladies. At night a very
pleasant effect is produced by the arc
light illumination, and it is safe to say
that there is no one thing in connection with this large institution that
affords as much amusement, or as
much healthful recreation as the outside natatorium and gymnasium.
A board fence i6 feet high encloses
about one acre of ground in which
is found an abundance of shade trees,
reminding one of his boyhood days on
the bank of his own native stream,
where he was wont to take his first
plunge into the water. Every available foot of ground is used for the
gymnasium apparatus, but all is arranged in such a manner, that there is
no crowding, and abundant room is
furnished for every form of exercise.
The accompanying photo illustration


N. Y. His early education was begun
at a school house so diminutive in size
as to make an indelible impression on
one scholar at least; later, Mr. Humphrey attended the academy at Afton, New York.
In 1879, Mr. Humphrey came to
Michigan, settling in Jackson, where
he opened a drug store, conducting a
most flourishing business till 1894, at
which time he came to Battle Creek,
and with Mr. Stoddard bought the
Williams House, managing the same
for two years, in a creditable, businesslike manner, making the hotel a
desirable stopping place for transients
as well as a homelike boarding house.
An opening in the drug business
presented itself, however, and Mr.
Humphrey returned to the business of
his life, and was again proprietor of a


pnrey and M ss Alice Conklin oi Jackson, were united in marriage; the only
child born to them died in 1896. Mr.
and Mrs. Humphrey attend religious
services at the St. Thomas church.
NICHOLAS SCHOTT.-We present
a brief outline of the life and work of
Nicholas Schott, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, Feb. 5, 1832, coming
to America in 1845, when he was but a
lad of 13 years. For twelve years he
worked on a farm in Erie county, New
York.  This experience may have
seemed hard at the time, but the habits of industry and self-denial were so
thoroughly learned by daily practice
that the foundation of a strong character was laid, and Mr. Schott can now
look back to that period of his life as
essential to the endurance of the vicis

90




situdes which have come to him later.
Although Nicholas Schott bore a
tender regard for his native land he
readily became adopted as a son of
America, and has ever been loyal to
her cause. In 1861 he enlisted at Kalamazoo, in Company F, Nineteenth
Michigan Infantry, as he had deter

of eighty acres, which he sold subsequently and purchased the one on
which he now lives in the township of
Leroy.
On Oct. 12, 1865, he married Miss
Betsey Wolcott of Climax. To them
two sons were born: George A., and
Albert. In 1872 (Feb. 7) death, the unbidden guest, entered their home and
took from the husband's side his wife,
the burial taking place in the Congregational churchyard at Leroy. After
mourning his loss for two years his
second marriage was with Miss Catherine TenEyck of Newton, and was
celebrated March 24, 1874. Two daughters came to bless their union: Barbara Lois, born Dec. 18, 1880, and
Sarah Imogene, born Nov. 17, 1882.
Mr. Schott in his party tealty is a
republican, always.  The irequence
with which he has been called to official positions testifies in stronger
language than we can use as to the
confidence his fellow-citizens repose
in his ability and integrity. He has
been drain commissioner, and assessor
in district No. 3 of Leroy, for 24 years.
In his religious affiliations he is a
Congregationalist.  Mr. and   Mrs.
Schott are living quietly in the sunshine of the old homestead, a farm of
two hundred acres, and are fully enjoying the fruits of their labors.
BURLEIGH SALISBURY.-The subject of the following sketch is one well
known in connection with the worldwide fame of the Salisbury hygienic
dress reform system. Mr. Salisbury
was born Sept. 16, 1832, in the town of


death, June 12, 1897. On Oct. 27, 1875,
Mr. Salisbury was united in marriage
with Mrs. Clara Florence Hurlbut.
Mr. Salisbury was a clothier in Battle
Creek, but owing to his wife's health
and the repeated commands of the sanitarium physicians for her to abandon
corsets, the idea came to them that if
the corset must go, some article of
wearing apparel must take its place.
The result of this need is what has
been given to the world of suffering
women, the Salisbury dress reform
system, which has been a boon to so
many. Its fame is world-wide, but has
never been under the auspices of the
sanitarium, but under the direct management and supervision of Mr. and
Mrs. Salisbury, the originators.
Whereas, Mrs. Salisbury has gone on
with this work since the death of her
husband it is due to his executive ability and management that the business
is on its present flourishing basis.
Mme. Salisbury has orders and testimonials from thousands of the women
whom she has shown how to dress
their bodies so as to retain a symmetry of beauty and yet enjoy comfort.
bhe has eight lines of hygienic waists
of different shades and quality of material, which she fits to the form of
the purchaser. She also has in stock
dress-shields,  forms,  bustles  and
shoulder braces, which are all constructed on healthful principles, but
are consistent with, and promotive of,
grace and beauty as well. Ladies who
appreciate an easy  dress will be
charmed with these garments. and
those who do not, should give them a


Nicholas Schott.


mined to help defend the government
under which he lived. The horrors of
war life began to seem close to him
when two bullets pased through his
clothing, although he escaped a wound.
He was taken to Libby prison, but fortunately was exchanged a month later,
however, it was long enough for him
to witness untold suffering within
those walls. Our subject's regiment
was sent to Camp Chase at Columbus,
O., from there to Franklin, Tenn., and
on to Murfreesboro, then to McMinnville, and from there to Cowan Stat'on,
where they heard the locomotive for
the first time in six months. Their
next destination was Lookout Valley,
where they joined the gallant General
Sherman on the march to Atlanta,
which consumed four months, of
which every day witnessed hard fighting. Mr. Schott's regiment faced the
fiery ordeal at Burnt Hickory, New
Hope Church, Culp's Farm, Peach Tree
Creek, Savannah,and Goldsboro. He
proved himself to be possessed of fine
soldierly qualities as is shown by the
promotions he received, going from the
ranks to the position of corporal, and
at Atlanta he was appointed sergeant
of his regiment. On June 25, 1865, he
was discharged, soon after arriving in
Detroit, thence to Battle Creek.
After  the  trying  and  exciting
scenes that he witnessed on southern
battle fields our subject returned to
this county, buying soon after a farm


Burleigh Salisbury.


Adams. N. Y., came to Battle Creek in
May, 1868, to attend the S. D. A. conference, was baptized by Elder James
White, united with the Battle Creek
church, and lived in this city till his
91


trial, under the full assurance that
when this is done, they will be converts at once to hygienic dressing.
There are many in Battle Creek who
can testify, to Mr. Salisbury's con



Mr. Weickgenant's prosperity is due
not only to his long experience in the
business and his knowledge of buying
goods to suit the popular taste, but his
natural courtesy to all brings him
many customers, which prove to be his
friends as well. From a popular boy
in Battle Creek business and social
circles, Jacob Weickgenant has grown
into a popular man and merchant, who
enjoys the highest esteem of his community.
Besides his complete stock of dry
goods, he has a full line of cloaks, furs
and carpets in rooms ample in size and
well lighted for the display of the
same, where his obliging clerks are
ever ready to wait upon and suit even
the most fastidious customer.
Mr. Weickgenant chose for his bride
Miss Margaret Grant of Kalamazoo;
the nuptials being solemnized March
5, 1889. Six children have been born
to them, five of whom are living,
three girls and two boys. Mr. and
Mrs. Weickgenant are devoted and
conscientious members of the Catholic
church.
His store is an attractive one as he
uses unsurpassed taste in displaying
his goods, and his clerks are among
the best, most obliging and courteous
of any in the city. They are: Messrs.
henry and James Gordon, Joe and
Charles Riede, Mesdames Kate Smith
and Julia Lapham, and the Misses
Mamie Amann and Stella Conroy,
while Miss Ida Weickgenant, a sister
of the proprietor, has been the proficient bookkeeper and cashier since the
opening of the business.


J. Weickgenant's Store.


stancy and faithfulness to the S. D. A.
belief. He maintained unquestioned
confidence in God, and ever had a word
of thankfulness to express for His
goodness. His effort was ever to cheer
and encourage all who came within the
sphere of his influence, either by personal association, or by correspondence. It was ever a pleasure to him to
assist in any good enterprise connected
with the cause in which he felt so
great an interest. His two sons are
earnest, zealous workers of the S. D.
A. faith; one is in Australia and the
other in South Africa.


remaining there for two years. In
1891 Mr. Weickgenant emoarked in
the dry goods business for himself,
stocking his store with every line of
goods usually handled by that branch,
and with the best quality in all departments,  engaging   experienced
clerks, some of whom are with him
now.
Mr. Weickgenant's long acquaintance with the business has given him
an especial aptitude in making selections of goods, and he has shown financial ability of a high order in keeping
up and increasing the business.


JACOB    WEICKGENAN'.-Among
the prominent merchants of Battle
Creek we find Jacob Weickgenant is
justly placed, and none is more deserving of an honorable position for no
other has had a more successful career in a mercantile life. Mr. Weickgenant, of German parentage, is the son
of John and Appolina Weickgenant,
and was born in Marshall, Mich., Jan.
11, 1863, but came to Battle Creek
when a youth, attending the public
schools of this city.
As ambition was one of the characteristics of our subject he began when
a boy to earn his dollars for himself,
entering the dry goods store of Wakelee & Griswold, a firm which he served
faithfully and well for two years-and
was by his employers, even then, pronounced one of the future merchants
of the city. Later he entered the employ of Peter Hoffmaster, continuing
as one of the most popular clerks of
that dry goods house for seven years,
at the expiration of which time he en
tered the establishment of E. Trump.


J. L. Noecker and "Kittie A."


92




J. L. NOECKER.-A       noticeably
flourishing business is that kept by J.
L. Noecker at 107 Jackson street west,
To a man owning a horse it is an important question to decide upon a place
for the keeping of the same. At the
Palace boarding stable one can be assured that an animal will have the best
of care, not only to the quality of feed
given but the comfort of the horse will
be a study.
Mr. Noecker was born in Kandallville, Ind., in 1860, is the son of Ferdinand and Mary Noecker. He came to
Battle Creek April 19, 1900, from Fort
Wayne, Ind., where he had been a
trusted employe of the Pennsylvania
R. R. on the Fort Wayne and Cressline,
0., division, for 15 years.
Mr. Noecker was united in marriage
with Mrs. Villa Evers of Van Wert,
O., in the year 1890. Politically he is
a republican.
Since coming to our city our subject has built up for himself a reputation of being a first class manager of
a boarding stable, as he exercises
careful consideration with every order,
and the neatness which prevails
throughout his establishment is certainly praiseworthy. His horses are
sleek and shining, showing that experienced men are the keepers. These
employes have ever been found courteous and obliging to customers, and
the ladies who~ have their horses in
the care of Mr. Noecker may feel assured of receiving marked civility from
all persons connected with the Palace
boarding stable.
The fine looking animal in the adjoining cut is "Kittie A," owned by
Mr. Paul of New York City. She is a
much admired animal with a record of
note. She has been three miles better than 2:10, and one mile in 2:08.
Mr. Noecker's business has increased since the opening, even beyond
his most sanguine expertations, and
it is conceded by all that is is owing
to the popularity of the proprietor,
who aims to keep an up-to-date establishment and on upright principles,
and by so doing he will reap a large
share of the public patronage.
DR. HARRY. P. BALL.-Conspicuous among the dentists of Battle Creek
we find H. P. Ball, who was born in
the farming districts of Jackson
county, Dec. 27, 1869. His parents
were O. L. and Mariam (Bowen) Ball.
His early life was spent in the work of
the farm, which, perhaps, accounts for
his health and energy. His education


was obtained at the public schools of
Albion, where he graduated in 1889.
In October of the same year he entered


Mrs. Alonzo Noble.


- ----— - - —


the department of dentistry at the
University of Michigan, completing his
course June 30, 1892, graduating with
high honors.
Dr. Ball began his practice in Albion with Dr. George W. Stone. Later,
he engaged in office work in Marquette, subsequently in Jackson, then
opened an office by himself in Albion, continuing till Oct. 5, 1900, when
he was attracted to the growing city
of Battle Creek as affording greater
facilities for business. His dental parlors in the Post Building, No. 208, are
of the finest, fitted up in all the latest
appliances and inventions for perfect
work in the line of his profession; his
specialty is the correction of irregular

In October, 1894, Dr. Ball led to the
altar as his bride Miss Clementine
Bullis of Ann Arbor. Three children
have been born to them, two sons and
a daughter.
Dr. Ball has a student of dentistry
in his office, Charles V. Schmidt, a
Canadian by birth, but a naturalized
citizen of the United States.  Mr.
Schmidt bids fair to be one of the rising dentists of the times as he is now
an excellent operator and is winning
popularity by his earnest attention to
business and courtesy to all. He has
marked ability for his line of work
and coming under the able instructions of Dr. Ball, Mr. Schmidt stands
in a fair way of being a leader. The
Journal wishes him success.
E. M. M'CONNELL. —Among the
flourishing business establishments of
Battle Creek may be ment oned one
carried on by E. M. McConnell, who is
a leader in the line of practical roofing. He is a wholesale and retail dealer in two and three-ply ready roofing,
roof varnish, coal tar, pitch and building paper. He also makes a specialty
of asphalt and gravel roofing.
Mr. McConnell has the distinction
of being the only manufacturer of roof
paint in the city, and as it has been
used extensively in Battle Creek and
in the surrounding territory with the
best results, he has established a reputation for being a wide-awaKe, up-todate man, and one thoroughly wellversed in his line of business.
He has had the roofing contracts for
many of the large buildings recently
erected in the city, and is recognized
by his fellow-townsmen as a man who


Dr. Harry P. Ball.
ities and oral deformities, in whch
branch he is meeting with unbounded
success, as he fully understands the
art and is most attentive to business
as his steadily increasing practice verifies.
93




meets his engagements promptly and
with satisfaction.
Mr. McConnell is a native of Macomb county, Mich., where he was
born March 24, 1868. His early life
was spent on a farm. He attended the
public school in his native town, and
was graduated from same. Later, he
went to Saginaw and engaged in the
roofing business, which proved successful, but in 1895, realizing the growing condition of the Queen City and
the promising outlook for his business, he opened an office at 301/2 Jefferson avenue north, at which place he
has conducted a thriving business and
carrying on at the same time branch
offices in Flint and Port Huron. Mr.
McConnell's business reputation is
wide-spread; his contracts extending
as far west as the Missouri river.
In 1887, June 27, Mr. McConnell was


recounting of the scenes of the past,
the joys and pleasures of childhood,
and the sterner realities of advancing
years.
Mrs. Jane Barnum Lossing was born
July 3, 1827, in Newtown, Fairfield
county, Conn. Her father, Thomas
B. Barnum, born Sept. 20, 1800, in
Danbury, Conn., was of English and
Welsh descent, his paternal grandfather being English and his grandmother, Welsh. As his father Asher
Barnum, was a farmer In limited circumstances, the son, Thomas, began
contributing towards the support or
himself and mother when but nine
years of age, so that his opportunities
for acquiring an education were
meagre. By self-study, however, he
managed to lay the foundation for
sound, practical knowledge, which future experience developed. He learned
the hatter's trade, and after traveling about for several months in search
of an opening his efforts were crowned
with success for he obtained employment in Duchesse county, N. Y. At
this place he remained three years,
during which time he formed the acquaintance and married Miss Harriet
Rose, the happy event having been
consummated Sept. 24, 1824. Two
children were born to them; Jane,
the subject of this sketch, and Charles
who passed away April 19, 1.889.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnum moved to
Southbury, Litchfield county, Conn.,
but hearing the glowing accounts of
the west, not daunted by the stories
of the privations which they knew
awaited them, he came in June, 1836,
to Calhoun county, Mich., and purchased a farm in which is now Leroy.
A few months after he brought his
family to their new home, and to the
amazement of all they found 80 Indians occupying a large tent on their
land, but no hostility ensued, however,
the  Indians decamping  peaceably.
One Indian became friendly with the
family. One time when the father
was absent, this Indian obtained from
the mother consent for the "pappooses," Jane and Charles, aged 8 and 10
years, to go off with him. This was to
the children a grand treat, and they
were delighted when he soon started
up a deer he had wounded and shot
it. Just as he was dressing it Mr.
Barnum came up, pale with fear that
he should never see his children again,
having tracked the party in the snow.
The Indian noticed his fright, and
said, "Me no hurt em pappoose; want
'em see. Shoot 'em succee (deer)."
Although the name of the Indian was


long ago forgotten by those in whose
delight he took an interest, his words
and deeds will ever be remembered.
Mr. Barnum aided greatly in organ

izing the township of Leroy. In 1836
he was made justice of the peace,
which office he held six years; was
highway commissioner eight years,
and supervisor in '49-'50, serving his
township disinterestedly and well.
The name of Barnum is one familiar to all on both sides of the globe,
made so by the noted showman, Hon.
P. T. Barnum, who was cousin to
Thomas B. Barnum.
In religious sentiment he believed
in doing one's duty in life, which to
him meant giving liberally to the purport of religious and educational enterprises, believing that church and
schools form the basis of moral and
intellectual development.
Mrs. Jane Barnum Lossing was married to Thomas Lossing Sept. 29, 1895,
and is living on the home farm of two
hundred and eighty-two acres. She


ij
'i


E. M. McConnell.
united in marriage with Miss Minnie
Weldon; besides his wife his family
consists of three children.
Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Masonic order, is a Knight
Templar and a Shriner. He is also a
member of the Knights of Pythias, the
D.0. K. K., the Foresters, and the
Elks.
That the city recognized Mr. McConnell's integrity and uprightness as
a man is verified by his election, in the
spring of 1901, to the position as alderman, to represent the third ward.
As he is progressive in his views and
has the welfare of the city at heart
he is making firm friends while he
holds his office.
Politically he is a republican and is
a stanch and true friend of the party.
JANE BARNUM LOSSING.-Among
the many pleasant things of life is the


Jane Barnum Lossing.
comes of thrifty, energetic ancestry,
and in all her duties and business of
life has ever shown that she strongly
possesses the same sterling qualities,
coming forward with help for the
needy, and quietly doing good to those
less fortunate than herself. She is
an earnest, sincere believer in the
Christian Science faith, knowing that
by its teachings all doubt and fears
vanish; filling each day with radiating
gladness and cheer.
Hers has been a blameless, useful
life, and when she is called upon to go
home, there will be many who will recall her helpful words of cheer which
fell on sorrowing hearts, as well as
her substantial aid to the poor and
needy.
Mr. Lossing died March 28, 1901,
and Mrs. Thomas Barnum was called
hence March 17, 1895.


94




J. HOWARD     BAKER.-The well
known and popular photographer, J.
Howard Baker, was born in Bergen
Heights, N. J., on ilay 19, 1866. His
parents, J. Howard and Anna Baker,
were residents of America but three
months at the time of the birth of our
subject, they having been natives of
Birmingham, England.
J. Howard Baker, Sr., was a lawyer
of great merit, having been educated
at Eton, then graduated at Temple
Bar, Lincoln Inn Fields, of London,
England, and one who had the
reputation of showing kindly consideration for unfortunate clients, and
one who extended leniency to same.
iis life, after leaving Englanl, was
spent mostly in Toronto, Canada,
where he met death by drowning, Aug.
20, 1872, leaving his family with
wealth, but trying and bitter reverses
of fortune came and J. Howard, when
young, was forced to face the stern


place, his home and studio, both of
which he owns, are permanently located here, the business being the oldest established of the kind in the city.
He is a true artist as his pictures
show, producing most pleasing effects
in posing single subjects and artistic
results in grouping, which places him
in the lead as a photographer in the
Queen City.
He and his wife are members of
the Episcopal church of Battle Creek,
and have ever been earnest, helpful
workers within the church societies.
He married, May 1, 1899, Miss Luella
Anderson, daughter of Mrs. Mary Anderson of this city. One child, a son,
nas been born to them.
Fraternally Mr. Baker is a Mason,
a Knight Templar, an Odd Fellow,
and a Maccabee, in all of which he is
an earnest and enthusiastic member,
believing that a strong brotherhood
element in a community is helpful to
each and all.
The home and gallery of J. Howard
Baker are in a location of the finest,
situated on Van Buren-st west. The
former, although not large, comprises
both comfort and beauty.
J. W. BREAKEY.-In every human
life there is much of interest, and in
our Journal souvenir we seek to give
biographical sketches of men prominently connected with the history of
the community where they reside.
J. W. Breakey is one of the most
prominent men of Homer township
and village, as he is closely associated
with the farmers and also with the
towns-people as well, and wields a
marked influence with both.
The father of our subject was Isaiah
Breakey, a native of Ireland, but who
came to America and settled in Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1819, where he
cleared a farm on which he lived till
1871, dying when about the age of
four score years old. The Breakeys
can trace their ancestry back to 1600,
that being the date when one by that
name left England for the Emerald
Isle. The Breakeys are a long-lived
race, and as a rule are useful citizens
to the end of life.
Mr. Isaiah Breakey was the father
of eight children of whom our subject
is the sixth. Mr. J. W. Breakey was
born March 15, 1840, in Bethel, Sullivan county, N. Y., living in that community until 1867, at which time he
came to Michigan, settling in Homer
in 1868.
Mr. Breakey holds the responsible


position of vice president of the Homer bank, and in this honored position
he has gained the confidence of all
classes. He is a man whose judg

ment is asked on many subjects; owing to his wide experience and his
Knowledge of business he is well calculated to be a true and candid advisor, and the many who have sought
him as counselor have ever found him
to be a true friend.
In politics he is a democrat, but his
many duties as farmer and banker
have taken his entire time and attention.
In October, 1866, Miss Delia F.
Brown became the bride of J. W.
Breakey, and she has become one of
the most useful women of her community, always active and helpful in
church matters and a working member of the W. C. T. U.
Mr. and Mrs. Breakey are members
of the M. E. church of Homer, and
have ever been zealous, earnest workers thereof, being ready with good
words and deeds whenever either are
needed by the poor and unfortunate.


J. W. Breakey.


J. Howard Baker.
fact that a mother and young sisters
were dependent upon his and their own
resources for a livelihood.  When
bravery was needed it was developed,
and many trying ordeals were met by
determination and hard work.
Mr. Baker learned photography in a
gallery at Crown Point, Ind., later
spent some time in the same business
in Warsaw, Ind., then came to Battle
Creek engaging in business for himself, meeting with marked success,
which by his perseverance and adaptibility is constantly increasing. He
is a most progressive man in his business, keeping pace with the times
by adopting all methods in his line
which will be an advancement.
Mr. Baker is not one of the flitting
photographers who go from place to


RANGER &     FARLEY.-Prominent
among the furniture dealers of the
Queen City is that carried on by
Messrs. C. M. Ranger and W. D. Farley, who are managers and owners of
the oldest establishment of furniture
and undertaking goods in the city.
Previous to August, 1882, the time
of the opening of the business, Messrs.
Ranger & Farley were high school superintendents, but being desirous of
engaging in mercantile life they
sought the rapidly growing city of
Battle Creek for their enterprise.
Their present location was selected,
and as they filled their rooms with
first class furniture they assured the
public they had come to stay, and
that their business would be conducted
on honest, upright principles. The


95




many patrons of this firm have ever
found Messrs. Ranger & Farley true to
their word. Their goods are of the
best, latest in style, and sold at the
most reasonable prices. The stock
which is by far the largest in the city,
is kept in the best order, and in rooms
ample in size and well lighted for the
display of same.
It is, indeed, a pleasure to the modern lady, who admires beautiful furnishings to wander about in the different apartments of this store coming
upon pieces which are both unique and
marvels of beauty.
Besides furniture of all descriptions,
from the cheap article to meet the
wants of the poorest customer, to the
handsomest pieces suitable for homes
palatial, they keep a large stock of
ingrain carpets which are of the best
in the market, and which have ever
met ready sale.
As undertakers, Ranger & Farley
are unsurpassed, being equipped with
all the latest appliances known to the
business, and by their attendance of
the meetings of the Undertakers' and
Embalmers' Association they are well
versed in all up-to-date methods.
They make a specialty of funeral
goods, and as their business house
is m(st commodious the quantity kept
in stock is of all varieties and prices.
No furniture dealers in our city carry
so complete a stock in all the lines as
do Ranger & Farley, their goods occupying the first, second and third
floors of a building 132 feet deep, besides the basement.
During the nineteen years that this
prosperous and enterprising firm has
been conducting business in our city,
the constantly increase of trade attests
to its popularity, as business has ever
been transacted in ways wholly satisfactory to patrons; and as men, C.
M. Ranger and W. D. Farley are
stanch, loyal citizens of the city in
which they live. Their influence is
always toward the advancement of any
theory tending to municipal improvement.
DUANE D. FORD.-This name will
at once be recognized as one of the
active townsmen of the city of Battle
Creek, whose real estate and insurance office is situated at 14 Annex
block.
Duane D. Ford was born in the village of Bellevue, Eaton county, Michigan, in 1856. When 18 years of age
he accepted a position as purser on a
Lake Michigan steamboat, and the va

ried experiences which came to him
left an indelible impression on his
mind. Life with its many phases,
from pleasant to cruel, seemed sud

denly opened to him. For six years
he held this position, at the expiration
of which time he was promoted to
cashier at the office of the Goodrich
Transportation Company, at Chicago,
where he remained eight months, resigning at that time and coming to
Battle Creek.  In December, 1880,
Duane D. Ford was united in marriage
with Miss Sadie Avery of Bellevue,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert


university fees were paid by a rich
parent is certainly praiseworthy for
our subject.
BATTLE CREEK STORAGE AND
CARTING CO.-There is perhaps no
more enterprising and metropolitan
business in this prosperous city of
Battle Creek than is that of the Battle Creek Storage and Carting Co.,
carried on by Mr. Loren B. Alexander. This up-to-date business was established about four years ago by Mr.
Alexander, a comparatively young
man, but one who had already by his
sterling qualities and reliable business methods won for himself the esteem and good will of our community.
Mr. Alexander commenced business in
a small way having one wagon only,
whereas, today he occupies the spacious store rooms No. 49-51 Jeffersonave. south, and is running six wagons
inclwlding large covered vans, open
drays and express wagons. The company do(s all the work of furniture
and piano packing, also a large storage business for which they have ample and unexcelled facilities, and the
most careful and experienced men for
the work.   The attractive express
wagons with the telephone system are
a new departure, and altogetner since
Mr. Alexander introduced in our city
ways and means of moving, half the
dread of moving day has been lifted
from the housewife's shoulders.
The large growth of the business


Duane D. Ford.


Avery.  He identified himself with
the business men of the city, engaging in the jewelry business; later he
moved to Hastings and built the Ford
house, where he remained but two
years, returning to Battle Creek, as
he considered our city with its thriving
enterprise, the business center of
southern Michigan.
In 1897 Mr. Ford engaged in his
present business, that of real estate
and insurance, since which time success has been coming his way. He is
a wide-awake, up-to-date business
man, ever watchful as to business
fluctuations, and as to the value of
property, Mr. Ford is considered one of
the best of judges, one who uses careful consideration in all cases where
the appraisal of real estate is necessary.
Mr. Ford, in his insurance business
is fast taking mte lead, as he represents some of the most reliable companies, then, too, his is an affable, genial nature, thereby making friends
with his fellow-citizens, and in many
cases, acting as their trusted agent.
All honor tu 'ihe man who, by his
own exertions and ambitions has made
a place for himself in this work-alday
world, and without the influence of ancestral wealth, to stand side by side
with those whose positions were made
for them by dame fortune. That Mr.
Ford left school at 14 was obligatory
and unfortunate, but that he has kept
pace with many another man whose
96


L. B. Alexander.
and the general satisfaction which
the work of the company has given, is
of itself the highest recommendation
of the useful and prosperous addition
it is to our city. It affords the Journal pleasure to note the advance of




marked  success.  Although  experienced men are in the workroom, Mr.
Roe has the personal supervision of
all orders, and intends to give Battle
Creek an up-to-date metropolitan art
store, where all orders will be met
promptly and with the assurance of
entire satisfaction.
Mr. R. Percy Roe and Miss Mable
Mead were married in the spring of
1901, and are living in their pleasant
home at 159 North-ave.
EDWARD    CORRIGAN.-Prominent
among the leading business men we
find the name of Edward Corrigan,
who is owner and manager of the thriving business carried on at 15 State-st
west. Mr. Corrigan, a son of Thomas
and Catherine Corrigan, was born in
Battle Creek, in April, 1863. His education was obtained at the public
schools of our city, but, in the meantime, with the energy which health
brings, he was ever active in earning
pocket money for himself and in different ways was engaged in service,
f Roe's Art Store.                   the remuneration of which was gratbest possible workmanship. His sup-  tifying to the boyish mind, as it was
ply of frames, from the dainty edge  tending toward business.
and circlet to the heaviest of mould-  In 1880 Mr. Corrigan entered the
ings, are of the greatest variety, all  employ of Wattles & Wood, the firm
of which are in the most perfect taste;  being V. C. Wattles and James Wood,
while the statuary is the admiration  hardware dealers, located on Main-st
of all his customers.       east. This proved a wise choice on
Mr. Roe is so emiently fitted for his  Mr. Corrigan's part, for with tact he
line of work that he is considered the  readily adopted the business as that
criterion uy all lovers of art in this  of his own, learning it with marked
community, and by his strict atten-  rapidity, perfecting  himself in its
tion to business he is meeting with  every branch, thereby making himself


*               Interior View o
this deserving and much needed line
of business, and with Mr. L. B. Alexander as manager it is sure of marked
success.
R. PERCY ROE.-The genial proprietor of the Queen City art store is
Mr. R. Percy Roe, who is one of the
rising young business men of our city.
Although Mr. Roe was born in New
York City, he has been a resident of
Battle Creek since childhood, attending the public schools, graduating
in 1896. As he early showed an aptitude for artistic work he entered the
art store of M. F. Hopkins, working
afternoons, and later was in Kalamazoo as a clerk in one of the leading
stores of that city. Upon returning to
Battle Creek Mr. Roe assisted Mr.
Warren Wright in establishing his
art store in this city.
He attended the University of Michigan for nearly two years, after which
he went to Cincinnati and for a time
was foreman in the extensive art establishment of Barton Mackey, where
his opportunities were of the best to
improve his talent along the lines of
art. He was one of the most valuable
employes in the establishment as his
ideas, being of the most artistic, were
of the greatest importance in the decorations of store and display windows.
In the spring of 1900 Mr. Roe bought
the store of Mr. Wright, since which
time he has conducted the business.
Mr. Roe's taste in framing and
mounting pictures is unexcelled, in
both of which he shows the utmost
care, combining artistic ideas with the




Corrigan's Works.


97




a valuable clerk. Later he was engaged by Bock & Son as one of their
trusted clerks in the same line of business, and still later by V. C. Wattles
in his hardware store on State-st. Mr.
Corrigan proved a most valuable
clerk for his employers, for not only
being found affable and obliging to
customers he has the requirement so
essential in a clerk of remembering
faces and names, which, according to
the opinion of many merchants, is one
of the necessary qualifications. Then,
too, Mr. Corrigan possessed ability as
a machinist and the farm implements
carried by Mr. Wattles were in the
hands of a ready manipulator when
Mr. Corrigan was called upon to adjust the same.
In the year 1899 Edward Corrigan
embarked in business for himself at
his present location. He carries a
full line of the best make of furnaces,
mantels, grates, besides tin and sheet
metal work, and is making a success
in his enterprise. In many of our
handsome homes built within the past
two years, he has placed furnaces, mantels and grates, and the success of his
business lies in the fact that his work
has proved wholly satisfactory within
these homes.   He understands his
work thoroughly, and as his employes
are experienced men one need have
no fears as to the honest work he
will give to every contract taken.
Mr. Corrigan's reputation for the
satisfactory setting and re-setting of
grates is constantly growing, for it is
a branch of his business in which he
takes the utmost pains, and having all
the facilities for his work he is well
equipped to meet the calls with the
best of workmanship.
The years that Mr. Corrigan has
spent in active mercantile life have
fitted him for business, and his extensive acquaintance, not only among
his townspeople, but of the surrounding country, have given him a wide
circle of acquaintances and friends,
all of whom have an interest in his
success among the merchants of the
Queen City.
Mr. Corrigan and Miss Carrie Convis,, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asa
Convis of Pennfield, were married in
November, 1894.
HON. WASHINGTON       GARDNER.
-Few men win, to any marked degree, distinction and recognition in
the halls of congress during a single
term of service. Washington Gardner,
who represents the third congression

al district of Michigan, composed of
the splendid agricultural counties of
Branch, Calhoun, Eaton, Hillsdale and
Kalamazoo, has won signal distinction


'/ d /  < "


in this regard and is fairly within this
select circle of the few.
Washington Gardner was born in
Lincoln township, Morrow county, 0.,
on Feb. 16, 1845. His father was owner
of a farm of 160 acres and was the
head of a large family. His paternal
ancestors were Scotch and his mother
was of Holland extraction.  When
nearly four years old his mother died,
and he lived with an uncle. Between
the ages of 11 and 16 he supported
himself by working on the farm during the summer months and attending school in winter.
In 1861 the curtain rose on the great
drama of the rebellion. He was hoeing corn when the news came of the
terrible disaster of the first Bull Run,
and told his uncle that he must go,
and shortly after enlisted in the 65th
Ohio Infantry, and the roster of Ohio
soldiers reveals the fact that of the
1,216 men who were members of the
regiment during the war there were
but two others as young as the subject of _this sketch.  At Shiloh he
fought under James A. Garfield as
brigade commander; he went up Missionary Ridge under Sheridan as division commander, and was with
Thomas at Chicamauga and Sherman
98


at Resaca. In the last named battle
he received a severe wound from
which he still suffers.
Mr. Gardner had given over three
years of his life before he was 20
years of age, to his country, and at
the close of tne war was thoroughly
imbued with the idea of seeking an education; he, therefore, entered a preparatory school at Berea, 0., and in
the fall of 1866 registered as a freshman at Hillsdale college, in this state,
and after three years there he entered
the Ohio* Wesleyan University at Delaware, 0., and was graduated in 1870.
The greatest credit is due Mr. Gardner in his untiring efforts to gain an
education for the means were acquired
by his own exertions. His pay during
the war as private, and sergeant was
saved, which he added to by teaching,
copying documents, canvassing for a
book firm and by other honorable
means.
Upon deciding to join the ministry
he entered the M. E. Theological seminary in Boston and studied a year,
but on acount of failing health he was
unable to resume mental labor for
three years. Later he entered the law
school at Albany, N. Y., and was graduated in 1876 as the valedictorian of




his class, and in the fall of that year
formed a law partnership with S. A.
Kennedy of Grand Rapids.
Mr. Gardner early identified himself
with the republican party, took an active interest in politics and held to the
view that it is the duty of every citizen to have a personal regard for the
government of his country.
Upon the resignation of Secretary
Jochim in the spring of 1894, Governor
Rich appointed Mr. Gardner secretary
of state, and he was twice nominated
by acclamation, and elected to succeed himself.
No man of southern Michigan has
been called upon to fill more responsible positions than Hon. Washington
Gardner, and no one is better fitted by
natural ability and education than he
to co-operate with the movements of
the day. He is one of Michigan's most
notable men representing for the second time his district in congress and
to the satisfaction of his people. He
has been heard frequently in debate
and his speeches have given him permanent fame as a logical thinker and
writer, and a most forceful and pleasing orator.
S. I. ABBEY.-The popular livery
stable at No. 169 Champion-st, is
owned and conducted by Mr. S. I. Abbey, who is a man well known in
Michigan's Queen City. He was born
in Brookfield, Madison county, N. Y.,
in 1846. His early life was spent in
the vicinity of Brookfield on a farm,
where his love for the care of horses


selling in the New England states, in
which business he made a great success owing to his aptitude to the business.
In 1877 Mr. Abey came west, locating in Battle Creek, and conlucting
the livery business in the sanitarium
barns, and later the barns at Nos. 169 -170 Champion-st, in barns built by
him for the purpose, where he is fully
equipped with complete outfits of
every variety for the convenience and
pleasure of the public. His conveyances are noted for elegance and ease.
and are in all styles which are up-todate. The horses owned by Mr. Abbey are well trained and kept in the
best possible condition and are the
pride of Battle Cre-k.
Mr. Abbey Keep_ experienced men
in his employ who are ever found
courteous and obliging to all patrons.
We can safely say that no man in the
city has had more experience in this
particular line of business than our
subject, and certainly no one is more
popular with the general public, as
he holds himself ever ready to meet
their wants.
FRED H. WEBB.-The gentleman
whose name heads this article is too
well and favorably known to need any
extended notice to our readers. Mr.
Webb was born in our city and educated in the public school.
In 1872 he started in a subordinate
position with the Nichols & Shepard
Company, but by close attention and
natural ability combined with an intense desire to rise he now holds the
responsible position of chief time
keeper and pay master of this important institution.
Mr. Webb is serving his seventh
year as alderman of the fifth ward, a
fact which goes to show that in his
progressiveness and marked executive ability he is representing his people with entire satisfaction. As chairman of the sidewalk committee and of
the public buildings and grounds which
he has held in the past he has rendered important service to the interest of the city. He has always been
an earnest advocate of substantial,
municipal improvement, and was one
of the aldermen who worked with zeal
to obtain the laying of brick pavement,
and were it not for his efforts combined with that of a few other members of the council we perhaps, would
now be rolling over the old time cobblestones.
Mr. Webb has done yeoman service


as a member of the fire department
with which he has been associated 29
years, acting as assistant chief.
Mr. Fred H. Webb has been favor99


ably mentioned in reference to the
office of the chief executive of our
city, and it is probable in the future
his fellow townsmen will confer upon
him this well deserved honor. He
was married in 1874, the bride being
Miss Carola Babcock, daughter of the


Fred H. Webb.
late Joseph Babcock, formerly city
treasurer, a justice of the peace, member of school board and an honored
and reepected citizen.
Alderman F. H. Webb and wife reside in a pleasant home, which they
recently erected at 98 Green-st. They
have the wishes of the Journal for
many more years of social and business pleasures in our community.
CYCLONE    WASHING     MACHINE
Co.-One of the flourishing manufacturing establishments of Battle
Creek is the Cyclone Washing Machine
Co., situated at Nos. 16-20 Hanover st,
and occupying ground 97x120 feet.
The main building is 48x60, which does
not include the engine room and the
elevator.
The inventors of this successful labor saving machine are F. J. and M.
C. Coon, two men who are reaping the
reward of their study and ingenuity.
The machine has demonstrated its
ability as a labor saving device, and
as Battle Creek and the surrounding
country are convinced of the superior
merit of this machine the business of
the firm has increased greatly since
the date of the patent, April 11, 1893.
Many a housewife's work has been
simplyfied by the introduction of one
of the Cyclone washers in her kitchen;
and thousands are the testimonials
the Messrs. Coon have concerning
this boon to the housekeeper, which


S. I. Abbey.
was indulged to the utmost, as such
duties were ever more of a pleasure
than a trial to him. He attended the
district school in the neighborhood of
the home farm, and later a business
college in Rochester, N. Y., finishing
his education at a select school at
Hamilton, N. Y.
For several years Mr. Abbey, during
his stay in the state of New York, was
engaged in buying and selling horses,
making his purchases in Canada and




are of three sizes to Pwit the needs   is now  the central portion of the
of a private family or a public estab-  greenhouses, but as their business inlishment.
lishme.                    creased so rapidly they were obliged
The employes of this firm are experienced  men  and  perform  their   to enlarge and add to their number
work earnestly and well. The office   of helpers, so that what are known
clerks greet all visitors with a gracious  as the Cole greenhouses today are


kept in great varieties, in fact all
which are suitable to this climate.
Every fall Mr. Cole imports from Holland a quantity of tulip and hyacinth
bulbs, which are in full bloom for the
Christmas festivities.
Mr. Cole from his wide experience
as a florist and his knowledge of every
branch of his work is pre-eminently
ftted to keep his business in its present prosperous condition, and ever be
able to supply his townspeople with
the fresh blossoms and buds which
appeal to all lovers of nature.
Since Mr. Cole's business has increased to such an extent he finds that
greater heating facilities are necessary, and during the fall of the present
year he plans putting in a 60-horse
power steam boiler, which will be adequate for running the extensive heating apparatus required by the business.
Whereas all plants thrive under the
care of Mr. Cole he seems to be particularly successful in his culture of
roses, violets and carnations.  His
many patrons wish him continued success in the work which prospers under
his careful guidance.
DAVID GOULD.-One of the successful tillers of the soil in Newton
township, where he has attained a
high position among the farmers and
stock raisers, is lMr. David Gould. He
is one of the largest landholders and
most influential citizens in that community and carries on one of the best
equipped iarms.   He was born in


Cyclone Washing Machine Co.


courtesy, which has a tendency to add
popularity to the firm.
The success which has met the manufacture and sale of the Cyclone
washer has far exceeded the expectations of the proprietors, since Nov. 2,
1898, the date of their incorporation.
There are over 20 leading wholesale
hardware houses in the United States
which are handling their product, and
their report is no machine on the marKet meets with so ready sale. Aside
from the plan of the machine, which
sells it on sight, the material used
is of the best and the workmanship
unsurpassed.
Messrs. F. J. and M. C. Coon have
the supervision of every department,
and are earnestly desirous of turning
out the best possible work for which
they charge the most reasonable
prices.
LEVANT COLE.-The Queen City
of Michigan may well be proud of the
attractive greenhouses which are
owned and conducted by Levant Cole
on Wendell-st. Prior to the erection
of these extensive greenhouses, Battle Creek's supply of flowers was often
less than the demand, but at the present time, owing to the superior management of Mr. Cole, rare blossoms
in profusion grace every social function.
Levant Cole is a native of Batavia,
New York. From childhood he has
been interested in flower culture, being especially adapted to the work
which has been his chosen occupation
through life.
In 1888, Mr. John McCrea and Mr.
Levant Cole, as partners, built what


double in size the original plans of
the florists.
In the spring of 1901 the partnership between Messrs. McCrea & Cole
was dissolved, since which time Mr.
Cole has been conducting the business
alone, and with marked success.
From time to time, since the beginning of this flourishing business it
has been found necessary to add to
the facilities of growing and caring
for the plants, within the shelter of
the hot houses, as well as to the supply of trees and shrubs which are


iejl


Cole's Greenhouse.


100




Wayne county, N. Y., on April 7, 1824.
His father, whose given name was Joseph, was born in the town c Granville, Washington county, N. Y. The
mother was Mehitabie Dual, born in
Washington county, N. Y.
Mr. David Gould was reared on a
farm, receiving his education from district schools; at 20 years of age he
began to earn his livelihood by working farms on shares in Orleans county,
N. Y. In the spring of 1851 he came
to Michigan on a prospecting tour,
but came again in the fall of the same
year and located in Newton township,
ccming from Orleans county to Buffalo by team, and from Detroit to Newton with team and wagon, where he
made a purchase of two nundred acres
on section 7, moving his family in the
log house which was already there.
With good health and a strong determination our subject faced poverty
and hard worK, and has been rewarded
by accumulating a home and a competency; his farm amounting to 740
acres of Newton's most valuable land.
ihe buildings are of the best, seven
of his fourteen barns he built himself, as he is possessed with a natural
mechanical talent.  He erected his
present residence in 1857, and in 1878
remodeled it, making it one of the
most commodious and homelike in the
surrounding country. When Mr. Gould
was actively engaged in business,
stock-raising was one of his greatest
sources of profit, particularly sheep
raising.
Mr. Gould has been four times married. His first marriage, which was
with Miss Hulda Densmore, took place
November 1, 1843. Two children were
born to them, Augustus and Philetus
F., the latter dying Oct. 12, 1853. Mrs.
Gould died in 1850. Mr. Gould's second marriage was with Miss Eliza
Wicks on December 26, 1850, she dying in five years, leaving one child,
Malon, who was born April 3, 1855.
The third wife of our subject was Miss
Rebecca Weeks, the nuptials taking
place in 1855, but in two years the
wife was called from the side of her
husband.
Mr. Gould was united in marriage
with his present wife, who was Miss
Myra Trumble, December 23, 1857.
She is the mother of four cihldren,
Myron, born Sept. 21, 1860; Allen
and Ellen, born Feb. 21, 1865; Ida M.
born June 1. 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Gould are enjoying
their comfortable home, where hospitality is ever extended to the many
friends who gather beneath their roof,


and to the stranger within their gates.
They are looked upon with the
greatest of esteem and respect by the
entire community.


David Gould and Family.


L. W. ROBINSON.-Among the mercantile leaders of Battle Creek perhaps
none are better known or more widely
accorded a high commercial standing
than L. W. Robinson, the proprietor
of the extensive dry goods store in
tne Post building, at the corner of
Main-st west and McCamly-st.
Mr. Robinson occupies the ground
floor and basement of this magnificent
building, with its superb accommodations, and that he is reaping suc

Mr. Arthur S. Reese, who has been
with Mr. Robinson 13 years, is the
superintendent of the entire store, although each department is In charge
of experienced salesmen. Mr. Reese
does all the buying for the firm, and
his judgment and taste is unexcelled,
a fact which is made manifest to the
many customers as they survey the
spacious store. Owing to the rapidly
increasing business Mr. Robinson has
found it necessary to employ a floorwalker and a window trimmer and
store decorator.
Mr. Laverne W. Robinson was born
at Fulton, N. Y., Feb. 25, 1844. When
he was 12 years of age he worked on
a farm for $5 per month, and later,
when a student at Mexico Academy,
N. Y., he paid his tuition for several
terms by sweeping halls and ringing
the bell of the institution. His first
clerkship was in Fulton, N. Y., for
which he received $2.50 per week;
but with the ambition which has ever
characterized his life his efforts were
untiring to be of more worth to his
employers, and his rise as a clerk was
marked. In Mexico, N. Y., in 1869, he
formed a partnership in a dry goods
firm where he remained till March,
1879, at which time he came to Hubbardston, Mich., where he did a most
successful business till January, 1887.
coming then to Battle Creek.
Our readers well know of the business career of L. W. Robinson since he
opened a dry goods house on Main-st
east. His ability as a merchant is unquestioned, and his business sagacity
is proved by a glance at a sketch of
his career, going on as he has, step by
step up the ladder of success.
In all business dealings he is ever
straightforward and honest, and requires the same upright principle
from his employes, who are ever obliging and courteous to his many patrons.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson (the latter
was formerly Miss Alice J. Nelson,
and became a bride on Nov. 30, 1865)
are earnest, zealous members of the


L. W. Robinson.


cess is evidence of the marked business sagacity which Mr. Robinson has
manifested since he became identified with mercantile interests in the
Queen City. This immense dry goods
establishment has a frontage of 66 feet
on Main-st and 150 feet on McCamlyst, facing the Post Tavern. The basement affords the same amount of
room, and aside from  the duplicate
stock kept there, the extensively patronized "Bargain Basement" is a most
important feature.
Mr. Robinson conducts his business
with the aid of 30 efficient employes.
101




III:II
--— ;I
I- c
5


- -
--- -  -


--------- '. ----v
---- -r --- —   ----------


I


--


Exterior -View of Robi-son's Stoe.
Exterior View of Robinson's Store.


102




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103




-


M. E. church, where their financial
aid and their personal influence have
wielded untold good. May many years
be theirs to enjoy the fruits of their
labor, and may those years be spent
in their pleasant home situated on
South-ave of the Queen City of Michigan.
OTIS F. KIMBALL.-The subject
of this sketch is widely and favorably
known throughout where his life has
been spent. He is one of the most
influential and public spirited citizens
of the county with whose material
interest he has long been associated,
both as an enterprising business man
and a skillful farmer.
Otis F. Kimball is a son of a wellknown pioneer of this county, in Bur
lington township. His father, Jesse
R. Kimball, was a native of New
Hampshire, born in 1798, and was,of
Scotch descent, and one whose ancestors were noted for their military
spirit, which, by the way, has descend,
ed from generation to generation.
Jesse R. Kimball, in 1834, boughl
five hundred acres of land in Burling
ton township, to which he brought hil
family the following year, where he
lived the happy life of a prosperous
farmer for 46 years, dying March 1,
1881. His estimable wife bore the
maiden name of Sallie Rood, who was
a native of New York state, her birthoccurring Nov. 14, 1815, and her death,
Sept. 17, 1885. Of the nine children
born to them six grew to maturity:
Chester, Marcia, Caroline, Otis F.,
Wills and Elmer.
Otis F. Kimball's boyhood life was
passed much as that of other farmer
boys. He has a distinct remembrance of the county when it bore evidence of its primitive wildness.
At the time of the opening of the
war Mr. Kimball was but a boy of 16,
but his intense martial spirit was
strong within him and on Dec. 8, 1862,
his name was enrolled as a member of
Company A, First Michigan Sharpshooters. He served against Morgan
and his raiders through Southern
Ohio, and took part in numerous
skirmishes. He was then placed in
Wilcox's Brigade, Second Division of
the Ninth Army Corps. Our subject
did his duty in several skirmishes,
meeting with a wound of the right arm
which made amputation necessary.
Later he was honorably discharged
Dec. 31. 1864. having been a brave soldier who endured his sufferings uncomplainingly in his patriotic devotion to his country.


The bridal day which made Miss
Florence Stolp the life partner of Otis
F. Kimball was April 19, 1881. Two


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Otis F. Kimball's Residence.


children have been born to them,
Cortland, born June 16, 1886, and Leo
nia, born Oct. 24, 1892.
In 1880 Mr. Kimball purchased his
present farm of 160 acres on section
19, Newton township, upon which he
has placed many substantial improvements, including a barn built in 1888
at a cost of $736.
Recently Mr. Kimball has erected
on his farm a house which far surpasses the majority of country houses
in so much as it is a model of architecture and convenience. No money
was spared to make it a haven of comfort to the inmates and to the many
friends who are wont to gather beneath its hospitable roof. It is counted as one of the handsomest dwelling
houses in the county and Mr. and Mrs.
Kimball are considered worthv owners
of such a home in which to spend their
declining years.
BOARD    OF    EDUCATION.-The
schools of Battle Creek under the efficient superintendency of William G.
Coburn, form an element of our growing city which calls forth the pride cf
the populace.
The present building known as No.
1, was erected in 1870-1871, being
ready for occupancy on April 10, 1871,
and was built at a cost of $75,000.
The school library, a most important feature, was begun in 1840, and
contained in 1876, 620 volumes, and
about that time, through the bequest
of Henry B. Denman, the sum of ten
thousand dollars was added to the library fund, the interest of which was
to be devoted to the purchase of
104


books. At present the library contains between 16,000 and 17,000 books.
Mrs. Fannie Willard Brewer is the
able and proficient librarian, assisted
by Miss Isca Amberg. Through the
generosity of the late Charles Willard, who left $40,000 for the purpose
of a public library building, Battle
Creek will soon boast of a fine building located at the corner of Maple and
Van Buren sts.
The board of education, the members being Messrs. Skinner, Allwardt,
Mason, Hopkins, Keet and Dr. Milier, are men elected to their positions owing to their interest in educational matters, and with their co-opelation with Prof. W. G. Coburn and his
efficient corps of instructors, the city
schools are under the management
comprising educational and practical
knowledge. There are nine school
buildings, 75 teachers employed, and
the number of pupils enrolled, 3,000.
Many changes are being made by
the board of education in our schools
this summer.
For a number of years No. 1 school
has been so over crowded that it was
necessary to have four rooms in the
basement and one in the book room,
all of which are not well adapted to
school purposes.
In order to release this pressure in
No. 1 building, the board is erecting a
fine eight-room addition to No. 5 building. When completed No. 5 building
will be modern in all its appointments
and will be the best equipped building
in the city.
There will be 12 rooms in this
building and three rooms in the base



-4
0 ~               W. G. Coburn, Superintendent.
C o
W 2             ment for manual training.
IL:               The board of education recognize
0.             that education is a development of the
Q               whole man and not simply the intel<               lect. At a meeting on July 5, they
m               passed resolutions in favor of manual
training. They agreed that the manual training plant should be located
near the high school building, but as
they had no room in or about the high
4; |school, they thought it best to open
a plant for the present in the basement of No. 5 school on Maple-st.
Instruction in manual training will
be given in the fifth, sixth, seventh
and eighth grades. Two and one-half
days of each week will be required
in which to give instruction to the
seventh and eighth grade pupils In
cooking and wood working labora4,           tories, and the balance of the week
will be devoted to the fifth and sixth
grade pupils in their respective buildings.
This plan makes no provision for
m3            pupils below the fifth grade or for
high  school pupils.  The trustees
hope, however, that some time in the
near future suitable arrangements
may be made for the above grades, especially in the high school, where so
much good can be accomplished by the
105






introduction of this new feature of education.
The high school had an enrollmentof about 380 pupils last year and not
more than one-fourth of this number
could be seated in the assembly room,
which seated 88 pupils.
The assembly room, room 30, and
the chemical laboratory in the rear of
room 30, have all been made into one
large assembly room with a seating
capacity of about 180 pupils.  The
seats will be placed in a semi-circular
plan and face the south side of the
room, with the principal's desk midway between the two doors of the assembly room. By this present arrangement, all the high school can be
assembled at one time by placing the
pupils two in a seat. This will be a
great convenience in chapel exercises, rhetoricals and other exercises,
as in the past but a small per cent. of
the high school could be assembled
at any one time.
Below is given the names of all
[tLe principals and superintendents of
the schools of Battle Creek, from 1848
to the present time:  Mr. Harrison,
1848-1849; no principal, 1849-1850;
A. D. P. Van Buren, 1850-1851; Simeon
Wright, 1851-1853; E. C. Hinsdale,
1853-1857; Galen A. Graves, 1857-1858;
E. A. Warriner, 1858-1859; Frank Peavey, 1859-1865;  Thaddeus Landon,
1865-1868;  Lewis  McLouth,  1868 -1869; C. B. Thomas, 1869-1873; S.
Montgomery, 1873-1874; I. L. Stone,
1874 1879; W. C. Hill, 1879-1880; Z.
C. Spencer, 1880 to April, 1885; Leroy
Halsey, from April, 1885, to 1888;
E. M. Russell, 1888 to April, 1891;
Frank T. Muir, from April, 1891, to
July, 1891; F. W. Arbury, 1891-1895;
W. G. Coburn, 1895-.
J. S. NEWLAND, M. D.-Julius S.
Newland, a son of Albert M. Newland, was born in 1844, in the city of
Cleveland, O. His father was a wellto-do carpenter of Cleveland, moving
to  Olivet, Michigan, about 1863,
where he lived 30 years, dying there in
1893.
Our subject, J. S. Newland, has lived
in several prominent cities of the
Union: Cleveland, Kalamazoo, San
Francisco and Cincinnati. He received
his early education in Olivet, but
later went to California, attending a
medical institute in San Francisco,
where he was graduated in 1877, practicing his profession in that city until
his return to Olivet, Michigan, in 1883.
His professional life in Olivet was a
busy one as his practice was exten

sive and grew yearly. The country
drives about the village are all familiar ones to Dr. Newland, as his
calls took him far into the surround

ing region. While located there he
was health officer, a position he filled
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his town.
Dr. Newland, to keep pace with the
ever advancing profession of medicine,
attended lectures in the Eclectic Med
ical Institute in Cincinnati, was graduated therefrom in 1892, after which he
returned to Michigan, locating in the


iul economy, these things together
with unusual business ability have
built up a substantial and constantly
increasing business.
It is said that a man is.not without
honor save in his own country, but this
old adage loses its force in this case,
for the many dray loads of goods
which daily leave this house, prove
that the firm of Halladay & Son, is decidedly with honor among the grocery
trade in every direction from Battle
Creek who appreciate a large stock
from which all orders are filled with
exactness and dispatch as soon as they
reach the office.
The business in the surrounding
country is looked after by a large
force of traveling men who have learned the art of pleasant persistence and
succeeded in making J. F. Ha!laday
& Son the popular firm In case of rush.
The store, which is owned by the
Halladay estate, is located at Nos. 54,
56 and 58 Main-st east. There are
three floors to the building which is
44x66 feet in size and being arranged
especially for the business, is convenient in every way and is crowded
to overflowing with groceries of every
description. The office and shipping
room are on the first floor, and here
are also the box goods, spices, candles,


J. S. Newland, M. D.
rapidly growing city of Battle Creek,
where he has made many business
and social friends. He is medical examiner for several societies, including
the American Insurance Union and
Protective Home Circle, the Maccabees and the Patricians.
Dr. J. S. Newland has been an Odd
Fellow for 30 years, and is an enthusiastic member, as he firmly believes
the ties of fraternity are beneficial Lo
a citizen. As a practicing physician
in Battle Creek, Dr. Newland has met
with success as he is an earnest, untiring practitioner.


J. F. HALLADAY      &  SON.-The
wholesale grocery house unlder the
above name, bat conducted by Frank
E. Halladay. has teen. one cf tbc prosperous enterprises since 1885.
Mr. J. F. Halladay was in the retail grocery business in our city for 13
years, but as his business and capital
increased with his characteristic self-         J. F. Haladay.
reliance and business fearlessness he  cigars and  other articles of like
decided to embark in the wholesale    grade.
trade, and thus came into existence     The second floor is used for the storthe first wholesale grocery house in  ing of light goods, such as wooden
this section of Michigan. At first in  ware, brooms and hundreds of other
a small way and then steadily increas-  articles comprising a wholesale groing until the business has grown to   cery stock.
its present large proportions.          The heavier goods, such as salt. moThis success has been accomplished  lasses, etc., are kept in the basement
by untiring industry, restless ener-  which also opens from the street. The
gy, combined with constant and care-  ceilings are high and all the rooms


10b




are crowded to the top. 'Te sugar is
stored in a large warehouse built for
that purpose near the Michigan Central railroad.
In 1891 J. F. Halladay purchased
the Lewis house, which was extensively remodelled and under the name
of Halladay House, is one of the thriving up-to-date hotels of our city. J.
F. Halladay died on May 8, 1895.
Mr. F. E. Halladay, in the spring of
1898, was elected to the city council
as alderman of the fourth ward, and
chairman   of  the  committee  on
ways and means. Mr. Halladay is
serving his second term as alderman
and is making firm friends for himself. He is a member of the Knights
of Pythias, the Uniform Rank, and
also of the Elks. His wife was Miss
Louise Hunsiker of Bellevue, Mich.
Their family consists of three sonsClare, Robin and John F.


since. In 1876 he was elected as circuit court commissioner of Calhoun,
and at the expiration of the term was
re-elected for a second term of two
years. Mr. Winsor, in 1887, took Mr.
Joseph S. Noyes in as a partner, but
this connection was severed in 1888,
at which date Judge Frank A. Hooper
appointed Mr. Winsor to fill the vacant position of prosecuting attorney,
and at the end of the term, he was
elected to succeed himself, a fact
which proves the appreciation in
which Mr. Winsor is held by the voters
of the county.
During the present year when Calhoun county was set aside as a separate judicial district, Gov. A. T. Bliss
appointed H. E. Winsor as judge of
the circuit court, and it was a wise
choice on the part of Governor Bliss
and a most fortunate one for our
county. Judge Winsor is a careful,
clear-headed attorney, and one whose
personal prejudices are subordinate
to right and justice.  One of his
strongest qualities is that of intense
earnestness, which has characterized
his life work.
The wife of Judge Winsor bore the
maiden name of Mary G. Eldredge.
She was born in Conway, Mass., and
was educated at the normal university
of Illinois. Judge and Mrs. Winsor
are well known in social circles in
Marshall, where their hospitable home,
which bespeaks of comfort and cheer,
is the scene of many social gatherings. In their religious convictions
they are Presbyterians, and the organization has no more earnest and
conscientious workers than they. In
politics Judge Winsor is a republican.
A. D. BANGHAM, M. D.-The success which rewards the patient efforts
of mankind in any department of labor is nowhere better exemplified than
in the life and business career of A.
D. Bangham, whose accompanying
portrait will be recognized as one of
Calhoun county's most illustrious citizens.
Our subject, a son of Sandusky K.
Bangham, a farmer of Marengo township, was born Nov. 8, 1859. His early
education was obtained from the district school until 1876, when he entered Albion college, and as means
were low, he, with the ambition which
has ever characterized his life, determined to board himself while he was
seeking his education; but, even by
practicing strict frugality he was


forced to leave college and find employment as a means of obtaining the
necessary  dollars.  He secured  a
school in the township of Springport,
107


Jackson county, beginning at the same
time the study of medicine; later he
entered the regular medical department of the University of Michigan,
where he was a faithful, earnest student, graduating in June, 1882.
He opened an office in Dexter, Michigan, where he practiced one year,
then located in Homer, which has been
his home ever since, and he has reaped the reward of his self-denial and
perseverance which was the stern reality of his early life.
On Aug. 21, 1880, he married Miss
Estella Austin of Marengo; five chil
dren have been born to them, namely:
Austin S., born Jan. 28, 1883; Belle
D., Dec. 12, 1884; Harrison A., born
Oct. 5, 1888; Flossie E., born July
1, 1890, and Leila R., born Dec. 21,
1891.
Dr. Bangham has always been a republican and takes great interest in
the public questions of the day. He


Herbert E. Winsor.
HERBERT E. WINSOR.-Calhoun
county has no member of the bar
whose name stands out so prominently
as does that of Herbert E. Winsor.
He was born at Sterling Hill, Conn.,
Oct. 22, 1850, and was the only son of
Horace W. and Sabra (Gallup) Winsor.
The school days of Mr. Winsor
were passed in LaSalle county, Ill.,
where his parents moved when he was
a child. He became a student at Hillsdale college, Michigan, in 1869, was
graduated in the classical course in
1873. Having decided upon the law
as his profession he studied with Wm.
H. Brown and John C. Patterson of
Marshall, and was admitted to the bar
in March, 1875, opening an office immediately in Marshall, where he has
been actively engaged in business ever


A. D. Bangham, M. D.


has held a number of local offices of
honor and trust, and always acquitted
himself in a highly creditable manner. He has been president of Homer two terms, and president of the
United States pension board, and at
present holds the position of state
senator, and the people of the senatorial district have no anxiety concerning their interests for, knowing
Dr. Bangham's superior excellence
and his careful prudence, he is trusted
implicitly.
The life of Dr. Bangham is an exemplary one for the youth who finds
himself without money and influential
friends to aid him in advancement.
He has fought life's battles unaided,
and today we find him one of the most
successful physicians in the county,
and a prosperous and popular busi



ness man to which enviable position
he has risen by hard work and honest deal.
Fraternally A. D. Bangham is a Mason, K. of P., K. O. T. M., a Modern
Woodman, an Odd Fellow, and an A.
O. U. W., and is an enthusiastic member of all organizations which tend
to promote the welfare of his fellowmen.
J. M. PEEBLES, M. D., A. M.-Calling upon Dr. Peebles the other day
and making inquiries concerning his
nativity, occupation and other matters
relating to his long life, we learned
that his father's name was James
Peebles, familiarly called "Capt. Jim
Peebles," because captain of the militia in southern Vermont a full one
hundred years ago. He lived in Jacksonville. Windham county, Vt. Was
a farmer holding, at different times,
several town and county offices.
Dr. J. M. Peebles was born in Whitingham, Vt., March 23, 1822, being the
oldest son of James and Nancy Peebles. Peebles is a Scotch name, traceable back to the seventh century. In
the eleventh century the name was one
of the most distinguished in the north
of Europe. Scotch blood and Scotch
energy tell in history. Peebles, the
ancestral home, is at present the
county town of Peebleshire, Scotland,
situated upon the River Tweed, 22
miles south of Edinburgh. The Enclycopedia Brittanica says (page 452, Vol.
18):  "Peebles was at a very early
period a favorite residence of Scottish kings, who came to hunt in the
neighboring Ettrick forests." Walter
Scott mentions the impetuosity of
John Peebles, the Earl.
Dr. Peebles was married to Miss
Mary M. Conkey, at Canton, St. Lawdence county, N. Y. For many years
he took an active part in the antislavery movement, and being a strong
republican, he was appointed in 1869,
by General Grant, U. S. consul to
Trebizondct, Asiatic Turkey, a city of
some 70,000 on the Black Sea. In
1868 he was appointed and participated in the deliberation of the Northwestern Congressional Indian Peace
Commission, constituted of Generals
Harney, Sheridan, Sherman, Sanborn,
and Colonel Tappan. In 1881 he was
appointed representative abroad by
the National Arbitration League of
the United States of America. This
representative body met in Berlin,
Germany.
The Peebles clan took naturally to


preachers or physicians. The doctor graduated from the Philadelphia
(Pa.), University of Medicine and Surgery, and registering, commenced


practicing medicine in Philadelphia,
Pa. Later he received several honorary diplomas from medical colleges.
He is the author of nine volumes and
scores of tracts and pamphlets. Some
of his works were published in London and Australia. His last two books,
are entitled, "Vaccination a Curse and
a Menace to Prsonal Liberty," and
"Death Defeated, or the Psychic Secret of How to Keep Young." Dr. Peebles' books have had a very large circulation.  One edition of "How  to
Live a Century and Grow Old Gracefully," was 20,000.
The doctor is probably one of the
most extensive travelers in the country. He has three times circumnavigated the globe, and informs us that
he contemplates a fourth trip in the
near future, spending more time in
India, Egypt, Palestine and especially
in those Babylonian regions now being so thoroughly explored by the
students of science, archeology and
history. He has crossed the Atlantic
J. M. Peebles, M. D., A. M.
some 16 times. He has further visited Mexico, and has written extensively of the ruins of Uxmal, Palanque
and other long-buried cities of Yucatan. During these travels, he has lectured in foreign countries and in every
state in the Union except one, Washington. Among his published works
are "Three Journeys Around the
World," "The Seers of the Ages,"
"Proofs of Immortality," "The Christ
Question Settled," a volume of 500
pages or more, and other books.
The doctor was for several years
a professor in the Eclectic Medical
College of Cincinnati, O., and later
president of the College of Science of
Los Angeles, Cal. He has been honored by being made a fellow of many
learned societies, such as the Acad

emy of Science, New Orleans, La.
A fellow of the Anthropological Society, London.
An honorary member and fellow of


the Psychological Association, London.
A fellow of the Academy of Arts
and Sciences, Naples, Italy.
A fellow of the American Akademe,
Jacksonville, Ill.
A member of the International Climatological Association.
A member of the American Institute
of Christian Philosophy.
A member of the Victoria Institute
and Philosophical Society of Great
Britain.
Though connected with the Episcopal church for many years, the doctor
is exceedingly broad and liberal in his
religious convictions, seeing much of
the good and the true in the religions
of the Orient, and he has written extensively upon the doctrines of the
Brahmins, the Buddhists, and the Parsees. He has taken an active part for
many years in the Universal Peace
Union. He is strenuously opposed to
war, believing that peace may always
be attained better througn arbitration
than with the sword. He insists that
no practical follower of Jesus Christ
can fight: war, being but murder on
an extensive scale.
In matters of hygiene and health he
is a rigid vegetarian, and has been
these 60 years a strong advocate of
temperance, woman's suffrage, and
other reforms that gladdened and
brightened the last century. At present he is a practicing physician and
the senior partner of the "Peebles
Medical Institute," which employs four
physicians, Drs. Eli F. Brown, W. T.
Bobo, Chas. Green and Dwight Calkins. He has two printing presses, 22
stenographers and typewriters and a
large medical laboratory. The doctor is the editor and proprietor of the
"Temple of Health," a monthly Journal
devoted to hygiene, health, reform,
and such psychic research movements
as tend to the demonstration of a future life. This has a large circulation.
Being asked lately how he managed
to be so robust and hale at the age of
80, he replied curtly: "I behave myself. I eat no pork, nor pickles, nor
pepper, drink no liquors, no tea or
coffee-use no tobacco, and obey Nature's laws, which are God's laws.
Such in the ancient scriptures had.
and I may still say, have, 'The promise
of long life.'"


108




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I,
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THE fDVfAN6E THRESHER 60.


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As all are doubtless aware, the substantial growth and solid prosperity
of our city, is due to the growth and
success of our manufacturing institu

ed from small beginnings, and have    Rathbun, with $7,000 in money which
all. or nearly all, been organized here  they had borrowed for that purpose,
(lt home, by citizens of Battle Creek.  associated themselves with the inThe Case & Willard Thresher Cor-      ventor of the machine, hired a small


--


"


Exterior View of the Advance Thresher Company.


tions. These institutions, which have
steadily, but surely brought Battle
Creek up from a small and unknown
village to the prosperous and growing
city which it is today, have all start

pany was founded by Mr. Constantius  shop, and that year, built six maG. Case, the original inventor of the  chires. But it was found that the cornmachine. L. J. Willard and Frank M.  paratively small amount of money,
Rathbun. It was in March of the year  was insufficient to carry on the busi1881, that L. J. Willard and Frank M.  ness of manufacturing threshing ma109




chines, and later on, a stock company
was organized. The superiority of the
machine which was at that time far
from being the complete and almost
perfect thresher that it is today, was
such that there was an immediate
and constantly increasing demand for
it, and an increased capacity for their


was changed from the Case & Willard
Thresher Company, to the Advance
Thresher Company. The capital stock
of the company is now $1,500,000.
The officers are A. W. Wright, president; S. O. Bush, vice president; B.
T. Skinner, secretary and treasurer.
The director, are: A. W. Wright, S.
O. Bush, B. T. Skinner, C. E. Thomas,
M. LaFever, W. T. Knowlon, and Wm.
H. Mason.
The continued growth of this wellknown and substantial manufacturing
industry, is due, not only to the excellence of the machine, but also to
the superior business management,
strong financial backing, and the zeal,
tireless energy and unceasing industry in which work has been pushed in
almost every department of the busi
ness.
Mr. A. W. Wright, the president of
the company, resides in Alma, Mich.,
and is known throughout this state,
not only as a man of large wealth,
but also as one of the most philanthropic and public spirite. citizens
of our commonwealth.   Mr. Charles
Willard, who always resided in our
community, was a substantial and conservative capitalist, and these men
invested their means in this manufacturing business, largely, for the purpose of giving employment to labor,
and of having their money invested


widely known as progressive and public-spirited men, and are well calculated to keep this most prosperous
enterprise in the lead. Battle Creek
looks with pride on this thriving industry, which adds to the wealth and
beauty, as well as being a boon to its
many workmen.


'p::_::::
V -:


manufacture was needed, and in 1883,
the ground was secured and the present shops erected. The plant consists
of a plat of 50 acres of ground, located
in the western part of the city, immediately alongside the tracks of the
Michigan Central, Grand Trunk Western, and the Cincinnati Northern rail
roads. The *hops erected on these
grounds are of brick, and as will be
seen from the beautiful half-tone photograph conspicuous in this souvenir
edition of the Journal, they are both
extensive and substantial, being built
expressly for this company, and by
them. They are not only commodious,
well-built, and perfect throughout,
but they are built expressly for, and
with every convenience, for the carrying on of a large and steadily growing business in the manufacture of
threshers.
To Mr. Minard LaFever and Mr.
Constantius G. Case, belongs the
credit of the many inventions which
have made them famous. Their skill.
ingenuity. and inventive genius were
early recognized by the company, and
now thousands of farmers are deriving
the benefit of their labors and our
beautiful city has had added to it. very
many useful and industrious citizens.
who have built for themselves homes
and contribute in manv wavs to thb
growth and prosneritv of Rattle Creek.
In 1886 the name of the company


A. W. Wright.


JOSEPH GIBBS.-The picture accompanying this sketch is of Joseph
Gibbs, whose work in life added materially to the advancement of prosperity of his community and the surrounding country.
The biographer knows but little of
the early life of Mr. Gibbs. That he
was born Jan. 9, 1789, in the town of
Litchfield, Conn., and when young,
came with his parents to Livonia,
Livingston county, N. Y., and that
on April 15, 1815, he and Miss Polly
Sprague were made husband and wife,
are the only facts relative to his life
previous to his coming to Michigan in
1835, that are at hand.
He and his wife with their eight
children came to Michigan when the
country was in a state of primitive
wildness and endured the privations
and hardships incidental to pioneer
life. Mr. Gibbs settled on the farm
which is now owned and conducted by
his grandson, J. S. Gibbs, a tract of
land over 800 acres.
Hte was a man of sterling worth and
one of marked perseverance and energy, by which he won the distinction of
being one of the foremost men during his time. Not only as a sucessful
farmer, but as a soldier, did he manifest the superior manly qualities of
his nature. His service In the war of


C. G. Case.
where it would do good to others and
advance the prosperity of the community, and it is to their strong support that has been largely due the
high financial standing of the company.
The business men connected with
the Advance Thresher Company are
110




1812 gave him an enviable record as
his deeds were characterized by valor,
and during his entire service he
proved himself a loyal son of his
country for which he took up arms.
Mr. Gibbs was one who was interested in his own township, and was
elected to many public offices, therein.
He was a charter member of the Masons, Humanity lodge. Mrs. Gibbs
died May 11, 1851, while Mr. Gibbs'
useful years were beyond fourscore,
his death occurring Jan. 13, 1874.
Mr. Joseph Gibbs' son Volney, was
born Nov. 11, 1829. As a thorough-going farmer he was one of the leaders,
being active and successfull in stock
raising, and a man whose judgment on
business and the important questions
of the day was considered sound.
Politically he was a democrat, and
was ever a stanch friend to the party,
which conferred on him, from time to
time, many offices of trust and honor,
the duties of which he meritoriously
performed. On March 4, 1864, he married Miss Helen Woolley, to whom
one child, Joseph S., was born, Jan.
16, 1862, who is the only descendant
living of the early settler, Joseph
Gibbs, as the son Volney was the only
child of the eight to marry, and outlived his unmarried sisters and brothers. Mr. Volney Gibbs died Nov. 17,
1899.
Mr. Joseph S. Gibbs received his education at the Homer schools from


Hon. Edward P. Keep.


theatrical life, he was connected with  d
that profession for four years, seeing  t
life in many of its phases, not only in
the United States, but in foreign countries, as he crossed the Atlantic four  n
times. His experiences in his varied  t
life have been many and some of       o
them very interesting, as he is a per-  it
son of keen perceptions and retentive  o
memory.                               h
In New York, on Aug. 14, 1891, Mr.  o
Joseph S. Gibbs and Miss Mary Con-    s
nelly were united in marriage, and in
two years they came to the Gibbs      i
homestead with the intention of mak-  c
ing it their home for life.           h
Their estate of 800 acres is of the  s
finest land in southern Michigan. The  h
care and responsibility of so extensive  n
a property is great, as he is engaged  t
in stock-raising and is interested in  h
fine bred horses as well, but Mr.     e
Gibbs is energetic, industrious and   1:
wide-awake, and employs men who       i
occupy his tenant houses, who co-op-  t
crate with him for the best results ob-  g
tainable. He is an influential citizen  i
as his interests are wide, which places  n
him  among the reliable, substantial  h
men of his community. Those deal-     c
ing  with  him  find  him  prompt,    i
straightforward, and trustworthy. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the  t
democratic party, and fraternally he is  t
a member of the Elks, Battle Creek    a
lodge 573.                            o
Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have an adopted  r
111


laughter, Helen Louise Gibbs, who is
hree and one-half years old.
HON. EDWARD P. KEEP.-This
lame is familiar to many residents of
he county and particularly to those
if Tekonsha township, as he who bears
t has been connected with the affairs
if that locality for years, and he has
lad much to do in the development
>f many of the resources of the townhip.
Edward P. Keep was born on a farm
n the town of Homer, Cortland
ounty, N. Y., May 27, 1848, receiving
lis early education at the common
chools of his native town. During
lis boyhood his experiences were
nuch the same as those incidental
o that of the average farmer's son;
le attended school winters and work*d on the farm summers, subsequenty attending the Cortland Academy,
n Homer village, for two years and
aught school six years. He then en-,aged in the saw and planing mill busness for three years. In 1875 he
noved to Tekonsha, Michigan, where
ie embarked in the retail lumber and
oal business, which still engages his
nterests.
In 1899, Edward P. Keep was elected
o the house of representatives, a posiion he filled with credit to himself
nd in a manner which elicited words
Af commendation from the district he
epresented. Although a stalwart re

Joseph Gibbs.
which he is a graduate. Later he
learned telegraphy and was in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad
for a period of two years, at which
time he made a change in his occupation as he was engaged in the hotel
business in New York City. Subsequently, having a natural fondness for




publican, Mr. Keep is a man who
maintains friendship and good will
with all parties, as he is conservative
in his actions, firm in his convictions,
but not allowing personal prejudices
to govern him. He gained friends
during his legislative term by his
cool, clear-headed arguments, which
ever show the best of judgment and
the kindest feeling toward all mankind.
DAVID   WALKINSHAW.-One of
the finest farms in Convis township
is owned by David Walkinshaw, who
is one of the up-to-date farmers of the
county, keeping his country home in
the best possible condition, and simplifying labor by the use of all the
modern machinery.
Mr. Walkinshaw was born in the
city of Marshall, March 7, 1843, and
is a son of James and Janet Walkinshaw, both of whom were born in Scotland, coming to America in 1842.
When our subject was a year old he
moved with his parents, from Marshall to Convis township, where he
grew to manhood, having the usual experience of farm life, early taking his
place among the workers. He continued to make his home under the parental roof until after he had attained
to his majority, when he entered the
Union army, enlisting Aug. 11, 1864,
in the Second Missouri Cavalry,
known as Merrill Horse. The aid given the Union cause by the work of the
gallant men of Merrill Horse is a matter of historical record and need not
be mentioned, suffice it to say that
David Walkinshaw was not behind his
comrades in enthusiastic patriotism
or gallantry of conduct, and won a
meritorious record in the ranks of his
country's defenders, spending some of
his best days in the hardships of campaigning.
The wife of Mr. Walkinsnawv bore
the maiden name of Sarah Van Fleet,
the marriage rites being solemnized
September 26, 1865. A son and daughter have been born to them, namely:
James E., ana May.
In 1888 the republican party elected
him supervisor of Convis township,
and during his term of office he made
himself many friends. He was the
popular and efficient sheriff of Calhoun county for four years, discharging his duties with promptness and
sagacity which was to the entire satisfaction of the voters of the county.
He is well known throughout the
county, and possesses marked social
qualities, which, added to the wide


fund of information on the leading
topics of the day make him a genial,
whole-souled man whom it is a pleasure to meet.


GUY    FISK.-The   accompanying
half-tone portrait is a likeness of Mr.
Guy Fisk, the present incumbent of
the office of treasurer of Calhoun
county, and is a trusty guardian of the
public funds. He has the full confidence of the people, and his administration of the affairs has been in keeping with the prediction of his friends,
with whom he has ever been held in
the highest respect.
Guy Fisk was born in Yates county,
New York, Feb. 2, 1857, nine years
later he, with his parents, moved to
Michigan, his father buying a farm in
St. Joseph county, near Centreville.
In 1875 the family moved to Branch
county, where our subject had the
usual experience of a country boy,
working on the farm during the summer months and attending school in
the winter. He graduated from the
high school in Athens, after which


During his term of office he is a resident of Marshall, where his family
is enjoying the social life of that place.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisk have four children
namely, Maude, Nellie, Ernest and
Gladys.
Although a quiet unassuming man,
Mr. Fisk is one who makes friends on
all sides, being genial and affable with
all associates, whether he meets them
in a business or social way. He is
popular among his fellow townsmen;
is of a generous disposition and has
always been active in his support of
public movements.
WILLIAM   E. ANSTERBURG.-William E. Ansterburg, who is quite extensively engaged in farming in Homer
township, brings a well trained mind
to bear upon the problems which confront the intelligent agriculturist today, as in other times, in tilling the
soil and raising stock. He is carrying
on his work with such good success
that he is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of his community.
Mr. Ansterburg was born March 17,
1856, on the homestead. section 34, Albion township. His parents were farming people who reared their children
with habits of industry and thrift, inculcating ideas of frugality and independence, which have ever characterized the life of our subject and his
family.
Many lives are narrowed by limitations, but not all enlarge and grow,
notwithstanding the obstacles which
seemingly are a hindrance.
The woman chosen to share the joys
and sorrows of Mr. Ansterburg's life
was Miss Melissa Covert, daughter of
Edward and Rozilla (Bennett) Covert,
the marriage taking place March 17,
1881. Two children gladden the home;
George W., born November 21, 1882,
and Elsie U., born February 28, 1894.
The home is one of 130 acres and is a
productive farm.
In religious affiliations Mr. Ansterburg is of the Methodist denomination and has ever been a helpful, earnest member.
Our subject is a man who attends
quietly to his own affairs, and holds
a high place in the estimation of his
neighbors and fellow citizens; is freehearted to those who are less fortunate
than himself. Mr. Ansterburg has in
his possession a valuable collection
of Indian relics, which are considered
of rare value, and which, as time goes
on, are of greater curiosity.
ALVAH D. ELDRED.-A history of


the men to whom we owe the development of Calhoun county, would be incomplete without a sketch of the man
who has been so long and so closely


Guy Fisk.
he engaged in the occupation of farming for some years, but having an eye
for present emoluments as well as being engaged in intellectual attainments he taught school for several
years, and with such marked success
that he was elected a member of the
county board of examiners.
Mr. Fisk has taken considerable interest in political affairs, affiliating
with the republican party. He has
served as supervisor of Athens township for four years, was elected to
the office of county treasurer in 1898,
and it is conceded by all that his management of the financial interests entrusted to him is with skill and fidelity. He takes a firm stand in all his
arguments and has a clear understanding of his subjects, being happily endowed with keen perceptions and a judicial mind.
112




identified with its material and social interests.
Alvah D. Eldred was born in Ontario county, New York, Feb. 29, 1832,
followed the occupation of farming-in
his native state till he was 21, then
came to Michigan. January 9, 1855,
was the marriage day of our subject,
and Miss Helen Bartlett, who was the
daughter of John and Elmyra (Knapp)
Bartlett, was the happy bride.
That Mr. Eldred is worthy of the
respect and esteem which has been
shown him is proved by the faith
which the populace of the township
has bestowed upon him by chosing
him as an office-holder in various capacities and at various times. He has
been highway commissioner of Tekonsha township 14 years, and president of the village twice, and in all
official capacities he has served his
constituents faithfully and well.
Mr. Eldred is an enthusiastic Mason, and has efficiently served his fraternity in different ways for a quarter
of a century; has been the recipient
of valuable emblems of the Masonic
order which are held in the highest
estimation by their owner for their
significance of brotherly love. In politics our subject is a republican.
Mr. Eldred has a farm in Tekonsha,
but he and his estimable wife live in
their pleasant home in the village.
They have two children: Benjamin,
now living in Jackson, Mich., and
Minnie, the wife of Henry Dean of
Tekonsha.
HOWARD     WILLIAMSON     CAVANAGH.-The subject of this sketch
was born in the city (then village) of
Alpena, county of Alpena, state of
Michigan, on the 12th day of June,
1867. His father, James Cavanagh,
was then engaged in the lumber business at that place, and was one of the
thoroughgoing mercantile dealers of
the town. Later he was sheriff of Alpena county, which office he held until
January, 1873, but in the fall of '72
he moved his family to Oakville, Halton county, Ontario, upon a farm when
Howard W. was five years old. James
Cavanagh was born in the state of
New York; his father was a native of
Ireland, as were the parents of his
wife, who was a Canadian by birth.
Howard W. Cavanagh's early life
was spent on a farm where he formed
the habits of industry and perseverance.  He attended the public and
high schools of Halton county, Ontario. In the summer of 1885 he matriculated in the University of Toron

to, of which institution he is an undergraduate in the faculty of arts.  In
the fall of 1885, at the age of 18, he
returned to his native state and enter

ed the University of Michigan, taking the law course, graduating in June,
i187, being the youngest of a class of
153. He was admitted to the Washtenaw county bar by Judge Joslyn in
April, 1887, being then 19 years of age,
his certificate to take effect when he
became of age. During the fall of 1887
Mr. Cavanagh entered the law office
of Hon. John W. McGrath in Detroit,
where he had every advantage to improve in his line of work as he was
thrown with the best legal talent of
the state, and being an earnest, painstaking young attorney he made good
use of his opportunities. Later, Mr.
Cavanagh went to Alpena and commenced the practice of his profession,
R. J. Kelley of Battle Creek, being
then circuit judge of that circuit.
About four years were spent in AIpena, when on account of ill health he


united in marriage. They have no
children.
Mr. Cavanagh has been a life long
democrat, and is an influential one
within its ranks, has twice been a
delegate to the state convention and
numerous other conventions. He is
at present village attorney of Homer,
a trustee of the village, and president pro tem, a justice of the peace
of the township, and member of the
township board, in all of which his
clear-headed judgment is winning him
many firm frends. In the fall of 1900
he was candidate for circuit court
commissioner  on  the   democratic
ticket.
Mr. Cavanagh is an enthusiastic fraternity member, being a Royal Arch
Mason and a Knight of Pythias. Our
subject is a birthright member of the
Episcopal church, having been baptised in that church in Alpena.
Since taking up his residence in Homer Mr. Cavanagh has built up a lucrative practice in his profession, having handled many important cases,
and in such a manner as to receive
the highest praise from all, and especially from the members of the bar.
As a man he is above reproach, meeting his obligations promptly and performing his duties as a citizen with
regard to the best public good, irrespective of personal prejudices.
Mr. and Mrs. Cavanagh are acquisitions to the social life in Homer, as
they are persons of education and refinement, and are ever ready to use
their influence toward any social feature which tends to the advancement
of mental and moral endowment.
Their home is noted for its hospitable
gatherings where friends and   acquaintances are warmly welcomed.
WILLIAM BOYD.-The subject of
this sketch was born in Antrim county, Ireland, May 30, 1839, coming to
this country with his parents in 1851,
and remaining in New York state two
years. In 1853 the family removed
to Lenawee county, Mich., and in 1867
William Boyd bought the farm he still
owns and occupies in the township
of Sheridan, Calhoun county.
Mr. Boyd attended school in his native land and at the district schools
during his stay in New York, and after
coming to Michigan.
Mr. Boyd is one of the progressive
farmers of the county, taking an interest in their meetings and is ready
to adopt methods by which a tiller of
the soil is lifted out of the rut of agriculture. He aims at getting the best


results for his labor and is ever ready
to learn from the experience of others.
Not only along the lines of farming
is Mr. Boyd an up-to-date man; he is


Howard Williamson Cavanagh.


gave up his practice for a time and
returned to his father's farm, and for
two years took physical training, then
returned to his chosen profession,
spending one winter in a law office at
Owen Sound, Ontario, studying Canadian law.
In the winter of 1896 he came to
Battle Creek, Michigan, and opened
a law office in the Whitcomb block,
with C. R. Mains, then of Homer, as
partner. In June, 1896, Mr. Cavanagh
moved to Homer, the partnership between him and Mr. Mains being dissolved in November, 1299. He has
since been in business alone in the
Linn block.  In February, 1899, he
was admitted to practice In the Federal courts of the United States. On
August 29, 1899, at Albion, Michigan,
Howard W. Cavanagh and Miss Ula M.
Cunningham, daughter of James Cunningham of Albion township, were
113




ever ready to advance the cause of
educational matters, and lends his
influence toward the advancement of
mental and moral endowment.
Mr. Boyd is a man who has been
called to serve his people in different
capacities, the frequency and responsibility of the calls testify in stronger
language than we can use as to the
confidence his fellow-citizens repose
in his ability and integrity.
He is state representative at the
present time, and is holding the position with marked credit to himself,
as with his progressive ideas he satisfactorily meets the wants of his people
and is thereby making firm friends.
Mr. Boyd cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and he voted the republican ticket till 1896, when he joined
the D. P. U. S., in whose ranks he is
still enrolled.
JOHN     W.   FOSS.-Conspicuous
among the farmers of Emmett township, is Mr. John W. Foss, who has
gained influence and standing by years
of well-directed agricultural efforts,
and an intelligent appreciation of the
duties of citizenship. He owns a valuable farm on section 32, where he has
improvements that are among the
best in the township. He is the eldest
child of Henry and Mary (Hoff) Foss.
Henry Foss and wife were natives
of   Mecklenburg,  Germany,    near
Schwerin. Mr. Foss at the age of nineteen, emigrated to America, and after
a siege of ten weeks arrived in New
i ork City, journeying westward as far
as Rochester, remaining there five
years. In 1861, they came to Bedford
township, Calhoun county, purchasing a 200-acre farm where they reared
a family of five children, three sons
and two daughters. Later, in 1882,
after selling his Bedford farm he
bought a 220-acre tract of land in the
township of Pennfield, where he now
resides on a well improved farm with
spacious buildings ample for tne needs
of an extensive farmer. On Nov. 25,
1892, death called Mrs. Foss from the
home where she was sadly missed,
the loss extending throughout the entire community, as she was an estimable woman in her neighborhood, a
worthy wife, and a loving mother.
Their eldest son, John W. Foss,
born Feb. 26, 1858, and married Miss
Emma Hagelshaw on Aug. 17, 1881.,
the third child of Joseph and Sophia
(Vick) Hagelshaw. They are the parents of four children: Effie L., born
Jan. 10, 1883, and Cora L., born May
11, 1884; Clarence E., born Dec. 11,


1886; Lida M., born Aug. 3, 1890.
When Mr. and Mrs. Foss began
married life they were on an 80-acre
farm in East Newton, but in 1892 Mr.


Foss purchased the place where he
now resides.
The home of Mlr. and Mrs. John Foss
is a farm of 160 acres, and is one of
the most flourishing in the township
of Emmett, being kept in the best possible condition and the buildings and
fences in good repair..
Mr. Foss is a hard-working man, and
uses his energies to the best possible
advantage. His judgment on farm
matters is unexcelled, and as he is
possessed with untiring energy and
thrift owning no doubt to his German
ancestry, he is a man who deserves
and is reaping success, as his home
and surroundings would testify. His
house is new and commodious, and his
barns are in keeping with all. Mrs.
Foss is a worthy helpmeet, whose idea
has ever been that no true companionsnip is without co-operation in the
work of life. Success has followed
the frugality and per;everance which


lived to maturity, six sons and one
daughter, our subject being the youngest. Lewis Perrin spent his boyhood
on his father's farm. He was early
initiated into the mysteries of agriculture, and gained a practical knowledge of its various departments. After
completing his studies at Rochester,
N. Y., he learned the trade of a tanner
and currier in the same city, embarking in the leather business, which he
continued till his establishment was
destroyed by fire in 1864. He came
west finding employment as a clerk
in Kalamazoo, later formed a partnership in the hardware business, con
tinuing in the same twelve years. In
1880 he came to Marshall to look after
the estate of his brother, the Hon.
H. J. Perrin, to whose property he was
an heir.
Mr. Lewis Perrin owns one of the
landmarks in Marshall, namely, the
Marshall house, which he has remodelled into a handsome dwelling house,
which is his home, although he owns
nearly a thousand acres of land in this
county, all of which is under his management and under good cultivation.
Mr. Perrin takes an interest in all
movements which tend toward the development of the industries of the
county.
FRANKLIN W. DICKEY.-No man
in Calhoun county is more widely and
favorably known than F. W. Dickey,
who is one of the stirring business
men of the city of Marshall, where he
was born, Aug. 18, 1839, to Judge
Charles and Mary (Wakeman) Dickey.
Our subject passed his boyhood and
early school days in the city of Marshall, and when he had finished his
studies aided his father in the store,
on the farm, and in general business
affairs until he had reached his 20th
year, when he began his own career.
Mr. Dickey engaged in farming and
wool buying, in both of which he has
been  largely  successful.  He also
turned his attention to buying fine
horses and fitting them for sale. It
can truthfully be stated that no man
in Michigan is a better judge of horse
flesh and a better trainer of same
than Mr. Dickey; he handles annually
from 500 to 600 horses, which find
markets in different parts of the
world. His business had grown to
such proportions that he, in 1884, was
obliged to erect an extra barn on his
home farm, which was a marked addition to his already handsome home
surroundings.
The "Seven Oaks Farm," within the


corporation of Marshall, is one of the
most attractive homes in the county,
and one which is noted for its many
social gatherings as well as true hos

John W. Foss.


Mr. and Mrs. Foss have ever used.
They arc members of the Congregational church in Ceresco, and are
helpful, earnest workers in both
church and Sunday school.
LEWIS PERRIN.-The name which
introduces this biographical sketch is
one well known to those in business
circles who have real estate interests
in the city of Marshall and vicinity,
for Lewis Perrin is one of the largest land owners in Calhoun county
and one of the most extensive stock
dealers.
He was born in Cumberland county,
Ill., Feb. 1, 1841, to Hyde and Sylvia
(Scribner) Perrin. The paternal ancestors came from England to America in 1635.
Mr. Hyde Perrin was born in 1790
while his wife, a native of Vermont,
was born in 1800. To them eight
children were born, seven of whom
114




pitality which is ever extended by the
household.
Mr. Lickey has held various official
positions, sc:e of them connected
with the government of the section
and others with educational and social matters. As mayor of the city
he gained friends from all parties by
his judicious management of municipal affairs.
The present wife of Mr. Dickey bore
the maiden name of Mary A. Perry.
The union has been blessed by the
birth of three children, namely: Donna L., Harry P., and Dwight C. The
elder son, Harry, deceased in 1900.
CHARLES D. HOLMES.-Firm in
principles, upright in character, and
energetic in disposition, this gentleman justly receives the high regard
of the community where, for many
years, he has lived and labored. To
those, who, in spite of adversity win
success in the busy world and who,
without temptation, retain the principles instilled in their minds during
childhood, much praise is cue. A
worthy representat ve of that class of
honorable business men, upon whom
the prosperity of the world in a large
measure depends, Mr. Charles D.
Holmes is closely identified with the
interests of Calhoun county.
Mr. Holmes was one of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity.
He was born July 20, 1814, at West
Boylston, Mass. His educational privileges were derived from the academy
at Amherst, where his parents moved
in his boyhood. He was a student in
that institution when the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher was attending there.
the academy then being under the supervis'on of Dr. Cotton, who gave our
subject a certificate to teach school
when he was but 17 years of age. One
of his instructors at the Amherst
academy was Mr. Perkins, who was
the first missionary appointed to Persia.
When Charles D. and his brother,,-eterson P. came to Michigan there
were only three families living at
Homer, and there was no house between them and Union City, and then
but one for a distance of 10 miies. At
21 our subject took up 80 acres of
government land in 1837. There were
but few inhabitants in this entire region then, but one log shanty and only
about five men in the township. He
and his bride, Miss Nancy Young, a
daughter of Peter and Rosella Young,
was the first couple wedded in Albion
township.


Mr. and Mrs. Holmes became the
parents of eleven children, named as
follows: Henry C., Sarah J., wife of C.
W. Saunders; Franklin G., Caroline


E., wife of Waldon Foster; George W.,
Mary Augusta, widow of Henry Webb;
Charles L., Eva Elizabeth, the wife of
Manly Houston; Edwin P.
Mr. Holmes has been the recipient
of public honors from his fellow-citizens, who have recognized his sagacity and ability for affairs and superior
business qualifications.
In 1837 he was road commissioner,
later he was elected to represent Albion township as a member of the
county board of supervisors, and acted
in this capacity eighteen years. He
has been justice of the peace for two
years. In 1873 he was elected register of deeds for Calhoun county, was
re-elected in 1875 and served until
1877. He has always taken a deep interest in education, giving his children fine educational advantages, all
of them having been students at Albion College, and several of them have
been teachers. Mr. Holmes died in
1894 at the age of 80 years.


I.


g....:6_:-i
iSS:
-i ---:i-:


ploma which covered the three years'
course of that institution. Dr. Reynolds is one of the prominent physicians in our city, where ne has reaped
an enviable success in his practice,
being noted for his skill in surgery
and a man who keeps abreast of the
times. He has made a specialty of
throat and lung diseases and his reputation for success along these lines
is well deserved.
Dr. Reynolds is a prominent mem
ber of the State Homoeopathic Medical Society, is a Mason, a Knight Templar, and a Knight of Pythias..
Although Dr. Reynolds is not a politician, his friends of the fifth ward,
recognizing his forceful character and
interest in municipal affairs, elected
him alderman in the spring of 1901.
It. is praiseworthy to Dr. Reynolds
that his position in Battle Creek has
been gained by his own exertions and
commendable   ambitions.  He   has
been unaided by influential friends of
wealth, who, in some cases, have been
the only power by which men have
stood in the front ranks of position.
Dr. Reynolds' offices are of the finest in the city, being corner rooms of
tne Post building, Nos. 403-404, and
where he is fully equipped with all
appliances necessary to a physician
to meet the needs of suffering humanity. Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds have an
attractive home-like home on Division-st, which bespeaks of the cheer
and comfort of the happy inmates.
FRANK G. SHERWIN.-Among the
enterprising business men of Battle
Creek the name of Frank G. Sherwin
stands out prominently as that of one
( f unusual energy, push, self-reliance
and business sagacity.
Mr. Sherwin was born in Russell,
New York. A+ 22 years of age he
came west and engaged in the milling
business in Minnesota and Iowa, he
being an expert in that line of busi.
ness. In 1889, he came to Battle
Creek and for seven years was a val
uable clerk in the grocery store of
Allan Raymond, where by his obliging and cheerful manner he made
many friends. In 1899, Mr. Sherwin
embarked in the grocery business for
himself, and from the start his success has been phenomenal. His motto has been the best goods for the least
money. and he has never allowed inferior groceries to be sold from his
well regulated store, being possessed
of a natural executive ability he has
been enabled to conduct his establishment in a business-like manner
throughout and his clerks imbued


with the same interest.
His increasingc business made it
necessary to seek more commodious


JOHN C. REYNOLDS, M. D.-If
years spent in pursuit of a vocation
that calls for acuteness of perception,
knowledge of the needs of the human
system, and skill in applying health
giving remedies, entitles a man to
grateful remembrance, then Dr. Reynolds is deserving of a space in our
Journal Souvenir Edition.
Dr. John C. Reynolds was born
April 15, 1857, at Port Hope, Ontario.
In 1860 his parents moved to Rochester, N. Y., but thrte years later moved to Battle Creek, where he attended
the high school, after which he entered the office of Dr. A. S. Johnson.
preparatory to taking a medical
course. He became a student in the
Pulte Medical College in Cincinnati,
from which he was graduated in 1882.
Dr. Reynolds opened an office at 20
Main-st east, meeting with marked
success in both general practice and
surgery.
Later, in 1894, he took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Homoeopathic Medical College. receiving a di15




City Hall.


Frank G. Sherwin.


quarters, and in December, 1900, Mr.
Sherwin opened an extensive grocery
and meat market combined, at 44-46
Main-st west, where he keeps courteous clerks who promptly serve his
many patrons.
As an advertiser the name of Frank
G. Sherwin is probably as well known
as any business dealer, as his ads
are strikingly original, and for that
reason have been copied and favorably commented on by the leading advertising journals of the United States,
and they have done much to add to the
large and successful business carried
on by him. Energy and a natural aptitude for his line of business, combined with well-directed efforts, have
brought prosperity to Frank G. Sherwin, and the Journal congratulates
him on being one of the leaders in
mercantile life.
Mr. Sherwin was united in marriage
with Miss Frances Lawler of this city,
on Dec. 25, 1899, whose untimely demise was deeply regretted by a large
circle of friends.


Residence of the Late Hon. George Willard.
116




I   THE DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS 60.
*    t*       &   -


THE DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS
CO is one of the leading manufactories
of the Queen City. Its officers are:
I. L. Stone, president; W. W. Collier,
vice president; A. W. Alvord, secretary; F. W. Dunning, treasurer.
The above named officers with E.
C. Nichols, J. L. Cox and Howard
Kingman constitute the board of directors. The company employs a
large number of highly skilled mechanics and can turn out an average
of one press per week. They manufacture several styles of presses, the


spicuous place among our larger industries.
The power plant and foundry are located in separate buildings. The company operates its own electric light
plant. The machine shops are fitted
with modern machinery of the very
latest pattern.
The invention and perfection of the
Duplex press inaugurated a new era
in the history of the daily newspaper,
both in this and in foreign countries.
Previous to the introduction of the
Duplex the facilities of publishers of


These presses are now in daily use
throughout the United States, and
many foreign countries.
After several years of experience in
building these machines, and in the
running of them under all conditions,
the company has been enabled to bring
the Duplex to an advanced state of
perfection, proof of their excellence
being found in the fact that so large
a number are now running in various
parts of the world, to the perfect satisfaction of the users. This press is
better adapted to daily papers with


Works of the Duplex Printing Press Company.


prices running from $6,500 to $10,000
each.
The plant of the Duplex Printing
Press Company is located between McCamly, Carlyle, Houston-sts and the
Grand Trunk Western and Cincinnati Northern tracks. It occupies several acres of ground and consists of
an office, machine shops, erecting
rooms, blacksmith shops, pattern
works, drafting room, etc., the whole
constituting one of the largest manufacturing plants in the city of Battle
Creek, and rightly occupying a con

daily papers were greatly limited with
the slow processes of the hand-fed
press, especially those whose circulation would not justify the expensive
equipment of a stereotype plant.
Joseph L. Cox, the present editor
and publisher of the Morning Enquirer
of this city, was the first inventor to
succeed in furnishing a successful
flat-bed  web-perfecting  newspaper
press, which with later improvements
has given to the world the famous Duplex press, capable of producing 6,000
perfected papers per hour, from flat
forms and without stereotyping.


circulations ranging from 2,000 to 15,000 than any press manufactured, having marked advantages over both the
common cylinder presses and the modern stereotype presses. With a capacity of 6,000 4, 6, 7 or 8-page complete
papers per hour, printed on a continuous web of paper on flat forms of
regular type, it far surpasses the cylinder press in speed, at the same time
avoiding the great expense, delays,
and annoyances experienced in the
use of a stereotype press. A half-tone
- cut of the latest improved Duplex
press is shown on the next page.


117




The demand for this machine is constantly and rapidly increasing. The
company has orders on their books
for a number of these presses and the
works are running on full time, giving
employment to a large force of mechanics.
QUEEN CITY MANUFACTURING
CO.-Among the new manufacturing
institutions which have been recently
established in our city, the Queen City
Manufacturing Company stands out as
a conspicuous and successful one. A
few months ago E. H. Wicks and exAld. Chester E. Sisson established
themselves at their present locality,
Jefferson-ave south, for the purpose
of manufacturing sash, blinds, doors,
screens, and mouldings of all styles.
Tneir work is not only thoroughly re

united with good business ability in
all his dealings.
Mr. Sisson is well and favorably
known in our community, having for
years occupied a prominent position
with M. M. Lewis & Sons. He represented the second ward as alderman
for two years, and while in that position he devoted much of his time to
the public interest.  His practical
knowledge was of great value to the
city. Many of our municipal improvements are of a higher order, and more
substantial than they otherwise would
be, owing to the careful attention
which Mr. Sisson gave to all details
during the construction of same. At
present he is too busy a man to give
much time to politics, as he is devoting his entire attention to the Queen
City Manufacturing Company, and


Mr. William Henson was a son of
"Merrie England," having been born
there in 1816, coming to America in
1844. He was one whose dealing with
his fellowmen was characterized by
strict honesty and integrity; his word
was as good as his bond and his profound regard for the true principles
which governed his life is the example which stands out pre-eminently in
the minds of his family and friends.
His wife was a native of Ireland,
the year of her birth being 1820. She,
too, came to the United States in 1844.
They were married in New York City,
but came to Michigan in 1850, and
bought a farm one mile west of where
E. H. Henson now lives, although the
latter owns the homestead of 172
acres, to which he has added 80 acres.
The three children born to William


liable but artistic. The scroll and column work which they turn out from
natural wood is exceedingly beautiful,
and has been greatly admired by the
public, and the purchasers of same
have been enthusiastic in their expressions of satisfaction and approval.
Chief among the work that is being
done by this progressive firm is that
of the Postum Cereal Co., and their
work on the metropolitan Upton flats
on Marshall-st, and on the residence
of A. D. Webb on Orchard-ave.
Mr. Wicks was formerly a resident
of Athens, but has been connected in
business in our city for some years;
he is a thoroughly experienced and
capable man in his line and is most
attentive to the special wants of a
customer, showing uniform courtesy


Latest Improved Duplex Press.
he assures us that all callers at the
office of that firm will receive the
most considerate attention and all orders will be met promptly.
E. H. HENSON.-The township of
Emmett has many prosperous farmers
among whom is E. H. Henson, who
owns a valuable farm of 252 acres all
under good cultivation, supplied with
a complete line of farm buildings and
fittingly adorned with trees. The perfect tillage of the broad fields, the
good arrangement of the buildings
and the appearance of home comfort
which is manifest, make the farm an
attractive one to a passing traveler.
E. H. Henson is the son of William
and Jane Henson, and he was born on
the farm where he lives, on Jan. 24,
1854.


Henson and wife, who grew to maturity, were as follows: Mary, born Feb.
18, 1852, became the wife of George
Greble and died Feb. 7, 1896; E. H.
our subject, and W. J., who resides on
Merritt-st, this city, and owns a grocery store on the corner of Maple and
Michigan-ave.
The mother of our subject lives in
the minds of her family as an example
of true womanhood; her years were
spent in the performance of unselfish
duties for others; weak and suffering
humanity naturally turned to her and
she ever stood ready and willing to
give aid.
Mr. E. H. Henson and Miss Harriett
Earl of Ypsilanti, were united in marriage April 22, 1880. Three children
have come to bless the union: Jennie,
Earl A., and Edwin.


118




and finished his education by a two
years' study in the law department at
Ann Arbor, being admitted to the bar
at Detroit in April, 1871. Mr. Cowles
was employed in the law office of Severens & Burrows of Kalamazoo, but
the confinement necessitated by his
professional  duties  impaired  his
health, and he was obliged to abandon
legal pursuits and seek out of door exercise. He assumed management of
the homestead and bought out the only
other heir.
Mr. Cowles has been one of the
first-class farmers of his time, interested in all methods which tend toward the advancement of the farmer
and the thorough cultivation of the
farm. His buildings are substantial
and the stock raised is of the best.
Mr. R. B. Cowles and Miss Nettie
M. Steward (daughter of George and
Lydia Gray Steward) were married
Nov. 30, 1871. Three children have
been born to them, only two, however,
are living, namely:  Floyd and Ernest A.
Mr. Cowles is a man of wide influence in his community, being an exemplary citizen, a considerate neighbor and a leader in social and religious circles, and has been identified
with the public and educational interests of the township. He and his estimable wife are prominent members
of the M. E. church.


E. H. Henson.


Although our subject is a general
farmer and stock raiser, he has devoted much of his time to fruit culture, having one acre of plum trees,
which for health and beauty are unsurpassed. He is a farmer of resources, as he does not place his dependence on one crop only, but is progressive in so far as he reaches out in
all the lines open to an agriculturalist
for an income. He is a quiet unpretentious man, but one whose judgment on matters pertaining to business is often sought as he is a man
of excellent judgment and exercises
the most thoughtful prudence in giving his opinions.  He possesses a
clear, well-balanced mind, which, in
a measure, has tended to make his
life successful, and has made him potent in advancing the material prosperity of his native township and
county. That he has been elected to
the supervisorship five years, and
to the office of treasurer two years,
attests to the confidence in which he
is held by his townspeople.
Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Henson have a
large circle of acquaintances and
friends who deem it a pleasure to
gather under the Henson homestead,
and enjoy the hospitality which is
ever extended to all.
R. B. COWLES.-Our subject is a
pre-eminently successful farmer, and
a man long to be remembered as one
of the foremost among the agriculturists of the day. He is a representative of an honored family, and one
whose name is associated with growth
and prosperity. His parents were Addison and Hannah Cowles. Mr. Addison Cowles was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1815, coming to Michigan


R. B. Cowles.
during the pioneer days. He was postmaster at Battle Creek for several
years, but died at the age of 38 years.
Mr. R. B. Cowles was born in Battle Creek township, August 28, 1846,
on the fine old homestead of which he
is now the owner and manager. At
the age of 19 he entered the Agricultural College at Lansing, remaining
one year, at which time he took a
three years' course at Olivet College


The Late John Nichols.


119




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%                                                     lkL rSRPRD(O
q eCz4 ( eCeeCe Y11 6BfS9 BQlk rt ee ~l~~ ~~c~~~ll ~se3t ~


Among the thriving industrial enter-   Since 1857 Hon. E. C. Nichols has
prises of the Queen City none stands  been identified with the company. To
out more prominently than the Nich-  him is due the credit for the later
ols & Shepard plant.                 successful enlargement of the indusThe beginning of this important in-  try. The officers of the company are:
dustry was in 1848, at which time a  Edwin C. Nichols, president; David
small shop was established on Canal-  Shepard, vice president; C. C. Beach,
st where the founders could be seen  treasurer; W. R. Wooden, secretary,


lent shipping facilities are afforded
as the yards are penetrated by sidings
from both of these roads. The lumber
yards, and an immense dry kiln constitute a part of the plant, it being
the rule of the company to keep on
hand a two years' supply of lumber.
The employes of this extensive in


__ __




The Nichols & Shepard Co.'s Plant.


working daily side by side with their
fellow  machinists.  Messrs.  John
Nichols and David Shepard had unlimited faith in the ultimate success of
their ideas, and by their close attention to business, even to the smallest
detail, they lived to realize with pardonable pride the remarkable achievement of their small beginning.


who together with F. G. Shepard, H.
C. Chatfield-Taylor and John T. Nichols, constitute the directorate.
The Nichols & Shepard plant is located on Marshall-st at the junction
of the Michigan Central and Grand
Trunk Western railways, and, including offices, buildings and grounds, covers about 40 acres of ground. Excel120


dustry number from 400 to 500 men,
while from 25 to 30 are in the offices.
This establishment has the capacity
of about 750 traction engines, 1,500
separators, and 250 horse-powers,
which find a market in all parts of the
globe.
The aim of this extensive industry,
which is rightly entitled to a place




among the foremost manufacturing
institutions of the United States, is to
anticipate every possible requirement
in the line of threshing machines.
ERNEST BURNHAM,-Commissioner of Schools in Calhoun county, was
born on his father's farm, eight miles
west of Battle Creek, Oct. 15, 1869.
He gained his early education in the
district school, and after attending the
Vicksburg graded school four terms,
about fourteen months, he obtained a
certificate and taught two terms in
District No. 5, Charleston township,
Kalamazoo county.
In September, 1889, he entered the
Battle Creek high school, and in June,
1891, was graduated from that school
as president of his class. He then returned to the district where he began
teaching, and taught two terms more.


as correspondent for the Detroit Tribune.
Immediately following his graduation Mr. Burnham was employed by
the V. J. Tefft estate as editor of the
Albion Recorder. He began the duties
of this responsible position in July,
1896, and continued in this capacity
with ability and success until the
Tefft estate sold an interest in the
Recorder to the present editor, in
April, 1898. He remained with the paper as city editor, and did post-graduate study in Albion College for the degree of Master of Arts, with a view
to entering permanently into the
teaching profession.
In February, 1899, Mr. Burnham became the nominee of the republican
party for the office of commissioner
of schools in Calhoun county, and
after a dignified, but notably energetic
campaign, was elected to that office,
receiving a plurality of 364 votes. He
began his official duties July 1, 1899,
and his well-trained powers and capacity and  liking for hard work,
have won for him the success he so
ardently covets, a success which
means much to the rural schools of
Calhoun county. In the spring of 1901
Mr. Burnham was unanimously nominated by his party for re election, and
received a plurality of 2,028 votes.
On June 22, 1899, Mr. Ernest Burnham  and Miss Grace E. Armstrong
were united in marriage at Wilkesbarre, Pa. They immediately made
their home in Marshall, where they
are still enjoying the social life of
that city.
STEPHEN C. MILLER.-In the first
ranks of successful farmers we have
Stephen C. Miller, who was born Dec.
17, 1833, and came to Michigan from
Lockport, N. Y., in 1854, and settled in
Burlington township, where he now
resides.
There are two reasons why our present subject should stand among the
leading farmers: First, he comes of a
family of tillers of the soil who worked
always for the best results, and obtained them; and second, his natural
progressiveness was brought to bear
in the work of his life, and tell most
astonishingly.
His father was Peter Miller, born in
Seneca county, N. Y., June 9, 1809, and
died Jan. 19, 1899. The grandfather
was G. F. Abram Miller, who came
from "Merrie England" to Seneca
county, N. Y.
Mr. Stephen Miller by hard and
practical economy, judicious invest

ments has become the owner of a four
hundred-acre farm, which does not
strike a passer-by as a place of toil
out rather as a home, a haven of rest,
121


where one could enjoy a quiet, peaceful life, and bid farewell to the bustle
of a noisy city. In this delightful
home the teachers of the neighborhood
have always been welcomed, the ministers, too, meet with a cordial greeting, while warm hospitality is extended to agents and travelers as well,
which goes to show that Mrs. Miller as
the center of the home has ever been
a hospitable entertainer, a model
home-maker, and her home a criterion
of domestic enjoyment.
Mrs. Miller was Miss Mary Smith.
The happy event of her marriage with
Mr. Miller took place May 31, 1860.
They have but one child, a son, Frank
by name, born Sept. 29, 1861, who
resides at the homestead with his parents.
Mr. Miller, while never affiliating
with any sectarian denomination, yet


Ernest Burnham.
During the vacations and the terms
he was unable to attend school, he
worked on his father's farm and for
neighboring farmers.
Mr. Burnham entered Albion College
in September, 1892, and at the end of
four years, having creditably completed one of the regular literary
courses, he was graduated with the
degree of Bachelor of Philosophy.
During his college life he was active
and influential in student affairs, and
was honored by his fellow students
with election to responsible positions
in college organizations. He was president of the Erosophian Literary Society, president of the College Republican Club, president of the athletic
association, and editor-in-chief of the
college paper, and was graduated as
historian of his class. He earned part
of his expenses while in college by
managing a boarding club, and acting


Stephen C. Miller.
he believes in the broad principles of
general christianity, and is a liberal
giver to the M. E. church in his neighborhood.
In politics he is a republican, but
has never cared to take an active part
in the questions of the day, still he
has ever shown an interest in every
thing pertaining to advancement and
prosperity.  Has held the office of
highway commissioner, and transacted
all business in an honest and upright
way.
Our subject has always met with
marked success in raising stock, es
pecially with Poland China swine and
Shorthorn cattle, as he is turning his
attention towards stock raising rather
than to depend on wheat, as in the
days of yore.
Many happy and peaceful years for
Mr. and Mrs. Miller is the wish of the
Journal.




FACTORY AND OFFICE BUILDING
Ellis Publishing Co.
-- - —,

B. F. BODINE.-This honored business man has been a resident of our
city since 1856, having come west
from Brooklyn, N. Y., with his parents at that time, when he was but
nine years of age. He was the son of
Howard and Christina Bodine. The
father lived but two years in Battle
Creek, meeting death by a fall from
the house known as the Wm. Skinner
residence, corner of Maple and Fremont-sts.
Mr. B. F. Bodine learned his trade,
that of tailoring, of Messrs. Fred
Zang and John Miller of this city. He
afterward went to Mississippi, where
he lived for five years, but, prefering
to live in a northern state and with
northern people, he left the southern
clime, returning to Battle Creek,
where he has carried on business ever
since. Mr. Bodine has ever received
a liberal patronage from his townspeople, as he is a tailor who understands his business thoroughly, and
has ever striven to give entire satisfaction, and, too, he has the reputation
of being honest in his deal. As Mr.
Bodine's business has been one of
long standing in the community his
customers today are many of them,
the sons of his first patrons, and he


stands as highly as a man and tailor
in the estimation of the modern young
man as did he when the Queen City
was but a hamlet.
In Mr. Bodine's rooms, 23 Main-st
west, he has samples to the number of
2,000, by which his patrons select
suits. A way which enables a tailor
to carry on an extensive business in
limited quarters. He also carries a
full line of piece goods from the best
and most reliable wholesale houses,
and is, therefore, well equipped to
meet the wants of the public.
Mr. Bodine is a respected and useful citizen of the vicinity, where he
has many friends who wish him continued success in his business.
In September of the year 1874, Mr.
Bodine and Miss Annie E. Eastmead
were married in Meridian, Mississippi.
The bride was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. Six children have been
born to them, four boys and two girls,
all living in Battle Creek.
S. F. MC KAY.-One of the wideawake grocerymen of Battle Creek is
Mr. S. F. McKay, whose place of business is situated at 81 Calhouust, and
is one of the busiest stores of the many
122


retail houses in the city. Mr. McKay
was born in Carmel, Me., and the thrift
which is proverbial of the Yankee nature is conspicuous in his life's work
and the secret of the success which he
has brought about.
Our subject was a trusted employe
of several railroad companies in the
capacity of telegraph operator and
station agent, and his record therefrom is unimpeachable, as he not only
was an expert but his cautious prudence in observing the strict rules of
his employers made him a valuable attache. He was employed by the Maine
Central, the Chicago & Grand Trunk,
and the Union Pacific, in all 35 years.
During Mr. McKay's western life,
while he lived at Merino, Col., he
was postmaster and justice of the
peace for seven years, and his natural
progressiveness and push made him
an acquisition to a new, growing town,
where he was an influential leader in
public affairs.
On May 3, 1893, Mr. S. F. McKay
came to Battle Creek, where he went
into business at his present location,
since which time he has combined
Yankee thrift with the push which is
characteristic of the western man,
and prosperity is the result.




Aga ~~


fairs of his fellow citizens won him
many friends. He was elected alderman of the third ward, a position he
satisfactorily held for four years, and
for several years served as a member
of the board of education.
Since 1883, he has been connected
with the Daily Moon in the capacity of
editorial writer.
In matters of a local character, Mr.
Woolnough has taken an active interest; his labors to promote the moral
and material growth of Battle Creek
have been earnest. As a writer, he is
ready and pointed, seldom indulging
in rhetorical flourish; as a speaker,
he does not fail to command the attention of his audience, and to impress them with much of the earnestness and zeal which he brings to every
subject he attempts to discuss.
Mr. Woolnough was married in August, 1842, to Miss Emeline D. Manley of Ashtabula, O. Four children
(daughters) have been born unto
them, two of whom     survive, Mrs.
Frank W. Clapp and Mrs. E. W. Egery
of this city.


McKay's Grocery.


His double store, made attractive by
the neatness which prevails throughout, is kept well stocked with the
staples as well as the fancy groceries to tempt the appetite of the
fastidious invalid or the epicurean.
Through the genial affability of this
enterprising merchant combined with
his straightforward business methods,
years of prosperity are his; a financial
state which he can claim all credit
for he has not been aided by ancestral
wealth, but rather with determination
and energy.
The clerks employed by Mr. McKay
have the reputation of being courteous and prompt in serving the many
patrons, while the S. F. McKay delivery wagons, which are constantly in
evidence on our streets, are in charge
of obliging drivers.
The maiden name of Mrs. S. F. McKay was Ella Merrill Leverton. They
have seven children, two girls and five
boys. The eldest daughter is at present a student at Michigan's university.
Mr. and Mrs. McKay have one of
the attractive homes for which our
city is noted; it is situated at 102
Wendell-st.
W. W. WOOLNOUGH.-The oldest
newspaper editor in Battle Creek, Hon.
W. W. Woolnough, was born in Suffolk county, England, in July, 1821,
and in 1833 emigrated with his parents to Rochester, N. Y., where he entered the printing office of the Rochester Republican. At the close of
his apprenticeship. in 1841, he entered the office of the Ashtabula Sen

tinel as foreman, remaining there till
1843, when he returned to Rochester.
In 1845 he left that city for Battle
Creek with printing material, and
printed  the  Western  Citizen, the
first paper printed  in this  city.
Within a year, the Citizen having suspended, Mr. Woolnough issued one of
the most zealous anti slavery and
whig journals published in this section, called the Michigan Tribune.
This paper failed, and in 1852, Mr.
Woolnough became the editor and
publisher of the Battle Creek Journal,
continuing the same till 1863, when
he sold to Chas. E. Griffith. For seven
years Mr. Woolnough edited and published a second Michigan Tribune,
an independent journal, making it
a thoroughly successful issue.  In
1859 he served a term in the state
legislature and his interest in the af

H. W. HARVEY, D. D. S.-One of
the most prominent members of the
dental fraternity in the city of Battle
Creek, is Doctor H. W. Harvey, a man


H. W. Harvey, D. D. S.
well established in his profession and
in the esteem of the community.
Dr. Harvey was born in Kent county, Ontario, and spent the first 20
years of his life in Canada, attending the public and high schools there.
For several years he followed the profession of teaching and met with success as an instructor, but gave up that
vocation to follow the profession of
dentistry. He entered the college of
dental surgery at Ann Arbor, and after
giving the required years to conscien

Hon. W. W. Woolnough.
123




He lived at the place of his birth until his eighteenth year and secured his
education in the public schools. He
began learning the tinner's trade at
Jarvis, finishing his apprenticeship
at Sincoe, where he spent three years.
In 1888 he came to Battle Creek and
entered Charles Peters' hardware
store, but in a year's time, being of a
progressive nature, he opened a tin
shop on the north side of State-st,
which he occupied four years, then
moved across the street into the building now occupied by E. M. McConnell,
where he conducted his business successfully for two years. At the expiration of this time Mr. Moblo, finding his increase of business demanded
larger quarters, moved to his present
location, No. 52 Main-st west, taking
success with him.
Mr. L. Moblo makes a specialty of
Jewel line of stoves, mantels of all
kinds and styles, carries on jobbing
tinware trade, besides being authority on hotwater heating business. In
fitting out a home with mantels Mr.
Moble has the reputation of using both
judgment and taste to suit the spec

The Phelps Sanatorium.


tious work he was graduated in June,
1899, being then given the honor of
remaining in the college for the succeeding year as demonstrator of dentistry to the undergraduates.  This
proved to be a profitable year to him,
as the numberless cases which came
under his supervision were many of
them of the most difficult for operation, and as he instructed the way
was open for him to perfect his own
skill as well.
As enterprise is one of Dr. Harvey's
characteristics he cast about him for
a favorable opening for one of his calling, and selected Battle Creek as the
place. His offices, with Mayor L. M.
Gillette in the Tacoma block, are
equipped with the latest appliances
known to dentistry, and he is enjoying
a lucrative practice.
Dr. Harvey is an enthusiastic member of the Masons and the Independent
Foresters.
L. MOBLO.-This wide-awake business man has made himself well


known throughtout this and other
counties as one of the most extensive
dealers in furnaces, hot-water heating,
and metal business in this part of the
state.
Mr. Moblo was born Feb. 22, 1859,
in Jarvis, Haldimand county, Ont.


Interior View of Moblo's Store.


ial rooms of his customers rather than
a personal interest. Harmony as to
size and coloring are given due conconsideration, for which reason he is
a popular dealer in this branch of his
business. As to furnace and hot-water
heating Mr. Moblo's years of experience have fully qualified him for satisfying every customer with a well
kept contract, and he is equipped with
every facility for the perfecting of
same. The Upton flats on Marshallst, the heating arrangements of which
are necessarily extensive, nine families being occupants, are among the
latest contracts which our subject
has taken and satisfactorily filled.
Mr. Moblo employs 14 experienced
men all the time, and often is obliged


Exterior View of Moblo's Store.


124




to add to the force to keep up with
work.
L. Moblo served the first ward as alderman, and by his public spirited
ideas concerning municipal affairs he
gained many friends.
On Oct. 3, 1883, Miss Belle Redfield
of Homer, Mich., became the bride
of L. Moblo. They have one child, a
son, Charles, by name, born Aug. 5,
1885.
Mr. Moblo is a man well and favorably known in business circles in
Battle Creek, while he and his wife en
joy the friendship of many in the religious and social circles. They are
attendants  of the  Congregational
church.
HON. JOHN POWELL.-John Powell has been identified with the interests of Marshall since 1889, and is
well known as a public spirited and
upright citizen, a man of honor in business and social relations, and one
whose character is unimpeachable.
His career is but an added example of
what may be accomplished by a
young man of determination and good
habits.
Mr. Powell was born in Fredonia
township on a farm, where his first
lessons of life and labor were learned;
the experiences of the average farmer
boy can be distinctly recalled, many
of them being of pleasures and others


Dr. Kenzie's Office.


he became the owner of several farms
which were classed among the most
productive of the county, and that he
was recognized as an up-to-date teacher is proved by the fact that he held
the position of school inspector for
some time.
Mr. Powell subsequently became interested in the grain and lumber business, making his headquarters at
Ceresco. Probably no man in Calhoun county is more widely known in
the farming communities than Mr.
Powell, for during his years of buying
and shipping grain from Ceresco that
village became the popular grain center. Mr. Powell was not only pros
perous in business but by his straightforward, honest deal, paying the highest market price and keeping to his
contracts he made friends of his patrons within the radius of many miles.
In 1889 he located in Marshall, continuing his grain trade.
Mr. John Powell has ever been interested in the questions of the day,
taking a firm stand in his opinions
and with the courage, too, of holding
to his honest convictions. As he is a
man whose views are broad he has
been chosen by the voters or the county as an office holder, having satisfactorily held many local offices, and is
now serving his second term as mayor
of the city of Marshall, in all of which
he has conscientiously considered the
interests of his people.
On October 20, 1897, Hon. John
Powell and Miss Mable Sterling were
united in marriage. The bride was a
teacher in the city schools of Marshall. Two children have been born
to them:  Margaret S., born Aug. 7,
1898, and Robert C., born Jan. 9, 1901.
125


WILLIAM   F. KENZIE, M. D.-The
calling of a physician is not only one
of the most arduous, but also one of
the most responsible pursuits in
which man can engage, and he who attains a high reputation in this profession must necessarily be endowed
with keen intelligence and excellent
judgment.
The subject of this sketch, is the son
of William O. Kenzie, who for years
lived in Buchanan, Mich., but who
moved to Battle Creek in 1871, where
the son, Wrm. F., was born March
11, 1875. Dr. Kenzie received educational advantages in our city schools,
graduating therefrom  in 1894. Having decided on the medical profession
he entered the University of Michigan
in 1895, where he conscientiously pursued the required studies till he was
needed in army service, thereupon, in
1898, he enlisted as assistant steward
for three division hospitals, 4th Army
Corps, for one year. His army record
is most praiseworthy as he was faithful in his duties, giving each case under his charge most careful attention,
for which he received repeated laudations from the chief surgeon.
Upon his return home Dr. Kenzie
returned to the University of Michigan, in 1899, and in one year matriculated at the Illinois Medical College
at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1901, returning at once to Battle Creek, where he opened an office in
the Post building.
Dr. Kenzie has made a special study
of the diseases of the ear, eye, uose'
and throat and is well equipped with
all appliances designed for the use of
the practitioner to successfully conduct all cases. He is meeting with


Hon. John Powell.
seem fraught with hardships. His
education was begun at a log school
house, followed by several years in
the high school of Marshall, and at
Olivet College, then finished at the
State Normal at Ypsilanti.
For the next ten years he was engaged in farming and teaching, in
both of which he was successful, as




the encouraging prospects which his
well-directed efforts deserve, and his
many friends have every reason to believe him to be one of Battle Creek's
future prosperous physicians as he
engages in general practice as well
as office specialties. Dr. Kenzie has
the genial bearings of a gentleman and
as his medical ability is of the highest
he is beginning his Battle Creek practice most auspiciously.
WILLIAM   H. SLEEPER.-One of
the industrious, thoroughgoing men of
our city is Mr. William H. Sleeper of
42 Michigan-ave south, who is one of
the  ever  busy  contractors.  Mr.
Sleeper was reared in Calhoun county
on a farm where his experience was
not unlike that of the average country
boy. Although he did not accept that
vocation as being his he looks back


panies, and he was engaged in the
same capacity for five years by the
Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe, and
for two years by the Atlantic & Pacific R. R., his territory being in New
Mexico and Arizona, and still later,
for four years by the Pere Marquette,
which preceded a term of years of
gratifying results with the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. His record from these companies is a compliment to our subject, as he was a
most worthy employe, and a considerate but decisive foreman for the
many who worked under his direction.
Mr. Sleeper came to Battle Creek
11 years ago, and bringing all the
push and vim which he imbibed from
his years in the western states, he
has built up an enviable business for
himself as contractor and builder.


ment of Korll Male, known as the Tiffany of Russia; the iron-clad apprenticeship was for seven years and Mr.
Bromberg informs us that he looks
back to those years as the hardest of
his life, and yet he now attributes his
success in business to the rigid training he received there, for his employer was one of the most skillful workmen in Russia, and under the absolute
government system an apprentice is at
the mercy of his employer.
When Mr. Bromberg became of age,
and, understanding the deplorable
condition of the Russian government,
he with others began to agitate the
subject of a more liberal system than
the cruel oppression over poor boys
and girls, but being checked by the
iron rule of the government he was
obliged to leave his native country.
After traveling all over Europe and
many of the other foreign countries,
he came to the United States, meeting with the severest difficulties in
obtaining work, owing to his being
able to speak only his own language,
but after many trials he was fortunate
in securing employment with the celebrated Horologist of New York City,
where, by his attention to business
and his skill in performing the most
delicate workmanship he became a
valuable attache of the establishment.
Within a few years, however, having
mastered the English language better
positions were open to him and he ac
cepted one in Elizabeth, N. J., and
later was connected with S. Eichberg,
a well known importer of diamonds
and Swiss watches, Mr. Bromberg
having the entire charge of the watch
repairing department, a position which
he filled for three years, but accepted
a more lucrative position in Washington, D. C., where he enjoyed success for several years.
About this time Mr. Bromberg's
health failed and he took an extensive
western trip; at St. Paul he was advised to come to Battle Creek for
treatments at the sanitarium, and,
meeting Mr. Will Galloup, of the firm
of Galloup & Hollister, arrangements
were made for Mr. Bromberg to work
in the jewelry store above mentioned
for half days and also be at liberty to
receive  the  necessary  sanitarium
treatments.
It was on Nov. 4, 1884, that our subject first came to Battle Creek and
continued in the employ of Galloup &
HIollister till the partnership was dissolved, when Mr. Bromberg was found
by his many friends working at watch


repairing in a window of E. R. Smith's
book store.
About this time Mr. Bromberg, longing to see his home friends once more,


Residence of W. H. Sleeper.


to it as the time he formed the habits
of perseverance and industry, both of
which have been the secret of his
success. Carpenter's tools and what
he could accomplish with them had
great fascination for him.
When W. H. Sleeper was 18 years
of age he tried western life, being employed on a railway system in Colorado and New Mexico. At 19 years of
age he was engaged as foreman of
the bridge and pile driving company
on the Sante Fe railroad, a position he
satisfactorily held for seven years, as
he understood his work thoroughly
and had the happy faculty of managing the men in his supervision without discord arising among them.
Mr. Sleeper's executive ability became known to other railroad com

The houses which have been put up
under his direction number 158, being
about 12 to 16 a year, one of the latest being the home of R. T. Lovell on
the corner of Champion and Tompkins-sts.
Twelve years ago W. H. Sleeper
was united in marriage with Miss
Amelia Wahl of Partello. They have
two children, Earl, aged 12, and
Aleene, aged 7.
HENRY A. BROMBERG.-The pride
of the Queen City is the new jewelry
store of H. A. Bromberg's at 48 Mainst west.
Mr. Bromberg was born in the city
of Cherson, near Odessa, Russia, and
when 13 years old entered, as an apprentice, the watchmaker's establish

126




ed workman and a man of strict business principles lets nothing leave
his repair table without his approval,
as he has the supervision of every
detail in his business. One feature
of this popular store is the Stella
music boxes, which have been handled
by the proprietor with marked success.
Henry A. Bromberg by his own exertions and business sagacity, has
brought himself to his present prosperous condition; he has many social
and business friends who rejoice in
his success in life. He belongs to the
Odd Fellows, Knighcs of Pythias and
Maccabees, besides being an enthusiastic member of the Atheistan club.
The wife of Mr. H. A. Bromberg
was Miss Etta Squires. They have
four daughters, and their pleasant
house at 136 Fremont-st, is one of the
attractive homes of the city. and one
where cheer and comfort abounds.
C. W. POST.-Charles W. Post is
not a man who seeks personal notice
from the press, but we realize that
a compilation of this character would
be incomplete without a brief sketch
of this enterprising and public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Post came to Battle Creek some
ten years ago, when his health was
impaired; he remained at the sanitarium for some time, but became interested in mental science and through
its teachings was restored to health,
when he purchased the property where
the Postum Cereal works now stand,
and here established the La Vita Inn,
an institute for the treatment of invalids by the scientific methods by


Exterior View of Bromberg's Store.


crossed the Atlantic for that purpose,
but, on arriving in Paris he was in,formed by the American ambassador
that to enter Russia would be a difficult and dangerous undertaking; he
thereupon telegraphed his mother to
meet him in Paris, but under the severely rigid law of the Russians she
was not allowed to leave the country,
even after her appeals to the American ambassador at St. Petersburg,
and, through the inhuman rules for
which there was no redress, Mr.
Bromberg was forced to return to
America having been sadly disappointed in the object of his journey. He
returned to Battle Creek and while
waiting for a suitable location he did
repairing work over the clothing store
of Mr. Maas, where his many friends
gave him a most liberal patronage.
Later, he opened business in a window
of Buck & Hoyt's furniture store,
which he continued till the firm
changed hands, when our subject
opened the "Miniature Jewelry Store"
at 421/2 Main-st west, a stairway 5x10
feet, which soon took its merited place
among the flourishing jewelry stores
of the city. Mr. Bromberg continued
successful business there for five
years, when, in 1898, being appointed
watch inspector for the Battle Creek
division of the Grand Trunk Western
railway, which meant to handle from
400 to 600 watches yearly, which position he held three and one-half years,
he found it necessary to move to
larger quarters and removed to a
store in the Gildersleeve block, where
he remained three years, his business
increasing constantly.
Mr. Bromberg has recently moved


lis extensive stock into the Austin &
Nichols' block, Main-st west, and by
adding to his goods he now has one of
the finest jewelry stores in the county.
The store is 20 feet wide by 80 feet
teep.
The genial proprietor of this store,
resplendent with silver and cut glass,
does the buying himself and as he has
the best possible taste in making his
selections he is ready to display to
his many patrons the finest assortment of goods, comprising diamonds,
novelties of the latest designs, cut
glass and sterling silverware, to be
found at the best houses of Europe and
2y ulJsnv a1u o0u. 3to4s oAIsuaxxa sIq




Interior View of Bromberg's Store.
127






Post 0[-ice Building.


k-.                1. 1,-                                                 ".     -     I


3,


Post Tavern.
128




which he was cured. Mr. Post also
engaged in real estate operations, successfully marketing a number of
building lots.
About seven years ago Mr. Post
commenced the manufacture of Pos

sheep husbandry, meeting with such
success in that branch of his business that he was considered authority
on that subject. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane McCrory, became
Mrs. J. L. Foster on Feb. 21, 1838.
She was born in Ireland, coming to
America with her parents when she
was but 7 years of age. Mr. and Mrs.
J. L. Foster came to Michigan in 1867,
locating on one of the most beautiful
tracts of land in Battle Creek township, on Goguac Prairie, where they
lived the independent life of happy,
prosperous farmers during their alotted time on earth.
Hon. Wm. J. Foster was born in
Genesee county, in 1839. He is a man
of wide experience, large enterprise,
and of more than ordinary energy,
who has been identified with the farmers and stockmen of Calhoun county
for many years, and has made his influence felt regarding the public questions of the day.
Mr. Foster is the owner of two valuable farms on Goguac Prairie, one of
160 acres and the other of 125. both of
which, through Mr. Foster's management, are kept in the best possible
condition as to buildings and fences,
showing that Mr. Foster is a landowner who takes pride in his property,
and one, too, whose farms add materially to the real estate standing in
the community.
As one of the board of the Agricul

which, through his natural reserved
manner he has never sought, but, for
his strong, clear-headed judgment he
has been sought by the voters. In
1901 he was elected a representative
of the second district of Calhoun


C. W. Post.
tum Cereal in a small way, later he
aaded the Grape-Nut food, meeting
many   obstacles,  but  surmounting
them  all by his indefatigable perseverance; he is today doing the largest
business in his line in the world, and
with a plant capitalized at $5,000,000.
From the first he has been a consistent
believer in newspaper advertising and
having the courage of his convictions,
he has indeed won success. As a
writer Mr. Post has marked versatility, and his logical arguments and
the interesting matter that he has
written in his advertising has been
an important factor in the success at
tending his business. lie not only has
erected his large factory, but also the
Post Tavern and Post office building,
of which illustrations are given in this
issue, and are monuments to his enterprise and public spirit. IIe is continually adding to his manufacturing
plant, having nearly doubled the same
in the past year; he is also erecting a
business block, corner of McCamly
and Main-sts. Mr. Post was largely
instrumental and a liberal contributor
in the building of the new opera house.
His many interests in the city are so
extensive that he is rated as a multimillionaire.
HON. WM. J. FOSTER.-The father
of Wm. J. Foster was Joseph L., who
was born in Oneida county, N. Y., Aug.
5, 1815. He was a farmer of great
merit and gained a reputation in


Hon. William J. Foster.
county, and by his wide minded, but
unprejudiced views he is fulfilling the
prophecies of his many friends by
having the interest of his people at
heart and being an incorruptible representative.
H. C. WINEBRENNER.-It is always a pleasure to see persevering industry when it is combined with honor
and integrity, crowned with success,
and such a record we have in that of
H. C. Winebrenner's life.  He was
born in Martinsburg, Pa., Nov. 24,
1839. but moved with his parents to
Indiana in 1846 where he was given all
the advantages which parents in limited circumstances could give him.
On July 26, 1862, our subject enlisted in the civil war, Company B,
88th Indiana Volunteers, and was a
faithful soldier till the close of the
war. He was in ten battles, was
wounded twice and captured once.
Tne war record of Mr. Winebrenner is
one of which he may well be proud, as
in serving his country he showed the
courage of a true man.
In 1890 he came to Battle Creek.
When young he showed a natural aptitude for the business he has followed, and it was prophesied by his employers that in time he would excel in
his line of work. For 34 years Mr.
Winebrenner has been engaged in
painting, graining, and paper hanging, besides all kinds of frescoeing
and decorating. He has the reputation
of being an expert in his business, as
*


J. L Foster.
tural Society of Calhoun county Mr.
Foster has been instrumental in increasing the interest in the county
fairs at Marshall.
Our subject is a stalwart republican
and has held many town offices,
129




he thoroughly understands it in its
every branch, keeping up with the latest designs and methods, and, too, doing his work in an honest, workmanlike manner, which not only brings
customers to him, but keeps them year
after year. In his decorations the


stead, a fine farm of 132 acres. Mr.
Mead's attention is given to general
farming and stock raising, which he
thoroughly understands and which in
his hands are profitable enterprises.
Mr. Mead is the son of John B. and
Frances (Clark) Mead. the date of his
birth being Jan. 13, 1865.
Mr. John Mead was born in Paulsin.
Dutchess county, N. Y., on Jan. 13,
1829. He early chose farming as his
life work, and in the pursuit of his
calling he not only acquired a compe
tency for his old age, but rendered valuable assistance to his fellow-farmers
in developing the agricultural resources of his section of the country.
His wife was born in Monroe county
in 1841, and her marriage with John
B. Mead was June 8, 1863, and of the
eight children born to them our subject is the eldest. Mrs. Mead came
to her death in an unusual way, as it
was traceable to the fatal sting of a
bee, her demise occurring Aug. 12.
1899, in the 58th year of her life.
Charles B. Mead is a man of resources; he is a progressive farmer
who is ever on the watch to improve
the present methods of advancing his
work. For some years he has been
a successful drain contractor, and by
his thorough understanding of the
work and his faithfulness in the performance of every contract he took he
has gained the reputation of being
authority in that line of business. The
county recognized the superior merit
of Mr. Mead in his particular line of
work and elected him to the position
of county drain commissioner for a
term of two years; his work receiving


H. C. Winebrenner.


perfect harmony as to shading and
tinting has been highly commended,
and in giving advice to customers as
to their home decorations Mr. Winebrenner considers the attractiveness
of his patron's home rather than selfish interests, and by so doing he has
gained friends innumerable during his
11 years in Battle Creek.
Mr. Winebrenner deals in paints
and varnishes of the very best makes,
and is prepared to produce the various
shades of oak and the natural woods
used so abundantly in house finishings; the effect of this branch of his
work is so perfect that the imitation
woods cannot be distinguished from
the real. Ten experienced workmen
are in his employ who co-operate with
Mr. Winebrenner in giving the best
possible satisfaction to all patrons.
In 1865 H. C. Winebrenner and Miss
Anna Hoxworth were united in marriage. Three children have been born
to them, two sons and one daughter,
but one son deceased at the age of 16.
Mr. Winebrenner, politically, is a
republican, but although interested in
the affairs of his country, he has never
entered partisan strife.
The business place of our subject is
situated at 307 Champion-st, where
all calls will receive prompt and efficient attention.
CHARLES B. MEAD.-The township of Marengo has no more reputable
citizen than Charles B. Mead, a farmer who lives east of the city of Marshall in Marengo township, but who
still retains his interest in the home

and is interested in all the great questions of the day. In church affiliations
he and his family attend the Methodist
Protestant church.
Mr. Mead from his interest in important movements concerning the advancement of his fellow-citizens has
been sent as delegate to many conventions; to the state in 1896, and to all
county conventions since that date.
The maiden name of the woman who
is sharing the joys and sorrows of
Charles B. Mead's life, was Ida M.
White. They have six children in
their home, namely, Charles G., Mable,
Muriel, Floyd, Birdie and William.
GEORGE G. CARR.-One of Battle
Creek's popular and enterprising contractors is G. G. Carr, who was born
in 1858 in the town of Eastbrook, Pa.,
near the city of New Castle. He received educational advantages in the
schools of his native town, but began
at the age of 17 to learn the carpenter's trade; in fact, he cannot recall
the time when he was not interested
in the tools of a builder and fascinated
in the use of them, as his father was
ever engaged in the business, and the
son early in life manifested a marked
aptitude for the work.
Our subject has had the best of instruction in his line of work and has
improved every opportunity, thereby
making himself one of the up-to date
contractors of Battle Creek, and one
who keeps posted on the latest methods and designs. He is prepared to
take contracts for all public buildings
and private residences, taking a special interest in the latter and has the
satisfaction of receiving the highest
praise from the owners of the same,
as he conscientiously keeps to his contracts and aims to suit his patrons
in every particular.
As to interior finishings of the natural wood, frescoeing and trimming,
Mr. Carr is one of the leading workmen, as the taste he displays is unsurpassed and his workmanship is faultless.
Many of the handsome homes for
which Battle Creek is becoming noted
have been erected by George G. Carr,
among them the residences of A. D.
Webb, F. H. Lyman, J. P. Hamilton,
Alderman Fred H. Webb, ex-Alderman F. C. Stillson and Scott Fields,
the latter being one of his latest contracts, a half-tone of which accompanies this sketch.
Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Carr, the latter
was formerly Miss Ella E. Kellogg of


Ionia, Mich., have lived in Battle Creek
for nine years, and that continued
prosperity is in store for them is the
earnest wish of the Journal.


Charles B. Mead.
the highest commendation from the
many land-owners whom his drains
had benefited, he was again elected
to succeed himself and is serving with
entire satisfaction.
Politically he is a silver republican,
130




it was largely through his instrumentality that the Duplex Printing Press
Company decided to locate its plant
in Battle Creek. He has always been
ready to use his time and effort and
the influence of the Moon in securing
for Battle Creek any industrial or comr
mercial advantage, or in the support
of any worthy public enterprise.
He occupies a prominent position in
the organization of the Michigan Assosociated dailies and is the present
secretary of that body. He has also
several times been a delegate to the
National Editorial Association.
Mr. Brown has erected a handsome
brick block on Main-st east, and has
other property interests. Altogether
Mr. Brown is a fair example of the
self-made man and his success is entirely deserved.


Residence of Scott Field, Built by G. G. Carr.


MARTIN   E. BROWN.-Martin E.
Brown was born in Battle Creek, on
August 3, 1857, and until his fifteenth
year, was a student in the public
schools of this city. At that age he
entered the office of the Michigan Tribune, a weekly paper published in the
city by W. W. Woolnough, one of the
veteran editors of the state, and now
an editorial writer in the employ of
Mr. Brown. He remained in this office
three years, until he had earned sufficient means to carry him through
a two years' course at the State University at Ann Arbor, where with the
zeal and perseverance that has characterized him in his entire newspaper
career, he pursued his studies, working meanwhile to some extent in the
office of the Hon. Rice A. Beal, of the
Courier.
Upon his return from Ann Arbor he
established a small printing office at
13 North Jefferson-st and issued therefrom a small three-column folio, which
he circulated in connection with the
Detroit News. This publication he
christened the Daily Moon, the first
issue appearing March 25, 1879, with
but slight promise of its future successful growth. But the Moon had
come to stay, and its editor by persistency and tireless effort slowly forged
ahead with his cherished enterprise,
adding to the plant and from time to
time increasing the size of the paper
to meet the constantly enlarging demand for space. At present the Moon
occupies the brick block at 39 Main-st
east, which was purchased by M. E.


Brown for the purpose, and his paper
is a seven-column paper of eight
pages.
Personally the editor of the Moon
has been actively interested in all
matters of public interest, and is
known as an enthusiastic believer in
the future of the Queen City. He is
a member of the board of trade, and


P. Hoffmaster.


131




|   Review & Herald Publishing  o.
r =7=wD 7 A A By a


Among    the  many   large   establishments throughout the United
States devoted to printing and the
kindred arts, that of the Review &
Herald Publishing Company of Battle Creek, Mich., is entitled to a front
rank. Few concerns can boast of a
larger equipment of all that goes to
make up a modern printing office, and
still fewer can show a more noteworthy production, either in magnitude or variety.
The plant takes up one immense
building, containing 80,000 square feet


been at the sacrifice of symmetry,
so that in this one essential the establishment may be said to be lacking.
The building cannot be described as
an ideal one for the purpose for which
it is used. Yet it is well-lighted, wellventilated, and  kept  scrupulously
clean-three virtues not always found
in printing office buildings making
much greater pretensions.
The basement is given over principally to the boilers, engines and dynamos. Of the first-named there are
four-three of 80-horse power apiece,


are suspended over steam coils in an
oven-like arrangement. By means of
this apparatus work can be delivered
to customers a few minutes after leaving the presses when desired.
From the samples shown, nothing in
the line of job printing is apparently
too difficult for the facilities of the
office. Color work, embossing and
fine half-tone work are produced in all
their variations.
A paper-box factory, fully equipped,
is a part of the establishment.
The book composing room has the


— -!;           Mii   iiiliii i  I'ii




1


it?:,-        X, 1 *  -*. ^,~  f X L  Do, — =General  View  of R —e --- --— erald P-ublish
5,... _  _ >i f it_-e_  * g1^-s i,;b
General View of Review & Herald Publishinxg


Co.'s Buildings.... - -- -  I ---                     -


of floor space, and overflows into a
number of smaller structures adjoining. The visitor, in endeavoring to
obtain a concise idea of the lay-out of
the establishment, is very apt to become confused. He soon learns, however, that together they form a whole,
complete institution, dominated by a
single spirit, controlled by a master
mind, operated for a specific purpose.
The chopped up appearance of the
building is due to the fact that the
business has been one of gradual development. In 1850, when it was first
instituted, a small building was ample
for its needs. The original building
has been retained, but wings have
been added and additions built, so
that it resembles the original about
as much as the proverbial pocketknife
with new blades and a new handle,
resembles the original knife that
came from the factory. All this has


and one of 180-horse power. A magnificent engine supplies the power for
the establisment, while an entirely
separate plant furnises the light. The
basement also provides room for storing immense quantities of paper, 12
carloads being not infrequently kept
on hand. Every year about 15,875
reams of paper, weighing over 2,000,000 pounds, are used; almost enough
to keep a small paper mill employed.
The pressroom contains nine upltodate cylinders. These presses average 16,000 impressions per hour, or
144,000 per day.
The job composing room is well
equipped with all the standard type
faces. In a room adjoining are ten
platen and four pony cylinder presses
and they are kept in constant operation. At one end of the jobroom is a
novelty in the way of a quick-drying
apparatus. Trays of light wirework
132


necessary equipment for turning out
anything in the book, pamphlet, or
magazine line with neatness and rapidity. Besides the large amount of
book composition done in this department, twenty periodicals are issued,
ranging from an eight-page weekly to
an eighty-page monthly. The monthly
output of periodicals alone is over
five hundred pages, containing an
average of nearly two million ems
The number of compositors and general workmen employed is over fifty.
In addition to the almost perfect
equipment for all kinds of hand composition, there is a battery of three of
the latest improved Mergenthaler Linotype machines, which, running constantly, do the work of twenty-five
compositors, and turn off about 200,000 ems per day.
The facilities of this department for




410
L,4.

133




134




WOUNDRY


doing all kinds of music work are unexcelled.
The third floor is largely taken up
by the bookbindery and its adjuncts.
Here are found five Smyth book-sewing machines, three of which are of
the new model, sewing without a cord;
several new Hickok ruling machines,
capable of ruling 60,000 sheets a day;


three numbering machines; five embossing presses, two of which are
power presses and self-inkers; besides
numerous folders, wire stitchers, tying machines, rotary board cutters,
perforators, smashers, gilding machines, presses and other necessary
machinery.
In an adjoining factory three car

penters are kept constantly employed
in crating goods for shipment and doing such other work about the premises as comes within their province.
The electrotyping department employs fifteen journeymen and a number of apprentices.  It occupies a
roomy, well-lighted apartment on the
third floor, and is well equipped with


135




everything going to make a model
foundry.
Under the roof there is a room specially fitted up for photo-engraving,
equipped with everything necessary
for half-tone and zinc etching work.
The art room, where the designing
and illustrating is done, is on the
ground floor, adjoining the business
office. There Messrs. F. E. Robert
and P. J. Rennings have a cosy nook
with artistic embellishments, and are
ready to supply illustrations for anything from a bible to a business card.
"The Review & Herald Publishing
Co.," which is the trade name under
which the Seventh Day Adventist
Publishing Company does business,
was established in 1850. It was incorporated in 1861, and re-incorporated
in 1891 with a capital stock of $250,000. The officers are: I. H. Evans,
president and general manager; C.
D. Rhodes, secretary and treasurer;
S. H. Lane, auditor. It also has representation in England, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.
MILO STOLP.-The task of a biographical writer is a pleasant one
when he is called upon to give facts
in the history of a man so conspicuous in the social and financial improvement of a locality as is the gentleman above named. Mr. Stolp is a
son of William and Martha (Kinyon)
Stolp, and was born in Onondaga
county, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1834, coming
to Michigan with his parents in 1850.
William Stolp, born July 4, 1812, in
Onondaga county, N. Y., was a striking illustration of force of industry
in a man. He arose from an humble
position to one of affluence simply
by the constant exercise of frugality
and hard work. He was numbered
among the prominent farmers and
stock raisers of Michigan. His parents  were  William  and   Hannah
(Barnes) Stolp, who owned a fine farm
of 300 acres in Onondaga county, and
were extensively engaged in raising
cattle and horses. He was an ardent
patriot, served in the war of 1812 and
participated in the battles of Oswego
and Sackett's Harbor under General
Brown.
The father of our subject was a tiller of the soil in his native state till
1837, when, becoming anxious to try
his fortunes in the far west, came
to investigate and judge for himself
as to the fertility and the advantages
held out to emigrants. He found the
state in a primitive wildness, so re

turned to the Empire state, but later,
in 1849, came with the intention of
settling permanently, which he did,
buying from time to time till he was


the owner of over 700 acres ot choice
land. Mrs. Stolp, the mother of our
subject, was a most worthy woman,
whose untimely death at the age of 39
years was a severe affliction to her
family and a host of friends. She
was the mother of nine children,
namely: Milo. Jay, Hannah, Polly,
Randolph, Florence, Mary, DeForest
and Martha.
Milo Stolp on November 22, 1876,
was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Jane Warsop, the daughter of
Joseph and Ann (Gray) Warsop. Four
children have been born to them.
They are living in their well-kept
home, a farm of 120 acres, which was
bought in 1879, where they expect
and hope to reside so long as an
earthly abode is needed.
Mr. Stolp is a general farmer, thinking that the best results are produced
when not confined to one special line.
In politics Mr. Stolp is a radical democrat. He has an hdnorable record
and merits the respect and esteem
which he has from all who know him.
THE    TONTINE.-The      Tontine
house in Marshall is a neat, comfortable, well kept and well served house
where the guest is made to feel that
his hotel is his home.
The genial proprietors of this popular hotel, namely, Wm. H. and Albert
A. Holmes, are well qualified to satisfactorily and successfully conduct a
public hostelry, as they are experi

enced men in their line of work, looking after the details of the management themselves and giving careful
attention to the comfort of every
guest. They have spared no expense
in equipping the house with all modern conveniences, steam heat and electricity having been put in within the
last few years. On the first floor are
pleasantly located the spacious dining room, show room, sample room,
and ladies' parlor. The guests' rooms
on the second floor are well lighted
and well warmed, and furnished with
all the appurtenances which tend to
comfort and homelike cheer. The utmost care is given to the board and
for that reason the past patrons of the
Tontine continue to be so, and ever
have a kind word for the house and
the popular proprietors.


E. R. Smith.


- -' ---

The Tontine Hotel.


136




I BfTTLE GREEK'S MUNIGIPfL COVERNMENT X
il^^<^<^^~634CQ~e*Pi^<i^^^^^^4^^^^^^ ^^^^^^v^^^^^^^^^^^


FRANK E. HALLADAY, a well
known representative in the city council and a prominent wholesale grocery dealer in the city, was elected


L. M. Gillette.


Frank E. Halladay.
alderman of the fourth ward in the
spring of 1898, and has made a most
praiseworthy record in his earnest
work for the city; he is chairman of
the ways and means committee.
DR. J. C. REYNOLDS, one of the
successful physicians of Battle Creek,
and one whose reputation is well earn

HON. L. M. GILLETTE, the mayor
of Battle Creek, is an office holder.
who, during his administration, has
ever worked for the best interests of
the city and by so doing his terms of
mayoralty are conspicuous in the annals of the city by the admirable management of municipal affairs.  Dr.
Gillette is a broad-minded man and
is one of the most practical mayors
who have ever held that office in Battle Creek.
FRED H. WEBB has been an activc,
member of the city council since 1893.
He is a most ardent townsman, giving
most efficient aid on the several committees to which he belongs, namely,
side and cross walk, public health,
and charity, public buildings and
parks, and printing.  He is a past
chancellor of the Knights of Pythias,
a past commander in the Maccabees,
and a member of the A. O. U. W.


Dr. J. C. Reynolds.


ed and well deserved, is one of the substantial members of the council, having been elected alderman of the fifth
ward in the spring of 1901.


Fred H. Webb.
137




CHARLES A. CALDWELL, representative of the first ward in the city
council, was born in Elkhart county,
Ind., June 27, 1864, living there till
1877, at which time he moved to Kan


BURTON ROBERTS, one of the
able aldermen of the fourth ward, is
one of Battle Creek's well known men
whose interest extends beyond his own
personal employment, as the city's
welfare is a subject which has called
forth much of his time, and to which
he has given his most careful attention. He is a valued employe of the
Nichols & Shepard Company, and one


ments, but aims to decide wita careful prudence.
ELBERT 0. BACHELLER is the
senior alderman of the second ward,


Charles A. Caldwell.
sas, coming to Battle Creek in 1896.
Mr. Caldwell is a republican and was
elected to the council in the r-ing
of 1899, and has been an able adjunct
of same, acting as chairman of the
street and bridge committee.
E. M. M'CONNELL, being one of
the stirring, wide-awake men of Battle Creek, who is ever alert for the advancement of civic prosperity, was
made alderman of the third ward in
1901, and has been one of the potent


Burton Roberts.


who has the esteem of his co-laborers.
As an alderman Mr. Roberts is fulfilling his duties to the entire satisfaction of all, as he conscientiously con
siders the needs of his people and uses
his influence towards adopting the
best methods for perfecting the same.
H. E. HENRY is a stalwart republican who is one of the sound minded
business men of Battle Creek, and for
that reason he was elected as alderman of the third ward, a position he
is filling honorably and well. Concerning municipal affairs Mr. Henry is a
man who is never hasty in his judg

Elbert O. Bacheller.
and the earnestness which has characterized his work in life is shown in
nis interest in civic affairs, for he is a
stanch advocate of every progressive
theory for improvement. Mr. Bacheller holds the chairmanship of the police committee, and is also a member
of the claims and accounts, and the
public lighting committees.
GEORGE    h. PHILLIPS.-One     of
the reliable men of the Queen City


E. M. McConnell.
members of the body. He is an upright business man and a public- spirited citizen.


George H. Phillips.
whose business transactions have placed him among the trustworthy citi

H. E. Henry.
138




zens of the day, is George H. Phillips,
a popular dealer in agricultural implements and carriages. He is interested
in public affairs and is an able representative of the first ward as alderman.
GEORGE     FORKER.-Among     the
busy officials of our city is the street
commissioner, George Forker, who is
a well and favorably known citizen,
and an office holder who is meeting
with approbation from the property
owners in the city.
George Forker, Sr., the father of
our subject, was born in Germany,
where he learned the carpenter's trade


served his city most commendably, as
it is noticeable that the streets are
kept in the best condition possible,
which reflects credit on the commissioner. He takes the highest interest
in his work, and as a true citizen has
pride in the clean, well-kept streets.
During the first year of his office he
put in over five miles of curbing, a
fact which goes to show that our
street commissioner understands the
wants of the city, and adopts the best
methods of advancing the same.
DR. HARRIE T. HARVEY.-There
is no profession which has made such
rapid strides toward perfection as dentistry, and no practitioner in southern
Michigan has kept abreast of the
times more surely than our subject.
H. T. Harvey was born at Holly,
Mich., Feb. 4, 1867. His father was a
foundryman whose children at his
death were left to meet life unaided
by a competency. It may have been
through the privations which came to
H. T. Harvey that he developed the
courage to overcome the obstacles be
fore him. In many ways he was employed in service as a means of support, accepting any honorable position open to him. In 1882 Mr. Harvey
secured a osition as bell boy at the
Battle Creek sanitarium, where he
served faithfully. Later, he went to
Toledo for the purpose of studying
dentistry, and, applying himself with
his characteristic perseverance he
was graduated from the Philadelphia
Dental college in 1892, and began business in Battle Creek at once with Dr.
Atherton as partner.  Subsequently,
however, he opened an office for himself in the Trump block in a suite of


Dr. Harrie T. Harvey.
rooms that were built especially for
the convenience of his professional
requirements.
Dr. Harvey's superior qualifications
as a dentist have received state and
national recognition, as he has been
sought as a speaker for the instruco
tion of conventions of the National
Dental Association, where his papers
have received the highest merit. In
1899, Governor Hazen S. Pingree selected Dr. Harvey to be a member of
the Board of Examiners in dentistry,
and his duties in that capacity have
been awarded deserved commendation. The board of public works, to
which Dr. Harvey was appointed by
Mayor Gillette in 1900, has found his
sound judgment on municipal affairs


George Forker.


and was one of the well-to-do builders
of his town. Having come to America,
settling in Binghamton, N. Y., he followed his trade with good results, being an honest workman and a thorough
one.
Our subject was born In 1846, In
Binghamton, and received educational advantages in that town. In 1864
he enlisted in the civil war, serving
his country one year; his war record
is an unblemished one as he met duty
fraught with peril and danger in an
unflinching manner, and endured the
hardships of army life uncomplainingly.
Mr. Forker at the close of the war
accepted a position as locomotive fireman, and was shortly promoted to
conductor, but, wishing to become an
engineer, he resigned his position to
accept one as fireman on the old Penn
sylvania road and served some years,
then accepted a place as engineer on
the M. C. R. R., where ne was a faithful employe till 1880.
In 1900 the city recognizing the
wideawake, forceful nature of our subject elected him as the street commissioner, and in this capacity he has


Residence of H. T. Harvey.


139




to be invaluable to that esteemed
body.
Dr. Harvey is secretary and a large
stockholder in the Cero-Vito Food Co.,
Ltd., treasurer and manager of the
Electric Sparking & Illuminating Co.,
Ltd., stockholder in the Monolith
Portland Cement Co., Ltd., at Bristol,
Ind., stockholder in the new opera
house and other enterprises. He is
a member of the following dental associations:  The National, the Michigan, tne Western Michigan, and honorary member of the Toledo Dental
Association.
One of the handsome homes in the
city is that owned by Dr. H. T. Harvey of 250 Van Buren-st west. It is not
only commodious and attractive but is
complete in all its appointments, making it a home which suggests comfort
and happiness to all. Dr. Harvey is a
lover of a fine horse and is never
without the best; his equipages on
the street of our city are most noticeable for beauty and elegance and the
latest in style.
C. HOWARD DASKAM.-It gives
us great pleasure to place upon the
pages of this volume the name of C.
Howard Daskam, who holds the responsible position of register of deeds.
Mr. Daskam is a native of Bridgeport,
Conn., and was born April 2, 1854. In
1856 the family moved to Michigan,
settling at Paw Paw, Van Buren county, where the early education of our
subject was received in the public
schools.
Mr. Daskam's father served in the
civil war, and at its close moved his
family to Albion, which place has been
the home of the family. Howard Daskam finished his education at the high
school in Albion, and in 1871 became
an apprentice to the moulding trade
in the Gale works, perfecting himself
in every branch during his seven
years' connection with Liat industry.
In 1880 he embarked in the wood and
coal business and carried on an extensive and successful business till
1898.
That Mr. Daskam is popular among
his fellow citizens is shown by the
trust which they have imposed in him
by electing him to positions of honor;
the office of supervisor, was held seven
years, and that of treasurer of his city
for two years, and a member of the
common council for two years. Mr.
Daskam has ever taken an active helpful interest in all public movements
and is considered by his town and
county to be an up-to-date progressive


man. In 1898 he was elected to the
office of register of deeds, and no officer in that position has been more


L>\~btbwQd <A$<$7


satisfactory in his work; he is accurate, prompt and efficient, and has a
pleasing way of meeting the many
callers which business take to his office. He has gained friends in all po

litical parties since he held his present position. He is a resident of Marshall in whose social circles he and
his family are well known.


E. L. North.


J. E. Strong.


140






BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. -The
purpose of establishing a board of pub
lie works was to put in the hands of a
non-partisan body of men the construction of systems of water works
and sewerage. In 1886, Mayor Rathbun, in pursuance of amendments to
the city charter, appointed the first
board of public works, which organized March 12, 1886, and elected E. C.
Nichols president, W. C. Gage, secretary, and William Andrus, treasurer.
The other members of the board were
Geo. E. Howes and J. M. Ward. W.
W. Brigden was appointed engineer.
The cost of construction was a little
over $100,000 and has reached over
$300,000, while the length of mains is
about 40 miles. The pumping plant at
Goguac lake consists of two Blake
compound duplex condensing steam
pumps, each of over 2,000,000 gallons
daily capacity, and they can fill the
standpipe, which holds 143,000 gallons,
in less than an hour and a half. The
standpipe is 75x18 feet, and the top
200 feet above the business part of
the city.
The sewerage system which is complete and sanitary was designed by
Rudolph Hering. one of the best engineers in America.
Hon. Henry C. Hall, president of
the board of public works, has the
honor of being the first male child
born within the corporation of Battle
Creek. He was educated in the city


schools. In 1861 he enlisted in the
13th Michigan Infantry, serving as
lieutenant of Co. D, and afterwards
as captain of Co. K, in which capacity
he served till he was mustered out in
1865. During his years of army service he was engaged in 13 battles and
his record was one to which he can
ever refer with pardonable pride.
H. C. Hall has faithfully served his
city in different capacities; he was
elected to the city council three terms
and to the office of mayor three times.
and was also our representative in
1888-9, a position he filled to the satisfaction of his townspeople.
Dr. H. T. Harvey, secretary of the
board of public works, is elsewhere
mentioned in this souvenir, is a professional man of ability, a business
man of marked sagacity, and a citizen
who has served his townspeople ably
and well.
George S. Barnes is a progressive,
public-spirited man who has acted as
one of the efficient aldermen for two
terms, using his judgment for the best
interest of the city.
Charles A. LaFever, is a graduate of
Michigan's university, is a practical
electrician of merit, and one of the
rising young business men of the city,
having  many   social and  businesa
friends.
George A. Crandall, our highly respected fellow citizen, is a wide-minded man who ever favors improvements
141


for the city's good. As to municipal
affairs he advocates all methods for
an advancement.
W. W. Brigden has held the position
of superintendent of water works since
1886. He is a man of strict integrity,
and one who does his duty without
regard to social position of anyone,
treating all alike, and at the same
time looking carefully after the interests of those in whose service he is.


W. W. Brigden.




I THE MICHIGAN BUSINESS AND NORMAL COLLEGE


I


9""9"sLs~e'-S)'-gea qifqlLgryXsAC;f)e2t'lsqr~~gi4yfj ct9r riP~9r'4r9r3r;9r'9r9rS;


Conducted by C. J. Argubright, has
always based its claim for public favor and patronage upon merit alone.
The success which it has achieved has
been, and now is, the result of devotion to the individual wants and requirements of those who have come
within its doors, seeking the practical
things of life, ani by a strict fidelity
to the students; ever remembering,
and feeling most keenly, the trust re


posed in it by anxious parents. The
public may rest assured that the
watchword of this institution will ever
be "Progress" and that no legitimate
effort will be spared to promote the
best interests ot patrons and the advancement of students. Faithful work,
and every promise fulfilled, has earned for this school the reputation it
now enjoys. Thousands of dollars invested in equipment and appliances


for the comfort and advancement of
students, and the selection of teachers
thoroughly qualified for the work in
hand, regardless of expense, is abundant testimony to its loyalty.
Without doubt the most important
feature of a school is its teaching
force. A magnificent temple, complete in every detail, may be reared
and dedicated to education; the most
approved methods of training may be


142




addpted, but success will be lacking,
unless instructors of unquestioned
ability are in charge of the different
departments.
Many business training schools lack
only one thing to maKe them worthy
institutions, but this is the most important of all, good teacherb.
While it is true that the corps of
teachers is the strongest feature of
this school, it must not be inferred
that anything is lacking in other directions.  This institution  is com

College, is pre-eminently fitted for
the responsible position he holds, as
for practical knowledge and the urgent
need of same among young men and
women, he stands with the leading
men in his line of work. He is most
fortunately possessed of exceptional
executive ability which is requisite
in successfully conducting a school,
the size and nature of the one of which
he is at the head. Mr. Argubright is
ever watchful for methods of improvement, carefully noting the results of


popularity of the home-like school
rooms over which he is the predominating spirit.
That Mr. Argubright will receive
the continued success which his flourishing school so richly deserves, is the
earnest wish of the Journal and the
many students who have been equipped therein for life's duties.
THE NATIONAL BANK.-In 1863,
the National bank was organized and
until 1885, the time of its reorganization, it was conducted under the name
of the First National bank and the total responsibility of the bank is
very large.  Items of a statistical
nature will be of interest:  Capital,
$150,000; stockholders' liability, $150,000;  total resources, $1,765,039.94.
Officers of the bank:   Edwin C.
Nichols, president; Chas. Austin, vice
president; F. P. Boughton, cashier;
F. G. Evans, teller. Directors: Edwin C. Nichols, Chas. Austin, F. P.
Boughton, W. J. Smith, F. G. Shepard, S. J. Titus, C. C. Beach.
This institution pays four per cent.
interest on savings deposits, rents
safe deposit boxes in its vault, and Is

plete in every detail, and students
who come here will find the school in
every respect equal, in point of excellence, to their highest expectations.
The Michigan Business and Normal
College is conducted on strict business lines, the methods of training are
the very latest, and are indorsed by
the leading business and professional
men of the United States. The teachers are men of unquestioned ability.
established reputation, and years' experience, who have learned to do by
doing. The facilities offered in the
several departments, in the way of
furniture,, fixtures, conveniences, and
schoolroom appliances, are equal to
the very best that can be found anywhere in the United States.
The shorthand and typewriting department consists of two large rooms,
which are well furnished, well lighted,
and well ventilated. The appliances
are all first class in every particular,
and represent an outlay of more than
$2,000 in money. Each department
is at all times comfortably filled with
earnest, progressive students who are
determined to make a success of their
work and themselves.
Mr. C. J. Argubright. the president
of the Michigan Business and Normal


"" j,
p


Interior of National Bank.


---


ill new features.  It can safely be
said that those adopted by him are
the ones surest to lead to success for
every student.
One of the busiest men in our city
is Mr. D. Sillers, who is prominently
identified with the work of thoroughly preparing young men and women
for business, as he is the efcient secretary of the Michigan Business and
Normal College. As Mr. Sillers has
had years of experience in his work
he is unsurpassed as an instructor,
and by his geniality he adds to the
143


sues drafts payable in all parts of the
world; it was the first bank in the
city to make a showing in its published report of total resources.
This bank has the greatest volume
of business of any in central Michigan, having a larger deposit than any
financial institution in either Kalamazoo or Jackson. The accompanying illustration shows the handsome, commodious and attractive bank building
at the corner of Main-st east and Jefferson-ave north.




own exertions they may justly be
proud of it. Two children have been
born to them: Edward H., born Sept.
13, 1879, and Bertha May, born May
17, 1884.
Mr. Marteeny's parents were John
and Elizabeth (Irwin) Marteeny, and
Mrs. Marteeny is the daughter of
Henry and Eureta (Shelp) Ansterburg.
Dr. O. S. Phelps is one of the recent acquisitions to the Queen City,


The Late Hon. F. M. Rathbun.


The late Hon. F. M.
one of Battle Creek's


Rathbun was
most notable


business men and an active, influential citizen, holding various important
civic offices. He was elected to the
mayoralty in 1885 on the democratic
ticket, and served his term honorably.
He was a director and one of the
founders of the Advance Thresher
Company.
A. E. Blanck is one of the efficient
contractors and builders of Battle


URIAH    MARTEENY.-The      fact
that a man has engaged in the service of his country during the trying days of the civil war and that he
bore a gallant part in many a hardfought contest, is sufficient to make
his history interesting. We are therefore pleased to be able to present to
our readers an outline of the experience of Uriah Marteeny, for many
years a resident of Albion township.
Mr. Marteeny enlisted October 24,
1862, in Co. D, from Berwick, Penn.,
serving his country faithfully and well
even when danger was to be met. He
was made a corporal of his regiment
and performed the duties of same to
the satisfaction of all; was discharged
from war scenes on November 9, 1865,
at Fortress Monroe, Va. He has shown
himself to be a loyal citizen, who has
the dearest interests of his country
at heart.
Mr. Marteeny owns one of the fine
farms of Albion township; it is of the
best location and under the owner's
management it is kept in good cultivation, the buildings are ample for
the needs of the farmer, all of which
goes to prove that Mr. Marteeny is an
up-to-date  agriculturalist,  keeping
pace with the world in his line of business.
Mrs. Marteeny is a woman endowed
with the qualifications of home-making, and as she and her husband have
gained their home of 160 acres by their
144


Dr. O. S. Phelps.
owing to his connection with the
Phelps Sanatorium which is the pride
of the city.
N. S. Phelps is the business manager of the Phelps Sanatorium and
chairman of the Ellis Publishing Co.


A. E. Blanck.
Creek,  whose   satisfactory  work
throughout the city has made him a
popular man in his line of work.


N. S. Phelps.




MRS. F. C. STUART.-Calhoun
county abounds in womanly women,
whose influence have been characterized by the tender graces which ever
make them potent for good.
Mrs. F. C. Stuart is an example of
our many wide-minded, zealous working christians, who has found many
ways of doing good and who has entered the work about her with indomitable courage and fearlessness, although at times the undertakings have
been baffled by opposing power; yet
Mrs. Stuart has lived to witness gratifying results from much of her labor.
Our subject, Orpha M. Parker
Stuart, was born in 1835, at Mt. Morris, N. Y., to Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Parker. Her father, with his family, came


Walter M., in 1873; Eden B., in 1876,
but of these only three are living.
No woman of this county is more
widely known among the W. C. T. U.
workers than is Mrs. Stuart, to which
organization she is a life member. She
has honestly given her years to its
cause, working with the organization
and also in her home ire showing
that she considered no subject of such
vital importance to the country as the
prohibition question. She is an enthusiastic member of the I. O. G. T.,
from which she has been a worthy delegate  to  conventions  numberless
times, having been a member 30 years.
In the order of the Daughters of Rei
bekah she has taken the highest degree, known as Decoration of Chivalry,
and her work as a Royal Good Templar dates back to 1851, and she has
the honorable distinction of being the
only living member for 50 consecutive years. In tie "woman's movement" of the Crusaders in 1874, she
was a conscientious worker.
Mrs. Stuart in her religious views
is a Congregationalist, and as is her
nature, she enters her church work
with whole-souled earnestness, as her
good deeds are known to all with
whom she comes in contact. Her
many years in Marshall, where she
still lives, have endeared her to the
many who look upon her as a tried
and true friend whose public work in
good causes has been prompted by
duty rather than a love of notoriety.
Her friends wish her many years of
the peace and happiness which her
well-spent life so richly deserves.
A. M. Minty, the vice president of
the Merchants' bank, is a native of
Bath, England, but has made Battle
Creek his home since 1852, where he


Mrs. F. C. Stuart.
to Michigan in 1855, settling in Flint,
where he was extensively engaged in
the lumber business, of which he was
the prosperous owner and manager.
The Parkers were of English descent,
the grandfather, Ephraim Parker, was
an honorable soldier in the war of
1812, whose record was an enviable
one, and one to which his descendants
have ever referred with pardonable
pride.
Our subject was an earnest, painstaking teacher for some years previous
to her marriage with Mr. F. C. Stuart,
an event which took place in Detroit,
in the year 1859. Mr. Stuart was a
jeweler of Marshall, to which place
he brought his bride where they lived
their happy wedded life till death called the husband.
Mrs. Stuart became the mother of
seven children, namely:   Frank P.
died at birth, October, 1860; Alice E.,
born Nov. 4, 1861; F. A., born 1863;
Ernest, in 1865; Lizzie, born in 1868;


Chief W. P. Weeks.
Chief W. P. Weeks has been connected with the fire department since
1880 and was appointed to his present
position Jan. 1, 1892.
THOMAS GREEN.-"Merrie England" was the land that gave Thomas
Green birth; the land of roast beef
and plum pudding in their primal condition of excellence; the land upon
whose empire the sun never sets in
all the journeyings of the earth about
that central orb.
Mr. Green was born in Bloxon, Eng.,
April 23, 1837, and lived there till he
was 19 years of age, when he sailed
for America, with high hopes as to
future prosperity coupled with a strong
determination to succeed in life, which
no doubt is the reason that fortune
has favored him during these years of
toil.
The parents of Thomas Green were
John and Marie (Shirley) Green of
Bloxon, Eng., whose love of the land
of their nativity was so great that
they could not be induced to seek the
far-off country when their son came,
so they bade him God-speed and saw
him leave.
The most notable feature of Mr.
Green's long and tedious ocean passage was the death of the captain who
was buried at sea, a circumstance
which, of course, made a deep impression on the minds of all on board,
and one which no one who witnessed
it will ever forget.
After arriving in New  York Mr.
Green came west as far as Canada,
where he remained for some time, employed at any honest labor which bid
fair to give him financial aid. From
there he went to Detroit, thence to
Newton township, where he still lives


A. M. Minty.
has established a substantial reputation as a cigar manufacturer and an
honorable, reliable business man.
145




on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in sections 3 and 4.
On March 5, 1865, Mr. Green married Miss Fannie M. Park, the fourth
child of Jonathan and Julia Park of
Oneida county, N. Y., to whom four
children came to bless their union:
Will M., born July 2, 1866; Ida Belle,
born Feb. 25, 1870; Bert H., born
August 12, 1872; Alonzo C., born Dec.
23, 1873.
Mrs. Green sprang from one of our
stanch American families; two of her
brothers having been in the Union
war, and can show records of which
they may justly be proud.
No better idea can be had of successful farming than to look about
the home of Mr. Green; roomy sheds
and out-buildings shelter the farming
implements which are housed when
not in use; and the barns are ample
even for the great demands made upon
them for his herds and flocks. His
motto is that of "Poor Richard,"
"He who by the plow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive."
And upon that principle he has worked, and upon it has founded his prosperity, as well as achieved it, he being
his own manager and superintendent.
Charles M. Leon, the oldest active
merchant in the city, was born on Oct.


Residence of I. L. Stone.


Residence of Hon. E. C. Nichols.


Charles M. Leon.
19, 1824, in Newburg, N. Y. He is
looked upon as one of the substantial,
reliable mercantile men of our city.
GILBERT B. MURRAY.-Among the
names of the notable men of the county we find that of Gilbert B. Murray,
who was born Dec. 25, 1814, in Newfield, Tomkins county, N. Y., coming to
Michigan in the fall of 1836, living on
several different farms in eastern
Michigan till he acquired the means
of purchasing the piece of land in
Burlington township which has been
his home ever since.
In July 8, 1835, he married Hannah
Drake, who proved to be a helpful, en

ergetic woman; not only in her home
relations did she manifest the spirit
of advancement but in her church matters has she thrown a wonderful influence by her works and good example. The organization of the Abscota church was solely due to the
untiring efforts of christian workers
like Mrs. Murray, who through many
discouragements persevered and saw
their hopes fully realized.
Three children came to bless their
union: Chester J., born May 26, 1836,
and dying in Mt. Pleasant. Mich., 1894;
Reuben D., born Dec. 30, 1840; W.
Frank, born July 9, 1845.
Mr. Murray brought to his home as
his second wife, Mrs. Anna M. Banta,
who was the mother of two children
by her first husband; Anna L.. now
Mrs. Scofield of Providence, R. I.. and
Henry S., of Leonidas, Mich.
Mrs. Gilbert Murray was a native of
Boonton, N. J., and is a descendant of


Gilbert B. Murray.
146




Daniel Beach, who was in the war of
1812.
Mr. Murray has been instrumental in
wielding affairs in his town and
county. Has held prominent offices,
the duties of which he has transacted
with credit to himself and satisfaction
to his constituents. He has been a
member of the Methodist church and
a liberal giver for church purposes,
is firm in his convictions of right, but
quiet and unostentatious, enjoys an
extensive friendship, and is highly esteemed for his general good qualities
of heart and head.
Mrs. Murray has been a prominent
and earnest worker in the county Sunday School Association for six years,
acting as treasurer during that period
of time, discharging her duties with
promptness and efficiency.  For 14
years she was zealously engaged in the
Sunday school of her district, doing all
in her power to promulgate moral and
religious principles.
Their home of one hundred and
twenty-six acres has been acquired by
fair and honorable means, and as it
has been the homestead so long it is
dear to them, for around it clusters
many pleasurable memories.


J. W. Freeman.                              C. M. Rash.


--


Residence of Dr. J. H. Kellogg.                              The Late Hon. R. Kingman.
147




Isaac Amberg.


A. H. Marhoff.                        James Henry.




O. S. Clark.


A. R. Mcintyre.
148


A. H. Geddes.




THE OfGOE PRINTING 60. LTD.


One of the noted and conspicuous
business houses in our city is that of
the Gage Printing Co., Ltd., the successful printing and publishing estab


and Susan Claggett Gage, and was
born Jan. 10, 1842, in Pepperell, Mass.,
but at the age of two years his parents moved to their native state, New


Manchester, came to Battle Creek in
1867, and engaged in business in the
office of the Review & Herald, but on
account of ill health returned to New


Fred W. Gage,
Treasurer Gage Printing Co., Ltd.
lishment, in a large four-story building, which they erected for their own
needs.
Wm. C. Gage was the son of Caleb


Hon. Wm. C. Gage,
President Gage Printing Co., Ltd.
Hampshire, where the son grew to
maturity and enjoyed the privileges
afforded by the public schools.
He learned the printer's trade in


Capt. Thos. C. Morgan, Co. L, M. N. G.
Secretary Gage Printing Co., Ltd.
Hampshire where he remained seven
years, at which time he came to Battle Creek again and again found employment at the Review & Herald.
Beginning in a small way in 1883, it
has grown to be one of the largest
and best equipped printing establishments in the state, sending its productions all over the United States.
Wm. C. Gage is chairman of the
company, Thos. C. Morgan, secretary,
and Fred W. Gage, treasurer. W. C.
Gage has been identified with the
printing business for over 40 years,
and Fred W. is a practical workman,
so that the management is in efficient
hands. Mr. Morgan has the superintendency of the engraving department.
A specialty is made of railroad printing, a great deal of work being done
for the G. T. W., the M. C. and other
railroads, as well as general job printing business.
They occupy their own finely ar.
ranged and lighted building, corner of
McCamly and State-sts, doing under
one roof, printing, engraving, elec*trotyping, and binding. A specialty is
made of finely illustrated catalogue
work, the house being one of the few
in the state owning its engraving
plant, for doing wood-engraving, half

149




tone, and zinc etching. It has always
been their aim to do the very best
quality of work at reasonable prices,
and it has come to be almost an axiom
in this city, that "if you want good
printing go to the Gage Printing Co.,
Ltd.
That this policy is a wise one is attested by the fact that their business
is constantly increasing, and that they
pay out over $3,000 a month in wages
to their employes, adding materially to
the prosperity of the city.
With a complete and thoroughly
equipped mechanical department, a
large stock of all kinds of paper, and
a corps of thoroughly efficient workmen, they are in a position to please
the most fastidious; and they aim by
courteous, fair dealing with their customers, to enjoy their continued patronage.
CHARLES E. THOMAS.-Attorney
C. E. Thomas is one of the well and
favorably known business men of Battle Creek, having been a resident of
the place during his entire life. Mr.
Thomas was born Nov. 28, 1844, and
no one has taken more pride in the
growth of his native city than he, and
no one has been more instrumental in
advancing the city's industries and
conducting same on firm business principles than has C. E. Thomas.
He was educated at the public
schools of the city, and afterwards entered the law department at Michigan's university, where he graduated
in 1868, returning to Battle Creek at
once and became a member of the law


firm of Dibble, Brown & Thomas,
which firm was succeeded by Brown
& Thomas.
Mr. Thomas has served his city as
aiderman four times, and was chairman of the ways and means committee, and as such had to meet the payment of nearly $200,000 railroad bonds.
While on the school board a period of
18 years, the debt of $81,000 of ten per
cent. bonds was paid off, and the wiping out of this indebtedness is credited to a great extent to Mr. Thomas by
his fellow members. In 1894 he was
appointed postmaster by President
Cleveland, and during his administration the postoffice was raised from a
second-class to a first-class office, and
his management met with the highest
approbation of his fellow citizens. He
holds the office of treasurer of the
Flaked Food Co., Ltd., and his experience and shrewdness In cooperations
make him a valuable adjunct in business of like nature.
C. E. Thomas is known as one of the
active and progressive business men
of the city whose townspeople are his
stanch friends.
Mr. Thomas is a director and the
attorney, and active in the management of the Advance Thresher Co.,
and is one of the original founders of
that prosperous manufacturing institution.
WILLIAM H. FLAGG.-The subject
of this sketch is well known in Battle Creek and vicinity, and is a man
whom to know is to respect.
Mr. Flagg served his country bravely


- -- --


William  H. Flagg.
and well as a member of the Second
Michigan Infantry, three years and
three months, and was a participant
in some of the largest battles and stirring events, a fact which makes his
record one in which he may take just
pride.
Mr. Flagg learned the blacksmith
trade, and was an expert and industrious worker in his line; he was
employed by the Upton Manufacturing
Works for several years, and later
was a trusted attache of the Nichols
& Shepard Co. in the blacksmithing
department.
In 1885, he was appointed by Mayor
F. M. Rathbun, as chief of police of
Battle Creek, and in this position he
distinguished himself in a marked degree, as he did his duty fearlessly and
at the same time was a terror to evil
doers; throughout his term of office
the law was enforced in all departments, and every one learned that
Marshal W. H. Flagg was an officer
who would do right regardless of consequences.
Mr. Flagg, in 1886, was appointed
by H. C. Hall, as street commissioner
and assistant marshal, a position he
held for three successive years. His
work was painstaking and carried on
with careful watchfulness that won
for him the good opinion of taxpayers
of this city.
For the past few years he has had
charge of George B. Willard's farm
at Lake Goguac, and is taking interest
in agricultural pursuits, making a
study of the best methods of land cultivation.
Mr. Flagg is a skillful fisherman and
is untiring in his efforts toward the
welfare and protection of Lake Goguac, on the shores of which he res!;'es during the summer months.


Charles E. Thomas.


150




I HON CEORCE WILLARD
The following is a sketch of the late
Hon. George Willard, founder of the
Battle Creek Daily Journal:
The late Hon. George Willard of
Battle Creek, son of Allen and Eliza
(Barron) Willard, was born March 20,
1824, in Bolton, Chittenden county,
Vermont, and came of a sturdy pioneer stock. The founder of the family, Simon Willard, emigrated from
the County of Kent, England, in 1634,
settling in Concord, Mass., was a man
of strong character and marked ability. He was very active in the affairs of the colony, both civil and military, having been a member of the
General Court from 1636 to 1652, and
governor's assistant from the latter
date to 1676. He explored the headwaters of the Merrimac, and was one
of the commissioners to settle the
boundary line dispute between New
Hampshire and   Massachusetts, the
rock which marks the boundary still
bearing his initials. He was commander of the militia of Middlesex
County during King Philip's War, and
led the force to the relief of Deerfield.
Oliver Willard, the great-grandfather
of the subject of this sketch, received
from the colony of New York a patent
to Hartland township, and first settled there.
Mr. George Willard's father, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a
classmate of Rufus Choate, removed
to Michigan with his family, consist
ing of wife and two sons, George and
Charles, in 1836. Under his supervision George received a thorough
training in the classics, as well as
other branches, and when only twenty years of age, graduated from Kalamazoo College. The following years
were spent in teaching and preparing
himself for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal church, to which he was
ordained in 1848. He was successsively rector of churches in Coldwater, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo,
Mich. Mr. Willard remained in the
active discharge of his ministerial
functions until 1862, when, his convictions of duty having been gradually
undergoing a change, he felt that he
could not consistently continue to fill
the priestly office, and he resigned his
charge, soon afterwards accepting a
Latin professorship in the Kalamazoo
College.
Mr. Willard's hatred of wrong led


him to strongly oppose the extension
of slavery into the territories, and
finally drove him into political life.


In 1855, during the excitement in regard to the Kansas-Nebraska bill, he
wrote a letter to the Hon. William H.
Seward on the subject, receiving a reply from which the following is an extract: "Truth in every department of
human knowledge and action, is entitled to open, free confession and vindication by all classes of society; and
I know of no ground upon which any
man anywhere, much less any man in
a republic, can suppress his convic
tions or refrain from giving his support to the truth on any great and
vital question." In 1856, Mr. Willard
became a member of the State Board
of Education, on which he served six
years, his influence and efforts contributing largely to the establishment
of the State Agricultural College at
Lansing, which was successfully put
in operation during this period. In
1863, he was elected regent of the
Michigan University, which office he
held for six years. Always radical
and progressive, Mr. Willard drew up
the resolution opening the university
to women, which was adopted. He
also strongly advocated the establishment of a chair of Homoeopathy in
the medical department, and was
largely instrumental in securing the
services of President Angell to the university. In 1866, he was elected to the
legislature, serving as chairman of
the Committee on Education in the
house, and in the following year was
appointed to the same position in the
Constitutional Convention, of which
he was a member. In the state republican convention of 1868, he was chairman of the committee on resolutions.
In 1872, he was appointed a member
of the Centennial Board of Finance,
and in the same year was a delegate
at large to the National Republican
Convention at Philadelphia, in which
he was a member of the committee on
rules. In the fall of that year, Mr.
Willard was nominated by his party
for representative in the forty-third
congress, and was elected by the remarkable majority of 7,547. He was
a member of the committees on civil
service, and on coinage, weights and
measures, and on his re-election in
1874, was again appointed to the latter committee, and was also a member of the committee on the District
of Columbia. He was made a member of the United States Monetary
Commission in 1877, and made a thorough study of the silver question, attending all meetings of the committee
both in Washington and New York.
Mr. Willard was also on the commit

tee to provide a method of counting
the electoral vote, and on a sub-committee to prepare a history of the en151


tire vote. While in congress Mr. Willard labored zealously for the adjustment of sectional difficulties, and advocated a speedy settlement of the
Southern question on the basis of justice and charity. Ile at once took
high rank as a speaker, his speeches
on the subject of cheap transportation, in oppostion to the Force bill,
and advocacy of a popular government, and on a bill to regulate the
presidential vote, attracted wide attention, and gave him a national reputation; the latter speech was published in all the leading papers of both
parties. In addition to his attainments
as a scholar and orator, Mr. Willard
was a recognized worker, looking
closely after the material interests of
his immediate constituency, while not
forgetting that his duties were also
national in their scope.
In 1868, Mr. Willard purchased the
Battle Creek Weekly Journal, and four
years later established the Daily Journal, of which he was editor and a proprietor up to the time of his death,
after a brief illness, March 26, 1901.
In 1844, he married Miss Emily Harris, daughter of Rev. John Harris of
Battle Creek. They had four children,
Mrs. Charles D. Brewer, Charles Willard, Mrs. E. W. Moore, whose husband is business manager of the Journal, and George B. Willard, editor of
the Journal, all of whom survive him
with the exception of Charles, whose
death occurred in early childhood.
Mrs. Emily H. Willard died in 1885,
and in 1887, Mr. Willard married Mrs.
Elizabeth A. Willard. who still survives him.
A great reader, an ardent student
of both ancient and modern history,
a fine linguist, possessing a familiaracquaintance with German, French,
Italian, Spanish, Latin and Greek, Mr.
Willard's scholarly acquirements, supplementing fine natural gifts, made
him one of the foremost among the
throng of brilliant men of which Michigan is so justly proud. Mr. Willard
though advanced in years, had always
possessed good health, and up to his
last illness retained fully the mental
qualities of his vigorous manhood.
In person, he was of medium height,
erect, robust figure, a finely developed
head, gray eyes, and clear-cut intellectual features.  His manner was
dignified, and as a conversationalist
he was charmingly entertaining and
instructive. In all that tended to the
development and progress of Battle
Creek, Mr. Williard took a deep interest, and contributed largely by voice


and pen, as well as in other ways, to
its prosperity. He retained his connection with the Protestant Episcopal




church, and was a delegate to its triennial general convention in 1856,
1886, 1889, 1892, and 1898. A man of
strictest integrity, with "the courage
of his convictions," a gentleman in
the truest sense of the word, Mr. Willard was deserving of the high regard
and esteem in which he was held by
all whom he honored with his friendship.
H. E. HENRY.-Prominent among
the thoroughly public-spirited citizens
of Battle Creek is H. E. Henry, who
was born in Sandyville, Warren
county, Iowa, in 1867, and lived there
till his fifteenth year, coming then to
Battle Creek with his father, Archibald Henry, and attended tne college
until he was 21 years of age.
Mr. Henry then opened a livery barn
in partnership with S. I. Abbey, a business which continued for two years,
at which time Mr. Henry bought out
Mr. Abbey's interest and carried on
the business alone for two years more,


The woman who shares life's joys
and sorrows with H. E. Henry, was
formerly Miss Nettie Cornell of Kalamazoo.   They  have  two  children,
namely: Hazel and Harold.


western life in the state of Nebraska.
Mr. Bacheller was educated in the
city schools, then learned the printer's trade, identifying himself with the
firm of Gage & Son in 1883. Subsequently he became an efficient bookkeeper and holds that responsible
position with the above mentioned
firm. He is president of the common
council and in that capacity has made
friends, not only among the munici.
pal officials, but throughout the city,
as his influence and work has been
for the best interests of his fellom cit
izens; he is progressive in his ideas
and ever advocates the best p asible
methods for the advancement of the
same.
Politically Mr. Bacheller is a stanch
republican; he is a man who is well
informed on all important questions of
the day and takes a wide view on all


Dr.


E. H. Coller.


H. E. Henry.
doing a successful business and giving general satisfaction to his patrons.
Mr. Henry is extensively interested
in a most productive gas region near
Marion, Ind., as he owns a farm of
360 acres in that locality. The well
of natural gas on his farm gives promise of being one yielding rich returns
and is now being worked with satisfactory results. Mr. Henry is a man
thoroughly calculated to engage in the
working of his gas well, as his energy
combined with his executive ability,
are characteristics which are needed
in such an enterprise.
Mr. Henry is the owner of a farm of
240 acres, situated 41/2 miles northwest of Bedford, to which he gives his
personal attention. He engages in general farming and stock raising and
with reasonable success, as his methods are of the best and his energy sufficient to perfect his well directed
plans.


Elbert 0. Bacheller.
subjects. He is an upright citizen in
whom his townsmen have the utmost
confidence and respect.
WILLIAM   PAGE   MINER.-W. P.
Miner was born in Pulaski, Jackson
county, Mich., on April 30, 1840, and
was the youngest child of Luther and
Elinor (Grant) Miner.   Later, the
family moved to Somerset township,
Hillsdale county, on a farm of 150
acres situated on the Chicago turnpike; it was here that our subject received educational advantages and
formed the habits of life.
In 1855, W. P. Miner, then but 15
years of age, went to Galena, Ill., then
a mining town, but within a few years
he engaged in business in Potosi, Wis.,
being the proprietor of a drug and
book store for three years, and after
being employed in various occupations for several years he returned to


Levi Miller.


ELBERFT    0.   BACHELLER.-A
prominent member ot the city council is Mr. Bert O. Bacheller, who is
the senior alderman from the second
ward, and who is an active and efficient co-worker of that body.
He was born in Battle Creek June,
23, 1862, and has spent his life here
with the exception of six years of
152




the homestead, conducting the farm
until 1861, when he, with George
Proudfit of Jackson, organized the
Jackson Blair Cadets and joined the
8th Mich. Infantry, the regiment going at once to Washington, thence by
steamship to Hilton Head, S. C. Mr.
Miner's army life was cut short by
il health, and he was forced to return
to the homestead till 1864, after which
he engaged in the dry goods business
as an employe of W. M. Bennett of
Jackson; later he was in the wholesale house of Marshall Field in Chicago.
Since 1888 W. P. Miner has been a
resident of Battle Creek, engaging in
different occupations.  He has been
twice married, the last marriage taking place in Chicago, April 26, 1893,
with Mrs. Ida M. Sisson. Mr. Miner
has one son, Fred S., who is a resident of Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Miner has two children, Fred,
an employe of the G. T. R. R., an
Miss Minnie, who resides in this city.
The Miners can trace their ancestry back to the 13th century and have
the coat of arms handed down to
them from generation to generation.
ORLANDO L. LINN.-A prominent
name in Homer and the surrounding
vicinity is that of Orlanuo L. Linn,
who has been a prosperous and successful merchant of Calhoun county
for many years, and is today closely
associated with the business interests
of the village; he has also acted in
various capacities for the general welfare of the community.
Orlando Livingstone Linn, was born
in the Hoosier state, his birthplace
was the town of Bourbon, Marshall
county, Indiana, where on the 23d day
of September A. D. 1855, he first saw
the light. His parents were natives
of Indiana, but his grandparents came
from Kentucky back in 1829, and settled in the Hoosier state. His original
stock came from Scotland on the one
side and Germany on the other. He
is the son of James W. and Lucinda
Linn and the mixture of the Scotch


and German gives to the subject of
this sketch that shrewd, keen business judgment coupled with frugality


that has nmde him the successful business man he is today.
On the 17th day of February, A. D.
1875, Mr. Linn was united in marriage
to Elsia A. Nave of Indiana, and they
have two boys living as the result
of that union. James Frank, 20 years
of age, now a clerk in the office of the
superintendent of public instruction
at Lansing, Mich., and Otto, 10 years
old, who is attending the public
school.
In 1883 Mr. Linn came to Michigan
in company with Alva Spayde, and
forming a co-partnership, they entered
into business at Homer, Mich., where
they continued until September, 1887,
when Mr. Linn bought his partner out
and has since been operating under
the firm name of 0. L. Linn & Co. He
runs a department store and keeps
a well assorted stock of dry goods,
carpets, clothing, boots and shoes, in
fact everything usually found in a
well kept and carefully appointed
store. Mr. Linn has one of the largest
stores of its kind in the southeast portion of the county, and his perseverance and energy has brought him to
the front in his line, and today he
stands as one of the most successful
merchants of the county, with a business, built up by his own untiring efforts, that is second to none in the
state of Michigan. Mr. Linn is a man
well adapted to the business he is engaged in, and his many years of active
experience enables him to keep pace
with the world and anticipate the
needs of his customers so that he can
give them what they wish upon the approach of the different seasons. His
patrons are wide spread as his store
is made popular by the genial merchant, who has the happy faculty of
not only pleasing his customers but
making them firm friends as well.
Mr. Linn's increasing trade made it
necessary for him to seek larger quarers, so in the summer of 1898, with an


eye to the improvement of his adopted
village, he bought the old Exchange
Hotel site, on the main ccrners of
the town, and commenced the erection
of a fine modern store of brick, which
is one ox the finest stores and office
buildings in Homer. The lower floor
is occupied by Mr. Linn for his large
department store and the second floor
for office and lodge purposes. In October, 1898, his stock of goods was
moved into the new block and the increase in patronage shows that the
business judgment of the proprietor
was not at fault.
Mr. and Mrs. Linn are both members of the Presbyterian church, and
in the village and community are widely known for their kind hospitality
and are highly respected residents,
using their strong influence for right
and justice, and ever striving for the
advancement of the social welfare of
the people.
Mr. Linn is politically a life long republican and has been honored by
being village treasurer and councilman for several terms, and has been a
member of the county committee of
the republican party for 12 years, and
in the different capacities in which
he has served he has exhibited that
same clear headed judgment that has
made him a successful business man,
making him a worthy and conscientious officeholder.
0. L. Linn is an enthusiastic secret society man, being a Royal Arch
Mason, a Knight of Pythias, of which
lodge here he was a charter member,
a Modern Woodman and a Maccabee,
in all of which he is a consistent and
energetic worker.
During all the years that Mr. Linn
has been in Homer he has endeavored to advance the interests of the
town, and has been one of the foremost in all enterprises that would
tend to improve the town.


Baptist Parsonage, Erected by Charles Willard in Memory of Mrs. Laura
Willard.


153




GEORGE    B. WI LLARD.-George
B. Willard, editor of the Battle Creek
Daily Journal, has been identified with
his city during his entire life, as he
was born and reared in Battle Creek,
and received educational advantages
in the public schools.
Upon leaving school Mr. Willard began work in the Journal office, and
from his long experience and also by
reason of his adaptability to newspaper work, has become an al-round
newspaper man, both as to mechanical
requirements and editorial management.
Although always enterprising and
enthusiastic in his chosen work, he
is ever exceedingly careful to closely
inspect all contributions to the Journal to see that nothing of a sensation


HON. EPHRAIM    W. MOORE.-The
business manager of the Battle Creek
Daily Journal, E. W. Moore, was born
in Rochester, N. Y., but spent his
boyhood days on a farm near Victor,
in that state. He went to a country
school, and afterwards attended a
collegiate  institute  in  Rochester.
Later he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he followed for several
years. In 1883, Mr. Moore came to
Michigan, taking up newspaper work
with which he has been connected
ever since.
Mr. Moore was made alderman of
the fourth ward in 1895-6 and in 1897-8
was elected to tne state legislature,
where, as representative, he conscientiously looked after the interests of
his district, especially was he an


Press Association, and has been vice
president of the Michigan Republican
rress Association.
DR. W. S. POTTER, JR.-A recent
addition to the ranks of the dental
fraternity of Battle Creek, and a man
of pleasing social and professional
qualifications is Dr. W. S. Potter, Jr.,
who was born in Verona, N. Y., coming
while young, with his parents, to Petoskey, Mich., from thence moving
later to Ionia, subsequently locating
in Battle Creek.
Dr. Potter's early education was
quite liberal, having received the ad.
vantages of the public schools, at
Ionia and Battle Creek. Later, having selected dentistry as his life work,
he entered the University of Michigan
in the dental department, where he
was a student for two years, after
which he entered the College of Dental
Surgery, the dental department of
Lake Forest University, where he
was a faithful student, mastering the
profession in its every detail, graduating in June, 1901. Returning to
Battle Creek, Dr. Potter opened well
appointed offices in the Tacoma block,
47 Main-st west, where he is prepared
with the appliances meeting all the
requirements of the modern practice
of dentistry.
Although Dr. Potter has been practicing his profession but a short time,
he is considered a thorough and careful operator, faithfully performing his
work for the best good of each patient.
He is a reliable workman. and with
his correct and modern methods, not
only for fillings, but crown, bridge and
plate work, he is enabled to build up a
successful dental practice.
HARRY STONE.-Mr. Harry Stone
is a man of wide experience, of large
enterprise and of more than ordinary
energy, who, since he identified himself with Calhoun county has made
his influence felt in the, village of
Homer and vicinity.
Our subject was born March 10,
ib25, in Carlysle, Cumberland county,
Penn., and was the fourth son of David and Margaret Stone. He is a person who, when young was ambitious
to see the world, and for that reason
had no desire to settle down in his native place; but has lived in several
different states, and being possessed
of a quick mind and a retentive memory has gained useful knowledge from
the different localities where he has
lived, and recalls for the entertainment of his friends the striking pro

vincialisms peculiar to different regions.
Times of war and peace have been


George B. Willard.
al or unjust nature appears in the columns wich which he has so long been
identified, and the high reputation of
which he takes just pride.
Mr. Willard is not only engaged in
newspaper work but has other large
interests to which he gives needful attention. He is the owner of a fertile
farm  of 200 acres located on the
shores of Lake Goguac, and is also interested in prominent industries of
our city.
George B. Willard is a man who is
ever interested in public movements
which tend to advancement, and has
been a liberal contributor to same.
Mr. Willard, while having been a
life-long and consistent member of the
republican party, and having attended many conventions as a delegate,
has always declinec to allow himself
to be nominated for public office, prefering to give his undivided attention to his business interests.


Hon. Ephraim W. Moore.
earnest advocate of all measures that
were in the interest of the farmer and
workingman.
In 1898, the republican party nominated and elected E. W. Moore to the
office of mayor, and his administration was conspicuous by the uniform
co-operation of the city council in the
management of municipal affairs, and
also by the liberal and judicious expenditures of money for substantial
public improvement.
He was chosen chairman of the
board of supervisors of Calhoun county the same year.
Mr. Moore is now giving his attention entirely to business interests.
He is chairman of the Battle Creek
Flaked Food Co., Ltd., treasurer of
the Battle Creek Health Tablet Co.,
Ltd., and one of the executors of the
estate of the late Charles Willard.
He is well known in newspaper circles; is a member of the Inlandc Daily
154




interwoven in the experiences of our
subject. When the country called for
her sons to arms, Mr. Hiarry Stone
responded, by enlisting in the 10th
Cavalry from Cleveland, O., in 1861,
and he met the hardships of the soldier's life till October, 1865, receiving
his discharge at Cleveland, O. Mr.
Stone's recollection of war scenes is
vivid, as he recalls the thrilling incidents of those days of dire wretchedness as fully as though they were of
recent date, and in his reminiscent
stories he also brings out the bright
side of the trying times as well as
the serious. His war record is one
of which to be proud, as he stood unflinchingly in the front ranks as an
example to his comrades.
In 1876 Mr. Stone came to Michigan
settling in the northern part, but later
moved to Clarendon, Calhoun county,
afterwards to Homer, where he purchased and greatly improved the
Commercial House.
Mr. Stone is a typical landlord for
he is business-like, and progressive as
well as ever watchful for the comfort
of guests, thereby impressing all with
the homelike atmosphere of his hotel.
Mrs. Stone co-operates in the work
of her husband's choice, and is pronounced the right woman in the right
place. May their years be many to
gladden and cheer the hearts of the
wayfaring man.
R. JOHNSTON PALMER, M. D.Prominent among the later acquisitions to the medical fraternity in this
city and possessing marked ability
for his calling, is the subject of this
sketch, Dr. R. Johnston Palmer, whose
offices are located at 69 Main-st east.
Dr. Palmer was born at Oil Springs,
Ont., but at the age of 4 years his parents moved to Petrolia, and later to
Toronto.
The father of Dr. Palmer, Mr. Geo.
Palmer, is an extensive oil producer
in Toronto, and is one of the influential citizens of that community.
The early education of our subject
was obtained from  the schools at
Petrolia, and having finished the high
school at that place he entered Woodstock College at Woodstock, Ont.,
where he was a student for three
years, at which time, in 1892, he ma
triculated at the Trinity Medical College, from which he graduated with
merited honors as doctor of medicine
and master of surgery. After completing the required course at Trinity University, he took the degree of fellowship, and received the distinctive


honor of being the one appointed from
a large class to act as house surgeon
of chronic diseases in the Toronto
hospital. The busy year which fol

lowed was one of great profit to him,
as many of the cases which came under his charge were of the most complicated, and his experience there
proved to be of inestimable benefit.
The next position which was offered and accepted by Dr. Palmer was
the responsible one of ship surgeon,
the duties of which being arduous and
trying, are now recalled by him as
calculated to give discipline to a young
physician rather than unalloyed pleasure. Later he entered the office of
one of the most skillful medical practitioners in Toronto, namely, Dr. R.
B. Orr, and together their practice
was extensive and successful, Dr. Palmer gaining the reputation of being
thorough and painstaking as a physician and careful and skillful as a
surgeon. Dr. Palmer, however, decid
ing to settle in the States, came to
Michigan, locating in the rapidly
growing city of Battle Creek, in Feb.
22, 1900.
Dr. R. Johnston Palmer is a young
man of strong mental attainments,
who, in every way merits the success which he is reaping; as a physician his education and medical training has eminently fitted him for the
responsible position which the physician is called upon to hold in his tender ministrations to suffering humanity, and as a surgeon, his conspicuous success in using the scalpel in the
most delicate operations, since his
coming to the Queen City, places him
among our most trustworthy surgeons
of the day.
As Dr. Palmer is faithful in all professional duties, rapid and sure in diagnosis, prompt in emergencies, and
honest in opinion, he cannot fail to
hold the enviable position he has acquired. His offices are fully equipped
with all modern appliances known to
the profession, and his friends and
patrons may be assured that every
case entrusted to him will be conducted with the conscience of the true
physician.
HOMER    INDEX.-An example of
enterprizing progressive and up-todate country journalism is found in
the Homer Index, published in the
wide-awake and hustling village in
the southeastern corner of Calhoun
county.
The Index is one of the four pioneer
newspapers of the county. It was established in 1871 by J. H. Wickwire,
who sold the plant the same year to
Dr. W. A. Lane and Chas. D. Burt of
Homer. Mr. Burt retired from the


staff the following year, Dr. Lane continuing its publication until 1896, when
he was elected judge of probate. Under his management the Index be155


came one of the most influential papers in this section of the state. During his connection with the paper he
compiled "Homer and Its Pioneers,"
the first and only authentic history of
the early life of that part of the
county.
In 1896 the management of the Index was assumed by Dwight W. Knickerbocker, who is still its editor and
publisher. Mr. Knickerbocker was
wholly without experience in newspaper work but under his regime the
Index has enjoyed a season of exceptional prosperity.  An entirely new
printing outfit. including two fine new
power presses, has been installed; the
form of the paper changed from four
pages with 32 columes to eight pages
with 56 columes,-and the subscription list nearly trebled. Great care
is exercised in the preparation of its
articles, the composition and arrangement of the subject matter and advertisements, the make-up and press
work, all of which has brought the Index into prominence as one of the neatest and most artistic papers published in southern Michigan. It may always be relied upon to publish exhaustive and accurate reports of all
important county and local happenings, and has scored numerous journalistic triumphs. During the past
few months it published a series or
articles written from impressions received by the editor during his visit
to the Pan-American exposition and
Niagara Falls.  These discriptions,
embellished with fine half-tone engravings, were conceded by the Michigan Bulletin, the official organ of the
Michigan Press Association, to be the
best furnished by any paper in the
state.
Mr. Knickerbocker was appointed
probate register of Calhoun county by
Judge Lane, Jan. 1, 1901, but the interests of the Index are carefully
watched during his absence from the
office of the paper by Mr. Rox C.
Jones, who acts as foreman and local
editor.
THE ALBION     RECORDER.-During the last years of the war of the
rebellion and subsequent to that period, a republican paper called the
Union Herald, was published by F.
A. Wheelock, and his brother-in-law,
Wm. Case. Mr. Wheelock, who is still
a resident of Albion, being the editor.
This was afterward sold to a man by
the name of Thornton, and later the
plant was destroyed by fire.
Seth Lewis, former postmaster of


Marshall and former publisher of the
Statesman of that city, then came to
Albion, issued a prospectus for a republican paper to be called the 'Re



corder," and began a canvass for subscribers. Not meeting with the success he expected and experiencing
difficulty in securing office room, Mr.
Lewis gave up the project, and turned over his subscription sheets to Bissell & Burgess, then publishing the
Marshall Statesman. The first number of the paper was printed May 20,
1868, by Mr. Bissell, the name chosen
by Mr. Lewis having been given to
the new publication. There were 15
persons present, whose names were
written on the margin of the paper.
Soon after the paper started on its
career, Gen. U. S. Grant was nomi
nated for president. So certain and
well understood was it that he was
to be the republican nominee, that
an editorial, nearly a column in length
was written, eulogizing Grant and
commending the choice of the national
convention, and was all in type before the nomination  was actually
made.
At the beginning of the second year,
Mr. Bissell edited and published the
Recorder most of the time, although
during one year, John M. Hall, the
Bay View Assembly manager and editor of the Bay View Magazine, and
Stacy Thompson, in partnership with
the proprietor, conducted the paper,
Mr. Hall occupying the editor's chair.
John M. Sargent also leased the office
for one year, but threw up his lease
at the end of six months. He employed a student, J. A. Creswell, as editor.
Creswell was one of the sharpest and
ablest writers that ever filled an editor's chair in Albion. Charles Hoag,
a son of David Hoag of Devereux, was
also associated with the paper for a
few months as partner by lease, and
for one year R. D. Buchanan and Orson
Bacon rented and conducted the job
department.  Of the above Sargent
was killed at Detroit by being run
over by a Michigan Central train, Creswell died at Buffalo, where he was
editor and publisher of the Daily Telegram. Both Hoag and Bacon have
since died, the latter only about a year
ago. Buchanan has been working in
the Recorder office more or less for
the last year.
These were the pioneer days of the
Recorder. It had about 700 subscribers and a fair advertising patronage,
but received no cash for its mercantile
advertising. That was all "store-pay."
Its main reliance for money was job
work and subscriptions and its capac
ity for job work limited to one hand
press and a small Gordon jobber.
On May 20, 1878, the Recorder plant


was sold to Horace E. Gemberling, a
good writer and practical newspaper
man. Mr. Gemberling for a time ran


a small daily, but it didn't pay, and
after a few months he gave it up.
Along about 1881 he sold out to David L. Cooper, a young man who came
from Detroit, but had formerly lived
in Albion. Cooper was not successful and after about a year, sold his
subscription list and "good-will" to
the Republican, a third paper that
had been started before he purchased
the Recorder, but retained ownership
of the plant. For about six months
the Recorder was not published, then
in 1883. a brother of Robert L. Warren, living in Bay City, purchased the
establishment and revived the Rocorder, which, as he had to begin all
over again and secure new subscribers, was practically the same thing as
starting a new paper. Mr. Warren
put in a cylinder press and steam engine.
In the fall of 1886 the Republican
and Recorder, both being republican
papers, consolidated. The name Republican was dropped and Recorder
retained. Meantime Mr. Gemberling,
who had been troubled with pulmonary difficulty, died on a train on his
way to Colorado for his health, before
reaching Chicago. Mr. Cooper had
also died at Sarnia, Ont.
Warren & Bissell added a new
press, paper-cutter, and steam engine
to the equipment, moved it to its present location, and did a very good business. By the consolidation, the Recorder reached a circulation of 1,100.
This partnership continued for about
two years, when, in 1888, Rogers &
Wiersman purchased the establishment. They added considerable type
and material and conducted the paper
for about two years, when they sold
to V. J. Tefft. Mr. Tefft made extensive additions to the mechanical
department, but was taken sick, and
after a long illness, died. His widow
continued the paper, but as she had
to hire both editor and manager, although it was maintained as a first
class journal and had a good patronage
and a good run of job work, such a
method of doing business at arm's
length did not prove satisfactory, and
she sold a half interest to Newman
Miller, who became editor and manager. Later, Mr. Miller having been
offered the position of director of the
University of Chicago Press, an extensive plant, Mr. P. J. Church became
a partner and manager and has continued as such ever since.
For a time, when Mrs. Tefft published the paper, Ernest Burnham, present
county commissioner of schools, was


the editor.
Under its present management new
presses have taken the place of the
156


old ones, a large amount of new type
has been added, the subscription list
greatly increased, and the business
more than doubled.












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