II MN i - - -- - - - 1 OD 00 00 fcl I I Q I0 r ~.~ - CO 0 M. (Z) ~-e C3 t Pd C) 4 x i t3 - -4 0 Q ^z 17 pl; U) ~ - Cv) L If o vL I C/ Q) L 0 'O D ^ Up 0 t J > L 0 QI ~~ r - *: I mm I J Ar * Ah4 I I I P ~R F~AC After many month-s of preparation our work is completed and presented to the public. How we'.have. done our part in f tlfilling our pledges, each reader can juda~e for himself - We may be permitted to say that it has been our honest endeavor to redeem every pledge we have made in our prospectus. No pains or expense have been spared in producing a work- creditable alike to ourselves and the wealthy and prosperous counties of Muskegon and Ottawa. The binding, paper, presswork, and illustrations are, we venture to assert, equal to those of any work of this character ever issued. That there are no errors or inaccuracies we. by no means claim. Perfection is not given to any human effort. All that can be expected is an honest endeavor at truth andl impar.iatlity, and this we claim to have done. Where we have had to, depend -upon verbal statements, which are often conflicting, and inaccurate from treachery of the memory, we 'have had to choose what seemed to be the most probable statement; and such is the constant fluctuation of society, that many changes have taken place even since our sketches have been prepared, altlhough wye have endeavored to bring every I Where so many have lent their aid it is difficult to select out any for special mention, but at the risk of invidiousness we feel it incumbent upon us specially to allude to the services of I. M. Weston, of Whitehall, who kindly gave us a mass of valuable materiazl he had collected, and besides gave the-enterpnise liberal support. The Hon. C. C. Thompson, of Whitehall, ha~s also been ever ready to give his aid to the enterprise, which was of great value, as he has no superior in the matter of the early history of the White Lake. In WShiteha~ll we have also to thank for valuable inform~ation M/essrs. Jesse D. Pullman, A. Miears, A. C. Elsworth, the MXessrs.- Covell, A. T. Linderman,, H. D. Johnston, C. H. Cook and others. In Muskegon City ex-Governor Holt has lent his valuable assistance, also Hon. L. G. Mason, E. W. Merrill, John Torrent and many others. We have especially to thank Mr. Weller, of Thee Newos and P-Lepor~ter, for his constant aid, also other members of the press, especially Mr. Campbell, late of -The Tourinal, and Mr. Harford, late of The Chronicle. -1 r -i' e) I tl I -IV I C O E --- CONTENTS. —. Ii 1' I _. - i PAGE. PAGE History Of Michigan, Of Ottawa County, Township Histories. Allendale, Blendon, Chester, Crockery, Georgetown, Grand Haven, Holland, Jamestown, Olive, Polkton, Robinson, Spring Lake, Talmadge, Wnright, Zeeland, 11 16 106 102 114 122 98 62 88 95 72 115 103 64 108 112 93 Villages [Continued]. Lamont, Lisbon, Nortonville, Nunica Spring LaJe, Spoonville, Vriesland, Zeeland, Military History Of Ottawa and Muskegon Counties, Illustrations. Cutler House, Grand Haven, Denison, T. D. Residence of Denison, T. D. Portrait Gringhuis, Geert. - Hancock, J. B. Ilart, Robert Hope College, Holland, Lovell, G. G. Magnetic Mineral Springs, Grand Haven, Robinson, Rix, Savidge, Hunter, Spring Lake House, Stegenga, Mr. A. P. Stegenga, Mrs. A, P. Stegenga, Mrs. J. - - Stegenga, Mr. P. M. Van Raalte, A. C. Vyne, Derk Wyman, Charles E. 108 114 70 122 65 122 98 98 125 Cities. Grand Haven, Holland, 37 77 49 70 70 110 67 110 82 110 49 110 87 64 72 72 72 72 75 110 60 Villages. Berlin, Cooperville, Drenthe, Eastmanville, Ferrysburg, Hudsonville, Jenisonville, 112 118 93 116 71 99 98 J li -It I tq 9 e; A - -2 A _i t.. _f..... -- RANGE XVIIt.WI.. i RANGE XVI W. II= "RA NGE. AV W. s, a 1. -I -,- IR A.. - -,...... - -- 1.. 11.. J4RW. LJe" C 3 2 7 6 K.5 2/~y3 1 A L. jAMMlriv eLrkA-J 1 6 5 VI. a 2 II "-fII 10 N 1 l I X ^YaCO Id ~"6~"" 12 8 9 12 - L-JUUIa.- - I i.. y- r I If Ir I -I -._ I34;r3 13 18 I Ji ^e~zl - lk 3J i, 13 1 - 17 J W ^-I^ ^MVL 15 mp f _ __. v r -4 F=. - - - 11 AD I I-:9 20 Hoto ii +24 a.e Il I _ _ I I-'I - L.L n I- I I I.v srti i)....! -,...... -.^ /IG AP Or`\. I - -I,: -f, -,, —, -- - i;E-v a I-f N V..26 30 29 j." 2z'7 ar '+a 30 -7 27 FE h it, 1i im i a I I I I... A t ij nl! s 11 rI i. i I.. I *r... I. 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A-n 2B,a-^"r>/^ 31 29 'r-32 28 33 I r tc 6 1 18 ft-1 15 s ^9.^- Ar >v — gIBM 22 IUT.i -..,g l1.- -.... 9 35 3-I ri 4M tot n H S 15 k r). 33 I ~^=at a;a ^'MW^-^^ " ir $ I - I i.19 - -I I: I I I\ it I1mv I" I I -T 1 ~- E r II I 0 /11 It H l 6:::5 s 1 ( 6 45? ^ ---~^=^,~L, UJL^^===^ =-;==~:==.....,1.k **** L - IL L r~3 == — - -- tL I '-AC-% li-L --- I -— Jr -_~ ~II~ L~ ~=,__;E — EN~ErNEM.~.~j --- —~ _ _-.._-..._ j_-x —_,.,.. ---.. ---~,~__ --- —~........... ----~.~_-_~..:_... o~I~' ~'?'"~ I rrl~~~ ~ ~ _ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -_,___~ ~ —c —i...-.....~....~...........~...~ ~~ ----~7:..~ _ j-~ -;.._...-.....-. ---...... ---- -- ~ ---- - -— ~ — a 0 I 4 *, f S i:d:.! V::: I i I- _ L A E f HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. ICHIGAN derives its name from the Indian words,"itch~i ASawgyegan," the meaning of which is the " Great Lake," or "Lake Country," a name peculiarly appropriate from the position it occupies; having Lake Superior for its northern boundary, Lakes Erie, St. Clair, and Huron on the east, and Lake Michigan on the west. The extent of its domains is 57,430 square miles. Previous to the year 1641, the territory now embraced within the limits of the State, was inhabited only by the red man, though Detroit, as far back as the year 1620, then an Indian village, was the resort of the French missionaries. In 1639, a plan for the establishment of missions in "( New France " was formed; but as the French, in consequence of the hostility of the Mohawks, were excluded from the navigation of the waters of Lakes Ontario and Erie, their only avenue to the West was the Ottawa River, through which, in the year 1641, the first bark canoe, laden with French Jesuits, was paddled to the Falls of St. Mary, which they reached after a navigation of seventeen days. Charles Raymbault, the first missionary to the tribes of Michigan, returned in the year 1642 to Quebec in consequence of declining health. Thus, at this early period, the French advanced their missionary posts beyond the shores of Lake Huron, and to the outlet of Lake Superior. The first settlement commenced by Europeans within the bounldaries of Michigan, was the mission of St. Mary, which was established in the year 1668, by Allouez Claude Dablon, and James Marquette. In May 1671 a Congress of French soldiers and chiefs from fourteen of the Indian tribes of the Northwest, was convened at the Falls of St. Mary, called by Nicholas Perrott, an agent of the French government, at which time and place, a cross and cedar post, bearing upon a shield the French lilies, was raised,the lands formally taken possession of by 1f. de Lusson, and the savages were informed that they were under thle protection of the French King. The death of Marquette, on the 18th day of May, 1675, is thus recorded by Bancroft: " In sailing from Chicago to Mackinac, he entered a little river in Michigan; erecting an altar, he said mass, after the rites of the Catholic church; then begging the men who conducted his canoe to leave him alone for half an hour, ' In the darkling wood, Amid the cool and silence, he knelt down. And offered to the Mightiest, solemn thanks And supplications.' At the end of half an hour they went to seek him and he was no more. The good missionary, discoverer of a world, had fallen asleep on the margin of the stream that bears his name. Near the mouth, the voyagers dug his grave in the sand." Michilimackinack (now written Mackinac or Mackinaw) was one of the oldest forts erected. Its foundation was laid in the year 1671, by Father Marquette, who induced a party of Hurons to make a settlement at that place, as a nucleus for a future colony. At that period, no permanent settlement had been made at Detroit, as the French had a more direct and safer route to the upper lakes, from Montreal to Michilimackinac, through the Ottawa or Grand River. The pest of Detroit was regarded alike by the French and English, as a valua.ble point, and both nations were considering measures for its acquisition. A grand council was called, which convened at Montreal, and was composed of chiefs of the various tribes, from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, the Governor general of Canada, and the most prominent seigneurs of the country. The council is described by French historians, as the most numerous and imposing assemblage ever collected around one council fire. In the mnnth of June, 1701, Mons. Antoine de la Motte Cadillac, under a commission from Louis XIV., left Montreal in company with a hundred men and a Jesuit missionary, with all the necessary means for the establishment of a colony, and reached Detroit in the month of July. Here, then, commenses the history of Detroit, and with it the history of the Peninsula of Michigan. How numerous and diversified are the incidents compressed;within the period of its existence! No place in the United States presents such a series of events, interesting in themselves, and permanently affecting, as they occurred, its progress and prosperity. Five times its flag has changed, three different sovereignties have claimed its allegiance, and since it has been held by the United States, its government has been thrice transferred; twice it has been besieged by the Indians, once captured in war, and once burned to the ground. On the 13th of September, 1759, a battle occurred between the French under Gen. Montcalm and the British army under Gen. Wolfe, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, resulting in the defeat of the former, and the capitulation of Quebec on the 18th, to Gen. Murray, who was successor to Gen. Wolfe, who fell in the engagement; and on the 8th of September, 1760, the French surrendered to the crown of England, Detroit, Michilimackinac, and all other places within the government of Canada then remaininfg in the possession of France. This action was ratified by the 1"Treaty of Paris," February 10th, 1763. In the year 1772 silver was discovered upon the shore of Lake Huron, by a Russian named Norburg. In 1773 a project was commenced for working the copper mines of Lake Superior, and a company was formed for that purpose, under a charter granted in England. The struggle for independence under the American Revolution was enacted without the bounds of Michigan. The people of Canada, within which Michigan was then included, were removed from the immediate causes of the war. The result of the Revolution was the recognition of our independence. By the " treaty of peace " made at Versailles in 1783, between Great Britain and the United States, it was claimed that Michigan was within American bounds, but minor questions sprung up between the two governments, producing mutual dissatisfaction; and when President Washington sent Baron Steuben to Quebec to make arrangements for the transfer of the Northwestern forts, he was informed by Sir Frederick Haldimand that the surrender of the ii L k9 X - -----..: *^*^f — - l --- - ~-V I i i s i I,: — 7: N ~ 0) N \k i I:j I 5Is I I I 6 -- = HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 12 forts would not take place at that time, and was refused passports to Niagara and Detroit. By an ordinance of the Congress of the United States, passed July 13th, 1787, the whole of the territory of the United States lying northwest of the Ohio River, though still occupied by the British, was organized as the ( Northwest Territory," of which Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor. The ordinance of 1787 provides that there shall be appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a Governor, a Secretary, and three Judges, who should be residents and freeholders within the territory. It further provides that the territory should be divided into not less than three nor more than five States, and that "there" shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes." In pursuance of the treaty of November, 19th, 1794, Captain Porter, in the beginning of June, 1796, with a detachment of American troops, took possession of Detroit, entered the fort, which the British had previously evacuated, and flung to the breeze the first American flag that ever floated over the Peninsula State. By an act of Congress, approved, May 7th, 1800, the territory northwest of the Ohio River, was divided into two separate territories, and " all that part of the territory of the United Stated, northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada," was constituted a separate territory, to be called the "Indiana Territory," the seat of government of which was established at St. Vincennes, Chillicothe being the seat of government of the Northwest Territory. Of this Territory (Indiana), General William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor. By an act of Congress, approved January 11th, 1805, it was provided, "that from aid after the thirtieth day of June of that year, all that part of Indiana Territory, which lies north of a line drawn east from the southerly bend, or extreme, of Lake Michigan, until it shall intersect Lake Erie, and east of a line drawn from the said southerly bend, through the middle of said lake to its northern extremity, aud thence due north to the northern boundary of the United States, shall constitute a separate Territory, and be called I Michigan. The act further provides that the Territory shall have the same form of government as provided by the ordinance of 1787, that the Governor, Secretary and Judges shall be appointed by the President of the United States, and that Detroit shall be the seat of government. On July 1, 1805, General William Hull, the newly appointed Governor, assumed the duties of his office at Detroit. On the 11th of June previous, Detroit had been destroyed by fire. Like most of the frontier settlements, it had been compressed within a very small compass,-the streets scarcely exceeding the breadth of common alleys. Gen. Hull at once turned his attention to the subject, and laid out the town in its present shape, the arrangement of which is attributed to Judge W5oodward, one of the pioneers of the Territorial Court. On the 18th of June, 1812, war was declared by Congress against Great Britain. Previous to, and in anticipation of the declaration of war, General Hull, Governor of Michigan Territory, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the forces of the Northwest. On the 9th of July, Gen. Hull received orders from the Secretary of War, to proceed with his army and take pqssession of Maiden, (which was the key to that portion of the British provinces), if consistent with the safety of his posts. The garrison was weak, and seemed an easy conquest, Having arranged for the expedition, I I I I I I I Gen. Hull crossed the Detroit River on the 19th day of July, and encamped at Sandwich, where the army remained in a state of inactivity for nearly a moith, when, intimidated by the hostile manifestations of the Indians, and the report that a large British force would soon arrive at Malden, without having made an attack, he recrossed the river to Detroit, on the 9th of August, where he remained until the 15th, the day of his inglorious surrender. A provisional government was established by the British, at Detroit, and a small force placed in the Fort. On the 10th of September, 1813, the victory of Commodore Perry, in the Battle of Lake Erie, resulted in restoring Michigan to the,Union, and on the 29th of the same month, Detroit was occupied by a detachment of the army of Gen. Harrison. On October 9th, 1813, Col. Lewis Cass, who had rendered essential service to the Territory, was appointed Governor of Michigan. Congress, in 1823, by an act providing for the establishment of a Legislative Council, invested the Territory with a more energetic and compact government. The Council was to consist of nine members, to be appointed by the President of the United States, with the consent of the Senate, from eighteen candidates elected by the people of the Territory. They, with the Governor, were invested with the same powers which had been granted by the ordinance of 1787 to the government of the Northwest'Territory. By that act the legislative power of the Governor and Judges was taken away, the term of judicial office was limited to four years, and eligibility to office required the same qualifications as the right of suffrage. The first Legislative Council of Michigan convened on the 7th of June, 1824, at Detroit. In 1831, Gen. Cass having been appointed Secretary of War, he was succeeded by George B. Porter in the government of the Territory. During his administration, Wisconsin, which had before been annexed to Michigan, was erected into a separate Territory. On the 6th of July, 1834, Governor Porter died, and was succeeded by Stevens T. Mason. In the spring of 1885, a controversy arose in regard to the boundary line between Michigan and Ohio, and the right to a valuable strip of land, to which both laid claim; the former under the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, and the latter under a provision in their State Constitution. Each party sent a military force to the frontier,-the one to sustain, and the other to extend jurisdiction over the territory in dispute. A high state ofexcited public feeling existed, but the most serious inconvenience suffered by either party was the apprehension and temporary imprisonment of ifew persons. By an act of Congress, passed June 15th, 1836, the Constitution and State Government of Michigan were accepted, and upon condition of accepting the boundary claimed by Ohio, she was admitted into the Union. These terms were exceedingly unsatisfactory to the people of Michigan, who were impatiently awaiting recognition as a State government, having elected their State officers in the month of October of the previous year. A convention held at Ann Arbor on the 14th and 15th of December, 1836, resolved to accept the condition imposed in the proposition of Congress, at the same time protesting against the right of Congress, under the Constitution, to require this preliminary assent as a condition of admission into the Union. I I I I I I I I i I I I! I i i fr ( - By act of Congress, approved January 26th, 1837, Michigan was declared "to be one of the United States, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects whatever." By an act of the Legislature, approved March 16th, 1847, the seat of government was removed from Detroit to Lansing. The Constitution adopted by Michigan in 1835, and under which her existence as a State commenced, continued in force until Jan t j I a IJ at it U 1. D -0 I I _ — I #I, --- - - lo V:0 0:: t:::: 0: I of A i:: L = HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 13 uary first, 1851, at which time the Constitution reported by the Convention of 1850, and ratified' by the people, at the general election in that year, went into effect, and continues to the present time as the Constitution of the State. - The Legislature of 1873, by a Joint Resolution approved April 24th, provided for the appointment by the Governor, of a Commission, to consist of two persons from each Congressional District in the State, in all, eighteen members, for the purpose of revising the Constitution, and reporting to the Legislature, at its next session "such amendments, or such revision to the Constitution, as in their judgment may be necessary for the best interests of the State and the people." Of the eighteen delegates, Ottawa County had one representative in the present Senator Ferry, who took the place of Lyman G. Mason, of Muskegon, who resigned. The delegates performed their duty to the satisfaction of all parties. The Governor, from 1877 to 1881, was Chas. M. Croswell, who greatly reduced the public debt, and under whose administration the Capital at Lansing was completed. A great riot centered -at Jackson in 1877, but the promptness of the Governor speedily quelled it. In Feb., 1881, David H. Jerome was called to the gubernatorial chair, finding all departments of the government mI good running order, and prosperity generally prevailing among all classes of the people. For a long time Michigan labored under a great drawback in the way of an official report on its lands, by the Surveyor General, of Ohio, dated Nov. 30, 1815, relative to the bounty land of Michiganl. On the 6th of May, 1812, Congress had passed an act granting among other lands, two million acres of the Territory of Michigan to the soldiers of the war with Great Britain, but the Surveyor reported that there were no lands in Michigan fit for cultivation, and Congress repealed the act, changing the grant of land to other States. The report we publish as a curiosity: Extract from a letter of the Surveyor General of Ohio to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, dated Chillicothe, November 30, 1815, relative to the bounty land in Michigan, granted by act of May 6, 1812: DEPUTY SURVEYOR'S REPORT. "Description of the military lands in Michigan. The country in the Indian boundary line, from the mouth of the great Auglaize River, and running thence for about fifty miles, is (with some few exceptions) low, wet land, with a very thick growth of under-brush, intermixed with very bad marshes, but generally very heavily timbered with beech,'cottonwood, oak, etc.; thence contiluing north, and extending from the Indian boundary eastward, the number and extent of the swamps increase, with the addition of numbers of lakes, from twenty chains to two and three miles across. Many of the lakes have extensive marshes adjoining their margins, sometimes thickly covered with a, species 3f pine called ' tamarack,' and other places covered with a coarse, high grass, and uniformly covered from six inches to three feet (and more at times) with water. The margins of these lakes are not the only places where swamps are found, for they are interspersed throughout the whole country, and filled with water, as above stated, and varying in extent. The intermediate space between these swamps and lakes, which is proba bly near one-half of the country, is with a few exceptions, a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation grows, except very small, scrubby oaks. In many places, that part which may be called dry land, is composed of little, short sand-hills, forming a kind of deep basins, the bottoms of many of which are composed of marshes similar to the above described. The streams are generally narrow, and very deep compared with their width, the shores and bottoms of which are (with a few exceptions) swampy beyond description; and it is with the utmost difficulty that a place can be found, over which horses can be conveyed. "A circumstance peculiar to that country is exhibit3d in many of the marshes, by their being thinly covered with a sward of grass, by walking on which, evinced the existence of water or a very thin mud immediately under their covering, which sinks from six to eighteen inches from the pressure of the foot at every step, and at the same time rising before and behind the person passing over. The margins of many of the lakes and streams are in a similar situation, and in many places are literally afloat. On approaching the eastern part of the military lands, towards the private claims on the Straights and Lake, the country does not contain so many swamps and lakes, but the extreme sterility and barrenness of the soil continues the same. Taking the country altogether, so far as has beenexplored, and to all appearances, together with the information received concerning the balance, is so bad that there would not be more than one acre out of one hundred, if there would be one out of one thousand, that would in any case adniit of cultivation." EDUCATIONAL. The ordinance of Congress, passed in 1787, providing "for the government of the Territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio," declared that "religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." PRIMARY SCHOOLS. By terms of another ordinance of Congress, adopted in 1785, in regard to the disposal of lands in the western territory, it was provided that section numbered sixteen of every township should be reserved for the maintenance of public schools within such township. The Legislative Council of the Territory, in 1827, provided for the establi hment of public schools in every township containing fifty inhabitants or householders. -The.first Constitution of the State, adopted in 1835, declares in its article "Education:" "The Legislature shall encourage by all suitable means, the pro- * motion of intellectual, scientifical, and agricultural improvement. The proceeds of all land that have been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to this State, for the support of schools, which shall hereafter be sold or disposed of, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, the interest of which together with the rents of all such unsold lands shall te inviolably appropriated to the support of schools throughout the State." The same general provisions are retained in the present Constitution, adopted in 1850. The whole amount of primary school lands derived from the reserve of the sixteenth section, and sold by the State, to the close of the fiscal year, 1880, as shown by the records of the State Land Office, is 650,864 56-100 acres, leaving 370,751 22-100 acres unsold, with about 50,000 acres yet to be selected and placed at the disposition of the State Land Office, on account of sales which had been. made from sections numbered sixteen, previous to the enactment by Congress of the ordinance dedicating these lands to the primary school fund. During the years 1863-73 the amount of primary school interest apportioned to the several counties in the month of May in each year has ranged from forty-five to fifty cents for each child between the ages of five and twenty years. - In 1864 the humber of children I I - I e- i:: -------- 4 i 6. Ii- - --- -Se-~ =;w: - In $ f -aid - "S -4. - \ i I II 14 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. I was 272,607, and the amount apportioned at fifty cents for each child $136,362.00. In 1878 the number of children was 400,062, and the amount apportioned was $196,176.80, being forty-nine cents for each child between the ages of five and twenty years. In 1880 there were 6,352 districts, 13,949 teachers, 362,556 pupils, an expenditure of $3,109,915, value of school property $8,977,844. Since its admission into the Union, Michigan has expended for the support of primary schools alone, over $50,000,000. POPULATION. The population of Michigan, previous to the its final relinquishment by Great Britain, and for a long period thereafter, was inconsiderable, and mostly restricted to the confines of the three principal settlements,-at Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac, and Detroit. The first enumeration after Michigan became a distinct Territory, was in 1810, five years after the erection of the Territory, at which time the number of inhabitants was 4,762. In the following ten years the population increased to 8,896, and the results of subsequent enumeration are as follows: YEAR. POPULATION. YEAR. POPULATION. 1830................... 31,639 1860.................. 749,113 1834................... 87,278 1864................... 803,745 1840................. 212,267 1870................1,184,059 1850................... 397,654 1874...................1,334,031 1854.................. 509,374 1880...................1,636,937 Excess of males at the last census, about 84,000; colored, 15,100; Indians, 7,249. VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY. The Constitution of the State (Article XIX., Sec. 13), requires the Legislature, to provide for an equalization by a State Board, in the year 1851, and every fifth year thereafter, of assessments on all taxable property, except that paying specific taxes. Previous to the year 1851, State taxation was upon the basis of equalization by the Boards of Supervisors of the several counties. The valuation as equalized for the various years, is as follows, circumsp2ice,-"If you wish to see a beautiful peninsula, look around you," was doubtless suggested by the inscription upon a tablet in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, to the memory of Sir Christopher Wren, its renowned architect, Si quoeris monumentum amenum circum spice, —"If you wish to see a beautiful monument, look around you,"-referring to the great master-piece of architecture, by him designed, as the most fitting tribute to his memory. THE GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. UNDER FRENCH DOMINION, 1622-1763. Samuel Champlain....... 1622-1635 M. de Montmagny,...... 1636-1647 M. de Aillebout,....... 1648-1650 M. de Lauson,....... 1651-1656 M. de Lauson (son),...... 1656-1657 M. de Aillebout,....... 1657-1658 M. de Argenson,....... 1658-1660 Baron de Avangour...... 1661-1663 M. de Mesey,........ 1663-1665 M. de Courcelles,....... 1665-1672 Count de Frontenac,...... 1672-1682 M. de la Barre,....... 1682-1685 M. de Nonville, ~...... 1685-1689 Count de Frontenac,...... 1689-1698 M. de Callieres,....... 1699-1703 M. de Vaudreuil,....... 1703-1725 M. de Beauharnois,..... 1726-1747 M. de Galissonier,....... 1747-1749 M. de la Jonquiere,..... 1749-1752 M. de Quesne,....... 1752-1755 AM. de Vaudreuil de Cavagnac,.... 1755-1763 UNDER BRITISH DOMINION, 1763-1796. James Murray,....... 1763-1767 Guy Carleton,........ 1768-1777 Frederick Haldimand,...... 1777-1785 Henry Hamilton,....... 1785-1786 Lord Dorchester,. 1786-1796.i i I I i i i I JD It I, -: viZ: YEAR. VALUATION. 1838............. 42,953, 495,61 1840.............. 37,833,024,13 1845.............. 28,922,097.59 1850.............. 29,384,270.66 1851.............. 30,976,270.18 185 3............. 120,362,474.35 YEAR. VALUATION. 1856.............$137,663,009.00 1861..............172,055,808.89 1866.............307,965,842 92 1871......... 630,000,000.00 1876............. 630,000,000.00 1881............810,000,000.00 TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS. NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Arthur St. Clair, INDIANA TERRITORY. William Henry Harrison, MICHIGAN TERRITORY.. 1796-1800 1800-1805 THE STATE SEAL. The Great Seal of the State of Michigan was presented by Hon. Lewis Cass to the Convention which framed the first Constitution for the State, in session at the city of Detroit, on the 2nd day of June, 1835, and on the 22d day of the same month, the Convention adopted the following resolution, offered by the Hon. Ross Wilkins: "Resolved, That the president of this Convention tender to the Hon. Lewis Cass, the thanks of this Convention, representing the people of Michigan, for the handsome State seal presented by him to the forthcoming State." The Latin motto on the seal, S/ quee~ris peninsulaam amcenam, William Hull,. Lewis Cass,. George B. Porter, Stevens T. Mason, ex officio,.. P.. 1805-1813 1813-1831.1831-1834. 1834-1835 GOVERNORS OF STATE OF MICHIGAN. Stevens T. Mason, William Woodbridae.. 1835-1840 lo)An O 1i J. Wright Gordon (acting),.. 1841-1842 John S. Barry,.......i. q4_,Q< 4 V- — id Ifl1 ---- jt r ---I - 0-.;::S He i::9 'Illy V I.J ~~ - H ISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 15 I, __ Alpheus Felch, William L. Greenly (acting), Epaphroditus Ransom,. John S. Barry, Robert McClelland, Andrew Parsons (acting), Kinsley S. Bingham, 1846-1847 1847-1847 1848-1849 1850-1851 1852-1853 1853-1854 1855-1858 Moses Wisner, Austin Blair, Henry H. Crapo,. Henry P. Baldwin, John J. Bagley, Chas. M. Croswell, David H. Jerome,. 1859-1860. 1861-1864 1865-1868. 1869-1872 1873-1877. 1877-1881 1881. i l1 LM - I WI l Z - " 1 - ___ HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. The story of the rise and progress of Ottawa County is full of E interesting incidents, and is by no means tame or commonplace. Standing as it does at the western gateway of a great and rising State, with less than half a century of occupation by the whites, its i possibilities are hardly yet perceived by its own people. Judging from the brief history of the past, its destiny is full of promise, replete with hope. With the decadence of its great lumber interest, which will take many years yet to effect, other interests more important, | more beneficial, will arise. The husbandlman will garner bountiful harvests of Mother Eartlh; on the plains and along the courses of I its numerous streams, orchards and vineyards will flourish. Its i clay beds will furnish brick enough to satisfy the demands of Chicago and other distant cities. Its valuable mineral springs already testify that it lies in the line of the salt strata. Its noble harbors I will be white with the winged messengers of commerce. Its principal city, with its adjoining villages along the great bayou of Spring Lake, will yearly attract the tourist from the sultry South and West. The country is only in its infancy; statistics show that but one acre out of eleven is under any sort of cultivation, and what I little has been redeemed from the wilderness is capable of producing many fold what it now does. In the coming history we shall have to treat of the gradual preparation of the soil for man, of its rescue from the deep by natural forces still at work, of at least two prehistoric races, ot the modern Indian, of the Jesuit Missionaries, of French and British adventurers, of explorers, of the Indian traders, of early pioneer settlers, of the lumberer's operations, and so down to the present day, with its infinity of particulars, the complex of civilized life. If it were for nothing more than for the settlement of the Holland Colony, the history of Ottawa would be an interesting theme. How, in one generation, a few hundred Hollanders, generally poor, and entirely inexperienced, have become a great band of nearly 20,000 thriving American citizens. Settling in a dense forest, they had to learn to chop or die. And well did they learn the lesson, so that now, although tlleir chief city was wasted by forest fires, they are generally prosperous and happy, worshiping every man as his conscience dictates. On the threshold of our task, we see in 1812 Jean Baptiste Recollet, a trader with the Indians landing at the mouth of Muskegon Lake, "threading the brake like questing hound." In 1825 we find Rix Robinson canoeing up the Grand River, Louis Campau about the same time comes in from the east. A mission station rises on the banks of the river at Grand Rapids. Zenas Winsor, in 1833,is a young clerk for Robinson at Grand Haven. Robert Stewart buys a half interest in Robinson's pre-enption at the mouth of the river; the Rev. W. M. Ferry, for years an Indian Missionary at Mackinaw, is commissioned by his friend and convert, Stewart, to attend to his interests at Grand Haven, and in 1834 he came in, his family and relatives coming in by lake from Mackinaw, twenty-two souls, arriving on Sabbath morning, November 22d. We seem to hear them on that memorable Sabbath morning, "rolling the psalm to the wintry skies," and the preacher-now silent in the grave preaching from Zachariah iv., 10, "Who hath despised the day of small things." Thus the first act was an act of prayer and praise, and thus they consecrated the future village and city to God. Think what must have been the condition of these early settlers; no white neighbors nearer than thirty miles. To the south. tell miles up the Kalamazoo River, lived a family named Butler. To the east no whites in Ottawa County, but a family or two at Grandville and Grand Rapids; to the north none nearer than Mackinaw. On all sides an impenetrable forest, given up to the Indians and the beasts of the chase. Then come in settlers here and there; the rebellion in Canada sends over some noble and enterprising spirits, Benjamin Hopkins, Jabez Barber, Richard Mason, Henry Griffin, Amos Norton, and others. Dr. Eastman and his family enter in from Maine. The Jenisons cross over from Grandville. The period of inflation follows, and grand schemes are inaugurated, and hope beams on every countenance, only to be succeeded by years of hard times, when real estate reaches its lowest ebb. Since 1847, when the Hollanders arrived, there has been a gradual rise, until the wonderful impetus to the lumber trade of the last few years, and the rise of the fruit and farming interests has placed Ottawa and Muskegon on the highway to prosperity and success. GEOLOGICAL. Geology teaches that all the dry land was once submerged under the ocean, which had like the land, its inequalities, its mountain ranges, its hills, its valleys. Islands are but the tops of submerged mountains. Some of the sea mountains are steeper and more abrupt than any on the land. In the British Channel within ten miles the depth changes from 600 to 10,000 feet. At the close of the corniferous period a great upheaval formed a line of land across the southern part of Michigan, which extended to the older and wider formation in southern Ohio. The land now comprising Kent and Ottawa was still submerged, but the belt rose higher and higher, extending northward and westward, until the era of coal deposits, at the close of which Kent and its adjoining counties formed the highlands of lower Michigan. It is thought that lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and 'Ontario did not then exist, their place being supplied by a swift river, with here and there expansions. Then began the mesozoic age, characterized by intense activity of animal and vegetable life, myriads of reptiles crawling in the rivers. This era is only known in Ottawa by its fossils. The tertiary age succeeded, when vegetation was rank, and mighty mammoths and mastodons roamed over the earth. Then comes a change of scene; the glacial period-the ice age -buries animal and vegetable. Perhaps thousands of years may have elapsed before God removed the earth from the embrace of the ice king. At last spring came, the sea of ice a mile in thick 11s -I T s-T lp II -I N - e 9 toE 4 - I I 6-: Iu HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 17 ness dissolved, and the rocks which it held dropped down as rocky fragments or rocky drifts. The countless currents which sprang into existence and formed for themselves channels, were the chief agency in forming the stratum known as Modified Drifts. Prof. Winchell's theory is that at this period the whole State was submerged, and one great lake existed, from the Falls of Niagara to Chicago. At all events, from Saginaw Bay to lake Michigan, via the valleys of the Shiawassie, Maple and Grand Rivers, a great channel, deep and wide, extended. South of this line barriers existed to the flow of waters and the accumulation of ice water, and a second ice period resulted in the formation of another glacial field, not over four feet in thickness, and when the second spring time arrived, millions of cubic feet of ice water were added to the lakes, resulting in barsting asunder their green coating of ice, carrying with them their tables of limestone, and, as the waters fell, depositing them where they lie to-day. As the Niagara rock was worn down, the rushing waters made for themselves deeper channels, and the inland lakes became proportionately lower. The present river system was then laid out by nature. The counties of Muskegon and Ottawa, together with all Michigan, except an oval formation in the interior, with Lansing as the center, and over one hundred miles in diameter, is regarded by Prof. Hitchcock, of Dartmouth, as belonging to the Devonian or Lower Carboniferous region, which is the middle stratum of the Paleozoic era. In fact, all Michigan can be classified as Paleozoic, the oldest formation being of the first stratum, or Silurian, which is confined to the upper peninsula. The lower peninsula, with the exception of the central portion above mentioned, ranks next below in formation, and is Devonian or Lower Carboniferous, and the central portion is still later, being the third, or highest division of Paleozoic, the coal measure, or Penno-Carboniferous. The Devonian, which affects the counties of which we are speaking, is termed by -many American geologists the Erfe formation, and Dr. Dawson recommends that Erian be used here as the name solely, in view of certain difficulties in reconciling the nmeasure with that of the Devonian of the Old World. In this age there was a great advance over tile Silurian; terrestrial plants, reeds rushes, and trees made their appearance ill great numbers; also I enormous ganoid fishes, more terrible than sharks. No evidence of vertebrate life has been found in Devonian beyond that of tile fishes. If the Silurian is the Age of Trilobites, the Devonian is the Age of Fishes, not certainly like those of the present, but more obscurely resembling our sturgeons, gars, sharks and chimeras. As a portion of God's green earth, Ottawa had existed from time immemorial' to a period to which the memory of man runneth not back. Col. Ferry has demonstrated that, at a comparatively recent period, the western portion of the county, from the head of Spring Lake southeast to about a mile west of the mouth of Crockery Creek, thence still southeast by a line which would take in Robinson and part of Allendale and Blendon, and thence westerly along Pigeon Creek and again southerly to a mile from tile mouth of Black River-a space comprising about one-third of the present county-was submerged, and. a mere bay on the west coast of Michigan; the Grand River then poured its floods into tile lake not far from where Spoonville now stands. Look again at the remarkable depression in the valley of tile.Black River, and consider that it would now take an obstruction in the Grand River below Jeriisonville of but 15 feet to cause that stream to seek what was perhaps its ancient course, or at least the safety valve for a portion of its overflowing waters. What forces of nature have been ceaselessly working out happy homes on the farfamed fruit belt of Michigan; grain by grain it has been lifted out of the sea by the ever-acting currents that play around the lake, bringing debris on the west coast of the lake southward and then gradually eastward, and northward, piling the light drifting sand-pulverized rock -on the east coast, to be whirled into mountain sand banks by the prevailing west winds farther and farther into the land, until at last Ottawa County is completed. But no, tile same forces are still at work and although slowly they are surely changing our western boundaries, and where the waves are now disporting will be the homes of men in the future. The effect of this formation is clearly seen and marked in the general contour of the county. The east and northeast is a fine rolling country thickly strewn with boulders, with considerable clay land mingled with gravel, and sandy loam, altogether forming a grand agricultural and grazing region, well watered and easily drained. The people are becoming wealthy, or at least in easy circumstances. They had their hardships in clearing up the dense growth of forest, chiefly hardwood, with here and theie belts of pine. It is a pleasant sight to drive through the prosperous towns of Jamestown, Talmadge, Wright, Polkton or Chester. In the west especially of the line traced by Col. Ferry, all is changed. The soil seems a bed of sand covered with a thin vegetable mould. There are no gravel or boulders to speak of, pine and hemlock prevail, with here and there hardwood, and in the lower portions tamarack, white ash and white cedar. The soil which was supposed to be worthless is found to produce fruit in profusion, so that the Fruit Belt of Michigan has secured a national reputation. As we shall endeavor to show further on as having been proved by actual experience, these supposed sandy barrens' may under proper treatment become the finest wheat and grass lands in the State. Gather up a handful of tlis sand and examine it; it is something more than mere sand; there is abundance of silica and other valua. ble vegetable food in it. Sow on it a crop of winter rye and the length and strength of the exuberant straw will prove the existence of the silica. Plow under the crop, plaster freely, seed thickly with clover, let this ripen and plow under, again seed, and one then has a soil which will produce of itself clover, and has sufficient vegetable mold to produce heavy crops of cereals and grasses. Coming down through the ages we find the soil fit for man, but until the last forty years, when "'the heir of all the ages" the all-conlquering Aryan appeared on the scene how little impress did man make upon nature. A mound here and there, a few arrowheads and fossil pottery scattered about, some small clearings or oak openings for the squaw to sow her corn on, all else, dense forest or miasmatic swamp given up to nature and her wild children, the devouring beasts of the field, or the ravenous birds of the air. It is folly to say that the Indian has a "right" to keep any portion of the Great Father's heritage as a hunting ground, supporting but a handful, when his pale-faced brothers are ready and willing to come'in and make it support multitudes, to make the waste places glad, and the desert to blossom as the rose. The earth was made for man to Iuse, not as a hunting ground for savages, and they must either adopt the custolnms of civilization or perish. Such is the hard but just and inflexible law, the survival of the fittest. ARCH:EOLOGICAL. Without speculating at any length on the pre-historic races that have successively occupied the soil, there is undoubted evidence that the mound builders, that mysterious race of old, once swayed the re gion of the Grand River valley. About three miles below Grand Rapids there exists a group of 17 mounds on the farm of Capt. Norton, from 2 to 15~ feet in diameter. The great age of these mounds is established by the fact that trees are growing upon them with 260 rings of growth, while at the base lie the remains of still older trees, which must have been giants when the former were saplings. Still I I I a 9I L. - Ir I-: _ EI IJ I I 1 I A J 4 i l r: 1 I 11 I I i I i. i rI A I P I I i I I i I I i-:1 18 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I better evidence of their age may be found in the condition of the articles they contain. Human bones are decomposed almost beyond recognitionl, copper is encrusted with a heavier coalting of carbonate than that found at the depth of several feet in the heavy drift in the same neighborhood. Heavy marine shells are ready to fall into powder at the touch, while wood, bark, and all fabrics are entirely decomposed. One single mllound was remloved somle years ago to lmake way for the mill at Spoonville. It was a refuse heap of ashes, shells and fishbones, 15 feet high, 45 feet wide, and 100 feet long. Louis Campau and Rix Robinson, the early Indian traders, who had the best means of knowing w^hereof they spoke, possessing as they did the confidence of the Aborigines, say that they uniforyily declare that they do not know the origin of these mounds, but tlat they regarded them with reverence, and preferred to be buried near them. The only remains these people have left are the mllounds, which consist of the remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, luonuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds and the like. Their habitations Mlust have been of wood or other perishable materials, otherwise their remains would be numerous. Who they were is an unsolvable problem. Some thinlk they were an indigenous race; others, from coincidence in the religion of the Hindoos and Tartars and the supposed theology of the mound builders, think they are kindred races. They were doubtless idolators, and worshippers of the sull, as in every instance the mounds are always built with reference to the eastern position of the rising Sun. Bodies are buried due east and west, and medals have been found representing the sun and its rays. - Their works are such as might be erected by a people emerging from a hunting and fishing life. Their mounds are very numerous; along nearly every water course they can be found, covering the headlands and base poiints of bluffs which border the narrower villages, so that where the grandest scenery exists, there the mounds are also in view. The mound builders were the I ioneers of Michigan, and the first millers in the upper peninsula. None knew how they worked, but their remains excite astonishment. At Isle Royale the pits are 10 to 20 feet in diameter, from 20 to 60 feet deep, and are scattered throughout the island, following the richest veins of ore. Quantities of stone hammers and mauls weighing from 10 to 30 pounds have been found, as well as copper chisels, knives, and arrow heads, hardened by fire. Although one skilled miner could do the work of 100 mound builders with their rude appliances, yet at one point alone in Isle Royale the labor performed exceeds that done at one of the oldest modern mines operated by a large force for 30 years. Since these mines have been opened, forests have fallen and grown up, and today trees over 400 years old stand around them. Traces of ancient cities with hundreds of thousands of ilihabitants are found, whose people probably disappeared ages before the Indians. It is somewhat difficult to distinguish the burial places of the Indians from that of the mound builders, as the former sometimes made use of existing mounds. But the skeleton of the Indian can be distinguished by its greater size, and the tombs of the mound builders are generally larger, and contain more relics of art. Some believe that the mound builders were of the same race as the Peruvians and Mexicans; if so, they were doomed to extinction by Spanish rapacity for gold. Following the mound builders were the race that reared the miLagnificent cities, the ruins of which are found in Central America, a people far more advanced in arts and civilization than the mound builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins of.broken columns, fallen archies, and crumbling walls of temples. palaces, and pyramids, which in some instances for miles strew the ground, must i I I I I I I i I I have been of great extent, magnificent and very populous. By reflecting onl the vast periods of time necessary to erect these colossal structures, and the time again necessary to reduce them to their present state, we get some idea of their antiquity. These cities must have been old when the ancient cities of the east were being built. THE INDIANS. Distinct inll every particular from the two former races is the present Indian. They were found by early discoverers without cultivation, refinement or literature. Of their predecessors they knewv nothilng, they have no traditions of their ancestry. Some suppose them indigrelnous, others as of Asiatic origin. In Michigan the great tribes were the Algonquiins and the Iroqulois. The latter were a( great and extensive alliance of tribes of a common origin, and they waged almost a continuous warfare with the whites, especially against the English. Such was the nature of King Philip's war, such the nlature of Pontiac's conspiracy. The art of hunting supplied theme with thle means of living as well as excitemnent and distinction. Their dwellings were of the simplest and rudest character. But in regard to the character and history of the Indians we cannot do better than quote the langutlage of one who knew them well, both as the son of an early Indian missionary, and as himself personally acquainted wit l them and their language. On the 4th of July, 1876, the centennial year, the orator of the day at Grand Haven1 was Col. W. M. Ferryv, fitting representative of an historic family, known throughout the Union. We make copious estracts ifrom this adnmirable address, as it is well worthy of preservation. | "The naime Ottawa (Ot-tcw-wall) the meaning of which is trader, is that of a tribe of Indians who overran the lower peninsula of Michigan, from Grand River northward. They came from Canada about the year 1600, driving out the Sacs and Foxes, who located west of Green Bay in what is now Wisconsin. South of Grand River were located the Muscotay or Prairie Indians, with whom the Ottaw-wahs lived in peace, The Potawatarnies were ill northern Illinois and Indiana, and with the Kickapoos, jointly occupied those states, and the Potawatamies held Michigan as far north as the St. Joseph River. This portion of the State remained in the joint occupancy of the Ottaw-wahs and Potawatamies until the advent of the whites, and to the extinction of their title to their lands by treaties with the U. S. Government. These treaties occurred as follows: In 1785, 1787, 1795, and in 1807 a land-office was established at Detroit. In 1807 a treaty was made by which was ceded to the United States, lands west and north of Detroit to the western line of wvhat is now Sa(rinaw, Shiawassie, Washtenaw alnd Lenawee Counties, embracing all the counties now formed out of that portion of the State, between that western lille and lakes Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Detroit Rivers. In 1819, by the treaty of Saginaw the ceded land was extended sixty miles west of what is now the principal Meridian of the State Survey, reaching into Kent County, and from thence to Thunder Bay River and along that river to Lake Huron, and in 1818, these lands were brought into market. By the treaty of Chicago, in 1821, with the Ottaw-wahs, Ojibeways and Potawatamlies, the tract of Michigan lying west of the cessions of 1807 and 1819 and reaching from the southern boundary of the State, to the Grand River, and its most northerly sonrce was secured to the United States, (p. 226 Lanlmanl''s Hist. Mich.) Land offices were established at White Pigeon and Kalamazoo. By treaty at Grand Rapids, in 1835, and the establishment of a land office at Ionia, in 1836, the lands north of Grand River, were brought into lmarket in 1839. i I - __ --- —- l I I - q- 4- -__ ' ~r I I: g: ~~~~~~i:E Ha. - — \\ _ HISTORY OF OTTAWA COU TY. 19 I name these facts to bring before us how recently the Indian titles to lands in this portion of the State were extinguished. By treachery and strategy the Potawatamies induced the Ottawwahs to join them and annihilate the Prairie Indians, whose occupancy of the intermediate territory, i. e., between the Grand River and the St. Joseph, was obnoxious to the Potawatamies, and the incident that brought on the war occurred in this wise: A deputation of Potawatamies were visiting the Ottaw-wahs in this county at one of their villages near the mouth of Crockery Greek. A woman of the Ottaw-wahs while out in the woods, away from the village, in search of ground-nuts, was murdered and horribly butchered by some of these Potawatamies, who had been awaiting some opportunity to provoke the Ottaw-wahs into an assault on the Prairie Indians. The Ottaw-wahs were made to believe that the brutal murder was committed by the Prairie Indians and at once they joined forces with the Potawatamies and waged a relentless war of extermination against their former friends. Near Lyons, in Ionia county, the Prairie Indians made a stand, fortified themselves within a strong stockade and for a time held their assailants at bay-so completely were they surrounded and by such a force as to preclude the possibility of procuring the needed supply of food for a long resistence, and at the first favorable opportunity, which occurred in the night, they fought their way through the ranks of the besiegers and made their escape towards Detroit. They were, however, overtaken, hemmed in, and nearly all were slaughtered. A remnant escaped and fled to the Miamies, with which tribe they were merged, and who were located near Sandusky on the Maumee River. Thus was lost all identity of the tribe of Muscotays, the first occupants of our county so far as any knowledge can be gathered from history or tradition. The incident above named is doubtless the hlistory of similar changes in the name of the occupants of the Great Northwest, and it is only of interest to us, as it defines who were the possessors of this county for a few hundred years before the whites made attempts to improve and cultivate this beautiful valley; their possession of this county to this day, or for hundreds or thousands of years to come, would not have made a perceptible change; their possession meant war to all others, and new blood among them came only by the captive taken in battle, or the remnant of tribes doomed to annihilation. Never a new purpose or ambition did or could come to them to change this result of their existence. For hundreds and perhaps thousands of years had the wilds of America been occupied by tribes of Indians, whose history has left scarcely a mark on this broad continent; a land without a parallel in material to demonstrate the possibilities of human endeavor, and yet save only by fragmentary traditions, handed down from generation to generation, has the successive occupancy by different tribes been preserved. In about forty years of occupancy by our race, mark the change I I have so introduced this narrative that it may tend by comparison to remind us forcibly of the wide variance in the purpose and ambition of the races of men. They lived natural lives. Art, the sciences were unknown to them, and they remained contentedly indifferent to any knowledge of the idea even of improvement or advancement. With some evidence of what we deem the humanities of the nobler type, yet very animals in the strength and vigor of their bodies from generation to generation, probably the doctrine of selection had full sway here-the weak dying or forced out, and the strong only reproducing to live in the struggle with natural enemies. With no ability to concoct a stimulant beyond that of the smoke of tobacco, they were a temperate people. With no moral restraints ___ they were licentious, and yet were they healthy and vigorous, without the diseases incident to such a life. Venturesome as beasts of prey in pursuit of their victims, they were in open war or silent stealth the same sanguinary, relentless foe. Superstition was the expression of their religion, and the gentler attributes of humaNity were not much, either cultivated or exercised. Through pride for the adornment of their bodies, a traffic was built up among them, an exchange of the skins and furs of wild animals for beads, cloth and trinketry. Amid such a race was the settlement of Ottawa County begun. Jealous, tlhievish, lazy, improvident, treacherous clans and tribes of Indians occupied entirely this county and the entire country north of Grand River to the straits of Mackinaw. South of Grand River one family only, at the mouth of the Kalamazoo, was the extent of the white population in all the lake counties to the St. Joseph River. A Mr. Butler had located at Saugatuck, early in 1834; with this exception there was not a white family in the entire peninsula, north of the St. Joseph in the west, and Saginaw in the east, of the State. The highest and noblest achievement to which the Indians of this locality aspired was to kill an Osage and bring the scalp to Michigan. The Osage Indians lived in Missouri, and were esteemed by the Ottaw-wahs to be, of all beings, the sum of all that- was worthy of death. Whence came this inveterate, implacable hatred is not now traceable, but it was born with them, and had been born with their progenitors in past generations for ages. These sentiments were fully reciprocated by the Osages, and alike was this inborn hatred an hereditary matter with them toward the Ottaw-wahs. The sure passport to distinction for an Ottaw-wah youth was a successful return with the priceless Osage scalp. From six months to a year, sometimes longer, was the needed time to carefully thread his way through Michigan, and the trackless prairies of Illinois, across the Mississippi to the interior of Missonri, and the Ottaw-wah brave must traverse this long journey stealthily, for he is among other hostile tribes equally vigilant, and to run this gauntlet to his destination and return safely was a most perilous and hazardous attempt. The location of the Ottaw-wahs in Michigan brought these vengeful tribes much nearer to each other than formerly, when Canada was the home of the Ottaw-wahs, and the occasional signature of the Osage, cut deep across the breast of the lifeless, scalped body of an Ottaw-wah, who has fallen almost at his own lodge fire before the superior vigilance of his enemy, was not a matter of unfrequent occurrence in this county, even years after the whites first came to the Grand River Valley, and was merely the intent honorable toward a fair adjustment of balances between the two tribes in their crue murderous records, -that for ages were an open account, eagerly gloated over by both tribes as the grandest, most glorious possibility of their manhood. By such education as this was the savage of North America schooled. At this day exists between the Sioux and Ojibeways, of our western territories, a parallel to the implacable hatred that has always existed between the Ottaw-wahs of Michigan and the Osages of Missouri. The first trader who located in what was Ottawa County, then embracing Muskegon County, was Pierre Constant, a Frenchman of the type of that advance guard of pioneers, Marquette, La Salle, Joliet and Tonti, who 200 years before invaded and brought to the eye of the world the great Northwest. He was of the chevalier order of men, brave, honorable andundaunted amid all dangers. In 1810 he engaged with the British Fur Company, then having a depot at Mackinaw, as a trader, and with his supply of merchandise coasted along the shore of Lake Michigan, and established a trading post on Grand River, near what is now called Charleston, and one on the banks of lMuskegonl Lake. He married an Indian woman:2 e: L I \ _A- -h -- 3 1>i - "A?:: I:"I 20 - 1)C!,. - HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 1 1 i i iI i I I of remarkable beauty and intelligence, by whom six children were born to him. Once a year he, with his family and the result of his venture in furs and peltries, coasted down Lakes Michigan and Huron to Pen-a-tan-qui-shine, the Indian depot for Upper Canada. The eldest of this family was a daughter, who inherited her mother's beauty as well as the higher qualities of mind of the father, and this daughter, Louise Constant, or "Lisette," as she was called, became her father's clerk when twelve years old, and was as well known for her wonderful faculties for business, as she was for her personal attractions. In 1828, when Lisette was seventeen years old, her father died. She closed up his business with the British company, engaged with the American Fur Company at Mackinaw, receiving from them a large supply of merchandise, and for six years conducted the most successful trading establishment then in the Northwest. Think of it ye who disparage the ability of women! She married William Lasley, of Muskegon, also an Indian trader, and, now an aged widow, resides in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Her son, Henry S. Lasley, is one of the prominent merchants of Montague, Muskegon County. The universal testimony from all sources is that the Indians of Ottawa County were uniformly kind, honorable and manly to the white settlers, but their intercourse with the whites has not improved them. INDIAN TRADERS. The business of trading with the Indians was confined to those who had a government license, and the trader was bound by oath, and furnished bonds to follow the rules prescribed. The following, for instance, is Louis Campau's license: 1. Your trade will be confined to the place to which you are licensed. 2. Your transactions with the Indians will be confined to fair and friendly trade. 3. You will attend no council held by the Indians, nor send them any talk, or speech, accompanied by wampum. 4. You are forbidden to take any spirituous liquors of any kind into the Indian country; or to give, sell, or dispose of any to the Indians. 5. Should any person attempt to trade without a license, or any trader with a license, carry spirituous liquors into the Indian country, the Indians are authorized to seize for their own use the goods of such trader, and the owner shall have no claim on them or the United States for the same. 6. This regulation requires the trader to inform on unlicensed traders. 7. Requires the trader to inform the Indians of regulation at Graud Haven. Louis Ca mpau brought on $5,000 worth of goods in 1827, commencing on the west side of the river at Grand Rapids, where was Rev. Mr. Slater's Protestant Mission. There was then quite an Indian village at Battle Point, under Chief Onamontapay (Old Rock). Near Holland was a band of 300 under Wakazoo, who had made advances in civilization, used oxen, carts, plows, etc., learned the use of the ax, had a church made of lumber picked up on the lake shore, and had some log huts for storehouses. Isaac Fairbanks, Justice of the Peace in Holland, was the government farmer among them, and the Rev. George N. Smith was the missionary. These Indian farms were about three miles south-east of Holland. In 1848 the mission and the Indians were removed to Grand Traverse. Settlers could not secure their lands until the great land sale of 1839. Before this they were chiefly squatters, or pre-empters. The Indians and whites lived together, each amicably acknowledging the other's rights; and after the sale the Indians disappeared, leaving their burying mounds behind them only to be desecrated by the plow of the pale face. Their rights have been respected by the Government, they have been paid for their hunter's rights. None can say: I( I own the land." One only owms certain rights to it, and the State, representing mankind, has the paramount right. The three stages of progress have been, first, the trader and trapper for furs, then the lumberman, and, lastly, the tiller of the soil. The first has about disappeared, the second is going, but the land is eternal. THE OPENINGS. One of the effects of Indian occupation may be seen in the frequency of the so-called "openings," which were the first portions to be taken possession of by the settlers, being more inviting than the heavily-timbered country, as the labor of clearing and getting in crops was comparatively small. These openings extended several miles from the river. In the oak woods there may be observed growths of two kinds, one of very large scattering trees, and the other of a thick growth of smaller ones. The large trees were all that was upon the land when it was first occupied. The land was "open," with no fallen timber, and nothing but the very scattered oak trees to obstruct the view. A wagon or a load of hay could be driven anywhere. The settler had only to cut down or girdle the scattered oaks, put in the plow, and sow his ground. Neither the "openings" nor the "prairies" were the result of nature, but arose from the Indian practice of burning over the lands, with the double object of being better able to see their game and to make them more healthy. Where they only killed the young trees it was an "opening;" where they burned every tree it became a "prairie." Where the undergrowth was hickory or oak, the fire killed only so much as was above the ground, leaving the root to sprout again. These strong, heavy roots, with insignificant bushes growing out of them, were called I"grubs." A fire running through would kill the young bushes, and the land would be clear. As the early settlers had not generally been backwoodsmen they preferred these clearings to the better timbered lands. PIONEER SETTLERS. Shortly after the Am'erican revolution the American Fur company determined to push their posts farther west, and commissioned Madame La Framboise, a French lady, to locate a post, and establish a trade in the vicinity of the Grand Rapids of the Owashtenong or Grand River. The lady came, and received the permission of the two tribes, and had in about 1780 succeeded in building the first trading post, and stocking it with Indian supplies. The post was in the town of Lowell, two miles west of the Indian village at 0 five. 8. To inculcate upon the Indi the desire of their great father, the with them. Dated November 15, 1822. With his license and his good trict, and called a council of the 3 would have him remain or not. If as well pack up. Many traders, to Indians, took native wives. Indeed 1 of sympathy. The alliances thus moons, when, according to Indian Thus Rix Robinson married an I] son, Pierre Constant, and other earl son located as Indian trader with 1 Kent County, but also other outlying i: X: —, _ -_ — + S. 7C -:~;: S * ans the necessity of peace, and e President, to live in harmony WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, Secretary. is the trader repaired to his disnatives to decide whether they they did not like him he might increase the confidence of the the Indians demanded this proof formed were generally for 100 usage, the wife might be let go. ndian wife, as did Martin Ryerly traders. In 1825 Rix Robinhis principal station at Ada, in, stations, among which was one lr ___ _ ___ ---------------— _- XV. E I0 11 s j 0 -A XI ::"-:::: /iZ:.t: O - -f axi s: I I? T _ _ ~ _ ___ -- HISTORY OF- OTTAWA COUNTY. 21 I - Grand Rapids. Although there was a post here the Indians often penetrated to Detroit not so much to obtain cheap goods as a supply of "fire water". As the annual "Powwow" approached it was considered necessary to visit Detroit to obtain the rum necessary for that occasion. Madame La Framboise remained at her post until superseded by Rix Robinson in 1821. She had been a successful agent for the government, but her advanced age, and the growing interest of the fur company demanded her removal. The old chimney of her hut and the excavations in which her canoes were hid are the oldest relies of pioneer life in the Grand River valley. It will surprise many to learn that a lady was the first pioneer of the valley, a woman however of no ordinary force of character, a shrewd trader and a bold adventurer. The first trader in Ottawa County was Pierre Constant, a Frenchman, who in 1810 engaged with the British Fur company at Mackinaw, a man bold, honorable and undaunted amid all dangers. He established a post at a small place known as Charleston, on the Grand River, and another on Muskegon Lake. He coasted from Mackinaw with his stock of goods and landed on the west coast. HIe married the daughter of an Indian chief, and his daughter married the Indian trader Wm. Lasley. One of the early pioneers in his reminiscences, says that along the banks of the Grand River were to be seen many monuments of mound builders, now overturned by the plow, and a few miles down the river below the rapids was a group of 12, larger than the rest. Grandville prairie was undoubtedly occupied by the mound builders, and in Georgetown, there was a long, straight roadway of several feet in width and extending across a swamp on which a large amount of labor had been expended. The valley from its natural advantages must have been occupied for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. Grand Rapids was once the capital of the united tribes of the Ottaw-wahs and Potawatamies, the latter receiving their chiefs however from the former, and when the whites arrived, old Noon Day held sway, who had been at the burning of Buffalo village in 1813. He was a tall, symmetricallyformedgentleman, while his wife was dumpy and inferior looking, her face marred with scars. RIX ROBINSON, THE PIONEER. The pioneer in the settlement of Ottawa County was Rix Robinson. In 1814 he left his home near Auburn, N. Y., for a trial of frontier life. He had finished a course of academic education, and was within three months of the close of a course of study of the law, which would admit him to practice at the bar. At this time an incident of an entirely personal nature determined him in abandoning a brilliant prospect as a lawyer and to launch out upon the uncertainties of whatever might be developed in the west by such energy, health and brain as he possessed. He was twenty-six days en route from Buffalo to Detroit, where he entered into partnership with a Mr. Phelps for business, as sutlers to the United States troops stationed there, attending the troops as they went from post to post along the frontier, and in trading with the Indians. His father had given him as capital $1000 in specie, which he exchanged for bank bills at an advance of $80, and with this amount he went to New York and made his purchases as his investment in the company business. After two years of varied experiences in profit and loss, mostly loss however, he closed out this partnership venture by taking old notes to the amount of $2500, only one of which (against a well known operator at Mackinaw, Michael Dousman) was of any coloring of hopeful result in a possible future value, and $100 in specie as his share of the company's assets. With this money and the avails of the Dousman note he went to. St. Louis and invested all in tobacco. A favorable result from this venture enabled hi.m to make a small beginning in trading with the Indians, and with the successful progress of his endeavors he established a trading post at the Calumet, in Illinois, near the head of Lake Michigan, among the Potawatamies and Kickapoos, in 1817; on the Illinois river, twenty-five miles above its mouth, in 1819; at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1820; at the mouth of Grand River, Ottawa County, Michigan; and at the mouth of the Thorn Apple, Kent County, Michigan, in 1821. During these years the yearly journey was made to and from St. Louis by canoe and barge, following water courses and across the intermediate portages as was the manner of the Indians in their travels a slow and tedious process to obtain his supplies of merchandise and to carry back the result in furs and peltries. When Mackinaw became the central depot of the Arierican Fur Company for the lakes, his supplies and sales were purchased and made at that island, as the more convenient market to reach, which was done by coasting along the shores of Lake Michigan with what were called batteaux. This style of craft has now gone out of service, small patterns of which, however, are still used as fishing boats in the vicinity of Mackinaw, Sault St. Mary and upon Lake Superior by the French and Indian residents. The voyages of these batteaux along the lakes from the north and south to and from Mackinaw, carrying the heavy freightage of this commerce of the lakes, was the great event of each year not only to the traders, but to the many tribes of Indians that then peopled the entire Northwest. These boats were rigged with wide spreading sails for favoring winds —the masts and sails to be unshipped and carried oil either side upon crotched stanchions arranged for that purpose, whenlthe oar was the modelof propulsion, and manned each by a crew of from eight to twelve voyagers, generally Canadian Frenchmen, and one principal, or conductor, with each boat who acted as steersman, captain and general supervisor of his craft and men. Their batteaux were gaily painted, were named as fancifully, at least, as are the grander crafts that now float our lakes, usually however, carrying the name of a bird or animal of the woods, or some phenomena of nature. The arrival and departure of these fleets were epochs indeed, unlike any counterpart that our present grander commercial enterprise can furnish. Imagine from ten to thirty of these batteaux in a fleet, the number according to the wealth of each trader and the importance of his locality as a trading post, and (as was the case at Mackinaw, the depot for the entire Indian trade in those days) from thirty to sixty such fleets starting out some bright morning on their return to the distant posts, in what is now Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, the shores of Lake Superior, Rainy Lake, or the Lake of the Woods, or up the Missouri and Mississippi to the several main affluents, and up these streams into the heart of the hunting grounds of the Indians in the several directions. The Stars and Stripes flowing out from each flag-staff on the stern, and some other distinctive sign by flag from the bow of the boat-oars manned by stalwart men who kept even stroke to the song sung by a leader, and all joining in the answering chorust All this is not soon to be forgotten by any one who has witnessed the sight-and was it not immeasureably more human than the departure of our present steamers from port by clanking, wheezy machinery and smoke, and the unearthly, ear-piercing screech of the steam whistle! The arrival and departure of Mr. Robinson's fleet of batteaux to and from Grand River, once a year, was the grand event to break the monotony of frontier life along the valley from 1821 to 1834. The Indian trader himself and his family, or his principal clerk and the other members of family or home retinue, did not usually take passage in a batteaux. That was for freight and heavy burden, but their ship was a true outgrowth of the wilderness, a craft of J I - Call I7,N e 5i -. - I ----.1 -.i - - -, I t —%, 22 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 22I wholly Indian invention, and which the white man has never been able to improve-a combination, having the qualities of strength without weight, buoyancy with stability, speed with capacity-the bark canoe, or canoe alleye. These crafts are from 36 to 40 feet long, about four feet wide and about two and one-half feet deep. The material is birch bark and cedar, the whole fastened or sewed with a peculiar root, and the seams gummed. Not a nail or bit of iron or other metal is used in its construction. So light are they that a man at each end may pick up and carry this canoe with perfect ease, a weight merely of one hundred and fifty pounds, and yet they will carry safely two thousand pounds, not in smooth water only but in any ordinary weather on the lake with a good roll of a sea. Paddles are used for its propulsion, and when manned by its crew of ten men and steersman it will attain a speed of from ten to twelve miles per hour-or much more than that for a short distance. In such crafts as these the lakes were navigated by the earlier adventurers, and Governor Cass made his periodical tours in a bark canoe. Perhaps several days after the departure of the batteaux the trader himself, with his family and personal effects embarked in one of these swift crafts, and with a crew of picked men, expert in its management, would skim over the route to his destination with astonishing speed. This was the passenger steamer, or the fast mail train of those days. In an old book, published in 1827, we find from the pen of Henry R. Schoolcraft, one of the Indian agents of the time, the following versification. THE BIRCHEN CANOE. In the region of lakes where the blue waters sleep, Our beautiful fabric was built; Light cedar supported its weight on the deep, And its sides with the sunbeams were gilt. The bright leafy bark of the betula tree, A flexible sheathing provides: And the fir's thready roots drew the parts to agree, And bound down its high-swelling sides. No compass or gavel was used on the bark, No art but the simplest degree; But the structure was finished, and trim to remark, And as light as a Sylph's could be. Its rim was with tender young roots woven round Like a pattern of wicker-work rare; And it passed on the waves with as lightsome a bound As a basket suspended in air. The heav'ns in their brightness and glory below Were reflected quite plain to the view; And it move d like a swan-with as graceful a show, Our beautiful birchen canoe. The trees on the shore as we glided along Seemed moving a contrary way; And our voyagers lightened their toil with a song, That caused every heart to be gay. * * * * * * * Oh, long will we think of those silver bright lakes. And the scenes they exposed to our view; Our friends-and the wishes we formed for their sakes And our bright, yellow, birchen canoe. Mr. Robinson, the pioneer, was present at the principal treaties (before referred to) with the Indians of the Northwest, and became so proficient in the use of the several Indian languages as to establish a reputation, which by their own statement was that (, he could talk Indian better than the Indians could themselves." We cannot refrain from noting here some peculiarities of the Indian languages. There are certain modes of expression and certain w'ords in all the Indian languages that are only used by the women, and other expressions and words only used by the men. In some tribes' these peculiarities are very marked and have a wide scope of exclusiveness, in others more limited. The Natchez Indians in the South have three separate and distinct languages-one spoken only by the chiefs or rulers, one by the warriors or hunters, and one by the women; each having a language of their own, entirely unlike in philology or etymology, involving a system of education certainly within the family that would seem to us almost impossible to be maintained, and yet it was inviolably perpetuated. An amusing illustration of this occurred at the treaty of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1835. Rev. Mr. Slater was selected as interpreter between the government authorities and the Ottawa Indians. He had acquired the Indian language from these Indians, but principally its vernacular from the women who were inmates of his family and the most devoted and exemplary members of his mission church. He had translated into the Indian several books for school use and portions of the gospels and the psalms or hymns for religious exercises. He was deemed quite a linguist of that kind. When the Indian agent had given his talk to the assembled council of Indian dignitaries, Mr. Slater addressed himself to them by putting into Indian the speech of the Government official. No reply was made to it by the Indians-they listened patiently and that was all. This unaccountable and provoking silence was at last broken by one of the lesser chiefs in rank, who said: ( If you came here to talk with men why don't you use the tongue of a man, and not speak to us the ' words of a woman?'" Mr. Slater, to his great mortification, had to " step down and out," and another interpreter had to be selected before the treaty could be again attempted, whose knowledge of the Indian language had developed a proper discrimination between, the perquisites in words pertaining to each sex. Another peculiarity of Indian languages is that nothing of the nature of profanity call find expression in their vernacular. Whatever of this phase of speech the Indian has occasion to use, he must do it in English, French or Spanish. In their intercourse with the whites they might in truth say as did Caliban to Prospezo: "You taught me your language; and my profit on't Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you For learning me your language." Many an incident of Rix Robinson's experience could be repeated, as related by him, of his wonderful life not only among the Indians of the Northwest, but with those of Michigan and Ottawa County. The part he has taken in the development of business projects with varying results, of more or less prominence, will be referred to in this continuous sketch, as we bring down our history to the present. In 1875, at his home in Ada, Kent County, his eventful life ended. Through a long life he maintained a front rank in the history of this State. A man of unswerving, sterling integrity, with a wonderfully magnetic control of those with whom he moved, he was an honored and esteemed representative of that enterprising class of men who, more than sixty years ago, dared all to open the way for civilization in the Northwest; leaving a home where refinement and education had smoothed the way to a- life of Comparative freedom from toil and privations, for the burdens, the dangers and excitements, the novelties and uncertainties attendant upon a life on the frontier. To his control of the savage tribes that occupied this portion of Michigan, is mainly attributable the welcome they gave the early settlers, whose encroachments and occupancy so surely augured their own removal and ultimate extinction. The same wealth of mind and purity of private life that distinguished him above the mass of what were then termed "traders," gave him prominence as civilization passed along westward. His name stands one of the foremost of those who have occupied positions of trust and honor in I " -^ q - I I l AS7 I - - 0 I V-I _ ~I. HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 23 our State. With inflexible truth and honor as the groundwork of his character, he fulfilled nobly every demand upon his manhood, and died as hlie had lived, "without fear and without reproach." LOUIS CAMPAU was the second pioneer, and led an eventful life, affectionately saluted and known as "Uncle Louis." He was of French descent, born at Detroit August 11th, 1791. At eight years of age he was taken in charge by his uncle, and for seven years hlie was a sort of iunder-servant, going but little to school. The only effect of his school education was to enable him to read the French language, and he was, as to scholarship, simply an illiterate man. His active life was mostly spent as an Indian trader, or as a man of business beyond the frontiers of civilization. Until 1812 he was the righthand man of his uncle, and was one of the soldiers surrendered by Hull. After the war hle was hired by a company of Detroit merchants to dispose of the remnants of their goods to the Indians on the Saginaw River. He soon commenced to trade on his own account, and stayed with varying success until the spring of 1826. In November, 1826, he came to Flat River with goods, and was engaged in buying furs. He left two of his men behind, and, with the rest, pushed on to the Indian village at Grand Rapids, on the west of the river, and soon had a profitable traffic. In 1827 he came back with his family and more goods, and built three log huts, remaining with none but his dependents and Indians until 1832, when the first emigrant, Luther Lincoln came in. He planted a village on "Campau Flat," and the speculative era found him a rich man, doing a large business, president of a bank, &c., the collapse that followed found him struggling to save a little. He afterward did a small business, lived a life of gentlemanly independence by selling off lots, and when his resources failed, his friends saw that he never felt poverty. He was twice mnarried, his first wife dying at Saginaw, his second, a lady of rare excellence, died in 1869, and he followed April 13th, 1871. He was a tall, fine-looking man, walking lame from an injury in his youth. He was a man of benevolent heart, inclined to be somewhat visionary in the management of his ownI affairs. As early as 1830 the white settlements had approached Kalamazoo, and in 1831-2 the settlers on Gull Prairie were reported to be prospering. On the double Indian trail from the southern part of the State, through Kalamazoo and Barry Counties, many of the early settlers came to the Grand River Valley. In 1832 the first American settlers of Grand Rapids left Detroit, numbering seventy persons, coming through the wilderness by way of Pontiac, from which point they cut tlheir own road, camping out seventeen nights. A portion stopped at Owosso, others at Ionia, only three pushing on that season to the Rapids; from Ionia they came down in batteaux. Among them were the Dexters, Dr. Lincoln, Darins Winsor-whose two sons, Zenas G. and Jacob, arewell known in Grand Haven. The latter died in 1874, and the former is still hale and hearty, the oldest living pioneer of the Haven, having come as a clerk to Rix Robinson in 1833. Joel Guild was also a meiaber of the "Dexter Colony," and built the first frame dwelling in the Rapids, known as the "tavern." Among the early missionary pioneers was the Rev. Gabriel j Richards, who arrived as a priest to the Grand River Indians in 1799. He was born in France in 1764, inaugurated the first newspaper in Michigan in 1809, elected in 1823 member of Congress from Michigan, and died in 1832. Rev. Isaac McCoy visited the Indians of the valley in 1832, and succeeded in arranging for starting the Indian Government Mission. Richard Godfroy, now in Muskegon with his daughter, Mrs. Sarsfield, the-first white child born at Grand Rapids, arrived in the valley in 1832. Hiram Jenison arrived in 1833, making Grandville at first his home, and then crossing the river into Jenisonville, in Georgetown. Martin Ryerson came to Grand Rapids in 1834, and thence in 1836 became a pioneer of Muskegon. A most remarkable exodus was that of the relatives of Rix Robinson, forty-four in number, who emigrated from New York State in 1835, by way of Detroit, Mackinaw and Grand Haven. They settled at first in the town of Robinson, and afterwards scattered from Blendon to Lowell along the river. The early settlement of Grand Haven will be given at length under its proper heading. Sllas G. Harris came the samle time as Mr. Griffin, and took a pre-enmption claimn in the eastern part of the County. Both he and his brother, Captain Harris, have been members of the State Legislature. Nathan Troop was one of the pioneers, and an active participant in the earliest affairs of the village and county. The first election in the county was held at his house. Capt. Wlliatm Kanouse came from Toledo in the steamer Don Quixote, in 1837, and was wrecked at Thunder Bay. He crossed the State on foot, and arriving at Grand Rapids, was put in charge of the steamer Gov. Mason, built to ply between Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. He was intimately associated with the history and advancement of the county. Miss Mary White was the first school teacher in the county, and many of the settlers of Grand Haven owe her a debt of gratitude for the start in learning she gave them. In the south part of the county settlement scarcely began at all for ten years after its inauguration upon that great natural highway, Grand River, and it is not until the Rev. Van Raalte and his compeers, Dominies Yipma and Van Der Meuler, with their followers, landed in 1847, that anything of importance was done. But it would be impossible for us to name, much less do justice here to the memory of these pioneers, to whose self-sacrifice and indomitable spirit the present generation are indebted for so many of the comforts of civilized life now enjoyed. The names of a few of them will appear in their appropriate place in connection with the several townships. EARLY REMINISCENCES. Among the early pioneers of Ottawsa County, there are few who lhave had a better opportunity of knowing that whereof they speak, or who have a more vivid recollection of the facts, than ex-Sheriff Henry Griffin, of Grand Haven. He says he arrived first in August, 1837, returning for his family in the October following. He visited Scranton, now Eastmanville, where Dr. Scranton had taken up a pre-emption a mile long, and next to Capt. Harry Miller's farm, now the County Poor Farmi. Two miles down the river was Warren City (a city onl paper only,) which aspired to be the county seat. Benjamin Hopkins was the first settler at Scranton, coming in February, 1837, and there was then a row of shingle shanties from the Rapids to the Haven, especially below Grandville. In winter, parties went on the ice with a load of shingles to sell at the Haven and get pork, flour or whiskey in exchange. In summer they came in ipole" boats. "Yankee" Lewis had a forwarding warehouse at the Ilower diggings" at Grand I I r [ Xa7 r> II L - - - At. -:1: _ 1- I" - a*__ *.. j! = 24,HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I Haven, and had two of these pole boats, constantly engaged in picking up shingles and cordwood, which he disposed of to vessels which came about once a month to the mouth of the river. The "Owashtenong," a flat-bottomed freight boat, commanded by Capt. Tom White, called the "Poor House," was not a very staunch craft. It was afterwards burned with the old. Grand Haven company's mill. The steamer,,Humming Bird" was blown up Aug. 80, 1854. The "Olive Branch," plying between the Rapids and the Haven, was grounded at the latter place and became a wreck. The "Governor Mason" was the first steamer to ply regularly on the river, and Mr. Griffin was on at the first trip in 1837, Silas Hopkins being also on board. It was built by the Godfroys. She, was run at a loss for several years and burned at the Haven. The first pole boat oil the river was the "Young Napoleon" built by Lyman Gray for Louis Campau in 1836. The "Cinderella" was launched at Grandville in June, 1837. The,'Algoma," rented by Henry Williams, ran on the river under Capt. Rose, a slow running boat, used generally for towing. The first Grand Haven company started in 1835, the firm were Rix Robinson, Luke White and Dr. Williams. The store was on the river bank at the foot of Franklin street. The Ferry family had a log house near where the Kirby House stands. Dr. Eastman's office was opposite. The only frame building then was the old school house which still stands next to Sprik's livery stable on Third street. It was the place for all public purposes, church and school. Miss Mary White was the first teacher for several years. The first funeral was that of a mail carrier, a French half-breed, who was solemnly laid away in the Washington street cemetery, then out in the forest, now next to the court house. The Gilberts were then in the Haven, and Frank was a clerk to the companv. There was another Grand Haven company, formed to buy pine lands, erect mills, &c. Rix Robinson had sold Robert Stuart half of his pre-emption, and the latter had placed certain funds in the hands of the Rev. W. M. Ferry, who associated with him his brother-in-law, Nathan H. White, who both came on from Detroit by land, arriving at the Haven Sept. 15, 1834, in a canoe and accompanied by the Rev. L. Slater, of the Indian mission. There they found Rix Robinson, Zenas G. Winsor, being his clerk; and Louis Campau had a Frenchman as agent at the lower diggings on the left side of the river near the mouth. The Grand Haven company built the first mill in 1838, but it never ran, the foundation being insufficient; and the machinery, on the dissolution of the company, which did not prove a financial success, was purchased by Ferry and put in his Ferrysburg mill in 1841. A mill had been built by the company at Grandville, and was put in the charge of N. H. White. The company lost 200,000 feet of lumber, which escaped into the lake from unskilful handling. The lumber for twelve years after this was brought down in rafts. Dr. Williams did not remain long, being attacked by the malaria, and he soon died. He and Dr, Eastman were the first physicians in the county. Luke White died in New York, and thus N. H. White, Rev. Mr. Ferry and Rix Robinson were the only members of the company left, and in 1846 they settled by arbitration to the satisfaction of all. The award when filed with Mr. Griffin, as county clerk, covered quires of papers, and was made by "Deacon" Brown, a lawyer of Chicago. He took a whole year to decide but did it well. H. C. Akeley in 1866 bought for $13,000 most of the outside village lots which were allotted to Mr. Ferry, and has done well in disposing of them. Tom Gilbert was a partner with his brother Frank in mercantile business, and they were very early business men. They ran pole boats for several years. When Ottawa County was organized it embraced the region north as fat as Grand Traverse. In 1844 Sheriff Griffin's jurisdiction extended to Mackinaw. Judge Whipple, of Detroit, was the first circuit judge and acted for several terms. Judge "Epaphroditus" Ransom, of Kalamazoo, was his successor, and at the same time Dr. Timothy Eastman was county judge. The legislature in 1846-7 abolished for a time county courts. Mr. Griffin moved to Grand Haven in 1837, dealing in drugs, groceries, and also in lumber. Dr. Eastman published the second newspaper in the county, Messrs. Barns and Angell publishing the first in July, 1851, the Grand River I'mines. Dr. Eastman was a man of great ability, was a physician, county surveyor, judge, and in 1850, representative. He died in Chicago. He was a warm friend of the Indians. In 1847 Dominie Van Raalte came from Holland, and took Griffin down to naturalize the Holland colonists. On Saturday the latter walked 22 miles, and on Sunday listened to a sermon from Van Raalte, who at the close asked his hearers to go the next day to Binnekant's tavern and become citizens. After spending three days there Griffin went to Zeeland and thence to Jamestown, swearing in 306, of whom, to their credit be it said, only 6 could not sign their own names. He then took a pocket compass, and went 15 miles through the woods to Grandville, and thence came home by steamer, with $80 as his week's wages. It is a singular fact that "Owashtenong" or Grand River is not mentioned by the early Jesuit explorers. One of Rix Robinson's trading posts was situated in Mr. Griffin's lot, corner of 4th and Franklin Streets, which was torn down a few years ago. There one could dig up the bones of deer buried near the house where Rix and his Indian family lived. The first newspaper was published in Griffin's building, where was the office of the county clerk, Hoyt G. Post; that of the register, Mr. Angell; also that of Sheriff, George Norton. As showing the security and confidence in which people lived in the early times, Mr. Griffin relates that when he visited Holland in 1847, Mr. Post had a drawerful of ten guilder gold pieces, and when asked if he was not afraid he would be robbed, he laughed at the idea. People then seldom locked their doors. Instead of as now travelling by first-class railroads, the mode of travelling along the river was by snow-shoes on Indian trails, on skates on the ice, or in summer at first in a canoe, and later by pole boats. One of the early steamboat captains was Captain Sibley, of. whom a good story is told. He was known to be manly and accommodating, and a settler once took advantage of it, waving his hat violently on the bank for the boat to stop. The captain, although he saw no freight, rang the bell and stopped the boat. "I say, captain, I want you to bring me to-morrow a plug of tobacco and a box of matches." "All right," said the captain, rang the bell and was off again. To illustrate the hardships of the early pioneers we cannot do better than let Mr. Griffin speak in his own words: "Two families, first settlers at Eastmanville, were out of breadstuff in January, 1838. Accompanied by J. V. Hopkins (since deceased) I started on foot for Grandville, twenty miles up the river, to purchase a little wheat and corn; arrived there, and were informed that the only place to get it was at Howlett's farm. We purchased a load, got it to Ketchum's mill, with the promise of having it ground in a week. On our return home we were overtaken by a tremendous storm. Crossing on the ice was very difficult, but it was accomplished by having two broad boards and pushing one ahead of the other, and thus by creeping over, the unsafe ice bridge was passed. The storm incereased and having no roads or marked trees we got lost in the wilderness between Grandville and Sand Creek. After J I In - - 7 A.iAi T.,:: >;: f If I I - 1I i i I i HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 25 I i Ir -: wandering all day we fortunately found Sand Creek, following down which to Talmadge post-office led us to the house of the post-master, Father Bethuel Church, whose hospitality was proverbial. This was ten miles and half way home for that day's work. The third day we reached home, and after waiting three days more, prepared an ox team, took our axes to clear the way, and with a lunch of good sandwiches, set out for Grandville for our grist. Two days more and our team was at Grandville, but on the wrong side of the river; no bridge, and the ice still precarious. But in the emergency, with determination and pluck, we got the grist over, and started for home on the tenth day from the first movement to get these supplies —only twenty miles off." There were a number of additions to the settlers of the county during 1885; Mr. J. V. Hopkins arrived at Scranton, and John Simons and John Crockmore located at the same point about the same time. In 18386 larger additions were made to the infant colony. In that year Butts & Hathaway built the first saw mill in the county at Grand Haven, about the present site of the D. G. H. & M. R. R. depot. Hon. I. V. Harris located in the east part of the county in 1886. Clark B. Albee came from Vermont to Chicagoin 1885, and to Grand Haven in 1886. He was an agent of David Carver, a trader and capitalist, and after Rev. Mr. Ferry, perhaps the most prominently connected with the early history of Grand Haven. Wm. Hathaway (afterwards Judge Hathaway for 12 years) arrived in 1886, but located in the old town of Norton, near Spoonville station, in 1889. He was a much respected man and intimately connected with the early county history. OTTAWA IN 1816. Ten years have elapsed since the settlement began in the valley. The excitement of speculation in the new Eldorado had brought thousands into the valley. The crash that followed the specie circular of President Jackson had driven many of them away. Speculation had been rife, and land and corner lots had lost their fanciful value. Immigration was at a standstill; everything was stationary. In 1846 was the time when hope had nearly died out, and when real estate was scarcely property. Improvements on a large scale had been made, in almost every case to the ruin of the projectors. There had been a throwing away of capital in advance of the demand. Discouraged, some of the leading spirits had withdrawnal, and capital seeking investment was not to be found. Those who had tried to do business had been ruined. If remaining, they were struggling to place themselves again on their feet. In the few following years hope revived; business improved; immigration and settlement increased, and the dark days were over. Michigan, a State for only eleven years previously, had ruined her credit at the east. She was decried and passed by, by those who had money to invest or wished for new homes in the West. But of late the State had been taking judicious measures to revive her credit. Thetwild-cat banks had been succeeded by others on a better basis. The'East had been disabused as to the worthlessness of Michigan lands, and immigration was taking that direction. The Grand River Valley had its full share in this prosperity. At this time several of the towns in Ottawa and in Muskegon were organ ized. In the former we find 1200 people; in the latter but 217. But there was absolutely nothing that could be done at a living profit. Lumber would as frequently fail to pay expenses as to produce a profit. It was often sent off because the lumberman must have money. Sent down to Grand Haven it often brought less than $5 per M. Lumbering was poor business, and those who were in, stayed in it only because they could not get out. In 1847, Prof. Everett, of Grand Rapids, and formerly of Grand Haven, passed a gang of men putting a large pile of lumber into scows. The owner was superintending the work, and while doing so his curses were loud and deep. The professor offered with his blandest smile to take the "cursed pile" off his hands. He said,"I will give you $3,000 to take it with all its responsibilities." The professor did not invest. Wheat was 50 cents a bushel, flour under $3 a barrel, pork and beef from $2.75 to $3.00 per hundred. Neither farmer nor lumberer could make money. It was easy enough to get sufficient to eat, but to get money for taxes or groceries was hard. Wood had to be sold, to get money, at $1 a cord for good hickory or maple. One of the first things the settlers did was to secure schools. They were two removes from New England; their fathers moved to Western New York, and the sons to Michigan. The first thing thought of in Massachusetts was to build a "meeting-house," settle a minister, and employ a humble dependent on him to teach their children reading, writing, arithmetic, and the catechismn. All was secondary to the church, just as our Sabbath schools are now. New York secularized these New Englanders, and the schools became not an appendage to the church, but a part of the public. There the churches, instead of being the basis of society, were an outgrowth from the wants and desires of the people. The people of Michigan have adopted the New York idea, and even in the early days of 1846 had schools of which they had every reason to be proud. Nowhere are finer temples of learning than in Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Whitehall and Montague, towering over their respective cities like the temple on Zion. These four centers have reason to be proud of their schools. GEOGRAPHICAL. Ottawa County,'as it exists to-day, shorn of its northern territory in 1860, is bounded on the north by Muskegon County, on the east by Kent, on the south by Allegan, and on the west by Lake Michigan. It consists of four tiers of townships, somewhat cut into by the lake on the west, so that the average width is 22 miles, while the distance from north to south is 24. Above these, on the northeast corner, is an additional township, Chester. The townships are taking them in order by tiers from west to east, and commencing at the south: Holland, in which is Holland City, Zeeland, Jamestown; Olive, Blendon, Georgetown; Grand Haven, in which is Grand Haven city, Robinson, Allendale, Talmadge; Spring Lake, with the village of Spring Lake, Crockery, Polkton, with Cooperville village, and Wright; and north of Wright, Chester. There are thus fifteen townships, two cities, and two incorporated villages, besides quite a number of unincorporated villages and hamlets. Of the towns very few are regular in form, there being only Jamestown, Blendon, Wright and Chester that are not cut up by rivers or the lake. Holland and Olive are one-and-a-half townships wide, and the center towns are cut irregularly by the Grand River, which has been made the boundary line. By this Spring Lake loses and Grand Haven gains; Robinson gains but little from Crockery. Polkton has about eight sections that formerly belonged to Allendale. The county takes all of west ranges 13, 14, 15, and all of 16 not eaten away by the lake, which lie between towns 5, 6, 7 and 8 north, and Chester, which is town 9 north, range 13 west. The chief rivers are the Black and the Grand, which latter stream enters the county at Jenisonville, where it suddenly turns from a southwesterly course to a northeasterly, and its having but a slight fall causes it to be sluggish and branch out into bayous, which in turn receive smaller streams. On its north side it receives Sand Creek, through Chester, Wright and Talmadge. It is well named i I I I i I I i i I il t I' I I - " A t- it _.2.A. - 44z -- ii: A i t?I - - 26 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. l Sand Creek, as along its course sand can always be found, which is not the case a little distance from its banks. Deer Creek, passing Cooperville, and entering the river onl the north bank, over a mile below Lamont, is the next little branch. Then from the south, across the north of Blendon to the west, through Allendale and East Robinson, and again back to Allendale, enters onil the south the Bass river. Crockery creek, over 20 miles long, rising in Muskegon, runs south across the east of Crockery, and enters the Grand River above Spoonville. The largest bayou is that of Spring Lake, in the northwest of the county, a fine, placid body of water, 6 miles long and from one-fourth to three-fourths of a mile wide. It is a favorite resort for pleasure parties, and fine orchards are planted on its *banks. Black River rises in the southeast corner of the county, and flows in a direction generally westward for eighteen or twenty miles, and falls into Black Lake at the city of Holland. This is the llost important- stream south of the Grand River, but is far too sluggish to be of much value as a mill stream. Black Lake is the most important body of water wholly within the county. It is of irregular shape, and from one-fourth of a mile to near two miles wide, and about six miles in length. It has been extensively improved by the General Government, and furnishes a commodious and safe harbor for lake craft of large size. SURFACE, SOIL, ETC. No beds of metal or quarries of stone of great value have as yet been extensively worked in the county, although valuable beds of marble have been found in many places, and large quantities of bog iron ore are known to exist in several of the townships. A mineral paint of an ocherous character, has for some years, been used in a small way in Robinson township. Within a few miles of Holland City, sandstone of a quality very suitable for some kinds of building purposes is being quarried. Valuable clay for brick-making may be had in almost all parts of the county, although in the west part of the county it can only be found beneath the surface sand, and generally below the lake level. Excellent clay for the manufacture of what are known as the Milwaukee brick is obtained by dredging in one of the bayous connected with the Grand River. SURVEYS. In the case of Ottawa County the U. S. Survey seems to have been made, on the south side of the river at least, in advance of any public demand, as townships 5, 6, and a part of 7 in range 13, which constitute Jamestown and Georgetown and a small portion of Talmadge, were surveyed in the year 1831 by Lucius B. Lyon, when, with the exception perhaps of Rix Robinson, there was not a white man within the boundary of the county for three years at least. Zeeland, Allendale, Grand Haven, and the west portion of Olive and Holland townships were surveyed in 1832, anled Blendon in 1833, while range 15, south of the river, comprising the town of Robinson and the east part of Olive-and Holland, was not surveyed until 1837, or five years after the range next to the lake shore, and the range immediately east had been laid off. The lands north of the river were not ceded by the Indians until 1835 or 1836, and were not commenced to be surveyed until 1837, when Crockery and Polkton were surveyed. Spring Lake township was not reached till 1838, and in the same year Talmadge, Wright and Chester were laid off into sections and fractions. The U. S. Surveyor was not always looked upon by the Indians with a friendly eye, and when followed soon after by claimants in advance of the land sale, the red man naturally regarded them as intruders, though we were unable to-learn of any serious difficulties with these original proprietors. CLIMATE. The climate of thlleeastern shore of Lake Michigan is an important factor in reckoning the value of Muskegon and Ottawa counties as fruit-growing regions; and as the subject has been ably handled in an address by that experienced fruit-grower, S. B. Peck, of Muskegon, we cannot do better than to summnarize from it. The address was delivered in February, 1872, before the Nomthwestern Fruit-grower's Association. Mr. Peck claims that it is not any peculiarity of soil, nor any hygrometric condition of our atmosphere, nor any lack or excess of rainfall that give us the superiority we claim to possess. It is simply a climate genial to the tender fruits-the peach, the nectarine, and the apricot. The presence of a great body of water like Lake Michigan operates to prevent extremes of heat and cold, as the water loses during the night less of the heat that it has acquired from the sun during the day than the land. Water while freezing throws off heat to the surrounding air, and while thawing absorbs heat. It is well known that while Lake Michigan never freezes, much of the snow that falls on the shallow waters of its shores is carried to its border, the spray from the lake thrown upon it, and the whole mass is congealed during the fore part of the winter, while the inland bays or lakes that border its eastern side freeze to the depth of one or two feet. These, by throwing out heat while freezing, lengthen the autumn, giving time for fruits to ripen, and in some measure preventing the early, killing frosts of the interior. In spring, or whenever these masses of ice begin to thaw, they cool the air by absorbing a portion of its heat, preventing in a measure the sudden occurrence of warm, almost summer heat, that occurs in the interior, rousing the peach buds, and putting them in the condition to be destroyed by the sudden cold which follows. It is not so much the cold of the interior that destroys the buds as it is the effect of the untimely heat of a thaw in winter or early spring. Peaches have borne on the hills of the Grand River Valley, where the previous January the mercury was down to 35 degrees below zero. All know that the western winds are by far the most prevalent here. The trees of our forests, and of our orchards, the bluffs on our east shore, the flatness of our west shore, the smoke of our furnaces, all furnish evidence of this.. True, we sometimes have a wind from the east or northeast, but that is an "ill-wind that blows nobody good," as it is from the east that our killing frosts come, for the winds from the west, having passed over 70 miles of a surface of water, cannot possibly carry frosts on to our shore. This accounts for the lake having so much greater effect on its east than its west shore, and being so much more extensive in its effects than Erie or Ontario, the length of which runs in an opposite direction. Again, if the lower we descend into the bowels of the earth, the heat increases, it is probable that the water on the bottom of the lake is warnmed and rises to the surface like the water in a kettle on a fire, and thus heat is continually evolved Another source of heat is that it is fed by streams coming from the interior, where the waters are shallow, and a greater proportion is exposed to the sun. Lake Superior lying so much farther north, and fed by streams still farther north, and mingling its cold waters with those of Lake Michigan at Mackinaw, will account for the fact that Michigan is the warmest of the great lakes. To sum up, the great capacity of water for holding heat, the freezing and thawing of the inland bays and the borders of the great lake, the prevalence of the winds from the west, the great depth of our water, reachingc down to the heat from the internal fires, the heat supplied through the summer from the shallow waters of the interior and stored up in this great storehouse of heat to be given off to us in mid-winter, all conspire to make this a favored region. All this we find ready to our hands by the Great Architect of the Uni 'A i — 7( -I V,... - I - 0: I i d I 11 I I I i I HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 27 _ I verse, and man cannot alter or control it; he can only avail himself of these blessings and reap the benefits. The atmosphere receives its heat only by reflection or radiation from the earth's surface, We have been taught that as we go upwards the air grows cooler, yet we must get up high if we wish to avoid frosts and yet if we get too high we and our plants will freeze together. It is on the principle of radiation that a board only a foot wide over a grape trellis often saves the whole vine from frost as it retains the ascending heat. Every night, heat climbs up the mountain sides. Therefore sloping lands are better than level plains, and valleys enclosed on all sides by hills are extremely unsafe. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Peck witnessed the destruction of 100 peach trees in a slightly depressed basin while on ground not more than 20 inches higher the trees were spared. Ravines running through level grounds are of service as they enable the cold air to descend. In planting peach trees one should select a site where the water would all run off, for the cold air of the night, like the water, seeks the lowest ground. Few ever think of Michigan as a tropical state, the common impression being that it is one of the coldest in the Union, but the narrow strip along the west coast is famous for its mildness of temperature, which gives it a semi-tropical climate. In 1881 the shipments from this belt amounted to 2,500,000 bushels, and in one year 806,000 bushels of peaches were shipped. It is somewhat anomalous that while the cities are filled with idlers so much land in Ottawa and more especially in Muskegon County and the adjoining counties on the lake shore should be lying unutilized. In the first place, fuel, one of the necessaries of life, may be found in abundance; lumber for building purposes is plentiful and cheap, and labor finds a ready market in the lumbering business, which makes money plentiful; and no better tract can be found for the cultivation of peaches, grapes and small fruits. The drift in most parts of the lower peninsula abounds in calcareous pebbles and large boulders, whose constant slow solution affords an unfailing and inexhaustible supply of calcareous matter, which is most abundant in the regions underlaid by limestone outcroppings, and in the districts south of there. These great drift agencies have a wide-spread distribution over a great part of lower Michigan, in which we consequently find many silicious soils. Even those composed of (apparently) pure sands, are made up largely of comminuted limestone. Hence we witness the anomaly of luxuriant farm crops and orchards upon soils which an ordinary observer would pronounce sterile. The county has also a proportion of marsh and savannah lands, consisting in general of a mucky loam, over a sandy subsoil, which when drained is the most valuable land to the farmer, capable of raising good grass and various other crops, where now but marsh hay is obtained. As one of the burning questions of both Ottawa and Muskegon Counties is the question of utilizing the sand soils which cover so large an area, we have induced Mr. A. T. Linderman, of Whitehall, formerly secretary of the State Pomological Society, and who has successfully treated a sand farm of 640 acres in Cedar Creek, to give his views as follows: HOW TO MANAGE SANDY SOILS. The great staples of this class are wheat and clover, which should be kept firmly in mind, and as a regular system is needed to bring this land up to -the required standpoint, the cultivation of these staples should not be departed from without very good reasons indeed. The reasons why it is necessary to adhere to these specialties are that this soil must have a regular annual dressing of green manure. Wheat and clover are the preferable crops on new land. On old, worn out soils, however, the production of clover is attended with so much risk, owing to the liability of the spring clover to be scalded out by the heat of the sun on the bare sand, or the ravages of the cut worm, that, as a rule, it is not best to make the attempt until the soil has had a sufficient amount of green manure added to it to render it heavy, in which condition it is not liable to sun scald; it is here and for this purpose that the potato crop becomes valuable-plant early sorts, and as soon as dug scatter over the land a plentiful seeding of winter rye; the land need not be plowed, a thorough harrowing being sufficient for the rye. The next spring, when planting time comes, turn under the rye and plant to potatoes again, and repeat the operation, until in three or four years the land can be sown to winter wheat and seeded to clover with little risk of not getting a "catch" of the clover seed. Once this is accomplished, you are ready for the clover and wheat relation, which is a much desired object. The next season after the wheat is taken off, cut the clover early, so that the second crop shall have time to ripen its seed thoroughly before time to plow for winter wheat again. Turn this second crop with its ripe seed under, and have no fear but that when you turn it up again two years later every seed will grow. It will be necessary to seed with this crop of wheat also, so as to have a crop of clover to turn under the second year again. This with its seed will give you clover on both sides of the sod, and no further sowing of clover seed will ever - be necessary. It is advisable to divide your farm into two nearly equal parts, and arrange it so as to have one-half to clover and the other half to wheat each year. A succession of these two crops will not only be profitable, but will annually improve the soil, and after a few years fruit can be grown from the trees, plants or vines you may desire to plant on this land that will astonish the natives. Properly managed this sandy land will make the best and most easily cultivated farms in the State. When brought to condition it stands drought much better than clay, is never too wet to work, and while not at present adapted to general farming, will produce most happy and profitable results in the special way described. SUPERVISORS' RECORDS. We cull from the county records and other sources a few of the most salient points in the history of the county: This county was organized by act of Legislature approved December 31, 1837, and at the ensuing township meeting of the three townships of Ottawa, Muskegon and Talmadge, that composed the county, the following officers were elected: Timothy Eastman, Clerk; Clark B. Albee, Register of Deeds; Edmund H. Badger, Judge of Probate; Henry Pennoyer, Sheriff; Supervisors Bethuel Church, Talmadge; William Hathaway, Ottawa; Erastus Wilcox, Muskegon. The first meeting of the supervisors was held at the house of Nathan Troop on the 11th day of April, 1838. Present-Erastus Wilcox and Wm. Hathaway. Organized by appointing E. Wilcox Chairman and Timothy Eastman Clerk. Resolved, That the courts of the county be held at the village of Grand Haven until further ordered. The board of two supervisors then adjourned. The next meeting was held at Troop's house on the 8th of May. Business-Extending the time for making up the assessment roll, and appointing Timothy Eastman to locate a quarter-section of land for the use of the county, in accordance with the provisions i a! \ I_.! -4 L. 19 Il - - - - I 4;If 6 28 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. r 28I of the act of the Territorial Legislature, approved July 25th, 1836. He was to be accompanied by one or more of the supervisors. The Register of Deeds was directed to procure suitable books. At the annual meeting of the supervisors, held at the house of Wm. Hathaway on the first Tuesday in October, there were present Church and Hathaway, Church in the chair. Adjourned two weeks. At the adjourned meeting, October 16th, present, Church and Hathaway. Permission was given Ed H. Macy to keep a ferry across Black River Lake two years. Accounts were allowed to the amount of $423.16, and the Board assessed for the town and expenses: Talmadge, $48.50; Ottawa, $631.34; Muskegon, $59.09. At this time a new order of things was inaugurated-the Board of Supervisors being superseded by County Commissioners. The commissioners elected were Bethuel Church and Saunders Coates. They held their first meeting December 6th, 1838, W. Hathaway, Secretary. [It may here be stated that an important part of the business of the county was either not recorded or the record has been lost. No record of the election is found, and what is here given is either from the records of the Supervisors and Commissioners, or from the memory of individuals.] Timothy Eastman is mentioned as being Judge of Probate, November 16th, 1839. March 24th, 1840, provision is made for a more formal record of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, and the succeeding Board of County Commissioners. On the assessment rolls appeared the towns of Ottawa, Georgetown, Talmadge, Norton and Muskegon-five towns. Assessed value of the county, $352,372.57. In 1842 George L. Norton, Benjamin Hopkins and C. B. Albee were County Commissioners. April 1st, 1842, the Board of Commissioners adjourned sine die; that is, forever. The record of the first meeting of the re-instated Board of Supervisors bears date July 4th, 1842. They organized by appointing Benjamin Hopkins Chairman. But there is no record who were the supervisors. The same five towns were represented. In 1845 six towns are represented, Polkton then appearing. In 1846, at a not full board, C. B. Albee was directed to build a jail, and to draw on the county for $50, and contingently for $50 more; that is, if the absent supervisors approved in writing, and $100 was subscribed. The absent supervisors approved. In 1847 Wright appears, making seven towns. In 1848, White River and Chester, nine towns. In 1849, Holland, Jamestown, Crockery, Allendale, Spring Lake and Ravenna (White River disappears), fourteen towns. In 1851 White River reappears. In 1852, Casnovia; 1854, Blendon; 1856, Robinson; 1857, Olive. In June, 1851, by the supervisors, the township of Zeeland is set off from Holland, and the first township meeting directed to be held at the church in the village of Zeeland July 14th, 1851. At the same meeting the S. 2 of T., 5 N. 15 W., was attached to Spring Lake. Valuation, $666,869.09. October 12th, 1852, Casnovia was set off from Chester as a separate township; the first meeting to be held at the house of Alexander Burdick the first Monday in the following April. Ottawa county had jurisdiction over all territory north of it. In 1853 the counties of Oceana, Mason and Manistee are complained of as not paying taxes, and a petition for proper powers to assess and collect taxes in the district was made to the Legislature, and special mention is made of White River, in the county of Oceana. Valuation, $1,404,529.66. In 1854 the township of Blendon was organized-set off from Allendale; first meeting at the house of Booth Perry the first Monday in April, 1857. In January, 1856, Robinson was set off from Ottawa; first meeting at the house of Ira Robinson the first Monday in April. The records give evidence of a good deal of interest in the location of the county seat, various places desiring it, especially Eastmanville and Ottawa Center. At the January session, 1857, the board voted to locate the county seat at Eastmanville, and that the question be submitted to the people. In 1858, by a two-thirds vote, they located it (so far as their vote would do it) at Ottawa Centre. In October its rejection by the people is recorded. In 1859 the supervisors voted to petition the Legislature to organize the county of Muskegon. In accordance with that petition, Mu'skegon County and all northern dependencies were set off, leaving Ottawa as now. The business between the two counties was amicably arranged. * The first Circuit Court for the county was held at Grand Haven May 28th, 1839; Charles W. Whipple was the Presiding Judge, and Timothy Eastman and Jonathan Ford Associate Judges. No jury was impaneled. In 1861 Muskegon and other counties were authorized to levy a harbor tax; Muskegon River improvement; Muskegon incorporated. In 1863 Grand Haven's name was changed from Ottawa; Holland harbor act amended. In 1864 Grand Haven was authorized to pledge its credit to the railroad from New Buffalo; Muskegon authorized to pledge its credit for a railroad to connect with the D. & M. In 1865 the Black Lake Harbor appropriation; Holland may aid Black Lake Harbor; Muskegon improvement; Muskegon for constructing free bridge. In 1866 Oceana T. 12 N., 17 W., and the part of 11 N., 17 W., lying north to White Lake. Blue Lake T. 12 N., 16 W., organized. White Lake-all that part of 11 N., 17 W., south of White Lake and T. 11 N., 16 W,-organized and called Dalton. Ottawa County allowed two representatives; Muskegon County allowed one representative; Black Lake Harbor appropriation; Holland authorized to establish a rate of tolls for the improvement of the harbor; Laketon organized, T. 10, N. 17 W. In 1867 Grand Haven City chartered; Holland authorized to resurvey; Spring Lake-name changed from Mill Point; White Hall-name changed from Mears and incorporated. In 1871 Fruitport-name dhanged from Lovell; Holton-12 N., 15 W.-organized; the east eighteen sections detached from Norton and added to Fruitport. In 1872 Grand Haven charter amended. 1876. In June, 1876, the following were supervisors: Allendale, C.W. Ingraham; Chester, W. H. Harrison; Georgetown, G. Weatherwax; Grand Haven City, G. D. Sanford, W. M. Ferry, and K. Brouer; Holland City, D. te Roller and R. Kanters; Jamestown, W. H. Curtis; Polkton, J. A. Walter; Spring Lake, Hunter Savidge; Wright, B. Laubach; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Crockery, S. Lawrence; Holland Township, W. Diekema; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Robinson, 0. A. Wjitney; Talmadge, W. Dewitt; Zeeland, J. G. Van Hees; Grand Haven Township, John Mastenbroek. In all 20 supervisors. '.7 -1'_:-: D: 1 -:! - 1 I I I I I I I HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY 29 Th Spevsos r, llnat,..Blke ledoJ.P.R B. Ijauback was elected chairman * I I B. Laubach was'elected chairman. B. Lillie and R. K. Heald were superintendents of the poor. The council grants permission to Grand Haven to erect a fire engine house on the southwest corner of the Court House block, but afterwards altered it to the southeast. The assessed valuation of the county was equalized at $6,558,687. The committee on the purchase of the bridge at Lamont, reported against purchasing at $1,000, which was the price demanded by the owner, Miner Hedges, and also against the purchase of the Spring Lake and Grand Haven bridge at $9,000. M. H. Creager is county treasurer; A. A. Macy, county clerk; The salaries are fixed at, county clerk, $800; treasurer, $1200; judge of probate, $1000. The late county treasurer, C. N. Dickinson, had left his bondsmen, among whom was John W. Hopkins, liable at this time for over $3.000, and negotiations were going on with a view to settlement. 1877. Peter H. Chappel presented certificate of election as supervisor of Wright, in place of B. Laubach, resigned; and W. H. Curtis, of Jamestown, was elected chairman. Edgar Babcock, is supervisor of Allendale, in place of Mr. Ingraham, removed. Joos Verplanke is the sheriff elect. Allen C. Adsit retires from the office of prosecuting attorney. Received for liquor license, $8,203.04. The officers now are, A. A. Tracy, clerk, J. De Boe, register of deeds; A. Visscher and E. Baxter circuit court commissioners; C. W. Gray coroner; M. H. Creager, treasurer. The county printer in 1877 was C. H. Dubois, next year it was J. G. Lee, the Herald in 1878, the Holland City News in 1879, 1880 and 1881. 1878. Supervisors: Chester, W. H. Harrison; Crockery, B. Murray; Grand Haven City, Geo. C. Stewart, G. D. Sanford and H. Brouer; Holland City, K. Schaddelee, D. te Roller; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, J. A. Walter; Spring Lake, A. Bilz; Talmadge, R. H. Pelton; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, J. G. Van Hees, Grand Haven, J. Mastenbroek; Allendale, F. J. Brown; Blendon,J. P. R. Hall; Georgetown, H. D. Weatherwax; Robinson, A. 0. Whitney; Holland Township, W. Diekema. The auditor general of the State claims about $30,000 as the indebtedness of the county, but the supervisors make up a set-off of over $25,000, and the council by 17 to 3 repudiated the claim as far as the $25,000 was concerned. Judge Tate enters the office of Judge of Probate, which he still, holds. Geo. W. McBride is Prosecuting Attorney. The committee appointed to search for a deed from the Ferry estate for the Court House Square report their want of success and suggest that the treasurer and clerk try their hands at the business, At the October session, S. M. Sage appears as Supervisor of Jamestown, and G. Van Schelven as second Supervisor for Holland City, and G. Parks and B. D. Safford for Grand Haven City. After 4 ballots A. O. Whitney was elected chairman. $200 reward was paid to the Sheriff of Columbus, Ohio, for th'e apprehension of Peter Schilling, charged with the murder of James Naylor, of Georgetown, and one-half the expense of the trial was borne by Kent County. The equalized assessment is $5,994, 524. F. F. Archer, of Lamont, is licensed for five years to ferry. across the Grand River. 1879. The Supervisors are, Allendale, J. E. Blake; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Chester, G. F. Porter; Crockery, H. W. Cleveland; Georgetown, H. D. Weathenvrwax; Grand Haven City, Sanford, Pfaff and Safford; Grand Haven Town, J. Mastenbroek; Holland City, L. Sprietsma and G. Van Schelven; Holland Town, W. Diekema; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, E. Thayer; Robinson, Jas. W. Knight; Spring Lake, H. W. Pearson; Talmadge, J. W. A. Turner; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, C. Van Loo. After 31 ballots C. Van Loo was elected chairman. Adam Wagner's license for a ferry at Eastmanville was renewed for five years. Assessed valuation equalized at $5,937,180. The County Treasurer reports as having received $51, 511, including $3,838 as cash on hand. There was appropriated for the general fund $8,500, salaries $3,800; poor fund, $2,500; insane, $1,700; State $13,727, making a total of $30,227. The sureties of C. N. Dickinson, late County Treasurer, were released on payment of $500. 1880. The Supervisors are: Allendale, E. Babcock; Blendon, J. P. R. Hall; Chester, G. F. Porter; Crockery, S. Lawrence; Georgetown, H. D. Weatherwax; Grand Haven, H. Saul; Holland, W. Diekema; Jamestown, G. Avery; Olive, A. P. Stegenga; Polkton, E. Thayer; Robinson, J. W. Knight; Spring Lake, C. M. Kay; Talmadge, R. H. Pelton; Wright, W. Molloy; Zeeland, C. Van Loo; City of Grand Haven, G. E. Hubbard, C. F. Pfaff and C. N. Dickinson; City of Holland, E. Van Der Veen and G. Van Schelven. W. N. Angell elected Superintendent of the Poor for three years. Equalized value of the county placed at $6,417,320. Bradford Velsey was granted a license to ferry across Grand River at Lanont. The liquor special tax returns produced $6,123. 1881 —1882. The Supervisors are the same as in 1880 except A. Kronemeyer, for Georgetown; W. C. Harper, Robinson; A. A. Tracy, G. D. Sanford and B. D. Safford for Grand Haven City; K. Schaddelee and John Roost for Holland City; John Sehler, for Chester; W. F. Kelley for Wright. C. Van Loo was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors. The committee recommended the dismissal of Mr. C. W. Lillie, keeper of the Poor House on a charge of cruelty to one Sarah Coye, which was adopted, although W. N. Angell and B. Lillie, the Superintendents, reported that there was no such ill usage nor inhumanity to inmates as would justify the removal of Mr. Lillie. Assesed valuation, $6,316,619. The Sheriff of the county is John Vaupell, and deputies G. M. Huntley, P. Weatherwax, M. M. Clark, T. M. Reed, F. E. Murray, John Pennoyer, and Peter Koning. The constables that received fees in June, 1881, are A. Wolt man, W. H. Finch, B. O. Goodrich, C. J. Pfaff, A. Romayn, M. M. McLean, A. Koning and M. P. Stegenga. The Justices receiving fees are: C. T. Pagelson, T. F. Howe, J. V. B. Goodrich, C. M. Kay, H. D. Post, Jas. Teneyck, George F. Richardson, John Rice, A. P. Stegenga. W. H, Finch is coroner. I I I I J I [l ea — VW I L.t - _ i L100 I ___ L. LP -S C* v fi i: ^ I 6 - J I i I I 'A -~ _ 0 - - 30 -A T HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. STATISTICAL. The following statistics, which we have gleaned from the U. S. Census of June 1, 1840, relating to Ottawa County, which then included Muskegon, may prove interesting to the reader. According to the returns the whole number of inhabitants was 208. Of horses and mules there, were 4, neat cattle 12; lo sheep; 13 swine; no wheat, rye, corn, oats or barley raised, or at least returned; 100 bushels of potatoes raised;;"no wool nor dairy products, and only 193 tons of hay. The manufactories consisted of 12 saw mills, with an invested capital of $103,500. OTTAWA CO.-U. S. CENSUS, 1850. According to the U. S. Census of 1850, Ottawa County (including Muskegon) returned 1128 dwelling houses, 1134 families, 5,587 inhabitants. The value of the real estate owned was estimated at $580,890. There were 204 occupied farms; 4,914 acres improved. The live stock consisted of 90 horses; no mules; 538, milch cows; 287 working oxen, and 837 other cattle; 192 sheep, and 1349 swine. The produce for the preceding year was: Wheat...... 3,814 bush. Rye. 262 " Indian corn..... 24,264 " Oats 8.. 3,549 " Barley. 55 " Buckwheat 553 " Potatoes...... 9,308 " Wool...... 1,166 lbs. Butter 30,935 " Cheese. 2,100 " Hay 1,507 tons Maple Sugar 42,365 lbs. The value of orchard products was $219, and of home made manufactures, $1,256. Some enterprising individual had gone heavily into the cultivation of clover seed, and the total amount returned for the county was one bushel. There were 24 saw mills- 11 water and 13 steam-with an invested capital of $144,030, land with an annual product of 49,320,000 ft., valued at $307,480. There were no flouring mills, and the-aggregate of all kinds of manufactures, mills inclulded, was as follows: Capital invested, $153,540; No. of hands employed, 323 males, no females; value of annual products, $337,548. The estimated value of real and personal estate according to the assessor was $435,856; according to the assistant marshals, - - The total number of acres of taxable land was 191,112; number of acres improved 46,101; number of acres sown with wheat 8,656. The number of saw mills returned were 24 steam and 6 water power, which produced 25,683,000 feet of lumber. The number of persons employed was 341, and the amount of capital invested was $179,260. The number of bushels of produce raised the preceding year was, corn, 103,774; wheat, 87,885; other kinds of grain, 56,207; potatoes, 63,814; tons'of hay, 15,923; lbs. wool, sheared, 25,726; lbs. pork, marketed, 243,640; lbs. butter, 269,038; lbs. cheese, 23,367; lbs. sugar, 210,753. Of live stock there were 2,058 horses; neat cattle, other than oxen or cows, 4,767; work oxen, 1,778; milch cows, 4,552; sheep, 10,557; 4,698 swine, and 8 mules. The manufactories were, flouring mills, 2 steam and 3 water; one brewery; no oil mills or distilleries, and no mines worked. There were also six steam and one water power manufactories of other kinds. There were 2,763 dwelling houses. OTTAWA COUNTY-1870. The population of Ottawa County in '1870, by townships, was as follows: Allendale 799 Blendon...... 718 Chester 1,400 Crockery 1,125 Georgetown 1,474 Grand Haven 558 Grand Haven City 3,140 Holland 2,351 Holland City. 2,324 Jamestown 1,612 Olive...... 612 Pollitonl.. 2,416 Robinson...... 406 Spring Lake...... 1,836 * Talmnadge...... 1,4t51 Wright....... 2,077 Zeeland...... 2,343 - I Ii i I q - t - t -r P N -bl $671,178. STATE CENSUS, 1864. OTTAWA COUNTY. L According to the State Census of 18( Ottawa County was as follows: Allendale Blendon Chester Crockery Georgetown Grand Haven Holland ~.. Jamestown Olive Polkton Robinson Spring Lake Talmadge Wright Zeeland Total, 64 the population of 298 276 1,034 574 918 1,5576 2,777 708 413 1,242 126 844 1,093 1,584 1,693 15,156 Total, 26,650 Of the total population there were, native born, 9,025 males and, 8,452 females; foreign born, 5,025 lales, and 4,148 females. There were 53 black, 31 mulatto, and 7 Indians. There were 3,658 voters owning property, and 1,358 without property; total, 5,016. The total number of acres of improved land in farms was 82,902; wood land, 106,886; other improved, 13,227; cash value, $7,333,58;. Value of farming implements, $125,377. The value of all farzm products during the preceding year was $1,761,981; forest products, $78,419; lzome manufactures, $4,930; maple sugar, 80,739 lbs. The live Stock oin farms was estimated at horses, 4,328; mules and asses, 57; milch cows, 6,452; working oxen, 1,328; other cattle, 5,632; sheep, 15,001, and swine, 7,828; and the total- live stock was valued at $1,044,948. The products during the year ending on 1st June, 1870, were as follows: Animals slaughtered Wool Butter. $156,271 50,788 lbs. 597,842 " I "W -I S He I Tl I v 7 - 'V - 1 X Q t I - 0-r - w v 5 l" r 1 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. HISTOR Y OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 31 (Jhes.._. 1,0 I_ Cheese.11,000 lbs. Milk sold 3,450 gals. Orchard products... 48,360 Wine..... 552 gals. Market garden products... $6,390 The farm products for the same year are estimated as follows: Wheat, spring.... 348 bush. Do. winter..... 217,919 Rye...... 5,807 " Indian corn..... 212,675 " Oats...... 166,124 " Barley..... 12,333 " Buckwheat..... 9,638 " Tobacco...... nil Peas and beans.... 1,978 " Potatoes..... 252,912 Hay. 23,521 tons Clover seed.... 24 bush. Grass seed..... 42 " Hops *..... 8,302 lbs. In 1870 there were 32 mills, 28 steam and 4 water power, in which the wages paid amounted to $152,096, and in which the capital invested was $477,700. The total products were lumber, 70,700,000 feet; lath, 3,100,000 pieces, and shingles, 1,200,000; the total value of all being $2,108,325. The manufactories of flour, meal and feed were 2 steam and 4 water mills, with a total of 19 run of stones. These ground 57,000 bushels of wheat, and 12,960 bushels of other grain. The capital invested was $103,800. They produced 10,132 barrels of flour and 89,200 lbs. of meal and feed, the total value being $157,590. There were three foundries and machine shops, with an invested capital of $8,700, the total value of the products being $15,550. There were six tanneries, producing $125,000 worth. The total number of manufacturing establishments was 171, in which $862,620 capital was invested, the whole products being valued at $2,781,867. The religious denominations of the people were represented by 57 organizations, with 38 edifices, with a seating capacity of 10,620, the church property being valued at $147,850. There were 83 public schools, with 54 male and 98 female teachers, and 2,941 male and 2,998 female pupils. The total income amounted to $47,242. There were 593 libraries, with 41,566 volumes. There were 8 weekly newspapers published, viz., Grand Haven Hereald, Grand Haven -Yews, Grand Haven Union, Spring Lake Independent, Grundwet,.Ilollander, -Hope, and TVatcher. The total value of real and personal property is given at $11,123,310, and the whole debt of the county and minor municipality was $57,650. It cost the county $5,842 to support 97 paupers, of whom 38 were native and 59 foreign. The number of paupers on June 1st, 1870, was 10 native and 13 foreign. There were 11 persons convicted during the year preceding. STATE CENSUS OF 1874. The population of the County of Ottawa according to the State, census of 1874 was 29,929 of whom 15,789 were males and 14,140 females. The population of the several townships was as follows: Allendale....... 762 Blendon........ 639 Chester...... 1,397 Crockery...... 1,124 Georgetown..... 1,464 Grand Haven...... 677 Grand Haven City.4,363 Holland.... 2,716 Holland City...... 2,469 Jamestown...... 1,806 Olive...... 1,257 Polkton......2,267 R obinson.... 528 Spring Lake.....2,345 Talmadge..... 1,475 Wright. 2,064 Zeeland...... 2,576 The total amount of taxable land in 1874 was 334,773.22 acres, and of improved land 87,033.12 acres. The total number of farms was 2,930, containing altogether 205,744 acres, or on an average 70.21 acres each. Of these in 1873 there were devoted to wheat 14,450 acres and to corn 12,072 acres. The farm products for 1873 were as follows; Wheat.. 217,594 bush. Corn..... 347,692 All other grain..., 336,638 8 Potatoes... 166,387 (" Hay.... 26,190 tons Wool...... 56,901 lbs. Pork marketed. 365,240 ( Cheese...,. 14,799,, Butter....650,860 (( Fruit dried for market... 4,581 "d Cider..... 289 bbls. Wine...... 1,410 gals. Maple sugar made in 1874 208,447 Ibs. ORCHARD,4 &Cs. ORCHARDS, &C. The land devoted to fruit and garden vegetables was, rejecting fractions of acres, as follows; Apple, peach, pear, plum and cherry orchards 5,089 acres. Vineyards...... 116 Raspberries..... 82 i" Strawberries.... 109 " Currants and gooseberries.., 13 "< Melons and garden vegetables.. 280 " The quantity of fruit and garden vegetables raised in 1873 was as follows: Apples. 39,494 bush. Peaches...... 761 it Pears...... 310 Plurms...... 52 " Cherries.... 424 " Grapes...... 3,773 cwt. Strawberries 3,944 bush. Currants and gooseberries.. 1,298 In Melons and garden vegetables. 14,096 "< The total value of all such fruit and garden vegetables was estimated at $74,056. The live stock of Ottawa consisted of the following: 4,691 horses; 66 mules; 1,171 working oxen; 7,878 milch cows; 7,404 neat cattle, other than oxen and cows; 6,316 swine and 16,456 sheep. There were 6 flouring mills, 4 steam and 2 water power, with 14 runs of stones. The capital invested was $65,_)00, and the product was 17,000 barrels of flour, valued at $147,500. L e - 4 t I~ I -z I p l I 1.it. Ar L. e i.4. e I E, - - 32 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. There were 42 sawmills, 40 operated by steam and two by water, with an invested capital of $2,342,500. These sawed 153,215,000 ft. of lumber, valued at $2,004,500-there was only one shingle mill, which cut $3,000 worth. The aggregate number of manufacturing establishments, including those already mentioned, was 88, of which 68 were operated by steam and 4 by water, and 16 without either water or steam. The capital invested in manufacturing was $2,745,600, and the annual products were valued at $2,852,400. U. S. CENSUS, 1881. Cereal production of Ottawa County as returned at the census of 1880. The following report of the committee on equalization adopted June 1881 is a fair exhibit of the wealth of the county and its several towns and cities. Barley Buckwheat Indian corn Oats Rye Wheat ACRES. 1,104.. 696 18,830. 10,030 1,242. 31,054 POPULATION 1880. BUSHELS. 25,621 8,439 610,442 317,935 14,978 657,750 I Allendale Blendon Township Chester, Chester Village, 420, Lisbon Village, 83. i Nunica Village, 297, Crockery, ) Spoonville Village, 56. V Georgetown, (Jenisonville 87) Grand Haven Township Grand Haven City Holland Township (New Groeningen, 46) Holiand City Jamestown Township i Ottawa Village 22, 1 Olive Township, ^S West Olive Village 33, Polkton Township, CSoopeville 188 } Eastmanville 188 Robinson Township Spring Lake Twp., Ferysburg l, Talmadge Township, (Lamont Village 261) Wiight Township,' (Berlin Village 270) Zeeland Township, (Zeeland Village 484) \U'1 0~" ' ' 1,074 785 1,703 1,240 1,815 642 4,861 3,064 2,620 2,066 1,601 2,688 439 2,384 1,506 1,922 2,715 Allendale.............................. Blendon............................. Chester................................ Crockery............................. Georgetown......................... Grand Haven City-] st & 2d wards -3d & 4th wards Grand Haven town.................. Holland City.......................... Holland............................... Jamestown......................... Olive................................... *Polkton............................ R obinson............................. Spring Lake.......................... Talmadge.............................. Wright................................ Zeeland............................... - - TOWNS AND CITIES. NO ACRES. 17 450 00 22 389 77 22 184 81 20 573 38 22 59 254 876 00 1 705 50 18 319 00 650 00 33 038 26 23 223 40 27 756 54 26 899 00 24 991 27 11 179 50 22 674 62 22 368 00 22 736 88 341 508 49 4 016 600 1 400 019 Totals............................. 6 316 619 PRESIDENTIAL VOTING. REAL ESTATE AS EQUALIZED. $121 651 116 916 380 424 140 698 34:5 708 174 932 141 306 81 827 226 387 414 586 403 370 18' 158 453 095 75 190 288 523 404?49 499 230 465 350 1840-Harrison Van Buren 1844 Clav Polk 1848-Taylor Cas3 Van Buren 1852-Scott Pierce Hale 1856-Fremont Buchanan 1860 Lincoln Douglas 1864-Lincoln McClellan 1868 Grant Seymour 1872 Grant Greely O'Connor 1876-Hayes Tilden Cooper 1880 Garfield.... 81.. 88.. 42.. 116.. 143.. 269.. 43 363 756.. 59.. 1392.. 998.... 1414.. 1217 1345.. 1586.. 2441.. 1857.. 2630.. 1163 110 3401.. 2620.. 70.. 3284 ~.. 2019.. 784 PERSONAL ESTATE. $10 580 8 713 4.4 440 38 616 37 437 543 625 116 750 5 450 75 373 38 260 47 074 18 326 50 945 6 590 154 925 38 63C 65 200 99 08C TOTAL. $132 231 125 fi634 42- 864 179 314 383$ 145 713 557 258 056 87 277 301 760 452 846 450 444 201 484 50t 040 81 780 443 448 442 879 564 430 564 430 -1 I i i i r I - P LiO SUMMARY OF POPULATION. TOWNSHIPS. 1880 1874 1870 1864 1860 1854 1850 1845 Allendale............ 1074 765 799 298 245 196 168..... Blendon................. 639 718 276 381 85.......... Chester.............. 1703 1397 1405 1034 721 500 216..... Crockery........... 1240 1124 1125 574 396 275 247..... Georgetown......... 1815 1464 1474 918 973 457 196 133 Holland............ 3064 2716 2354 2777 1991 985 1829..... Holland City........ 2620 2469 2324.................... Olive............... 1601 1257 612 3 3...... Grand Haven........ 642 677 558 1576 1359 684..... 350 Grand Haven City... 4861 4363 3140........................ Polkton......... 2688 2267 2416 1242 1222 570 430 321 Robinson............ 439 528 406 126 128............... Jamestown.......... 2066 1806 1612 708 519 2"04 72..... Spring Lake......... 2384 2345 1836 844 743 655 268 98 Talmadge........... 1505 1475 1451 1093 1145 746 545..... Zeeland.............. 2715 2576 2343 1693 1467 912......... Wright............. 1922 2064 2077 1584 1520 868 521 298 Total........... 32340129929266501515 6 13077 6809 4835 1200 I Hancock Weaver ~ REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS. No. One, consists of the cities of Grand Haven and Holland, and towns of Grand Haven, Holland, Olive, Robinson, Crockery and Spring Lake. Population 16,857. No. Two, consists of the towns of Zeeland, Jamestown, Blendon, Georgetown, Allendale, Talmadge, Polkton, Wright and Chester-Population 16,274. RAILWAYS. It is remarlrable that as long as the Indian traders remained, little or no effort was made to improve the highways; all followed the zigzag Indian trails which traversed the country in every direc -I I lr r ~PI 10 - HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 33 S 33 I I: l tion. The great trails were down the river, along the lake beach, and along the valley of the Black from Grandville. But the white settler changed all this; he immediately set to work to straighten and shorten the highways. In 1836 —7 the road from Grandville to Bronson village (Kalamazoo) was laid out, and also one from Grandville to Black River. The Port Sheldon and the Muskegon roads to Grand Rapids were laid out' in 1839, but little was done to make them fit for travel until 1854. Between Grand Haven and Spring Lake the bridge is still in the hands of a company, who charge toll even to foot passengers. The roads in the county are, owing to the nature of the soil, which is either sandy or sandy loam, in most instances in a good condition. The first railway in Ottawa County was that now known as the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee, built in 1857 —8, and which extends from Detroit to Grand Haven across the Lower Peninsula, connected by a line of first-class steamers of the Goodrich Transportation Company with Milwaukee, thus forming one of the quickest routes to the Northwest. The road is 189 miles in length, is prosperous and under excellent management. It was the beginning of an era of railway progress when the first train entered Grand Rapids on July 10, 1858, and Grand Haven the same year. This road enters the county from Grand Rappids in a westerly course, crossing Wright, in which is Berlin Station; then across Polkton, in which is Cooperville Station, into Crockery with Nunica Station; thence through Spring Lake and Ferrysburg to Grand Haven. The history of the railroads of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties is but another evidence of the tendency of the age towards the consolidation of smaller concerns into a huge and powerful consolidated company-the Moses' rod plan of swallowing up the weaker. We are indebted for many of the following particulars to Mr. F. A. Nims, of Muskegon, who aided in bringing about the present combination of clashing interests, uniting them into one harmonious whole, more profitable to the stockholders and affording the people better service. The year 1868 saw the first railway in operation, the Muskegon & Ferrysburg, a distance of about fifteen miles; with L. G. Mason, President; F. A. Nims, Secretary and Attorney, and Major Davis, S. R. Sanford, A. Rodgers and others as Directors. In 1869 the Muskegon & Ferrysburg road consolidated with the road from Grand Haven to Allegan, under the name of the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, with the late Ransom Gardner, of Kalamazoo, as President; A. J. Kellogg, of Allegan, as Secretary and Treasurer, and George Goss-, of Allegan, as Superintendent. The firm of Goss, Warner & Co. had built the Allegan portion, and W. F. Thompson, of Detroit, the road from Ferrysburg, which were subsequently sold under foreclosure of mortgage, being bid in by the bondholders, and reorganized as the Grand Haven Railroad, the original stockholders getting nothing. James W. Converse, of Boston became President; C. C. Converse, Secretary, and Fred H. May, Manager. In 1881 the control of the stock passed into the hands of those interested in the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, and the Grand Haven and other lines were consolidated with the Chicago & West Michigan. The four consolidated companies are now known as the Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company, which includes the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company and others. The only change of name being the use of "railway" instead of "railroad." The four consolidated companies are: 1. The old Chicago & West Michigan Railroad; 2. Grand Haven Railroad; 3. Grand Rapids, Newaygo & Lake Shore; 4. Indiana & Michigan Railroad. The officers for 1881 are Nathaniel Thayer, Jr., of Boston, President; Charles Merriam, of Boston, Secretary and Treasurer; G. C. Kimball, of Grand Rapids, General Manager, and F. A. Nims, of Muskegon, Attorney. It has now four hundred miles built and in operation, and one hundred miles building. The organization extends from Manistee in the north to Battle Creek in the southeast, and to Lacrosse, Indiana, in the south. The Chicago & West Michigan Railroad originated in a company formed to build from New Buffalo to St. Joseph. In April, 1869, an organization on paper was formed, with Hon. A. H. Morrison, of St. Joseph, as the leading spirit. In June, 1869, the Lake Shore Railroad of West Michigan was formed to build a road from St. Joseph to Muskegon, and in the following month both companies consolidated, and took the name of the first company. The officers were virtually the same, and both were organized by Mr. Morrison, and he built the road from New Buffalo to Nunica. + Prior to this a company had been formed in Grand Rapids in February, 1869, called the Grand Rapids & Lake Shore Railroad, to run from Grand Rapids to Pentwater by way of. Muskegon. In August, 1870, this company was consolidated with the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, taking the name of the latter, and during 1870 Martin L. Sweet, of Grand Rapids, built the road from Nunica to Montague. In 1870 another corporation named the Grand Rapids & Holland Railroad was projected, with F. Godfrey, of Grand Rapids, as President, and also Geo. H. White as one of the promoter:. The road was built in 1870. At this time James F. Joy was President of the Chicago, Michigan & Lake Shore, and was advancing money in his official capacity as president to build these lines as feeders to his own line. In 1871 still another line was projected as the Montague, Pentwater & Manistee Railroad, with Samuel A. Brown, of Pentwater, as President; and this road was built by Thompson, Smith & Co., of Detroit, under a contract from Joy as president of the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad. In the fall of 1871 the Montague, Pentwater & Manistee Railroad was completed, and, along with the Grand Rapids and Hollafd line, was consolidated with the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad. In December, 1871, there was organized in Muskegon a line to run from Muskegon to Big Rapids, known as the Muskegon and Big Rapids Railroad Company, which line is now the Big Rapids branch of the Chicago & West Michigan, with L. G. Mason President; A. Rodgers, Treasurer, and F. A. Nims, Secretary and Attorney. This road was built in the fall and winter of 1872, by Thompson, Smith & Co., of Detroit, under a contract with Joy similar to the other contracts for building the lines. Prior to the completion of the road it was consolidated with Joy's roads. For the construction of these roads and branches mortgages had been given, and on November 11th, 1876, a bill was filed in the United States Court to foreclose these, and Geo. C. Kimball, of Grand Rapids was appointed Receiver for the entire property, he having acted for two years previous as General Manager. At the sale of these roads they were bid in for the bondholders by Charles Francis Adams, Jr., of Boston, who reorganized them and named the consolidation the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company. The Grand Rapids, Newaygo & Lake Shore Company was organized to build a road from Grand Rapids to Manistee. The road was built to White Cloud by Chester Warner & Co. James W. Converse, of Boston, and his friends took the bonds, furnished the money and obtained control of the stock. Early in 1881 he parted with the control of this stock and that of the Grand Haven Railroad to the leading stockholders of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, passing over at the same time the control of the Muske I ~ L ]g. -1A -I - ti f r `e I I - - 07I ~_ i I I if 5 Zi 77 I I 34 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 34I I gon Lake Railroad, which had been organized to build a road from.Muskegon City, to Pt. Sherman at the mouth of Muskegon Lake. In the summer of 1881 the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, in order to get more extended connections to the south, southeast and southwest, organized a corporation known as the Indiana & Michigan Railroad, which is in the course of rapid construction to Lacrosse, Indiana, the junction of the Panhandle system of railways with the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. The road crosses the Michigan Central,Wabaslh, St. Louis & Pacific, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Baltimore & Ohio, Grand Trunk, Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago, New York, Chicago & St. Louis and other lines. To realize the importance of the line it is sufficient to state that in thirty-five miles it crosses no less than ten trunk lines. It will be opened to Laporte, Indiana, early in 1882, and finished in the spring of the same year. The Chicago & West Michigan Railway also leases the White River railroad, extending already twelve miles into the pineries from White Cloud, and which will probably cross the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway to the North. The Chicago & West Michigan is now in a highly prosperous condition under its present wise and vigorous management, its stock having risen from 15 cents on!the dollar as high as 95 cents, and at this present writing standing at 85 cents. Late in 1881 the company removed the rails of the old Lake Shore line from Holland City through Blendon, Ottawa, Robinson and Spoonville Stations, and have, in fact, discontinued the line from Holland via Nunica to Fruitport, and have built a short branch a little above Ferrysburg to a point about a mile north of Fruitport, which enables them to run their freight in and out of Muskegon City more easily. U. S. SENATORS. In the Senate of the United States Michigan is represented by Senators T. W. Ferry, of Grand Haven, term expiring in 1883; Senator Conger, of Port Huron, term expires in 1887. STATE SENATOR. The Twenty-sixth Senatorial District consists of Ottawa and Muskegon Counties. Population in 1880, 59,711. Represented by George A. Farr, of Grand Haven, who was born July 27th, 1842, in Niagara County, New York, and removed in 1851 with his parents to Monroe County, Mlich. In 1861, at 19 years of age, he enlisted in the Adrian Cadets, and was in the first Bull Run. He then enlisted in the Fourth U. S. Artillery, and served through the war, retiring as First Sergeant of Artillery. He graduated from the Agricultural College in 1870, and having been admitted to the bar soon after, he removed to Ottawa County and associated with H. (C. Akeley in the practice of law. He has always been a Stalwart, outspoken and radical Republican, and though never an aspirant for office, was elected to the Senate as a Republican in 1878, and reelected in 1880. He is the recognized leader of the Prohibition element in the Senate. For the collection of customs the State is divided into four districts, with four ports of entry. Of these the Michigan District has as its port Grand Haven, with David McLaughlin Collector. OTTAWA REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS. THE FIRST DISTRICT consists.of the townships of Allendale, Blendon, Georgetown, Grand Haven, Holland, Jamestown, Olive, Robinson and Zeeland, and the the city of Holland. Population, 16,281. Represented by Cornelius Van Loo, who was bom in the Netherlands August 7th, 1838, and who emigrated with his parents in 1849, settling in Ottawa County. From 1850 to 1856 MIontcalm County was his home, when he returned to Ottawa County, and in 1858-9 attended the Agricultural College, and also attended Albion Seminary two winters. In 1860-1 he taught school in Montcalm County. He enlisted August 1862, in the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry (Col. MIcCreary's), and served until the close of the war. He rose from corporal to first lieutenant, receiving his last commission two days after Chicamauga, in which he was twice severely wounded. He was in all the battles of his regiment, and was with Sherman in his "march to the sea." He then returned for three years to Albion College. He was thrice elected ERegister of Deeds for Ottawa County, serving from 1869 to 1875, was Superintendent of Schools for his township four years, Supervisor and Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors for the last two years, and was elected by 107 majority over the Fusion candidate. He is a farmer by occupation, and has been an unflinching Republican since the formation of that party. THE SECOND DISTRICT consists of the townships of Chester, Crockery, Polkton, Spring Lake, Talmadge, Wright, and the city of Grand Haven. Population 16,304. Represented by JOHN B. PERHAM, Of Spring Lake, who was born in Mayfield, Fulton County, New York, in 1835. In 1860 he removed to Spring Lake, where he has since resided. He received a common school and academic education, taught school several years in Jefferson County, N. Y., and was principal of the public schools of Spring Lake for several years. He has been Township Clerk and Supervisor for several years, being the first Republican ever elected supervisor of his township. He has been a member of the School Board for over fifteen years, and is thoroughly interested in the cause of education. He has always been a Republican, and was elected Representative over the Fusion candidate, George E. Hubbard, of Grand Haven, by 119 majority, although the Fusion majority in 1879 was 741 in his district. He has always been a devoted temperance advocate, and was elected partly on this issue. FORMER MEMBERS OF MICHIGAN SENATE. I. E. Carleton, Mears, Oceana, now Whitehall, Muskegon, in 1869-70 I -11 r; Henry S. Clubb, Grand Haven, George A. Farr, Grand Haven, T. W. Ferry, Grand Haven,. Nelson Green, White River, Muskegon, Israel V. Harris, Talmadge, Ottawa, Mordecai L. Hopkin, Millpoint, Ottawa, Chas. E. Hackley, Muskegon City, Chas. D. Nelson, Muskegon City, Henry Pennoyer, Grand Haven, Wales F. Storrs, Coopersville, Ottawa, FORMER MEMBERS OF STATE LEGISLATURE, Alien C. Adsit. Spring Lake, Ottawa, I. E. Carleton, Oceana, Muskegon,. Chauncey Davis, Mulskegon City,. Jas. Dalton, Jr., Dalton's Mills, Oceana,. R. W. Duncan, Grand Haven, T. W. Ferry, Grand Haven, J. W. Graveliuk, Graafschap, Ottawa,. Robt. A. Haire, Spring Lake, Ottawa, Myron Harris, Talmadge, Ottawa, Silas G. Harris, Grand Haven, Ottawa, 4" " Talmadge, Ottawa, H. H. Holt, Muskegon City, Moses B. Hopkins, Grand Haven City, 1873-4 1879 1857-8 1861-2 1853 1855 1865 1875-7 1859 1871-2 1871-2 1865 1861-2-3-4 1859 1855 1857 1873-4 1873-4 1875 1847-8 1850. 1867-79 1867 I I I II t( _ HISTORY OF OTTAWAmTA COUNTY T71 35 D. Manly HEoward, H~olland, Ottawa, H~iram Jenison, Jenisonville, Benj. Laubach, Berlin, Ottawa, Geo. Luthter# Lamont, Ottawa, E. W. Merrill,, Muskegon City, tyman Murray,,Lisbon, Ottawa, H3enry A. Norton, Berlin, Ottawa, H~enry Pennoyer, Grand Hraven, John REoost, H3olland,, Ottawa, Wales F. Storrs, Cooperville, Ottawa, Charles C. Thompson, Whitehall, nluskegon, Dirk B. K.( Van Raalte, Holland, ~Ottawa, T. WT. W~hite, Grand H~aven, Ottawa, Natthan Whitney, Trenrt, Muskegonl Silas G. HEarrris, of Ottawa County, was the S] Hrouse of Representatives, and was Speaker in 1850.. 863-5 1853 1877-9 1863-4-5 1857 1867-9-70 1869-70 1849 1871-2 1875 1873-4 1875-7 1844 1875 )peaker of the I THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION In 1881-2 consists of Prof. A. W. Taylor of Nunica, Mrs. A. V. W~eatherwax of Jenisonzville, atnd Rev. Jats. F. Zwemer of Spring Lake, secretary. In an address lately delivered Mrs. Wea'therwax gave the following figures as to salaries of teachers: In the townzship, of Allenda~le the average price paid to male teachers is $30; to female, $17. In Jamestown, male,.$34; female, $21. Olive, male, $25; female, $21. Talmadge employs no male teachers. Female average, $22. Wright, one male teacher. Average for female, $14. Z;eeland, $45 for males and $i28 for females. It would seem that the distinction between the m~ale and female teachers would recommend itself to your judgment as too great, inasmuch as we do not hesitate- to place our best, largest and most ungovernable schools in the hands of female teachers. For instance, in the township of Georgetown we have schools numbering but forty pupils, paying $~45, per month for a male teacher, while two of our schools numbering between sixty and seventy pupils are ill the hands of -two of our most competent lady teachers, employed att the very highest limit, namely, $28 per month. Those same schools willingly pay $~35 per month~ for a male teacher. COUNTY: OFFICERS. 1882. 'Judge of Probate —Samuel L. Tate. Sheriff —John Vaupell. Register of Deeds —Jacob Baar. Clerk -Geo. D. Turner. Treasurer-L-. T. Ka~nters. Prosecuting Attorney-George WV. McBride. Circuit; Court C ommissionaers —Arendd Visscher, Charles E. Soule., Surveyor-RB. J. Foster. Coroners —Curtis W. Gray, Wra. H. Filzch. Fish Commissio~ner —John Snoek.. Boa~rd of County School Examiners —A. W. Taylor, Mrs. A. V. Weatherwax. and Jas. F. Zwemerer, See., Spring Lake. THE PRESENT COUNTY OFFICIALS. SAMUEL L. TATE, Judge of Probate, was born in Leeds, England, January 14tb, 1839. At 3 years of age his parents came to Massachusetts, and in eleven years moved to Peoria, Ell., and after various changes of location, he came to Grand Haven in 1870, hatving previously graduated at Albion College, El., and also in law at Chicago. He entered into a law partnership for a time with Stephen L. Lowing, was elected Circuit Court Commissioner in January, 1873, haws been elected for t~hree terms of four years each on the Republican ticket, and has served as city Alderman for four terms. GEo. D. TURNER,COUntY Clerk, was born in Clilnton County, N. Y., in 1849; removed when young to St. Lawrence Couulty, where he resided thirteen years; came to Ta~lmadge Township in 18661 taught school for a few years in that township and Wright; took a course at G~rand Rapids Commmercial College; was elected on the Republican ticket in November, 1880, as County Clerk; married, September 14th, 1873, Lily C. Marvin, of Wright, and has one child, Marvin, born April 24th, 1877. JACOB BAAR, Register of' Deeds of Ottawa County, was born in Grand Hatven MI~iay 16th, 1858, and, although elected to an important public office, is only 24 years of age. His father, Simon Baar, is a native of Holland, and came to Grand Haven in 1850. Jacob, after leaving school, entered the hardware store of Geo. E. Hubbard as clerk, and continued in that position until January, 1881, when he entered upon the duties of the off~fice of Register, to which he was elected at the preceding election. Mr. Baar is the youngest Register in the State. GEORGE VAN SCHELVEN, acting Treasurer, is a gentleman of considerable prominence, ex-editor of the H~olland City News, and now Deputy Treasurer of thle county. He was born in the Kin gdom of Holland in 1842, and carve to Holland City in 1855, and has filled many municipal offices, such as alderman, justice of the peace, city clerk, supervisor, etc. -He has devoted a great deal of attention to the history of the Holland Colonly, and we gladly avail ourselves of h~is valuable skretches. L. T. KIANTERS, County Treasurer, was elected in November,. 1880, for two years, is ex-Treasurer of H~ollandt, and Chief of the Fire Department. He came from the KEingdom of H~olland in 1862. H3is attention h~as been greatly devoted of late to contracting, chieflyy in Texas.JOHN VAUPELL, Sheriff, was born in Livingston Cournty, N. Y., -of Dutch parents. He came to Holland in 1860, atnd moved to Grand Haven in 1881, after his election as Sheriff'. He h~as held many positions of tru~st in Holland, such as marshal, alderman, and has been deputy sheriff for four years. Mr. Vaupell makes an excellent officer, comb.-ning, as be does, firmness and resolution with a courteous and conciliatory manner. THE PORT SHELDON BUBBLE 1836-38. Pigeon Lake, in Olive Township, is an inlet of Lakle Michigan, connected by a narrow stratit, and the influx of water from the land is too small to keep the strait open. If opened by dredginlg, at the first storm on the lake it will silt up. Any good engineer could have foreseen that the harbor could not be kept open. The folly of a company wh~ich did not first ascertain this fact will now be related. The history of Port Slleldon is ain episode of more than usual interest. About 1836 a manial for locating cities andl villages prevaliled, andl men fatncied they could see "millions" in somve wvilderness location. The points were secured; villages were platted and mapped, and many were there that paid for lots in these paper cities. In 1836 a number of New York and Philadelphia capitalists formed a joint stock comliany —the Port Sheldonz Company —with the design of founding a city in western Michigan. They had abundant capital and any azmount of faith. Detroit was the emporium3 for eastern Michigan, and Chicag~o was then in - embryo and Iits future problematical. The company first selected Grand Haven, but the Grand Haven Company had already possession and rejected all overtures, so that th~e Port Sheldonr Company, although well aware of the superior adva~ntages of the mouth of Grandl River, determined- to crush out Grand H~aven by getting the start in development. They there I I 2.`4 T i -T - I I I I i-all -- r7-7_11 4 f -, P - 36 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I fore selected the north side of Pigeon Lake, and in the fall of 1837 commenced operations in earnest. They came on with a vessel loaded up with stores and provisions, bringing houses ready to set up, and about forty men, consisting of directors, superintendents, surveyors, engineers, &c., with everything necessary for equipment and comfort during the winter. The general superintendent was Saunders Coates, afterwards manufacturer of gas works in New York, a man highly esteemed. The other superintendents were A. H. Judson and E. P. Deacon; the former was last heard of in New York, the latter in Cuba. G. M. Barker, well known in Grand Rapids, was a surveyor. Abraham Pike was also a clerk. They proceeded to lay out a city, survey the harbor and improve the entrance. An elegant map of the harbor and plat was engraved. The city makes a fine show on paper. There are one hundred and forty-two blocks, with twenty-four lots to a block. Seven lots are reserved for churches, one for a fish market, two for markets, four for a railroad depot, four for a city hall, and one for a school house. A railroad is laid out through the city, and piers from Pigeon Lake to Lake Michigan. The soundings of the harbor are on the map, and all indicates that if there is not a city there the projectors mean that there shall be. Good roads are made to Grandville and Grand Haven, costing from five to ten thousand dollars. A light-house was built at their own expense and maintained for two years. They owned a beautiful little yacht,"Memee (Indian for pigeon), had their fancy boats and boat club, who used to disport in full regalia. They built a splendid hotel at an expense of thirty to forty thousand dollars; fitted up and furnished in splendid style. This hotel in the wilderness, where a traveller did not come once a month, was 60x120 feet. They built an office which cost $10,000, a store worth as much, with no country around and the city on paper. They built the best mill in the West, costing $20,000, and erected fifteen small dwellings. In 1838 there were about three hundred people, mostly employes of the company, who bought lots at moderate prices, formed a community, and enjoyed themselves extensively. Dr. Scranton was physician there for a time, and afterwards went South. The company obtained a charter for a railroad from Port Huron to Port Sheldon, and actually grubbed out two or three miles of the track. The commercial crisis that ensued, followed by the discoveryall too late-that the harbor could not be kept open, obliterated the city. The company abandoned the project, bought off those who had made investments, paid for their improvements, assuming to themselves all their losses, dismantled their mill, moved off all that was movable, abandoned the place, leaving Mr. Pike sole occupant and sole agent. There he lived for several years, endeavoring to sell the hotel and thirty lots for less than the cost of the glass and paint. The rest of the land had been sold for the hemlock bark that was on it. At last the one man fighting mosquitoes and starvation retired, and for years Port Sheldon has been deserted. Every vestige of the old buildings is now gone. j L::: - I _ - I00 'A r_ w-V I I l i;l GRAND HAVEN CITY. - This beautiful little city, the Saratoga of the West, lies compactly on the left bank. of the Grand River, not far from its debouchure into Lake Michigan. Immense sand hills rise like ramparts between the city and the lake shore, and encroach upon the west side, in some cases burying houses in their progress. A bare and glistening wall of sand with a broad plateau greets the eye whenever westward turned. The whole city is on light sand, which produces fine gardens and fruit orchards. Across the river appear more sand bluffs upon a peninsula, or tongue of land, the property of I. VHarris, where it was once supposed the city would ultimately be established, and where the D., G. H. & M. Railway Depot formerly was. The depot is now on the Grand Haven side, and one wonders where it could have come in on the other side, so much have the mountains of sand encroached to the very verge of the river, so as to threaten to choke up the channel. "Not a wrack is left behind" to mark the once busy scenes that were enacted over there; and the $40,000 that were once offered for the sandy peninsula will not soon be offered again. The Government has caused board fences to be built along the sides of the bluff to stop the blowing of the sand into the river, with what success remains to be seen. The principal thoroughfare is Washington street, which runs up from the river from where the D., G. H. & M. Depot stands, past the Kirby House, the Post Office, the Cutler House Block, and Sanitarium, on past the Court House Square, and so on over the hill, passing some fine residences and churches. RAILWAYS. The D., G. H. & M. have a respectable and solid-looking stone depot, with a fine elevator a little farther up the river. Their line crosses directly over a bayou and an island, and then the river by a fine iron bridge into Ferrysburg, and thence by another bridge into Spring Lake. At their depot in Ferrysburg, also a neat little structure, they form a junction with the C. & W. M., which passes on the left side, and freight and passengers are here transferred. The latter railway has running powers over the iron swing bridge referred to, and has its depot near the junction of Fourth and Jackson streets. Thence its course is south to Holland and New Buffalo, where it meets the Michigan Central. The C. & W. M. Depot is known as the Holland depot. The word "Grand Haven" was not in the original title of the railway, which was simply "Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad." The road came into Ottawa County in 1858, and has been sold out by the bondholders, so that it is controlled by the Great Western of Canada, F. Broughton, managing director, and F. C. Stratton the local agent. We learned from Mr. Percival, ex-station-master, that the first station-master was Capt. Heber Squires; then followed in succession John Pickford, Mr. Reikie, Thomas Bromely, then Pickford again, George A. Mills, John T. Percival (1871-4), then F. C. Stratton from 1875 to the present time.:~ I Connected with the change of the depot from the other side of the river there has been some litigation. The company found the sand encroaching upon them, cramping them for room, and separated from the main center of population by a river. The buildings needed rebuilding, and in this juncture the idea of moving occurred. The people of Grand Haven were anxious to have the road on their side of the river, and so a bonus of $50,000 was voted to bring over a railway, the management of which was only too glad to come. At this time a mania for railways was everywhere prevalent. This was about 11 or 12 years ago. About half the bonus was issued in bonds, but for some reason the city refused to pay, and the case has gone to the Supreme Court, which has declared the bonds illegal, except those in the hands of innocent purchasers, of whom it is not known that there are any. About a year ago a demand was made by the railway company, but so far no suit has been entered for the amount. HER ADVANTAGES. Grand Haven is favored in the way of transportation, as she has two strong railway lines, independent of each other; one traversing the regions to the north and south; the other, the east and west, and connected with the fine line of steamers of the Goodrich Transportation Company, who are constantly adding splendid new steamers to their line to Milwaukee and Chicago. We doubt if there is in the United States a more magnificent steamer 'than the "Milwaukee," under the efficient management of Capt. Smallman. The city has, besides, a priceless heritage in her noble harbor, and her water communication by the lake to the west and the river to the east. Then in her great lumber business, which is assuming enormous proportions, and which is good for many years yet, Grand Haven is to be congratulated. The product has risen from 58,000,000 feet in 1876 to to 191,000,000 in 1881. The figures in feet, from 1873 to 1880, are: YEAR. FEET. 1873..... 117,535,000 1874...... 80,964,000 1875....... 83,150,000 1876.......58,500,000 1877....... 80,805,000 1878...... 80,000,000 1879....... 120,795,000 1880...... 135,919,000 1881....... 191,000,000 A city, turning out annually about 200,000,000 feet of lumber, has good reason to be proud of her standing as a producer of that great staple. We shall, however, speak hereafter more in detail. Suffice it to say here that it has within its limits the greatest shingle mill in the world-that of Boyden & Akeley. L W L _____-!! - =,I 3 3S +: L 38 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I i I i i.i - In manufactures there is promise of a great future. The Wait Company, the Stearns Company, the Bryce & Co. Foundry, the Creager Factory, the Ottawa Iro l Works (for Ferrysburg is but a suburb, and with Spring Lake, an allied village, and the whole three places may be regarded as one), are nal institutions creditable to the rising city. The two shipyards have done a large business in the past, and are capable of doing more in the future. But one of the most important factors in the future of a city is its hotels, and in the Cutler House Grand Haven possesses an institution of which she may well be proud, and which is a monument to the public spirit of Dwight Cutler, its proprietor. The Cutler, one of the finest houses in Michigan, and the beautiful Sanitarium, opposite, under the charge of the celebrated Dr. Paine, with its health-giving mineral waters, baths, and multiform appliances to restore health, will continue to attract increased numbers of tourists in search of health and pleasure. Then on lake and river there is pleasant surf bathing or boating, with excellent fishing to attract the tourist, with the alternation of a pleasant drive into the country. The fruit interest gives promise of steady improvement, both on Peach Plains and around Spring Lake. In churches the city offers variety and abundance. So numerous are the church edifices that it appears like the city of Brooklyn on a small scale. In schools Grand Haven can boast of as fine a central school building, with as efficient a staff of instructors as can be found in any city of its size in the State. Taking all these advantages into consideration, we are led to predict a prosperous future to Grand Haven, which for a number of years in its early history had rather a slow growth. Its extended railway and water eommunication, the development of the surrounding villages and towns, and the rise of the city to be a popular summer resort, all augur well for its future. Its climate and situation are favorable to its steady growth as a center of population. EARLY SETTLEMENT. In the progress of our history we have had to allude to matters connected with the early settlement of the first point in that settlement-the count! seat-which, lying at the mouth of the river, was naturally the first to be chosen as a trading post and site of a village, either by those approaching from the lake, or coming down the river from the Rapids. Itjis unquestioned that Rix Robinson was the first to Occupy Grand Haven, he' having ple-empted a quarter-section on the water front in 1825. Early in 1833 Zenas G. Winsor came in from the Rapids as Robinson's clerk, and his office was near the "Ferry" warehouse. He still resides in the city, hale and hearty. THE REV. WM. M. FERRY may be considered as the first settler who came in with his family and all his interests to make it his permanaent hone. As he may be considered as the founder of the village, it may be well to give, as we didin the case of RixRobinson,'a ore extended notice. One whose personal history is identified with the early history of the county, whose life was.identified with the business, social, moral and religious interests of the Grand River Valley, merits more than a passing notice. Mr. Ferry was no common man, although modestly ranking himself assuch. As long as he lived he was looked up to by the community as a leader, and he was felt to be a power. Briefly sketched, the record of his life is this: Born at Granby, Mass., September 8th, 1796; the son of a sterling farmer, who, by honest toil, reared a large family, and by example and precept enforced the principles of virtue. He had also the advantage of anoble and devoted mother, whose wise counsels he early learned to appreciate. He was a slight, frail youth, not fitted for the rugged toil of a farmer's life. He looked to the gospel ministry as his future field of action, and the serious question arose, "How shall I enter that field?" His father's means forbade a hope for his assistance, and his father's pride wrung from him a promise that he would under no circumstances solicit aid 'from any one, but would rely upon his own endeavors. Compelled for a time to abandon his cherished hope, he entered the store of his brother as clerk, studying as he could find opportunity. At eighteen he became tutor in a female seminary under his uncle, Mr. Joseph Montague; taught one year; went to Plainfield, Mass., where he prepared for college, at the same timeteaching the academy at Ashfield. He entered at twenty-one the sophomore year at Union College, and through the kindness of Dr. Yates, one of the professors, who furnished him employment sufficient to pay his expenses, he graduated in his twenty-fourth year, pursued a theological course of two years at Brunswick, N. J., and of six months with Gardiner Spring, D.D., of New York; was licensed and ordained by the New York Presbytery in 1822. He was appointed to explore among the Indians of the Northwest, which resulted in the establishment of the Mackinaw Mission, where he remained one year laying the foundation of his work. In 1823 he married Miss Amanda White, of Ashfield, Mass., and with her returned to Mackinaw. To this mission he devoted twelve years of incessant toil among the Indians and whites at Mackinaw. None but one gifted as he was could have moulded into usefulness such elements as were then adrift on the borders of civilization. Much to the regret of the Mission Board, in the early part of 1834 he enteredTinto business arrangements which resulted in his settlement at Grand Haven in the fall of that year. We shall not particularly follow Mr. Ferry from this point, as his doings are blended with those of others, and will be noted in the history of the settlement. He became more known as a leading business man than in his early character as a Christian teacher. He built up an immense business, somewhat diversified in its character, becoming the central point of business il Grand Haven; which position he held until his death. Notwithstanding his apparent absorption in business, he never forgot that he had consecrated himself to God. For eighteen years he preached to the people of Grand Haven, chargeable to no one. A generation grew up who revered him as their spiritual teacher. In his ministrations he was the calm, quiet teacher, unostentatiously striving to lead in the ways of truth and righteousness. Only the older residents can appreciate the benign influence of the calm, cool preacher, Ferry. He died at Grand Haven December 30th, 1876, and rests in the cemetery at that place. The simple inscription on his monument is, "First toil-then rest: First grace-then glory." Among his bequests were $12,000 to a fund to be known as the "Ferry Missionary Fund," the interest to go to the support of the gospel in destitute places in Michigan; $20,000 to Lake Forest University, Ill.; $15,000 for afemale seminary at Lake Forest; $30,000 to the American Board of Foreign Missions; $30,000 to the American K; -.. I WX I n d r - -- 7 I I Xe-::: \ ' HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 39 - - Bible Society; $15,000 to the American Tract Society; $15,000 to the2Presbyterian Publication Society. It was the happiness and good fortune of Mr. Ferry to be associated with a woman of uncommon intellectual and moral worth. By their children they were looked up to with veneration; a feeling alike honorable to them as it was to the object of such filial love. Mr. Ferry was a man of medium height, had the air of a quiet, rather taciturn gentleman, more inclined to listen than to talk; was simple in his habits and tastes; made no display of wealth; was strong in purpose and persevering in his course. He lived to see his:aims accomplished, and died in the full faith of a humble Christian. After this brief notice of the founder of the city, we resume our narrative of its settlement. Robert Stuart, a noble-minded Scotchman in the employ of the Fur Company, with which John Jacob Astor was connected, and who had led an adventurous life among the Indians of the Northwest and the Pacific slope, was converted to Christianity under the ministration qf Rev. Mr. Ferry, and ever after regarded that devoted missionary with a feeling of gratitude and warm personal friendship. Having purchased a half interest in Rix Robinson's pre-emption at the mouth of Grand River, he placed several thousand dollars in Mr. Ferry's hands to go down there from Mackinaw and look after his growing interests on the Grand River. He had met Mr. Ferry in the East, where he had gone for a time to recruit his broken health. Mr. Ferry associated with him his brother-in-law, Nathan H. White, and they came in from Detroit by land, arriving September 15th, 1834, in a canoe with two Indians, furnished by Mr. Slater, of the Grand Rapids Mission. They found Rix Robinson and his "family there; also a Frenchman, at the "Lower Diggings," as agent of Louis Campau. Robinson was busy getting ready for his fall campaign, yet he spent several days in showing his pre-emptions, of which one-half had been purchased by the Grand Haven Company, consisting of Robinson, Ferry and White as equal partners. Having completed his business arrangements, Mr. Ferry started for his family at Mackinaw in a birch canoe with two Indians. Returning, he brought a number of persons, mostly Indians and half-breeds. Robinson returned about the same time, bringing with him Mr. Lasley. With Mr. Ferry came his bosom friend, P. C. Duvernay,. andifamily. They arrived on Sunday morning, November 23d. They landed none of their stores, but in Mr. Robinson's log store, like the Pilgrims 214 years before, they united in solemn worship, Mr. Ferry taking for his text Zachariah iv. 10: "Who hath despised the day of small things?" They stopped with Robinson during the winter, and twenty-one persons lodged in a log house 16x22 feet, part sleeping in the loft of the cabin, and part in a vessel that wintered in the harbor. Neighbors, we may almost say, they had none. To the north none nearer than Mackinaw, to the west the lonely lake, to the east a few families in Kent County, to the south thirty miles off one family, no other white settlers in all Ottawa County, then an Indian reserve and wilderness. The Grand Haven Company immediately set to work to lay out the village of Grand Haven, built a mill, bought large tracts of land, bought two mills at Grandville, employed George and Dexter Ranney and Nehemiah Hathaway to log at the mouth of Crockery Creek. In 1838 they built on too large a scale a stern-wheeler, the "Owashtenaw," which, after running at a loss for a year or two, was burned at the same time as the log mill. The company continued business five or six years, operating in land and lumber, and managed to use up instead of making money. At one time a raft of 200,000 feet of lumber was lost in the lake; at another 30,000 logs. After sinking $100,000 they divided the property by friendly arbitration. In 1835 Nathan Troop and family arrived from Canada; T. D. Gilbert, Thos. W. White and Miss Mary White; also forty-two Robinsons, kindred of Rix, who came in a schooner from Mackinaw, and settled in Robinson Township and along the river. Dr. Eastman came in the same summer. William Butts and William Hathaway, both from Canada, commenced building at the Haven a steam mill, which was afterwards owned by Troop and Ferry. Troop being a carpenter built a warehouse for Campau at the "Lower Diggings," which, with the land on which it stood, has been carried away by the encroachments of the river. Captain David Carver came to trade with Clarke B. Albee as clerk, but failed in 1837, went West and perished in Fremont's expedition. Warehouses were erected, one by Robinson, White and Williams in 1835, and one two years later by Carver. Albee's warehouse was built by J. F. Stearns, afterwards a lumberer on the Muskegon. The "Lower Diggings" warehouses were first occupied by Thomas Lewis and Peter Andree, of Detroit. Luke A. White returned East in the fall of 1835, bringing Dr. Stephen Williams, and they, with Robinson, formed the first' mercantile firm in the village. Col. Hathaway came in the fall of 1836, and acted as lumber agent of the Grand Haven Company, afterwards removing to Grandville. James Clydesdell arrived at this time with seven children, twelve shillings in money, and some portable effects, but did not remain poor, thanks to his industry and pluck. In the winter of 1835-6 the little colony was threatened with starvation. The company had money, and had purchased ample supplies, but these were all lost, the vessel being wrecked in which' they were being imported. The position of the colony seemed desperate. No roads to the southern settlements, no bridges, and nothing but a desperate effort could save them from starvation. But Nathan White was found ready with the money in his pocket to face the dangers of the way. He started in a cold, stormy time, nearly lost his life in crossing the Kalamazoo River, but dripping and freezing he got out, and reaching the farming settlement at Battle Creek, bought 200 bushels of wheat, 100 hogs, and a lot of corn for the hogs, and hired men and teams to bring them to Grandville. White, with his caravan of men, teams, and hogs, wended his way through the snow, to Grandville, where a part of the supplies were left for those dependent on the company there; the rest were'_taken on the ice to Grand Haven. The river had fallen, leaving the ice on the banks sloping, so that the hogs once on could not get off, and they had no discretion but to go to the knife at Grand Haven. Having seen teams and hogs safely on the ice, White arranged for his own triumphant entry into Grand Haven. He made a collar and tugs for his horse, of hay, lashed a cross-pole to the bow of a canoe, placed his saddle in the stern, with a bed-cord, kindly furnished by Mrs. Oakes, for lines, he harnessed his horse with the haybands hitched to the cross-pole. He mounted the saddle, kissed his hand to the fair Mrs. Oakes, waved his hand to the by-standing crowd, and shouted, "Git up!" Like an Esquimaux he shot over the ice, passed the teams midway on the river, and was hailed at Grand Haven, not with the booming of cannon for they.had none, but with the hearty "God bless you" of the whole little community. FIRST FRAME BUILDING. On Second Street near Washington stands the first frame building ever erected in the city, dating back to 1835, the old school house, used for many purposes, including county house, meeting house, church and Sunday school. It is a small plain one-story structure, and now stands denuded of its porch. It is the oldest landmark of ------------- -, ' I i i I t. i,, 0 4 e)II - - I i=L 40 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I I the Haven. The history of the Presbyterian Sunday school, now one of the largest and best managed in the State, is connected inseparably with the old school house; for here in the autumn of 1835 it was opened to receive 9 children belonging to three families viz.: Wm. M., T. W., and Noah H. Ferry; Francis, Peter and Louise Duvernay; Mason, George and Galen Eastman. Miss Mary'A. White of Ashfield, Mass., sister-in-law of Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, had come from the east to assist in the education of his children, and continued to be the superintendent of the Sunday school until 1851, and to day she is still the honored teacher of the ladies' Bible class. The Rev. W. M. Ferry was the owner of the school house. Among those who in an early day gave their encouragement and support to the Sunday school were Robert Stuart, Rix Robinson, Henry Pennoyer, Lucius Boltwood, Amos Root and others. In 1851 Henry Griffin was chosen superintendent and after a time was succeeded by Senator Ferry who held the post for ten years. In 1857 the school was moved into the new church, and in that year Miss Mary L. Ferry (now Mrs. Galen Eastman) gathered an infant class, "the big little class" at first numbering 12, but now over 100. The present superintendent is Major S. C. Glover, the postmaster; the pastor the Rev. Mr. Johnson teaches the gentlemen's Bible class. PROGRESS. The progress of Grand Haven has been rather slow until the last few years when everything indicates "a boom." In five years after the settlement in all Ottawa there were but 280 persons. Sixteen years after its foundation, it was of such small importance that it had but one mail a week from Grand Rapids. In 1858 it had but 1,100 inhabitants when the first railroad came in, and connected it with the outer world. In 1867 and again in 1868 the city was visited by destructive fires which laid low many of its finest blocks, to be succeeded however by finer. In 1851 there were but four merchants-Ferry, Albee, Gilbert, Griffin. In April 1853 the steamer Detroit commenced the experiment of making regular trips to Chicago, and the "sawdust" road was made to the ferry. In 1854 the population was 671, Spring Lake was then Mill Point, a mere lumbering place, the Washington was the chief hotel (since burned). The second schoolhouse was then built, but there was yet no church edifice, the old school being still used as a place of worship. Mr. Albee commenced a tannery, in which he employed 100 hands, but it was not a financial success, and so it ceased to exist. In 1874, the population was 4,363. In 1867 it became a city, and in the same year the founder of the city Rev. Wm. Ferry died. LATER HISTORY. In summarizing the history of Grand Haven, the pivotal dates are 1825 as the first entrance of the white man with a trading post; 1834, settlement begins; 1835, village platted-population about 200; 1836, first steamboat, the Michigan, enters the river; 1838, the county seat obtained; 1846, revival of business; 1853, steamer "Detroit" commences regular trips to Chicago; 1854, population 671; 1858, the first railroad; 1861, the second school house opened; 1867, year of the city charter; 1871, Union School House opened, cost $50,000; 1872, July 4th, formal opening of the Cutler House, cost $200,000; 1874, opening of the Kirby House, cost $50,000, in which year pioneer C. B. Albee died. 1867 was the year of the city charter, with George Parks as the first mayor, and also of the death of the founder of the city, Rev. W. M. Ferry. In this year there were but three churches in the city-the Presbyterian, the Congregational and Dutch Reformed-but the Episcopal and Lutheran were organizing. Ferry & Son's was the only banking institution. There were two newspapers, twenty stores of various kinds, and but two sawmills in that year. The county officers were: George Parks, Judge of Probate; H. Doesburg, Clerk and Register; George W. Woodard, Treasurer; B. Fleurtis, Prosecuting Attorney; M. B. Hopkins, Circuit Court Commissioner; A. V. Peck, Surveyor; C. C. Bailey, Sheriff. C. B. Albee's tannery, on the corner of Water and Washington Streets, was in full blast. The four hotels were the Grand River House, by E. Andres, who was also Justice of the Peace; the Railroad House, by W. Kirkland; the Rice House, by J. A. Rice, and the Ottawa House, by James Donelly. J. W. Barns published the News, and L. M. S. Smith the Union. H. C. Akeley was Collector of Customs and practiced law. De Kwake & Co. (C. J. Pfaff and A. De Kwake) carried on a brewery. The Clerk of Grand Haven Township was John Fuite. Slavin & Safford had a shingle mill, and Wyman & Buswell had a steam sawmill. Barns & Akeley (H. C.) were into furniture, and G. D. Sanford carried on the book and stationery business. The Deputy Collector of Customs was James A. Stevenson. Geo. Hubbard had G. W. Miller in partnership with him in the hardware business. Martin Glover and R. Ball carried on carriage making on Second street. Sidney Clark and H. Sprick had livery establishments. The clergymen were Rev. C. Vanderveen, Dutch Reformed; Rev. J. B. Fiske, Congregational; Rev. D. H. Evans, Presbyterian. Wm. Baird had the Michigan Exchange on the north side of the river. J. F. Reekie was the agent of the D., G. H. & M. Railway. The doctors were McNett and Vanderveen. The lawyers were Park (W. H.) & Akeley (H.C.), Hopkins (M. B.), & Curtis (B. F.). James P. Donelly was telegraph operator. 1871. We are enabled to give a partial description of the city in this year from a copy of the Grand Haven Union, of July 4th, 1871, of which the editor and proprietor was L. M. S. Smith, the well-known pioneer and late postmaster of the city, and one of his ablest editorials is an obituary notice of his life-long friend, Hannibal Allen Hopkins, who had died just three days before the issue of the paper. He speaks of him as born at Ulysses, Tompkins County, N. Y., September 5th, 1821, of his removing with his father, the late Benjamin Hopkins, and his four brothers and three sisters in 1831, of his family leaving Canada during the troublous times of the Rebellion in 1837, of his settlement in Scranton (Eastmanville), of his arrival in Mill Point (Spring Lake), of the old Hopkins' sawmill there, of the discovery of mineral springs, and of his life of general activity and usefulness. The Union refers to the resignation of Prof. Darling from the public schools. The Goodrich Transportation Co. was about to withdraw the Skylark from the trip from Holland to Chicago, as it did not pay. Rowdies seem to have infested the city, as the editor calls for a man with a star on his vest to stand on Washington street to tap on the shoulder certain roughs who insult the ladies, particularly on Sunday evehings. The county officers were: Sheriff-Henry D. Weatherwax; Judge of Probate-Edwin Baxter; Clerk-Alfred A. Tracy; Register-Cornelius Van Loo; Treasurer-Chas. N. Dickinson; Prosecuting Attorney- Stephen L. Lowing; Circuit Court Commissioner — Samuel L. Tate; Surveyor-James Sawyer; County Supt. Schools-Charles S. Fasset; Coroners-Albert Bolks, C. W. Gray; Fish Inspector-John Zitlow. i I I i r I I e l — )W -0 - - i 6 J -t b. *-o:0I ri I I __ C.) IHe f - -- - - ~ I r ', b L - - 7 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 41 C: r - City officers: Mayor-Henry Griffin; Recorder-C. T.Pagelson; Marshal-Reuben Vanderhoef; Treasurer-Jacob Van Der Veen; Street Commissioner-John Bolt; City Surveyor-Jas. C. Brayton; Supervisor-I. V. Harris; Attorney-R. W. Duncan. The Aldermen were: First WTard-James Rice, A. J. Leggat; Second Ward -H Rysdorp, E. Killean; Third Ward-Isaac H, Sanford, Peter Vanweelden; Fourth Ward-Hiram Bosch. H. S. Clubb. Deputy Marshals-S. W. Barden, James Kennedy. 1871 must have been a remarkable year, as we read of two frosts in July which nipped the vegetables. Grosvenor Reed, of Olive, drops in to tell the editor that the crops on under-drained land had escaped the effects of frost. One of the editorial conundrums was: "Is Vallandigham a patriot?" This is disposed of in the negative by the publication of a letter of his to Col. Isball, of the Rebel Army, in which "Vall" relieves himself of considerable gall. The third page of the Union was devoted to Agriculture and Horticulture, with Jacob Garzhorn as editor. The first column describes a visit to Lake Harbor, and tells what Messrs. J. 0. Antisdell and Fletcher Fowler were doing in fruit, and Messrs. Cobb with their box and basket factory. Peach Plains is next spoken of, and John Goldberg is mentioned as one of the largest growers. L. M. Holcomb and Mr. Soule, the Supervisor of Grand Haven township, are mentioned as beginning to raise small fruits. But it is in the advertisements that we notice the greatest changes from the present, and we read with regret of the names of esteemed citizens that have passed away. Ferry & Son (W. M. and T. W.), advertise as bankers. Eastman's land office was on the corner of Water and Washington streets. Hancock & Stitt speak of their wagon factory in Spring Lake, where Aloys Bilz was closing out furniture at a bargain. A. M. Decker advertises hardware at the old hardware store next to Sheldon & Slayton's. J. J. Bisbee, of the French Academy of Arts, informs the people that he will paint oil portraits at from $20 to $50. J. B. Wait has leased C. DeVleiger's new planing mill. Celeste Bennett has the city laundry, corner of Third and Fulton streets. Weston, Dudley & Soule, of SpriungLake, offer one million bricks for sale. Chas. Fasset, County Superintendent of Schools, notifies the public that he will be found at the Court House on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month to examine candidates for teachers' certificates, which would give one twentyfour chances a year to get through. D. Gale had just removed his stock of drugs to the new and beautiful store in Akeley's block. Henry Griffin & Co. (established in 1849), advertise "special attention to orders for any kind of merchandise." Mrs. Bentham had moved her millinery to the rooms previously occupied by J. F. Storrs. Mrs. Kennedy's millinery store was next to Sandford's book store. Mrs. Gray had just opened one next to the City Hotel, and Mrs. Bird's store was on Second street. Geo. Stickney was agent for the Engelmann Transportation Co., with their steamers La Belle and Ironsides. Z. G. Winsor was agent for the Goodrich Boats, the unfortunate Alpena, and the -Navarino. This is only a small portion of the news that could be extracted from one copy of a ten year old newspaper. We must draw our observations to a close, leaving each reader to his own comments and reflections upon the mutability of human affairs, especially in Grand Haven. In this year the Union School Building was opened at a cost of $50,000. 1876. The city is represented in the County Board of Supervisors by Col. Ferry, G. D. Sanford, and Klaas Brouwer. On the 4th of July of this, the Centennial year, Col. Ferry de I livers his oration on The History of Ottawa County, which we publish in this work. The Colonel was the " Centennial Mayor." This year was noted for the County treasury difficulty, the erecting of the engine house and City hall on the Court house square. Col. Ferry receives the unanimous thanks of the County Board of Supervisors for the able manner in which, as their representative in the State Board of Equalization, he had secured a deduction of $900,000 from the equalized value of the county. 1877. The City Supervisors are the same as the previous years. Joos Verplanke is Sheriff. The facilities for travel were this year much greater than in 1867, and in some respects ahead of 1881. There was, of course, the D., G., H. & M, Railway and the C. & M., L., S. Railway, Engelmann's day and night line of steamers from Milwaukee, Goodrich's daily line from Chicago, Engelmann's daily line from Manistee, Muskegon, etc., and Ganoe's daily line from Grand Rapids. The mills turned out about 1,500,000 feet per week, the shingle mill 250,000 rer day. There was a stave factory, by H. Rysdorp & Co. and K. Brouwer, with a capacity of 40,000 a day; an agricultural implement factory, sash and door factory, and a foundry and machine shop. There are now eleven churches, a Union School costing $50,000, and two good ward schools. The Cutler House flourishes. The Kirby House, erected three years before at a cost of $50,000, is kept by W. G. Sherman, who also keeps the Cutler. The Union is defunct, the Herald is published by Dubois, and the News and JTournal by Lee & Hitchcock. The mineral springs have been opened up by W. C. Sheldon, and the city is becoming a summer resor.. The term of Asa Reynolds as Postmaster is just about expiring, to make way for a four-year term of L. M. S. Smith, who in 1881 was succeeded by Major Glover, the present incumbent, The First National Bank is established, with E. P. Ferry, President; D. Cutler, Vice President, and G. Stickney, Cashier. Marvin W. Bailey keeps *he Cutler livery, H. Lilley is express agent, W. Savage is railroad telegrapher, R. Sinclair is lumber inspector, J. Stark, U. S. Steamboat inspector, N. Howlett is Secretary of the Ottawa Boom Co., E. D. Blair is searcher of titles. The transportation companies have as agents, F. E. Yates, for the Grand River Transportation Co., and also for the Goodrich Co.; S. B. Humphrey, for N. W. Transportation Co. The lawyers now are A. C. Adsit, Akeley & Farr, E. Baxter, R. W. & M. A. Boynton, R. W. Duncan, D. F. Hunter, Lowing & Cross, G. W. McBride, C. E. Soule, G. L. Stewart, and Peter Yates. The physicians are Drs. McNett, J. N. Reynolds, A. Vanderveen and E. D. Weed. Joseph Hutty and J. Vanderveen are into drugs, and the old house of H. Griffin & Co. into the same business. F. C. Stratton is D., G. H. & M. station agent, James Hall manages the Western Union Telegraph, E. P. Cummings has opened a dentistry office, J. A. Young runs the famous Washington House, Boyce & Gronberg have a machine shop, G. W. Friant and H. W. Hall are lumber dealers, as also are Bigelow, Stone & Co., Monroe Boyce & Co., N. R. Howlett, Boyden & Akeley, H. Rysdorp & Co., White & Friant, and Wyman & Buswell, Heber Squier and T. Stewart White are into business as contractors, tug owners, etc., and do an extensive business, as do also Kirby, Furlong & Co. as steamboat and vessel owners. Ball Bros., grocers, commenced business in November of this year. 1878. The City Supervisors are G. C. Stewart, G. D. Sanford, and H. Brouwer. In October Mayor B. D. Safford appears as a representative in the County Board. The.total equalized value of the I l -: 1 I 7 -. I O - -4 -'\! A A - I I / j - l_ 42 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I II city is $786,000, between one-seventh and one-eighth of the county. Zeeland was reckoned worth $581,000. 1881. For the two previous years the Supervisors were, in 1879, Messrs.: Safford, Sanford and Pfaff, and in 1880 Messrs. Hubbard, Pfaff and C. N. Dickinson. The Alpetna disaster, in which the editor of the ffercald went down, occurred ill October, 1880, and resulted in the withdrawal of the Goodrich Line of steamboats, which will, however, be resumed in-the Spring of 1882, which would be an event hailed with pleasure by the whole county, alike advantageous to the Company and the public. The Supervisors are A. A. Tracy, G. D. Sanford, and Charles J. Pfaff. The Creager & Cilley planing mill was built near the C. & W. M. Ry.depot, and the foundry and machine shopsof Bryce, Bloecker & Co. burned and rebuilt, as well as Brown's blacksmith shop. Lumber -business was never so prosperous or active; the product, 191,000,000, was the highest yet produced. The death of two leading lumbermen of Spring Lake within a few weeks of each other, Hunter Savidge and J. B. Hancock, was a public loss. A change occurs in the Post-office, Major Gplover succeeding L. M. S. Smith, after a fouryear's term of office. Activity prevails in the ship yards, and in all departmnents of business. The Unitarian church and grand residence of H. (J. Akeley are erected. Telephones are introduced by Thos. Parish. Ottawa Iron Work~s are greatly extended. The Eferald passes into the hands of Kedzie & Kedzie. The Grand Haven Lumber Company purchase new mills, and greatly extend operations. Dr. Paine 'takes charge of the Sanitarium, and it has a larger patronage than ever. Ini the Sumrner of this year was thle great gas explosion at the Cutler House, which resulted in the death of the brother of Dwight Cutler, Jos. H. Spires, the manager of the house, narrowly escaping with his life. M. H. Creager becomes Collector of Internal Revenue. The Wait Manufacturing Company was organized, with E. G. Bell, president. In all, there was expended $100,000 on new buildings, of which the principal were the Akeley residence, $25,000; Seconld Ward school, $5,000; Bryce & Bloecker's foundry, $2,500; D. C. Wach's house, $1,000; GI. D. Sanford's addition to residence, $1,000; J. T. Wixon's and G. A. Abbott's residences, each $1,000; G. Hub~ert's $1,500; E. P. Blodcrett's, $1l,100; Dail Miller's, $1,000; David Evan's, $1,000; CSapt. G. Robinlson's, $1,000; H. T. Armste~ad's addition, $1,000; J. Pfaffs, $i2,000; L. B. Stearn's and M. Htopkins', each $1,500; Wm. Verhoek's, R. E. Pierce's, Rev. R. Lewis, and, S. Stuveling's, and K. Van Weeldenl's, each $1,200; Independent Reformed Church, $2,000; G. Vyn's saw mill, $1,600; new engine house on Water Street, $850, also $700 for engine house in Fourth Ward, $900 for J. Fuite's addition to store, besides numerous other improvements, among which may be mentioned a heavy expenditure on the revetment at the harb~or, by Squlier& White, contractors. The Couvrier,- ommral1, of Dec. 31, 1881, in closing its summary for the year, says: "Dulrino, the year the city has put up seventy-five street lamps; built a numtber of cross walks where there has been none heretofore; and cut down Washington street hill, among the other improvements. "The Michigan Bell Telephone Company have stretched line~s all over our city, connecting the principal business places and many residences with each other, and with Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Spring Lake. Mr. Thomas A. Parish is the efficient and popular rmanager of the system in this city and Spring Lake. Already the convenience of this mode of communication has been proved of inestimable value. "Our youthful population has increased to such an extent that it has been necessary to erect an additional school-house, which has been done at a total cost of about $5,000. The building is situated in the Second Ward on Columbus street, is veneered with brick, slate roof, and contains three commodious and tasty school rooms, all on the ground floor. "A new engine house has been built in the First Ward, near the river, furnishing additional fire protection. "A small lake of fresh paint has been spread on buildings, fences, etc. Many houses have been newly shingled, and new fences have been built. "The government has expended quite a large sum in putting UP fences oil the hill west of the river, to prevent the drifting sand from obstructing navigation; and in harbor improvement, which includes the extension of the dock from foot of Clinton street to the south pier, thus narrowing and improving the channel. " Gerrit Vyn has erected a saw mill oil the island, for the purpose of doing hard wood sawing, and has been busy the last half of the season in his line. " B. & A. D. Fessendenl, a large wooden ware manufacturing firm in Townsend, Mass., bought Glover & Tate's factory early in the Spring, and after refitting it, commenced, and are no0w carrying on a successful business in their line, under the superintendence of Mr. F. A. Larhinl. They employ about twenty-five hands at present, mostly ill manufacturing fish-kits, which1 are sold in St. Louis and vicinity. "Our newly appointed post-master, Capt. S. C. Glover, has had the inside of the post-office torn out, and everything rebuilt and rearranged in the maost convenient manner, and we believe will keep it in all points a first-class office. This we can class among oulr very greatest improvements, and with the street -lamphs, the most widely approved. " Business. has been good all the year. Prices of provisions, etc., have ranged a trifle high, but as the wages of the laborer have been equally good, no cramnping hats resulted. The small fruit crop was a very fine one, and the prices received such as to well repay the grower. Peaches were few and far between, owing to the severe frosts late in the Sprinlg. But few native peachles were shipped from this point. - Although the Goodrich C~o. did not put on a line of b~oats fromn here to Chlicago -this season, we do not think mnuch injury was done to Grand Haven thereby. There was a line of freight boats most of the season, and an ample, cheap and convenient route was operated by rail. Wye are assured b~y good authorities that the Goodrich (Jo. have concluded to resume operation on the Chicago and Grand Haven route next Spring. ";The Cutler House was filled with summner visitors as visual, and Dr. W. Paine's Sanitarium became a widely known and popular resort for the afflicted. As the Sanitarium is now open the year round, quite a number of people from abroad are spending the Winter here (this being not only a cool Sumnmer resort, but a warm Winter resort as well) and taking the treatmenet thus afforded." MISCELLANEOUS. Ralson M. Russell wits the first barber of Grand Haven. He was a colored man. Reuben Vanderhoef, ex-sheriff, ran-the first steani ferry across Grand River in 1865. It connected the city with the D. & RI. Rail way depot, thenr across the river. Johln H. Newcomb built the first house and the first mill at Spring Lake in 1841. Ira Robinson, youngest brother of Rix Robinson, the pioneer, is still living in Robinson Township. Rix's son, John Rix Robinson, is an Lnditan missionary. i. 1 kg I _ -4r,- ------ - > I- G. I _( HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 43 WATERWORKS. The business public of the city seem to be very desirous to secure waterworks for the city, but the proposition to go extensively into this matter has been several times voted down by the people at large. The last vote was taken in February of this year. In the latter part of 1881,tle council expended about $5,500 for partial waterworks at the foot of Clinton Street, which will serve the business part of the city, putting in new boiler, and engine and pipes. Henry Sanford, the engineer, resides above the works. The new waterworks were first started at 11 P. M., Jan. 11, 1882. M. Walker, Port Huron, is manufacturer of the pump, which has a steain cylinder 12x13 inches, 13 inch stroke, 13 inch bore, water cylinder 8x12. The main is 10 inch pipe, and the works can pump about 1,250,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. HENRY C. SANFORD, engineer-in Fire Department, was born in Akron, O., Jan. 14, 1807. At 12 years of age he came to Niles, Mich., and in 1858 came to Grand Haven, clerked for Col. Ferry till 1868. While driving a well for Wyman & Buswell 180 feet deep, he struck the first mineral water. He has now charge of both fire engines, his brother Isaac having been the first chief engineer in the city. He married in 1870 Eugenia Beckwith and has two sons, Isaac, born Nov. 18, 1871; Harry, Nov. 8, 1876. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The earliest-fi apparatus was of course of a very primitive character, a few pails and ladders carried on the shoulders. The beginning of a better organization was in 1863, with Isaac H. Sanford as chief; D, F. Miller, 1st assistant; Jas. Donelly, Foreman of Rix Robinson Engine Co.; John Thornton, Foreman of Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co. It was reorganized in 1869. The present Captain is A. L. Holmes, who came in 1873, and since that time has been in the department, having risen from full private in the hose company to be assistant foreman, foreman, assistant chief, and finally chief three years ago. There are two steamers, the first, the Rix Robinson, made at Hudson, N. Y., by Clapp & Jones, weighing 5,250 pounds and costing one dollar a pound. It has stood a good deal of wear and tear, and is now held as a reserve engine. George Parks is the name of the new steamer purchased in 1877 at a cost of $3,000. The staff is: Chief Engineer-A. L. Holmes; Asst. Engineer, Jas. Lewis. Hose Co. No. 1.- Jos. Adams, Foreman; L. B. Stearns, Asst. Foreman; G. A. Bottje, Secretary. tHose Co. NVo. 2.-Jos. Palmer, Foreman; M. Donelly, Asst. Foreman. Hook and Ladder Co. -Byron Parks, Foreman; M. C. Fordham, Asst. Foreman. Engineer of Waterworks, Henry C. Sanford; Asst. Engineer, Ralph Vanderhoef. In 1881 there were forty-two alarms of fire. THE LIGHTHOUSE. is on a high sand hill on the south of the harbor about 300 yards from the light on south pier, and was built in 1855 of stone, a square with tower at the south end, and with the light 150 feet above lake level, making a bright flash every one and and a half minutes, worked by clock work. It can be seen eighteen miles off, and in clear days twenty-five miles down to the south of Holland. It is of French glass and cost $4,000. The residence is in connection and the keeper is Capt. Harry Smith, who has been there since 1875. He was born in Denma,rk in 1823; brought up a sailor; been all over the world; married Oct. 9, 1853, Lena Scheppers, of Holland; has two sons and three daughters. THE PIER LIGHT on South Pieris fifty or sixty feet above the water; a steady bright light, visible eight to ten miles, called a beacon light. On the North Pier is a private light of steady red color, on a cross pole visible two or three miles, attended to by Mr. Kirby's orders. U. S. LIFE SAVING STATION. On the North Pier near the entrance of the harbor is this neat little structure, well equipped, which has done good service. There was first a volunteer corps which in 1876 was superseded by government service, and in 1880 Capt. John de Young, who had been surfman No. 1, succeeded Capt. Richard Connell as head of the instituticon at $400 a year, while the men get for the Summer $40 a month. The station is two stories high, and has a lookout on the roof. There is one six ton life boat, self-baler and self-righter; and a surf boat, which is the only one used so far; also a life car which has sav.ed many lives, as numbers of crews have been rescued by the men of the life station, among others those of schooner Montpelier and Gen. Paine, of Detroit; L. C. Woodruff, schooner America, of Chicago; the schooner Elione, of Oswego; and the Amazon. Capt. John de Young, born in Holland, 1812, is an experienced mariner and fisherman. JaN Wissel, No. 1. surfman, was boer in Holland, March 9, 1812, came to Grand Haven in 1866; was brofugit up a sailor on the ocean; has been a fisherman, and 5 years in the life saving station; he married in 1877 Alice Dwyerek and has four sons and one daughter. CITY OFFICIALS. The first charter election was held April 1, 1867. Elected as City Council: George Parks, Mayor; Charles J. Pagelson, Recorder; Arend Vanderveen, James A. Rice, John W. Hopkins, William Wallace, Isaac H. Sanford, Peter Van Weelden, Henry S. Clubb, Harmon Bosch, Aldermen The first meeting of the council was April, 6th, when were appointed Charles J. Pfaff, Marshal; Robert W. Duncan, Attorney; John Bolt, Street Commissioner. 1868-R. W. Duncan, Mayor. 1869-70 —Dwight C. Cutler, Mayor. 1871-Henry Griffin. 1872-3 Geo. E. Hubbard. 1874-5-John A. Leggatt. 1876 —Wm. M. Ferry. 1877-John A. Leggatt. 1878- G. E. Hubbard. 1879-B. D. Safford. 1880-G. E. Hubbard. 1881-B. D. Safford. The following is the list of officials elected in April 1881. Mayor —Major B. D. Safford. Recorder-C. T. Pagelson. Marshal-A. Woltkman. Treasurer -J. A. Pfaff. Justice of the Peace for full term-J. M. Cross. Justice of the Peace to fill vacancy-E. Andres. School Inspector —J, M. Cross. Supervisor, 1st and 2d wards-A. A. Tracy; 3d and 4th wards. -G. D. Sanford. Aldermen, 1st ward —H. Bloecker; 2d ward-I. H. Sanford; 3d ward -A. Vanderveen; 4th ward-H. G. Nicholls. Constables, 1st and 2d wards-C. Donker. 4 i, -4 — -4 1 ~ 15 iIr I, + >Z -4 - I; Al! __ — 0-t 44 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I 2d ward-W. J. Gleason. 8d ward A. Woltman. 4th ward M. Vander Noot. The three places, Grand Haven City, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg villages, each with ita separate existence, are bound together by a community of interests. Spring Lake is the great centre for manufacturing, chiefly lumber; Ferrysburg has the great Ottawa Iron Works, and Grand Haven as well as being the fashionable summer resort, has extensive manufactories, shipyards and sawmills, and is the chief entrepot for handling grain. This shipment of grain is one of the most noticeable features in the business of the city. Immense amounts of grain, flour, bacon &c., are received by steamer and barge for shipment by the D., G. H. & M. Railroad to the east, and this trade is especially active when the straits of Mackinaw are closed. The harbor is capacious and has been so improved as to accommodate the largest vessels, and what is of vast importance it seldom closes up in winter, so that steamers ply regularly all the year round across the lake to and from Milwaukee. There is also maintained here one of the most extensive fishing stations in the State. Steam tugs and a large number of small sail boats are engaged in this business, catching whitefish, pickerel, trout, herring, and other varieties of fish. The fishermen have quite a little village, composed of huts huddled together on the right bank of the river opposite the city. The fishermen often go out over 40 miles after a catch. -In 18755-6 the waters were restocked with white fish,._... THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION. That Grand Haven possesses the county seat, situated as it is within a few miles of the northwest corner of the county, is due to the public spirit and indomitable will of the Rev. Mr. Ferry, who donated the public square on which the county buildings are now situated, and used every inducement to fix the county seat permanently at the Haven. The county commissioners about 1840 selected Warren City (a city on paper) in Robinson township as the county seat, but the courts continued to be held at the Haven. In Oct. 1856 on a vote in the board Ottawa Centre received 11 votes, Eastmanville 2 and Grand Haven 3; the board spent days balloting upon and discussing the question, and various liberal offers were made to secure the prize. Timothy Eastman offered 20 acres of land, suitable temporary buildings, and $1,500 more in money than anybody else, on the part of Ottawa Centre. B. Smith offered $1,000 and a section of land, and five acres of land and $20,000 was offered on the part of White River, now in Muskegon. Another offer was made by a Mr. Parks of 80 acres to be divided among the supervisors, to place the county seat in Georgetown on the opposite side of the river to the mouth of Sand Creek, on the N. E. quarter of Section 5. Eastmanville had frequently a majority of the board, but unfortunately it agreed to submit the matter to popular vote; as every little village had hopes for itself, mutual jealousy brought a majority of 1,158 opposed to removal. With the exception of the jail, which is a creditable brick structure, the other county buildings are behind the requirements of the times. Grand Haven although not the geographical centre is the commercial emporium, and will doubtless remain so, having within a circle of 10 miles over one-third of the population of the county. THE PRESS. The press is the mightiest instrument of modem civilization, and no history of Ottawa County would be complete without an ac count of the rise and progress of the "art preservative of all arts." Like everything else it had its day of small things, although the file of the first newspaper, which we have examined at the residence of Mrs. Galen Eastman, shows that men of skill and ability were the pioneers of journalism. The first journal issued in either Ottawa or Muskegon County was the Grand ]River T(imes, a Democratic organ, published by Barns & Angell, the members of the firm, who are still residents of Grand Haven, being Jas. Barns, John W. Barns (twin brothers) and W. N. Angell. The first number was issued in July, 1851, and after a time it was published by John W. Barns alone, Mr. Angell and Mr. Jas. Barns successively retiring. He subsequently sold out the Times to Galen Eastman, who removed the office to Eastmanville, where it was published for several years. It afterwards returned to Grand Haven as the JVews. Mr. Barns subsequently purchased the lVews which was twice burned out, and finally disposed of it to Messrs. Lee & Hitchcock in 1876, who consolidated it with the,Journal and published it as the..~ews-Journal. Mr. John G. Lee, the present publisher of the lNews-Journal, came from Grand Rapids, where he had been publishing the Labor TUnion as a weekly and tri-weekly newspaper, and in 1869 issued in Spring Lake th6 Indepenldent until 1876, when he removed the office to Grand Haven and published the Grand Haven,Journal as a Democratic organ, until May in the same year, when he took in as partner a Mr. Hitchcock, from New York,; -and the firm bought out the XVews, publishing their paper as the eVews-Journal. In the following winter Mr. Lee purchased the share of his partner, and published it alone until July, 1881, when he leased the office to Messrs. Nicholls & Benham, who changed the name to that of the -Republican. But in October following, Mr. Lee again took the paper, and has changed the name back to Yew.s-.ournal, which is published in the "Greenback" interest. In 1856 Henry S. Clubb started the Clarion, a vigorous Republican sheet, published until its editor went to the war. He afterwards returned and started the tlerald in 1868, Republican, which was shortly after published by a company, who lost money by the operation, and sold it to C. H. Dubois. The Herald Publishing Co. was formed during the Grant-Greely campaign, and first issued a daily in June, 1872, as a straight-out Republican organ. The stock was controlled by C. N. Dickinson, who ran it until Jan., 1873, and sold it to Dr. Sylvester L. Morris, of Holland, who afterwards took in C. H. Dubois, and in a short time sold the whole to him. Dubois sold it to W. S. Benham, who ran the ]erald until he was unfortunately loston the ill-fated Alpena, Oct. 15th, 1880. Marvin H. Creager, administrator of the estate, conducted the paper until November following, when Guy Webber leased the office until Jan. 1881, Horace G. Nicholls then entering into the leasehold as partner. In March, 1881, Messrs. Kedzie & Kedzie, the present efficient managers, purchased the paper, now a large thirty-six column sheet. The names of those connected with the Herald Publishing Co. may be interesting. They were: H. S. Clubb, president, (afterwards State Senator and now of Philadelphia), G. E. Hubbard, vicepresident, C. N. Dickinson, treasurer, and at the same time treas urer of the county. S. L. Tate, secretary, now Judge of Probate, and Robert Haire, director, and at one time a prominent lumberman of Spring Lake. The Union was founded in 1862 by H. C. Akeley, was Republican, and was afterwards edited by L. M. S. Smith, until 1872 In the fall of 1875, Hiram Potts started at Nunica the Ottawa County.Vcews, an advertising medium, and in two months removed to Cooperville, publishing the Courier. In April, 1877, he removed de rli L _ -.XI I___- *- - o -, ~ x; -` 'B I a 1 1 I HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 45 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 45 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. to Spring Lake, styling the paper the Ottawa County Courier. In August, 1880, he moved down to Grand Haven and changed the paper to a Democratic organ, styling it the Grand Haven CourierJTournal. At each removal Mr. Potts has received the invitation and substantial encouragement of the citizens interested. The press of Grand Haven to-day is therefore, the Herald, publishers, Kedzie & Kedzie, Republican; the 1Tews-Journal, publisher, John G. Lee, "Greenback" organ; and the Courier-Jou7rnal, H. Potts proprietor, Democratic. THE MAGNETIC SPRING AND SANITARIUM. In 1871 W. C. Sheldon, having previously formed the opinion that there was mineral water at Grand Haven, commenced boring; after having reached a depth of one hundred and sixty feet a fine flow of clear sparkling water was struck, which on analysis, proved to be highly charged with mineral substances and magnetism. The Springs soon attracted the notice of thousands of visitors, many wonderful cures being effected. A large, convenient and handsome building was immediately erected and furnished to accommodate the numerous patrons. The Magnetic Mineral Springs and grounds are situated opposite the Cutler House, the grounds are tastefully laid out and shaded with trees and shrubbery, there are croquet grounds, archery, bowling alley, etc., which are open to the guests of the hotel. The building has been thoroughly repaired. There have also been added shower and plunge baths, hot or cold douches, Russian, Turkish and sulphur baths; all these are heavily charged with magnetism, and no one can fail to realize the vitalizing and stimulating influences of this agent. The magnetic powers of the water are so strong that by holding a common penknife in the flowing stream for a few moments it becomes heavily charged with magnetism and readily attracts steel. The World's Sanitarium ancd m ignetic Mineral Springs and Laboratory was organized under the celebrated and popular physician Dr. W. Paine, of Philadelphia, June, 1881, the property belonging to Dwight Cutler, to whose enterprise the institution is greatly indebted for its present high standing. Dr. Paine is just the mn n for such an enterprise, having a widely extensive reputation and experience, having been engaged in medical studies and practice for forty years, and having had extensive practice in all parts of the country, he is enabled to treat the peculiar phases of disease incident to each State. He located in Grand Haven from a desire to cease from visiting patients at their homes; the favorable climate of the Haven was another inducement, the superior virtues of the mineral water, the necessity for a larger sanitarium for introducing medicine by inhalation, by absorption through the skin, by electricity, etc. The Doctor has published many valuable works on medicine. The Sanitarium has a very elegant appearance, fronting the Cutler House, and having neat grounds in front. It is 100 x 50 feet, two stories high. The waters have a peculiar tonic property, being like congress water with the addition of iron. It is pumped out from an artesian well, in the basement of the sanitarium. The institution contains the latest kinds of baths and appliances for the cure of disease. Mineral baths are used, water is applied in all forms, as well as electricity, ozone, Turkish baths, medicated vapors, &c. Over 2,000 patients were treated the first season, many of whom boarded at the Cutler, and came from a distance. The institution is to be greatly enlarged in 1882 by an addition 0f forty rooms for invalids, a gymnasium and other attractions. A fine view of this institution adorns this work. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Until 1852 the schoolwith the exception of a few months was under the care of Miss Mary A. White. It was begun by her in the missionary spirit; kept up for years with-little remuneration, other than the satisfaction of doing good, and the earnest love of the young people, who recognized in her their ideal of goodness, and who considered her infallible. Miss White still survives, enshrined in the hearts of all who remember her as their teacher. For nearly twenty years she was the teacher at Grand Haven. Her impress is on the place. In 1851, the school was opened in the second school house, for a year under the charge of Miss White. The first man employed to take charge of the school was Franklin Everett, who conducted it six months assisted by his wife. For several years the school was in charge of teachers engaged for short terms. In 1860, Charles H. Cushman was employed as principal. In 1863, he was succeeded by Charles Chandler, Jr. In 1865-66, the school was under the charge of Prof. A. W. Taylor. July, 1867, Prof. A, J. Itsell was placed in charge. He remained two years, succeeded by Prof. D. B. Safford. He had ten assistants. May 11th, 1870, the contract was let to build the new schoolhouse. The school was for a time under the charge of Prof. M. W. Darling. July 3d, 1871, Prof. A. Hardy was engaged, and the school opened in the new building. He continued in charge until 1875, when superior inducements removed him to Milwaukee, much to the regret of Grand Haven. During his time the number of assistants was about sixteen. Prof. Lindley Webb succeeded Hardy. He stayed one year and also went to Milwaukee. The superintendence was given, July, 1876, to Miss E. M. Beckwith, who had been long connected with the school. Grand Haven has from the first been anxious to have a good school; has endeavored to provide the best teachers and the best facilities. Her central sshool-house is one of the best in the State, and it is safe to say that no town is more generous and earnest in the cause of education. The stages of progress are distinctly marked by the style and size of the three schoolhouses. There is, first, the old schoolhouse, referred to above; then a plain, two-story, white-painted wood structure on the central school lot; and, lastly, the $50,000 structure-the noble central school, set on a hill, and the most conspicuous building in the city. This building has eleven recitation rooms, and is heated in the basement by four furnaces. The staff of teachers is now: Horace Phillips, A. M. superintendent. Miss Lora A. Smith, principal of High School. Miss Etta Boynton, assistant do. Miss Carrie Smith, grammar department. I Miss E. H. Tibbitts, grammar department. Miss Alice Bolt, do. Miss Helen Cross. do. Miss Belle Anderson, Primary department. Miss C. McNett, do. Miss Sena Albers, do. Miss Anna Thomson, do. Miss Etta Bosch, do. Miss A. J. Gray, do. Miss Lizzie Evarts, do. Miss Pauline Felz, do. Miss Mattie J. Rice, do. In the Fourth Ward Building, a wooden structure, one mile east of the central building, Miss Flora Butterick is teacher. i I I e ~G) <' — )P I 0. k -4 I!.... i,7- 0. 1 46i t: Z — 0 - HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. In the First Ward school, a veneered brick building, with slate roof, there are three rooms, two occupied by primary departments, Misses Dama Gray and Louise Burdick, teachers; and one ungraded department, under Mr. D. C. Wacks. The building is in rear of G. E. Hubbard's hardware establishment, was built in 1881, and cost $4,000. The present members of the Board of Education are: Rev. Mr. Vanderveen, moderator; G. E. Hubbard, director; Andrew Thomson, assessor; J. W. Barns, G. D. Sanford and S. L. Tate. School census for 1881 was 1,786, of whom over 1,300 were enrolled. The superintendent, Mr. Phillips, is an efficient and painstaking teacher, has been in office since 1877, is a native of this State, born in 1846, and graduate of the Universitv of Michigan. CHURCHES. The churches of the present day in the city are: The First Presbyterian, Rev. Henry Johnson, pastor. Congregational, Rev. R. Lewis, pastor. First Reformed'(Dutch), Henry G. Dosker, pastor. Independent (Dutch), Rev. Mr. Dykker, pastor. Second Reformed (Dutch), Rev. C. Vanderveen, pastor. Free Dutch Reformed. Episcopal, Rev. S. H. Woodford, pastor. Unitarian (being built), Rev. S. W. Sample, pastor. Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Mr. Armstrong, pastor. There is also a German Lutheran Church. It will be observed that in four of the churches the Holland language is used, and in one the German. We are enabled to give a history of some of the earlier churches. Public worship was established at Grand Haven at the time of the arrival of Mr. Ferry, he preaching in his own house until the erection of the school-house in the fall of 1886. At that time a Presbyterian church was organized, with nine members-the first in the Grand River Valley. The original members were: Rev. W. M. Ferry,'Mrs. Amanda W. Ferry, Mary A. White, Pierre C. Duvernay, Mrs. Julia Duvernay, Caroline M. White, Nehemiah Hathaway, Mrs. Lucretia 'Hathaway, Charles Duvernay. Pierre C. Duvernay was made ruling elder. The school-house served as a place of worship until the church was built. The corner-stone of that was laid September 19th, 1855. It was dedicated May 81st, 1857. With the exception of a few months Mr. Ferry was the preacher until April, 1857. Until October 18th 1859, the church was served by temporary pastors- Rev. Joseph Anderson, A. D. Eddy, D.D., and Rev. Louis Mills. At this time David M. Cooper was installed pastor. The pastoral office has been held in the following order: Rev. W. M. Ferry, from the commencement until 1857; Rev. Joseph Anderson, '57-'58; Rev. A. D. Eddy, D.D., '58-59; Rev. D. M. Cooper, '59-'64; Rev. J. N. Phelps, '64-'66; Rev. David H. Evans, '65-'69; Rev. J. M. Cross, '69-71; Rev. Henry S. Rose, '71-'75; Rev. John B. Sutherland commenced November, '75. The present pastor is the Rev. H. Johnson. The church has one of the best parsonages in the State, erected in 1873, and costing $6,000. Their church was consecrated in the spring of 1868. The lot was the gift of Wm. M. Ferry, Sr. It was a small organization at first-about a dozen. The names, as gathered from the memory of one of their number, were: Charles F. Pagelson, John Zitlow, John Seitz, Henry Saul, Henry C. Bare, William Dehn, Henry Wasch, Christian Meinck, The society has expended $6,000 on the church and parsonage. The second pastor (1871) was the Rev. F. W. Spindler, a German. THE UNITARIAN CHURCH was organized in April, 1875. For three years it had had a provisional existence, and several liberal clergymen had preached there. In April, '75, the Rev. M. H. Houghton was called to the pastorate. He left in about eight months, and was succeeded by the Rev. Geo. W. Cook. The present pastor is Rev. S. W. Samp'e. The meetings are held in the hall of the Cutler House, where assemble as good a congregation as in the church, s. The society is zealous and energetic, determined to go ahead and establish "Liberal Christianity" in Grand Haven. They are erecting a neat wooden edifice on Washington street. CONGREGATIONAL. The First Congregational charch of Grand Haven was organized April 29th, 1858, with a membership of sixteen persons. The articles of faith thtn adopted, and which are still held by the church are those of historic congregationalism. Rev. Joseph Anderson was the first pastor, under whose labors the church steadily increased. In the following year a church edifice was erected on Washington, near Second, and dedicated Tuesday, May 31st, 1859, the sermon being preached by Rev. E. Taylor of Kalamazoo. In the afternoon of the same day Rev. Joseph Anderson was installed pastor of the church. Sermon by Rev. H. D. Kitchell, D. D., of Detroit. In May, 1862, the church voted a leave of absence to the pastor, that he might fill the office of chaplain to the 3d Michigan regiment, then in Yirginia under Gen. McClellan. The pastorate of Rev. Jos. Anderson closed in May, 1864. In 1868 the church edifice was destroyed by fire, and for a time the church did not meet regularly for worship. But on the 12th of May. 1874, the church was reorganized under the pastoral care of Rev. John V. Hickmott, and the building of the present edifice'was begun. Several reverses prevented the completion of the new church, though it was so far completed as to accommodate the adherents of the church and society in the spacious basement. Rev. J. V. Hickmott was succeeded by Rev. James Barnett, who continued pastor nearly two years. July 15th, 1879, the Rev. Richard Lewis, of Ludington, was unanimously called to the pastorate of the church, and on the 23d of September, 1880, he was installed by council as the pastor of the church. At the date of this writing, January 26th, 1882, and during the past two years the church has reduced its debt more than one half, and is encouraged to hope for its speedy extinction. The cost thus far has been about $12,000. The present membership is 66, representing about 40 families. The church has a flourishing Sabbath-school, and is every way expecting a future career of usefulness. THE SOCIETIES. MASONIC. The Masonic is one of the oldest and most flourishing societies in the city. The present officers of Grand Haven Lodge, No. 139 are: G. E. Hubbard, W. M.; W. J. H. Saunders, S. W.; W. I EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.-ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. The congregation is composed of German people, spread over a wide extent of the region round about Grand Haven. Services in the German language. The organization dates from 1866; the first minister was Rev. J. L. Daib, of Grand Rapids. 9. Ir -fT - 10 -. q i i I; - -, L - Ir I, l - -: --- ---- HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 47 7 - -- - - Merrill, J. W.; C. T. Pagelson, Sec.; meet 1st Wednesday before full moon. Corinthian Chapter No. 84. R. A. M. Geo. E. Hubbard, M. E. High Priest; W. J. H. Saunders, Kg.; G. D. Sanford, Scribe E.; C. T. Pagelson, Sec'y.; meets 1st Tuesday of each month. The fraternity have just completed new rooms, occupying the entire third floor of the Howlett block, fitting them up in a style of magnificence without a parallel in western Michigan. The elegant refreshment room is 18x24 feet, decorated with portraits, and containing a library; next the tylei's room, and the regalia room; then the lodge room 22x68 feet, the ceiling of which is set with stars, which when the hall is lighted glitter like a thousand suns. The refreshment room has three dining tables with seating for sixty guests. The tables when set contain 331 pieces of silver. The kitchen adjoining is completely furnished. The elegant Bible in the lodge room was presented by the ladies in 1872. ODD FELLOWS. Ottawa Lodge No. 46. I. O. O. F., have a magnificent lodge room, are in a good financial condition, meet every Monday evening, own their own hall in Odd Fellows block, and have about 40 members. Jas. McCourt, N. G.; D. H. Kedzie, V. G.; H. N. Elkinton, Per. Sec.; Jas. Barns, Treas. THE KNIGHTS OF HONOR. Grand Haven Lodge No. 772, established Nov. 1877, meet in Odd Fellows Hall, on 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. For 1882 the officers are: Robert Radeka, Dictator; J. G. Lee, Vice Dictator; Jas. A. Stephenson, Sec.; G. D. Sanford, Reporter. They are in good financial state, with 34 members. A benefit society insuring its members for $2,000. ROYAL ARCANUM. Equity Council 2i2, instituted June 13, 1879. The first regent, D. E. Rose. Officers in 1881-2: H. N. Elkinton, Regent; C. E. Soule, Vice Regent; F. C. Stratton, Secy.; J. W. Hutty, Collec tor. Meets 1st and 3d Wednesdays of each month. Insures for $3,000. ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN. Grand Haven Lodge No. 82, instituted by H. C. Sessions, Grand Master Workman, Jan. 10th, 1881. Rev. S. H. Woodford, 1st Master. Officers 1882; J. W. Hutty, Master Workman; Richard Connell, Foreman; Jas. Scott, Overseer; S. H. Woodford, Recorder; W. N. Sheldon. Financier; Major B. D. Safford, Receiver. Has 39 members, is in a flourishing condition, meets 1st and 3d Tuesdays. CHOSEN FRIENDS. This order was instituted Aug. 23d, 1871. The lodge called Council No. 9. First officers: J. T. Percival, Chief Councillor; C. Vansickel, Recorder; D. E. Rose,Treasurer. In 1882 the officers are: H. N. Elkinton, Chief Councillor; H. Lilley, Treasurer. Has about 50 members. FRATERNAL PROTECTORS. This order originated in Grand Haven in March 1881 and has now over 500 members, confers on its members sick benefits of $12 a week with a policy of $2,000 at death. Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, about 76 members in the city, and lodges in Spring Lake, Muskegon, Detroit, New Jersey, &c. Officers: J. T. Percival, Supreme Protector; G. E. Hubbard, Vice Protector; J. N. Reynolds, Assistant Protector; W. F. Humphry, Secy.; J. W. Hutty, Treas. The latest order is the IRON HALL. Local branch No. 75 of the above order was organized Feb. 16, 1881, with the following officers: Past Chief Justice, Alfred Terry; I I Chief Justice, Wm. F. Dake; Vice Justice, Fred. Mansfield; Accountant, Jas. A. Stephenson; Cashier, Henry Lilley; Medical Examiner, J. N. Reynolds; Adjuster, F. MI. Dennis; Prelate, A. McKenzie; Herald, A. G. Hervey; Watchman, Wm. Anderson; Vedette, E. B. Holmes; Trulstees, F. C. Stratton, M. B. D. Safford, S. O. Eames. This order originated in Indianapolis, Ind., about a year ago and has now seventy-five local branches and nearly 3,000 members. Its objects are to provide for thee payment of from $5 to $25 per week in case of sickness or accident, and $500 in case of total disability, and from $200 to $1000 at the end of seven years. There is also a Workingmen's society, German Odd Fellows, +&c. THE LUMBER INTEREST. We have already given the statistics of lumber in Grand Haven for many years back. From this it will be learned that the cut of 1881 was about 191,000,000 feet, apportioned as follows: Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company cut 48,000,000 feet; lath, 3,500,000. Sisson & Lilley, total cut, 34,998,594; pickets, 309,424; lath, 588,850. White, Friant & Co., lumber, 31,000,000, and about 300,000 pickets. Grand Haven Lumber Company, 27,000,000 feet of lumber; shingles, 155,000,000; lath, 1,000,000; pickets, 1,250,000. Wyman & Buswell, 14,100,000; 900,000 lath and 200,000 pickets. W. Batcheller's, 12,000,000 feet of lumber; 500,000 lath; 150,000 pickets. Munroe, Boyce & Co., lumber, 6,000,000 feet; lath, 1,000,000; pickets, 250,000. Bakker & Son, 9,000,000 feet of lumber. Brouwer & Vos cut 7,500,000 feet of lumber. Geert Vyn's small hardwood mill commenced work about the last of July, and has cut a large amount of hardwood during the season. THE GRAND HAVEN LUMBER COMPANY is a very extensive concern, and is yearly absorbing the mills in its vicinity. It has four mills, the Boyden & Akeley, the Emlaw, the Batcheller and the White & Friant mills. THE BOYDEN & AKELEY mill is the most extensive shingle mill in the world, and has cut as high as 937,000 shingles in 111 hours, besides cutting also 100,000 feet of lumber for its shingle department. It keeps busy 240 men and boys. WYMAN & BUSWELL'S SAW MILL, on the main channel of the liver, was built in the fall of 1869. The firm commenced lumbering here in 1864 in Ferry's old mill, situated on the site of the D. & M. Depot, and burned in 1868. It is supposed to have caught fire from a spark from the D. & M. propellers. The mill has one circular, gang edger, trimmer and lath machine, cuts 50,000 feet a day, and employs from thirty to thirty-five men. W. Bakker & Son's saw mill is just south of Boyden & Akeley's great shingle mill; was built in 1871, and has one 66-inch circular, a gang edger, and employs 24 men, and cuts 40,000 feet a day. William Bakker came to Port Sheldon in 1851. MANUFACTURES. The Grand Haven Iron Works are at present owned by the firm of Bryce, Bloecker & Gallmeyer, who formed copartnership May 27, 1881. The works were commenced by Mr. Bryce in connection with James Lewis and Otto Gronberg in 1871, who bought out the business of F. Spence and Arch. Brown, who had started in 1867. The old buildings, one block to the north of present works, -1 I E I k r~ 7l+ 4 - _ii -.e l ' I L 9 f- a e At _,.4 -9 l - J (ID I 48 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. - which are on the corner of First aind Fulton streets, were burned on May 1st, 1881, and the new were immediately erected-machine shop, 100x34 feet; moulding shop, 48x34; blacksmith shop, 24x30; engine twenty horse power, and forty men employed. The specialties are manufacture of marine engines and paten. guide for circular saws. There are five engine lathes, one 36 inch swing by 24 feet bed; two planers, one 38 inch wide by 36 inch high and 10 feet long; drill press, bolt cutter, and all the most improved machinery. They do a large business, and are a firhm worthy of success. They were again visited by a severe file in February, 1882. JOHN BRYCE was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1836; came to Grand Haven in 1871 and started machine shop; he mariied Ellen M. Ellis, of Wisconsin, in 1857, and has three sons and one daughter. HENRY BLOECKER, born in Holstein, Germany, 1845; came to Grand Haven in 1867, working at the Ottawa Iron Works until 1878, when he bought out Mr. Gronberg and went in with Mr. Bryce. He married Mary Glazat in 1868, and has five sons. - CHRISTIAN GALLMEYER was born in Adams County, Ind., in 1850; came.to Grand Haven in 1878 to Ottawa Iron Works, and next year worked for Bryce & Bloecker; since May, 1881, a partner. He married in 1879 Lisette Hilsman, of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and has one son, Charles, born February 20th, 1880. W.M. F. DAKE, draughtsman and pattern maker, was born in West Indies in 1850, and came to Michigan, serving five years at St. Clair and eight years at Ottawa Iron Works on pattern making and then in drawing patterns. In November, 1880, he came to Bryce & Co.'s. Mr. Dake is a natural genius at drafting, having never taken a lesson in it, and yet he excels in his profession. He married in 1872 Jane Foss, of West Indies, and has two sons. THE WAIT MANUFACTURING CO. is one of the institutions of Grand HI-ven, and contributes its full sha-e to the general activity. Mr. J. B. Wait came from Wisconsill in '72, where he had previously been in business in a small way. In '73, he made 30,000 hand-rakes and 25 corn planters, and the company was incorporated, with J. B. Wait, pres., T. Stewart White, secretary and treasurer, John M. Lockie, foreman and superintendent of works, which office he still holds to the satisfaction of all. In '79 Mr. Wait severed his connection with the company, going to Kansas, and the company was continued, with L. C. Chamblin as president for two years. The officers for '81 were: E. G. Bell, president and-book-keeper, George Stickney, secretary and treasurer, J. M. Lockie, foreman, Jas. McCourt, turner, Mr. Gibbs, blacksmith, J. W. Adams, wheel works, etc. Capital stock, $30,000, employing 60 men, with a monthly pay roll of $1200 to $1500. Wholesale house in Kansas City is Weir Plow Co., also John Archer, Decatur, Ill., and there are also three salesmen from head office. Annual product, 1,200 two-hors'e cultivators, 500 one-horse drills, 500 drill attachments for two-horse cultivators, 800,000 rafting pins, 90,000 hand-rakes, wholesaling at $1.25 a dozen. The patent, known as Schofield & Wait's Challenge Planter Patent is owned by the company. The works are very commodious and complete, and are under admirable management. The practical man is Mr. Lockie, who was born in Gananoque, Ontario, in 1846, served during the war in the 65th Ill. Regt., and was four years with the Sargent Bank and Safe Lock Co., Rochester, N. Y. FESSENDEN & CO'S. BARREL FACTORY, is just east of Boyden & Akeley's great shingle mill, and commenced operations in April, 1881. The company has been, however, organized for many years, having headquarters near Boston, Mass., and branches in many other places, of which five are in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire, two in Sandusky, Ohio. The junior partner and manager is Mr. F. A. Larkin, who learned the business with his father in Townsend, Mass,. Tle material used is culled pine down as small as three inches in diameter. There are four barrel saws-one for full barrels, ohe for kegs, and two for kit staves, and a large amount of new machinery, sufficient to employ sixty hands. They manufacture staves for fish packages and syrup packages. The foreman is Mr. John Gardner, who was born in Pomfret, N. Y., December 27, 1840; enlisted August 7, '62, in 112th N. Y. Volunteers, 24th army corps, under Gen. Terry; was in all the battles of the army; came to Muskegon in'67; was in Montague and Holton. He came to Fessenden & Co.'s in 1881. STEARNS MANUFACTURING CO., Manufacturers of Regulator Windmills, pumps, cylinders, windmill derricks, and tanks. The company consists of G. L. & L. B. Stearns, brothers, and they have carried off many medals and first prizes-notably, the medal of the American Institute, N. Y., in 1879, and prizes at St. Petersburgh, in Russia; Boulogne, in France; and Havana, in Cuba. They came, in 1874, from Iowa, and purchased the business of Mr. Chaffey, which had been established one year. They now employ from 30 to 50 men, and produce to the amount of $65,000 annually. Mills are sent to all parts of the world, to many parts in Europe, South Africa, and they are to be found on the royal palace at Havana. THE FURNITURE STORE OF James Barns, 157 Washington street, is a well-stocked establishment of 20 feet front, with 100 feet in depth, and an annex, 24x40; stock carried, $5,000. James Barns was born in Vermont, in 1823, and is assisted in the shop by his twin brother, John W., who bears a striking resemblance to his brother. James came in the winter of 1845 to Grand Haven, and John came the following spring. They started in 1851 the G'ratnd lRitve' iTimes, the first paper published in this region; after a time John was left in sole control, and James commenced the furniture business in 1866, and in company with J. W. Cook, built Senator Ferry's present- residence, the old schoolhouse, then the best in the county, and other buildings. He married, in 1850, Pamela Ranny, who died in 1861. Four years after he married Miss Ellen M. Moss, and has a family of four children. THE GRAND HAVEN WAGON WORKS, on the corner of 3rd and Elliott streets, is a brick structure, 40x100, employing seven men. IMr. Hoffmneister attends to the woodwork, Mr. Tennes to the iron work. The works turn out sixty new wagons annually, and were founded in 1872 by A. Hubert. There are two photograph galleries in the city, at which firstclass work is done, so that there is no necessity for going abroad for Photographing. The oldest is that of Mr. Cresswell. The latest comer is Mr. E. P. Baker, who came to the city from Ypsilanti, in June, 1880, purchased the gallery of J. T. Wixson, over the postoffice, which had been opened in 1877. He does work in India ink and water colors, and all kinds of enlarging. THE SHIPPING INTERESTS. The amount of work that has been done upon the ship yards during 1881 shows the steady advcancement of ship-building interests. There have been about $200,000 expended upon the Mechanics' Dry Dock company's yards during the year in building and repairing. The steam barge H. C. Akeley; one of the very largest ships on the lakes, was built upon these yards at a costof $110,000. A number of fine craft have been turned off at Duncan Rob I! _ 3 - - -0 II^ I _, ' I,-. ---:i~ ii..;~~ i~ $`;:~~B \e~;: I i:..:`r..i u-.. `t. ~-. i, ~.-4: 1 fi~ ~- Ei r:;=:.~iY~ci~.:1 -t~~ ~: 2 ~S `` ";": -R It^ ~.p, i- '' d P ~~; '-i- 'f-6-:,: :, S-?2 r r~%M: 'n; El. 1.:.:~1~ 1-: s~ rq~: .i _; _i8"r~ cr::;?c"~ 1. ~,.~ "":: 1:,:I~:lr-6";~:~ ! .i~ ~irn-r6~1';"!L 'Y ~.~ iiYl;~~1 ~i;;~~;: ~ I;i";i; 1:: lic~~ 'Y:*P. 5, 5;Y;~ ~f;s;i ~`.d "I 141: ~~;:.:~Jz.1:1 —'I; rir i ~:.:: (~~;~ AE':-::;: 1: i.s i.d I 'i~ i: i:: ~ I' ~IC '; * j':rP;,;~~.:- I~i:ii. ~x-e;: :i I I!~ I~~;~: lg;~.' i!f~, ~:111 1 P'%I a": t,, iI- r: rl:r~ I;i: i g f ~;( 7: 'j:::,::'-S~;~i: :~~~ - i~ - i i ~;.~;~ I~~ ii: I ~;d I i:r 1II ''' kt.~?li f IiI:, i -TIC;t!Ri -~:~ ':":s ~, F:I::;f;j~:-,k: II: i~ i c~~' L- i.:"P i:al; ~;:3:-:";~li ~:-~; ~:-.i;%.4-:rL:i rg.l i;i 1,- i;:i: i t ~i~ :'-~'~:~ : j1 i:~":,i I" i:"'.~ ipl ~rl ~~ r ~~.i ~t,;:Y1~: 4 Ir:~i.7i* -.l-j ii i: I r ~ ~, ~::jlii; ~~ 1-. i i I:I..I, I'~ 6b: ~~~ r:i: rs ~-i;e;~~,rR: I ~: ~. Pi ~'~r:l:~~: -. ;r: ~;~-~:I ~ tr4j'i ~:.~ 1 i;i;;*s. ~]I; i?.i i: -E;i i:' - ~1-;'~-7j;- ~ ~4 ~ti:..~;; 7: i'i ~_-gk CC i j~%- I i ~i. ~;:i~"r!.i i;:.;~ r-. ": ~ — ~r: 3:':; t;e ~I ii -;y i x: ~r".;~ p:g ~~ — Pi: _i I;.X1:~~ ':L Zj -; -i;1~ --.71i.i:- ':I.~I~';" "~:.;ii Ir-I:~-;.;:r;\cj4C~::.IU.-. h;_:k~;, F.i;~:; ~r.i i ~~:I~ fr: -:Er 1; *:::~ ~;;,~ ~ ~,,, '$; Y i;ij ~ "~~r2 i.. ~I: ~~' ii ~ii-~I 1;S?,tt-ac~,. '-.~"-i,;-: m `-B:''..:..1. i ~!~ r. 2jtf'd;.'3 ::i, Iri: _1 _ _ _ I - - -.3~re, i u I _ _ _ 1ii; c 4 i 4 f f - 1 - i I 14 I 1. - - I / —V71-. I-OIL Li ~.. r T 1- L FIP VL1 -i G 4... 1:: i i I l::- 7 = v — I jr I HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 49 - J - - - -- - - - - -: - - -- I ertson's yards during the year, and $4=7,500 has been expended in building and repairing during 1881. ROBERTSON & CO.'S SHIPYARD is on a triangular spot of four acres on the south branch of Grand River, and is a busy and thriving institution. It was commenced in the fall of 1867, and there has been launched there among others the "City of Grand Rapids," a propeller 136 ft. long, 26 ft. beam, and 10y- ft. hold; propellor "S. C. Hall," 160 ft. long, 30 ft. beam, 11I ft. hold. In 1881 there was launched from the yard a steam barge, 152 ft. long, 28 ft. beam, capacity, 400,000 ft. of lumber, or 22,000 bushels of wheat; also steam yachts for Eastmanville, Spring Lake, etc. The yard keeps from 35 to 70 men busy. The yard is owned by four Scotchmen, three of whom work in the yard, and the fourth is a capitalist. DUNCAN ROBERTSON, born in Menteith, Scotland, 1838; came to Grand Haven in 1867, PAUL McCoLL, born in Dumbarton, Scotland, 1841, came in 1867 to Grand Haven; was first wood-worker and then ironworker. PETER SrNCLAIR, born in Argyleshire, Scotland, 1842, came to Grand Haven in 1870, and returned to Scotland during '76-'80, after'wlich he took an interest in the shipyard. CAFT. JOHN BUDGE, born in the Orkney Islands, 1841, came out to meet his brother on a farm in Canada, but preferred the lakes, sailing until 1872, when he invested in.the shipyard, and also in lumbering. His office is in IfC wtets B THe,,,MECHANICS' DRY DOCK AND SHIPYARD was established in 1867 by Thos. W,. Kirby & Co., and the "Co." are John W. Calister and John Neil. It is on the south bank of the main river, on made land. In 1881 the steam barge "H. C. Akeley," 230 ft. keel, 35 ft. beam, and 21 ft. hold, with a carrying capacity of 1500 tons of iron ore, or 50,000 bushels of grain, was launched from this yard. The yard has done a large business. They have a four-box dry docks, capable of raising 300-ton vessels. JOHN NEIL, born in Essex County, Ontario, 1835, came to Detroit in 1853, and learned shipbuilding; came to Grand Haven in '67; he married Bridget Alice Walsh, of Grand Haven, and has two sons and two daughters. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, organized August, 1871, being the successor to the old firm of Ferry & Son, private bankers. The first officers were E. P. Ferry, president; D. Cutler, vice-president; George Stickney, cashier. The other directors were Stephen Munroe, T. S. White, S. H. Boyce, Hunter Savidge, and H. C. Akeley. Capital, $100,000, at the end of the year increased to $200,000; and has always paid a dividend of 5 per cent, paying out in dividends in the first ten years over a quarter of a million dollars. It has been in Cutler's Block since 1872. Mr. Stickney has been cashier since its inception. Dwight Cutler, Esq. is president. Its present capital, is $200,000; undivided profits, $65,000. Officers for 1882 are; D. Cutler, president; Robert Howlett, vice-president; cashier, George Stickney. Directors: E. P. Ferry, Stephen Munroe, Chas. E. Wyman, N. R. Howlett, D. Cutler, B. Howlett, T. S. White, H. W. Buswell, George Stickney. i There has been appropriated: 1852 1866.. 1869 1870 1871. 1872 1873 1874 1881 Transferred in 1870. $20,000.. 65,000... 1,866 10,000 *... 6,000. 15,000.... 75,000 50,000... 60,000 1,885 $304,751 From records in the U. S. Engineer's office, it appears that there is now a better depth of water than there has been during any open winter for seven years. There is a channel, two hundred feet wide, opening to the west and northwest, with water twenty feet deep most of the way across, wh(n, as the edge of the bar is reached, the water shoals to fifteen feet for one sounding. In front, west and northwest of this channel, is water ranging from sixteen to eighteen feet, and then deepening to deep soundings. THE CUTLER HOUSE. This elegant and spacious hotel is one of tle finest and most popular in the State, and is tbleonspi etuso bject on entering the city, which has done more than anything else to build up the'reputation of Grand Haven as a summer resort. It was erected with great public spirit by one of the self-made men of the cityj the Hon. Dwight Cutler, in 1872, at a cost, including furniture, of $200,000, is elegantly provided, and is first class in every respect, A lithographic view will be found in this work, and from it the reader may judge of the beauty and the dimensions of the hotel. It is provided with all modern improvements, steam passenger elevator, hot and cold water, et>., and has an elegant hall beautifully frescoed and well arranged for lectures, dances, and public entertainments. Mr. Josepl Spires is the efficient manager, and Mr. James Armstead the obliging head clerk. In this connection we give a brief sketch of THE HON. DWIGHT CUTLER, Lumber Manufacturer and Capitalist, who was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, November 14, 1830, and was a son of Dr. Isaac G. and Nancy (Hastings) Cutler. Dr. Cutler was one of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of -his day; and, as a matter- of course, had an extensive practice that continued until hisdeath, which occurred when the subject of this sketch was only: fou years of age. Mr. Hastings, his grandfather, was one of the first settlers in Amherst. Mr. Cutler was educated in Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, receiving a special course-of -nstruction.: When about eighteen years of age he removed -to Grand- Haven, Michigan, and went into the employ of Gilbert & Go., forwarding and commission merchants. After remaining in' that capacity three: years, he commenced business for himself by buying out-his employers' store and forwarding business, which he carried bn for six"'yea-:: with success. During. this period he purchased a number of' vessels, both sail and steam, which were used in connection with lis-business. In 1860 Mr. Cutler commenced the lumber manufactur ng business with Mr. Hunter Savidge, of Spring Lake,-a village tt o miles distant from Grand Haven, —buying a saw-mill known' asD: e Old Hopkins mill. Since then they have bought one mill, built-an' — other, and formed a stock company with $500,000, paid up capital;, It is the largest lumber manufacturing firm in Western Michigan." They have handled upward of -50,000,000 feet of lumber in one sea i I i 4 4 ] j. Ii I C;~ IL L:< I GRAND HAVEN HARBOR. There has been expended on this considerable sums of money by the U. S. Government,-which recognizes the value and importance of this harbor to the lake navigators. The original estimate for the harbor (1866) amounted to: $299,011.70. I - w, i~i (L fi:..:. ~ I - ~ ~ ~. I - I ~ - '.~ 1.1.....! I J-60 IYs Vi".t ( :k,"d, ] = —,, l,, (. i I I 50 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. f I son, but average about 40,000,000 annually. They have a large wholesale lumber yard in Michigan City, Indiana. They ship their lumber to almost all parts of the United States, while their mills give employment to over two hundred men most of the year. They own extensive tracts of pine land, tributary to the Grand River. In 1872 Mr. Cutler erected the largest and finest hotel building in the State of Michigan, It stands on Washington street, in Grard Haven; is an ornament to the city, and is known abroad as a Grand Haven summer resort. It was named from himself, being called the Cutler House; and cost, including furniture, $200,000. The architecture of the building is beautiful, defying criticism; and the inner appointments are excellent. In 1870-71, Mr. Cutler was elected Mayor of the city, and has filled the office of school trustee for nearly twenty years. He never aspired, however, to the honors of public position, having declined to accept any of the State or National offices his friends proffered him. In politics he is independent, voting for those whom he considers the best men. His religious views are embodied in the belief of the Unitarian Cliurch, of which he is a member. He was married February 10, 1858, to Miss Frances E. Slayton, of Stowe, Vermont. A family of five children have beei born to them,-one son and four daughters. Mr. Cutler is a gentleman respected and appreciated by all who know him. He is possessed of excellent judgment, irreproachable moral character, and fine business qualifications. During his first year in Michigan he worked for $50 t'id his board. He commenced business on an inconsiderable capital;.and when, in 1860, he and Mr. Savidge en|gaged.in the lumber trade, their early experience qualified them for the success which attends their large and constantly increasing business. Mr. Cutler is now 51 years of age, and in the full enjoyment of health. For over thirty years he has been a help towards building up the material interests of Grand Haven, and it is to be hoped that his life may long be spared to still further promote the prosperity of the city. THE ANDRES HOUSE, at the foot of Franklin Street, near the river, is kept by Ernest Andres, of Grand Haven, who is one of the veteran hotel keepers in Western Michigan. He is a native of Germany, and came to Michigan in 1852. In 1857 lie came to Grand Haven from Port Huron, and for a time after coming here was clerk in the store of Clark B. Albee. In 1858 he opened a bakery and restaurant, and the same year built a hotel on the west side of the river, called the Milwaukee House. This house was burned in 1860. Afterwards he built and sold two hotels, and about 1867 built a grist mill and operated it for a time. In 1874 he built the Andres House which he still continues to keep. Mr. Andres has held various local offices, and was alderman for four consecutive terms. THE NATIONAL HOUSE is kept by M. C. Carpenter, who was born in Ireland, and while an infant his parents came to this country and settled in Buffalo. In 1855 he came to Ottawa County. For several years he kept a boarding house and operated a farm at Nunica Junction. In the spring of 1881 he removed to Grand Haven, where he has since kept the National House. OTTAWA HOUSE. This hotel, which has a frontage of 54 feet on First Street and 50 feet on Fulton Street, was built in 1868 by the proprietor, M. Pellegrom, and after renting for a time, has been for the last eight years kept by the proprietor. It is especially adapted for a boarding house, with a large office and twenty bedrooms. M. Pellegrom was born in the Netherlands and came to Grand Haven in 1855; coming poor and two dollars in debt, but has done very well financially. He was married in 1849 to Jantje Van Weeldaen, and has had eleven children, of whom six survive; Henry, Baldus, Katrina, Alleberta, Hermina, Ella and Gerty. TELEPHONING. In the Spring of 1881 Thomas A. Parish, connected with the Ottawa Iron Works, and having experience of the benefits in telephoning in the East, wrote to the Telephone and Telegraph Construction Company as to the advisability of supplying the city and vicinity with instruments. The result was that the Company pressed Mr. Parish to undertake the work, which he has done with great energy and success, so that now connections are made with Grand Rapids, via Lamont, and with Muskegon, Whitehall, Montague, etc. and it is expected that Cooperville and other points will soon be in connection. THE MICHIGAN BARGE COMPANY is quite an important institution, and for a number of years has performed an important part in the development of the city. The present officers are: Senator Ferry, President and Superintendent; D. Cutler, Vice-President; H. Bigelow, Secretary; Andrew Thomson, Treasurer; John Furlong, Sailing Master. In March, 1882, Senator Ferry purchased for $80,000 the interest of the late vicepresident, T. WT. Kirby, and D. Cutler was elected in his stead. PLANING MILL. Among the new industries of the city is the planing mill of J. J. Cilley and M. H. Creager. These gentlemen having formed a copartnership early in the Spring of 1881, erected a building near the C. & W. M. depot at Grand Haven. Early in the Fall of the same year the business was started with a force of about twelve men. The management of the concern is inllthe hands of Mr. Cilley, who is an energetic and thorough business man. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., but has resided in Ottawa County since 1855. CITY MILLS. One of the great institutions of the city is the City Mills, now owned by the Forrest Bros. In 1879 George Forrest came to Grand Haven and purchased the City Mills for the firm of Forrest Bros., and since that time has remained here to operate the mill. The mill has been greatly improved and its capacity increased since coming into the hands of Forrest Bros., and is now doing a large and successful business. George Forrest is a native of Canada, and a member of the firm of Forrest Bros., who are extensive rmillers, having several mills in different parts of the country. The engineer of the mill is O. Vanderhoef, who is a native of Ohio, where he lived until the breaking out of the war. In 1862 he enlisted, and went into the army with the 124th Ohio Infantry. Hie was wounded at Chickatllauga, and was in hospital at Nashviile. In 1865 he received his discharge, and came to Grand Haven, where he still lives, and in the employ of Forrest Bros. as engineer of their flouring mill. HOUSE BUILDERS. Among those who have helped to build up the city is the veteran builder and contractor, Michael WTilson, who was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., in 1826, and at an early age learned the carpenter trade. After working at his trade in New York State for a time, he came to Grand Haven in 1866, and engaged in business as contractor and builder. Some of the finest buildings in the county have been planned and built by Mr. Wilson. Among the prominent buildings built by him are the Cutler House, Odd Fellows' block, Congregational Church at Grand Haven, and many very elegant private residences. MOOZEN & GLERUII, builders, have also done their share, and have been in business since 1878, and there are already many fine I <* I -Mii I :1 I o s0:: g 'EDa: at |-; S A::: i: d'::; I:: i:#:::-:: I HISTORY OF 01 - I structures that have been built by them. Mr. Moozen is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., and has been in Grand Haven since 1878. Mr. C. Glerum is a native of Holland, and came to Grand Haven in 1866. CHARLES JOHNSON is a native of New York, where he was born in 1835. He served in the war from 1862 to 1863. In 1854 he was married at Richmond, Mich., to Madaline H. Bernard. Five c.ildren have been born to them, two of whom are dead. In 1871 he removed with his family from New Baltimore, Mich., to Holland Township, where they still reside. For several years Mr. Johnson has been in the business of contracting and building. JOHN H. THORNTON is a native of Geneva, N. Y. In 1861 he enlisted at Geneva as a member of the 33d New York Infantry. In 18683 he was discharged, and immediately re-enlisted in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner, and was an inmate of Salisbury Prison for nine months. In 1866 he came to Grand Haven, and since 1870 has followed the trade of carpenter and builder. LIVERY. There are two fine livery and sale stables in the city. That in connection with the Cutler House is in rear of the Holland Church, and is a splendid structure, amply equipped for a first-class business. The proprietor of the stock, Mr. E. C. BUTTS, is a native of Vermont, who came to Grand Haven in 1873, and took charge of the Cutler House Livery in 1875, and in 1881 purchased the stock, and.has since operated it for himself. The oldest livery is that of HENRY SPRIK, on Second Street near Washington, which was commenced about 1862 with an old buck board and one horse. Now it has thirty-six horses, twelve single and four double buggies. Mr. Sprik does a large business in buying and selling horses, of which he is an excellent judge. He came to the city in 1856. AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY. The office is in rear of Vanderveen's drug store, and the agent is Mr. HENRY LILLEY, who has been in the employ of the American Express Company since 1865, and in charge of the office at Grand Haven since 1872. He is a native of England, and came to this country with his parents when he was a child. THE OLDEST CLOTHING HOUSE is that of ISAAC H. SANFORD, who was born at Elmira, N. Y., in 1837, came to Grand Haven in 1858, and is carrying on the business started by his father twenty-four years ago. He has been Alderman for many years, City Marshal, Chief of Fire Brigade, etc. Married, in 1874, Mary D. Osgood, of Grand Haven. His residence is on Franklin Street. Mr. Sanford is one of the most active and public-spirited citizens. THE MAYOR. Major B. D. SAFFORD was born in Wayne County, Mich., in 1887, and lived there on his father's farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the 17th Michigan Infantry, Co. E., the company being raised at the Normal School, Ypsilanti, and the regiment was in the Ninth Army Corps, under Burnside, and was in all that general's engagements. Mr. Safford was captured at Spottsylvania, but escaped by cutting a-hole in the side of the car and jumping off while in motion, rejoining his corps on the 19th of May, traveling from Danville to Charleston, W. Va. At the close of the war he was discharged, and sett'ed in Grand Haven. He enlisted as a private and rose to a captaincy, and has since been appointed Brevel Majos of U. S. Volunteers. He was for three years principal of the High School, afte: I I i I i i rTAWA COUNTY. 51 which he formed a partnership in the dry goods business with Mr. Beaudry in 1871, but since 1879 has been in business for himself. He carries a full line of goods, and does a fine trade, his stock varying from $6,000 to $10,000. He was elected first Alderman of the First Ward in 1867, and in 1881 was re-elected, Mayor for the third time. He married, in 1868, Miss Jones, of Grand Haven, by whom he has one son, James, born April 24, 1869. In 1874 his wife died of heart disease, while playing the organ in church at evening service. He married again in 1878, Miss Duncan, formerly a teacher in Grand Haven, by whom he has two children. THE CITY RECORDER, C. T. Pagelson, who was born in Denmark in 1830, came to New York in 1848, having spent his life on the sea before; was elected recorder in 1867; Consul for Michigan for Scandinavia and appointed by Charles XV; is also agent for all leading steamboat lines, ex-officio Secretary of Board of Health; has been sixteen years Justice of the Peace, and has tried over 1,200 criminal cases. GRAND RIVER IMPROVEMENT. Heavy vessels can come up to Eastmanville, but there is a heavy sand bar at Lamont and another below Eastmanville. There has been appropriated by the U. S. Government $10,000 for river improvement, and it is intended to drive in spiles and clear the channel, which will be a decided gain to navigation. SOME OF THE PIONEERS. THE FERRY FAMILY. This family being the pioneer family of the county, and having been largely identified with the development of the county, we feel are entitled to more than a passing notice. We have already in the history of Grand Haven given a brief sketch of the founder of the family, the Rev. W. M. Ferry. The various members of the family are first: COL. W. M. FERRY, JR, born July 8, 1824, who is now at Park City, Utah, where he is engaged in the development of mines. He differs from the rest of the family politically in being a Democrat, has been Supervisor of Spring Lake, developed Ferrysburg, been largely engaged in lumbering, and in the Ottawa Iron Works. He was Mayor of Grand Haven in the Centennial year, and his ability as a speaker may be judged from his address on that occasion, which we have been happy to publish in our history of Ottawa County. He is a very popular gentleman and very unassuming, his conversation is replete with interesting anecdotes, and abounds in humor. We are happy to learn that he is meeting with great success in mining. He is associated in Utah with his youngest brother, EDWARD PAYSON FERRY, who was born at Grand Haven April 16, 1857, his twin sister being Mary Lucina, now Mrs. Galen Eastman. Mr. E. P. Ferry has been actively engaged in lumbering, and is now engaged in mining with his eldest brother. He is highly respected by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. He recently had the misfortune to lose his wife through a runaway team, at Park City, while he narrowly escaped with his life. The two remaining sons are the dis 1 tinguished Senator Ferry and Major Noah H. Ferry, instantly I killed at Gettysburgh while gallantly leading his regiment. SENATOR FERRY. j The Hon. Thomas White Ferry, of Grand Haven, U. S. t Senator and from 1875 to March 4, 1877, President of the United States Senate and acting Vice-President of the United States, was r born at Mackinac, June 1, 1826 was but six years old when he re-:[r -i W - 11:1. I I I ':-r .4 - 4Y l, 52 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - moved with his parents to the wild home at Grand Haven, to experience the hardships and adversities of pioneer life. He received a common school education and was bred to business pursuits. With the exception of two years spent as a clerk in a store in Illinois, he remained, a co-laborer with his father until the latter's death in 1867. In partnership with his brother, E. P. Ferry, he has since continued the lumber business, which, under his general management, has been prosecuted with energy and success. He early manifested an interest in public matters; and, at the age of twenty-one years, was chosen County Clerk of Ottawa County. Two years later, in 1850, he was elected a Representative to the Michigan Legislature to serve a term of two years. In 1856 he was elected State Senator for two years. For eight years he was an active member of the Republican State Committee. He was a delegate at large, and one of the VicePresidents of the National Republican Convention at Chicago in 1860, which nominated Abraham Lincoln. In 1863 he was appointed Commissioner for Michigan of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburgh. In 1864 he was elected a Representative to the Thirty-ninth Congress, and was re-elected, successively, to the Fortieth, Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses, serving on some of the most important committees. In January 1871, after an exciting contest, he was elected United States Senator for a term of six years. He consequently surrendered his place in the House of Representatives of the Forty-second Congress, and took his seat in the Senate March 4, 1871. His services of six years in the House, and the legislative experience there obtained, were recognized when he entered the Senate. He was chosen Chairman of the Committee on the Revision of Rules; afterwards, was repeatedly elected President pro tempore of the Senate; and, by virtue of this office, upon the death of Vice-President Wilson, became acting VicePresident of the United States. He was President of the joint meeting of the two Houses of Congress during the intensely exciting count of the electoral votes, resulting in the choice of President Hayes and Vice-President Wheeler. In this position he acquitted himself with such impartiality and ability that he was re-elected March 4, 1877, by a unanimous vote, President pro tempore of the Senate. In January, 1877, he was re-elected United States Senator to serve for the term of six years. In early life he acted with the Whigs, but joined the Republican party as soon as it was organized, and at once became a zealous advocate of its principles. In every Presidential campaign since 1860, he has canvassed the State in behalf of the Republican candidate. As a public speaker, his power lies in his earnest language, concise statements, and sound logic, without any attempt at eloquence or oratorical display. His course in Congress has met with the general approbation of the people of all parties in Michigan. He has done much to advance the interests of his native state. To his efforts Michigan is greatly indebted for the generous river and harbor improvements which have so materially aided in developing her- resources, and in preserving the lives and property of her citizens. It was through his influence, also, that the beautiful Island of Mackinac, or as much of it as belongs to the United States, has been converted into a National Paik. He has also labored zealously in the cause of the soldiers and sailors of Michigan, who participated in the late civn war. His speeches on finance have been widely read and are highly valued. He has done much to perfect the postal system; and his work on the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads has elicited the highest praise from the press throughout the country. The present rules of the United States Senate, adopted by that body under his revision and report are a standing tribute to his ability as a parliamentarian. To promote the general welfare has been the aim of his Congressional life. An indefatigable worker, courteous and upright, his career reflects honor alike upon his State and Country. MAJOR N. H. FERRY. The late Major Noah Henry Ferry was born on the Island of Mackinac April 30th, 1831. His home influences were such as to develop in him a strong, thoroughly cultivated mind, an honorable, lovable character, and an unblemished life. His aunt, Mary A. White, later a teacher at Rockford, Ill., Seminary, had charge of his early training. He afterwards graduated at Bell's Commercial College, Chicago, with such credit that he was selected immediately to conduct one of the vacant departments of the institution. His business life was spent at White River, where he was associated with his brother, Edward P. Ferry. He laid out the village now called Montague, and was engaged as a lumber merchant. He possessed by inheritance and education qualities essential to his success in life. Peculiar energy and force of character; a generous, loving heart, combined with a clear appreciation of the social and political duties of a citizen, won for him the hearty respect of all. In 1861 he was in the full tide of business success, and in the active control of large pecuniary interests; but when it became evident that the country required the aid of every competent man in the field to insure a prompt crushing out of treason, he tendered his services for any post in which he might be needed. Circumstances prevented his accepting the commission of adjutant in the Third Michigan Cavalry, which was offered him. In the ensuing Summer the exigencies of the war demanded immediately increased enlistments, and within twenty-four hours after the energetic call, he organized a company of 102 men. August 14th, 1862, he was commissioned Captain of Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. The regiment was ordered to Washington, and assigned to duty in the Army-of the Potomac. He participated in active out-post duty with his regiment, gained the confidence and respect of his superior officers, and the unwavering trust and love of his men. He was soon promoted to the rank of major. On the 3d of July, 1863, when leading his battalion on the field of Gettysburg, with the inspiring word "Onward!" he fell, shot through the head, instantly killed. A braver or more chivalrous soldier never fell on the field of battle. He shrunk from no duty, and permitted his men to incur no privation which he did not share. His body, wrapped in the flag he died defending, was taken to Grand Haven. A monument in the Grand Haven Cemetery marks his grave. The history of the Ferry family would lnot be complete without that of MISS MARY A. WHITE, sister-in-law of the Rev.W. M. Ferry, and who has had so much to do with the moral training and educational development of her nephews, and indeed many of the children of the first pioneers, as she was for a generation the only teacher at Grand Haven. She was born at Ashfield, Mass., September- 18th, 1813. Her early advantages were good, and she was educated partly at Sanderson Academy, and partly by that famous teacher, Miss Mary Lyon, from whom she feels she gained her inspiration as a teacher. She commenced teaching at the age of 16, first a private and then a district school, in Ashfield. Afterwards she, with her sister, taught a boarding school in Amherst, Mass. June 10th, 1835, she came to Grand Haven, and soon opened a private school in the house of Mr. Ferry, nearly without pay. On the organizing of the district she took charge of the school, in which she continued constantly, with the exception of a few months, until 1852. She then taught at Steubenville, Ohio, one year, and afterwards ten years as associate teacher in the seminary at Rockford, Ill., making in all thirty-four years of zealous labor as a teacher of the young. Miss White, now verging towards old age, is in the quiet enjoyment of a competence, and is the honored head of the bachelor home of her nephew, Senator T. W. Ferry, who was educated by r L j -1- ------- i ~ w04p 1 L i lI 1 - I: -: HIISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 53 I.1 I I I her, and whose pride is, in her age, to cherish the guide of his youth. ROBERT STUART. We are indebted for the following sketch to an extract from the Detroit lribune of February 15th, 1877: "At a recent festival of the -Caledonian Society of Grand Haven, Col. Wm. M. Ferry paid the following glowing tribute to the memory of a former citizen of Detroit, whom the majority of the present generation only know by repute, but know to have been a rare and noble man. This sketch will be read with great interest by all our old citizens, as well as by those who have only heard of its subject: "Upon the first plat of the village of Grand Haven appears the name of Robert Stuart, as one of its proprietors, and of this man I have the honor to speak in response to the sentiment, Grand Haven.' Robert Stuart was born in Callender, Perthshire, Scotland, February 19th, 1785. His father was John Stuart, his mother Mary Buchanan. John Stuart was the son of James Stuart, who was known as James MacEamish MacAlester; that is, as you Scotsmen would interpret it, James, son of James, son of Alexander. Those of you who are familiar with the life of Rob Roy will remember the relation of a personal contest with the Laird Alexander, growing out of a dispute upon the establishment of a boundary question. Rob Roy, in the latter part of his life, had located in the neighborhood of the Stuarts, and owned an estate adjoining that of the Laird Alexander. Stuart was of a stern, fiery temper, that would not brook control, dictation or interference from any source, and a combat with swords ensued in decision of the question at issue. Rob Roy, celebrated as he was as a swordsman, was disarmed. Such contests were in those days the court of last resort, and the rendered judgment was final and a matter of history, if not of record. Their difficulties were thus settled to their mutual satisfaction, and they became ever after good friends and neighbors. "John Stuart and his son Robert were known in the Highlands by the designation, 'Big John of the Woods' and 'Little Robert of the Hills.' John's immediate ancestors were doubtless Catholics, as one of the family took up arms in the cause of the Pretender in 1715, and another in 1745. Robert's boyhood and youth were spent in the neighborhood of Callender, Balquhidder, the Trosachs and Loch Katrine, and he was familiar with every foot of that beautiful region, since made immortal by Sir Walter Scott's I Lady of the Lake'-possessing a vigorous brain and a wonderfully retentive memory, his mind was stored with facts and incidents of Scotland's history, and his nature became imbued with the chivalric characteristics of her noblest sons. Throughout life his memory served to enchant his hearers as he related the tales and legends of his native hills. He was thoroughly educated in the doctrinal belief of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and though not until later in life did he make profession of religion, yet he always maintained three habits of action, originating under the parental roof, which threw an influence around him, which followed him into the trackless wilderness of America, and forsook him not through all the scenes of an eventful life. These were a religious regard for the Sabbath, a reverence for the sacred Scriptures as the word of God, and a respect for the ministry of that word as a Divine ordinance. "However, until middle life he disdained experimental religion, regarding it as a weakness of character, or as the merest enthusiasm. He honored and valued the ordinances and rites of Christian worship, as preserved and practiced in their simplicity by his ancestors and countrymen. As a lofty man of the world his religion was wholly ritual. Its elements were external morality, doctrinal ortho-i doxy, prevalent convictions of the truth of Christianity as a system of valuable ethics, historical faith, demonstrations of respect for its institutions and consistent professors, and conformity to a general ritual. " You have before you a proud, handsome, cultured Highland Scotchman; dignity, sternness, decision and energy his prominent characteristics; personally of commanding form and presence, and a thorough gentleman in dress and demeanor. "When about attaining his majority his friend and relative, Gen. Robert Stuart, after whom he was named, and who was a prominent officer in the East India Company's Army, proposed to take him out to India, and look to his advancement in life. This was in some respects a flattering proposal, as Gen. Stuart was a bachelor and wealthy. The offer was accepted, and the preparations were all made for the journey, when, at the last moment, the heart of his mother failed her at the thought of the separation from her idolized child in so distant and unhealthy a region. The project was abandoned. I name this circumstance and incident of his life as a needed ingredient in obtaining a true opinion of his character; this was a tenderness of love for mother and home, and afterward to wife and children, that seldom forms a part in such a man as I have hitherto described. "At the age of 22 he came to America at the solicitation of his uncle, David Stuart, who was then agent of the Northwest Company ' in Lower Canada, and Robert Stuart landed at Montreal in 1807. But on his arrival his uncle had gone to Labrador. He associated himself in business with the same company, and under the tutorage of a Roman Catholic priest, made himself master of the French language, the better to qualify himself for the commercial life to which he had devoted himself. His elegance of diction in the use of both'the French and English languages was a remarkable accomplishment favorable to his plans, and a specially noticeable grace in him throughout his life. Subsequently he entered the office of the attorney-general of the Province, and continued a rigid course of business discipline in Canada, until he engaged with John Jacob Astor, of New York, who organized in 1810 the Pacific Fur Company, for the purpose of establishing trading posts on the Columbia River and along the Pacific coast. As one of the partners of the firm he set sail from New York in 1810in the ship Tonquin, doubled Cape Horn, touched at the Sandwich Islands, reached his destination, and aided in laying the foundation of the city of Astoria. "This perilous voyage, its disasters and expeditions of a like nature following the planting this settlement in the Northwest, has been given to the world through the gifted pen of Washington Irving, and from material principally furnished the author of "Astoria" in the daily journal kept by Robert Stuart. Nothing equalling this thrilling narrative has ever been given to the public, so valuable in its details of the trials and vicissitudes attendant upon the early explorations of the vast region west of the Mississippi Valley, the Columbia River and of the Pacific coast. As an incident that determined important experiences in the life of Robert Stuart, I will here give you the sequel to the voyage of the Tonquin: " This vessel was ordered to coast northward for trade with the natives, and to return home in the Autumn.. Mr. Stuart designed to form one of the company on board, but the rash, irascible temper of the captain and Stuart's indomitable will were not congenial elements for such companionship, and he refused to accompany the expedition. At Vancouver's Island the savages boarded the ship, ostensibly for traffic. The petulance and obstinacy of the captain enraged the savages. He had neglected the instructions given him as to his dealings with them, and insultingly pointed to his gun as his defense when remonstrated with by the interpreter. The result.was, the Indians in large numbers came on board, deceitfully purchasing and arming themselves with knives, and at a - i - a L 6 0-40M 1. I - 4 - I I! R —qp F'_ 1 r -4 Z M. - - - - 54 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. I given signal uttered the savage yell, and fell upon their victims. Five only of the ship's company escaped instant death, who retreated and fortified themselves in the cabin. Four of these left the ship in the life-boat, but were captured, and suffered a protracted, torturing death. One alone remained, wounded and meditating revenge. The next day the savages boarded the ship in immense numbers, for pillage; when the only survivor of that ship's company, heroically seizing his opportunity, set fire to the magazine, and blew up himself, ship, and Indians, with a tremendous explosion. I" The loss of this vessel rendered it necessary to devise other means to reach the Atlantic, and an expedition by land was undertaken by Robert Stuart with six attendants. Let me whisper to you that, before he left New York, a more than twinkle of light had dawned upon his life, of a warmth and brightness hitherto unknown to him. Its scintillant rays found a way to his big heart, and by night and by day that Star in the East, yes, indeed, a Star in Bethlehem, hastened his footsteps thitherward, for Stuart was then an ardent, eager lover. " After twelve long months of peril and privations, surpassing the wildest scenes of romance, they accomplished the journey overland from the mouth of the Columbia to New York City. " Remember, this was in 1812, more than sixty years ago, when there was scarcely a settlement west of Detroit in Michigan. Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and other now populous Western States, constituted the Northwestern Territory. The war with Great Britain at that time existed, and the blockade of the City of New York, and of the whole Atlantic coast, put an end to the enterprise at Astoria, and Mr. Stuart sought other employment. " In 1819 he removed to the Island of Mackinaw, and for fifteen years conducted the commercial enterprise of the American Fur Company, extending from the lakes to the Rocky Mountains. While in New York, in 1813, he wooed and won a wife, who, in beauty and womanly grace of personal and mental endowments, is rarely equalled. Gifted in all that ennobles and dignifies womanhood, she possessed the charms.of wit and culture that made her a fascination to all who came within her influence. I speak but the words of truth and soberness of this lovely, accomplished womanone truly worthy of so noble a man. " Mrs. Stuart was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and was educated in the Moravian Society, of Bethlehem, Pa. She was the Star of Bethlehem that lighted his way, not only across the trackless, pathless continent, but cheered and adorned his life with neverfading radiance. She accompanied Mr. Stuart to his frontier home at Mackinac in 1819. The business life of Mr. Stuart while at Mackinac was one of laborious efforts in conducting the gigantic enterprises of that energetic company, and he was signally successful. Associated with him were men of rare ability, and under them almost an army of men filling the several departments of this vast organization in its multifarious details. The supervision of the affairs of the company' were under his immediate control and management until the winding up of their operations in 1834, when he removed to Detroit. " Life at Mackinac, in those days, was not wholly one of drudgery and business engagements. There was occasional relief, and especially during the long winters, when gaiety and reveries, such as are not known to us at this day, were indulged in by the daring men who had assumed the role of advance guard on the outskirts of civilization. ~Besides the gifted and cultured from Eastern homes, there were many reckless, wild adventurers who had drifted into this locality, and here found opportunity for the most extravagant abandon. The officers of the United States Army who were stationed at the garrison in Fort Mackinac, were not counted out in the recurring festivities of the ( Mighty Northwesters,' who, imitating the old feasts in Highland Castles, renewed their gorgeous feasts and song and dance at their hospitable homes. The occasional gatherings of a few of the choice spirits in boon companionship to ' make a night of it' with whist and wine, were not the least nor less frequent of the scenes of dissipation and reckless jollity that these old timers arranged during seasons of relaxation from active duties. " I will relate an occurrence at one of their affairs: " Stuart occasionally, with special friends, was one of a number to ' hie themselves awa' in an isolated building with closed shutters, and pass the night in such revelry. " Mrs. Stuart, because of her ardent love for her liege lord and lover, would not submit to such unseemly neglect, and after a number of such absentings from his cheerful and otherwise happy home, determined to venture a reclamation of her husband from such entanglements. "Not a word passed between them referring to this source of agony to her loving heart, nor could she longer live without an attempt to restore to herself the rightful control of her husband's hours of leisure and rest. Soon an evening came when Stuart did not come home. With restless, anxious alarm she passed the long night in waiting for his footsteps, with the cold dread in her heart that only a wife can feel and know. " The cold gray of the morning found her still walking that floor. In her desperation a thought touched her. ' I have always dressed in the plaid-the full Highland costume on his birthdaysit is a fancy of his and a delight; I'll dress in it and find him and bring him home.' At once she acted upon the suggestion. She carefully, tastefully arrayed herself from head to foot in the Stuart plaid, and enveloped in a cloak, she ran along the street, and soon reached the house with the closed shutters. It was broad daylight now, but within it was night, and hesitating a moment at the door, she dropped the cloak, then opened the door, stepped into the room, and stood before the group of men in that glare of lights, a Highland lassie, radiant in her beauty!-the plume that adorned her Scottish bonnet trembling in unison with her excited, throbbing heart! In wondering astonishment, and pale with emotion before the apparition, the gentlemen were speechless. In a moment Stuart recovered from the startling thrill, and rising from his chair, with courtly grace offered his arm to his wife, and gallantly escorted her home. Not a word was spoken or needed, and that scene forever barred any recurrence of ' nights from home.' " During Robert Stuart's sojourn at Mackinac, I think it was in 1828, a complete transformation of the inner man occurred. Recognizing the needs on the Island of the Gospel ministry, he had given encouragement in 1823 to a proposed Christian Mission, and proffered a home for the minister, and opened his doors to welcome him as a member of his family; with the express stipulation, that no interference, directly or indirectly, should be made by the clergyman with the accustomed gayeties of his house, excepting upon the Sabbath, when he would permit the assembling for family worship on that day; but no other religious exercise in his house would be tolerated by him. This was the beginning of the missionary efforts at Mackinac, with which most4of you are familiar, the results of which may only be known at the Great Day. " His early training in the old home in Scotland had prepared him with a foundation that he now built upon. His strong mind gradually took hold of the interests awakened in his associates and acquaintances around him, and his conviction of the Truth was most characteristic of the man. I need not describe his strugglings. So sudden, radical, aud complete was the change in this man, that even the Indians regarded him with amazement, and ever after treated him with a deference and veneration that bordered upon idolatry, and they loved and honored him. a j.q 7I - "I:a j m-: iS e Se HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 55 " So exact was he in the performance of every Christian duty, from that time to the day of his death (about twenty years), nothing of business or place of surroundings was allowed to interfere with the observance of such obligations. In journeying, whether on steamboat or at a hotel, without ostentation or intrusion upon the privileges of others, but with the inflexible habit of his home custom, his family assembled at the hour allotted for devotions, and.with him fulfilled what to him was a sacred and cherished duty; and this was but an indication of the habit and life and every-day demeanor of the man, the humble, dependent, faithful Christian. If ever a man lived who was wholly consecrated to the service of his Master, while energetically and thoroughly fulfilling his relations as a citizen in public and private life, that man was Robert Stuart. On his removal to Detroit, in 1835, he became ruling elder in Dr. Duffield's church, and these relations were never changed. How appropriate such a man was in such a place, can only be known by those with whomn he associated and who knew him, as the citizens of Detroit all did. The poor knew no dearer friend than he was to them. I" From a sermon that was preached by Dr. Duffield, on the occasion of his death, I have taken liberally into this sketch. If any of you would look more closely into the life of this great and good-man, I commend that discourse to your perusal. (Robert Stuart was appointed Indian Agent by President Harrison, having charge over all the scattered tribes of the Northwest, whose interests he watched and guarded with paternal care. His first visit to Grand Haven was in 1835, while acting as Indian Agent, and together with Mrs. Stuart, passed several months here. He had invested largely in lands in this county, and was one of the projectors and proprietors of the city, beginning in.1834, and continuing many years a member of ( The Grand Haven Company.' "Many characteristic incidents relating to Mr. Stuart that occurred while here I pass now, as I have taken up more time than I had intended in my recollections of him; but in social chat hereafter your possible interest in him may lead to a knowledge of the rich vein of humor that was an outcrop with him on all occasions, and which served to make him the very center of attraction in social gatherings not only, but in public assemblages. "Mr. Stuart was subsequently elected treasurer of the State of Michigan, and after the expiration of his term of office was appointed, in 1815, trustee and secretary of the Illinois and Michigan Canal Board, with his office in Chicago. His known character and probity secured the confidence of capitalists, and his management of that great work, connecting Lake Michigan with the Gulf of Mexico, was in full keeping with his successful and established business reputation. "He died at the age of 64 at Chicago, in October, 1848. A noticeable coincidence is, that the manner of his death was precisely that of his father, John Stuart-peacefully, painlessly, while sitting in his chair. "Wherever he was known the intelligence of his death was received witlh overwhelming sorrow. In the Detroit Advertiser of that date I find an exquisite poem from the pen of D. Bethune Duffield, Esq., beginning and ending with the following lines: ' Hushed be each note of gladness! Let sorrow have her wayFor manIv hearts are swelling With bitter grief to-day.' and the echo came from Scotland and America alike l "My friends, I have thus given you a hastily prepared sketch, partly from concurrent data and from memory in reply to your toast, 'The City of Grand Haven.' My intention is to bring before you a model man in public and private life. A Christian gentleman, a Scotch-American, such as either country may well remember with honor and pride, and pardon me if in my admiration for his character and worth, I assert that this country cannot furnish a parallel to the life and character of Robert Stuart." We are sure it will gratify the many friends who still cherishthe memory of CLARK B. ALBEE, to have a brief sketch of his life inserted in the history of the County he did so much to develop. He was born at Highgate, Franklin County, Vt., July 10, 1811. His early educational advantages were limited, but as soon as he became of age he determined to see something of the world for himself, and went to Michigan, where he was employed one year in teaching. In 1835 he sought more profitable employment, and found a position with David Carver, of Chicago, arriving in Grand Haven in 1836 as agent for Carver in the forwarding and commission business. In 1838 he separated from Carver and established a general store for himself, adding successively a boot and shoe store, a tannery, a hotel and a lumber establishment. During the rebellion he was appointed Draft Commissioner, and was active in aiding heads of families to procure substitutes. Originally a Whig, he became an earnest Republican on the formation of that party, but he had such a strong sense of right, that he never allowed fidelity to party to blind him to itsfaults. He was a charter member of the Odd Fellows, and filled all the positions of a subordinate lodge, but the multiplicity of his business cares caused him to withdraw from active connection. He had a warm heart for humanity, and was particularly tender of the interests of little children. In his religious views he was unsectarian. His death occurred suddenly Jan. 30, 1874 -his death was a loss to the people of western' Michigan, as his removal caused a vacancy that could not easily be filled. Prof. A. W. Taylor, of the County Board of Education, is a pioneer teacher of Ottawa County, having come to Grand Haven in 1853. He was County Superintendent in 1867-8-9, principal of Spring Lake school in 1870. He is held in grateful remembrance by his old pupils. He is now a resident of Nunica. Z. G. WINSOR, wholesale dealer in coal, salt, cement, &c., and agent for Chicago and Grand River line of steamers, was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., in 1814, in 1822 removed to Syracuse, in 1833 was one of the first settlers in Ionia and Grand Rapids, taking up land. He came down the river as clerk for the Indian trader, Rix Robinson, the Ferry family arriving next season. In 1836 joined Capt. Nancy, of Kalamazoo, in a land agency, in 1851 he went to California for three years, from 1855 to 1860 took charge of Grand River steamers, in 1865 he operated at Petrolia, and in 1868 he established his present extensive business. Mr. Winsor is still hale and active, and may be found at his post every day. HENRY JOHN BOLT was born in the province of Gelderland, Holland, in 1823, came to Grand Haven July 5, 1847, working first in Hopkins' saw mill. Mr. Bolt has'held the office of coroner and the street commissionership for twelve years. He now resides in his fine residence on Washington Avenue, in the city of Grand Haven. He married May 9, 1852, Miss Cornelia Elfers, who was born 1828, coming from Overissel, Holland, in 1848. The family consists of eight children, six living: Hannah, born July 10, 1853; Alice, April. 26, 1855; Jennie, June83, 1857; Henry, Aug. 27, 1859; (died 17 months old) Hattie, June 27, 1862; Cornelia, Jan. 13, 1865, (died six months old); Henry J., Oct. 22, 1866; Albert, May 29, 1871. R. W. BOYNTON is a native of Maine and first came.to Michigan in 1844. His early life was spent at work, and acquiring an education at the district school and from such books as he was able to gain access to. He came to Michigan during the early days and was an active participant in the pioneer experiences of that time. He was familiar with the first paths and Indian trails of western -, i I F. IS: 40: L -: - Ir I I A k Al 01 -lh:, atI i I I:::' 1 HISTOY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.i HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. - ] I I '. I Michigan, and is well acquainted with the progress and development of all that part of the State. After roughing it in the State for a few years he turned his attention to law, and was admitted to practice in 1859, and is therefore one of the veterans at the bar. Jn 1868 he came to Grand Haven from Essex, and has since lived here and devoted himself to his profession. L. M. S. SMITH, ex-postmaster of Grand Haven, was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1808, remaining there until manhood, studying for the Presbyterian ministry, in which service he spent his best days, until his lungs failed. He was the pioneer Presbyterian missionary of Ionia County in 1837, and came to Ottawa in 1848, to canry on mercantile business at Millpoint (now Spring Lake); came to Grand Haven to carry onI the newspaper business, which he did from 1862 to 1872, was postmaster for over four years, going out of office in 1881, and was assistant assessor for many years. Mr. Smith is a gentleman most highly respected by all the community. JOHN W. BARNS, born in Vermont, 1824, came with his twin brother James to Grand Rapids when twelve years of age, and they both were apprentices in the office of the Grand River Times, the paper published in that region by G. W. Paterson. After serving three years, he with his brother served four years at the carpenter's trade, and came to Spring Lake in 1846, working on the brig Enterprise. In July, 1851, comlmenced the Grand River 7'Times with hlis brother and Mr. Angell, and also published the.hews subsequently, but was twice burned out. He sold the YTimes to Galen Eastman, who published it at Eastmanville for a year or two. After disposing of the:rewvs he purchased a ten acre fruit lot on which he still resides; has been alderman for Fourth Ward for many years, also on school board, town clerk, treasurer, supervisor, and in nearly every office except mayor. Married in 1856 R. C. Breau and has three sons and an equal number of daughters. Among the honored dead we may mention the late GEORGE PARKS, one of Grand Haven's oldest settlers and foremost citizens, who was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1817, and was the son of Capt. Robert Parks, of 158th Regiment of the war of 1812. He moved with his parents to Michigan in 1823, coming to Buffalo by team, as it was before the Erie "ditch" was opened, and to Detroit by sailing vessel, locating in the wilderness of Oakland County, where he cleared a large farm, on which George worked hard except when he went to district school and six months to Pontiac Academy. Inl January, 1840, he married Permielia, daughter of Deacon Wattles, of Binghampton, N. Y., by whomn he has three children, Byron W., born inll 1844; George B., in 1852; Fanny, 1858. After a short experience on a farm inll '43 he mnoved to the village of Ionia, and was landlord of the "Cottage"' and in '44 he removed to Grand Haven, then a small village; with the growth and prosperity of which he has been closely identified, and at the time of his death with the exception of the Ferrys, was the oldest settler in that city. In 1864, in connection with E. W. Barnes, he entered into the forwarding business and with Capt. Ganoe in the Grand Haven and Grand Rapids steamboat line. In ]865 and 1866 he and Mr. Blair entered into forwarding, and in 1867 he and his son Byron entered into the sash and door business. In 1852 he was elected County Treasurer, and re-elected for four terms; and when Grand Haven was incorporated in 1867 was elected its first mayor. He was justice of the peace for many years to the time of his death from pneumonia in Dec. 1880, when his lengthy funeral cortege and the attendance of his brother Masons and Odd Fellows, of which orders he was a prominent and respected member, attested the high opinion entertained of him by his neighbors. He was emphatically an hon est man, a man of common sense, a man whose kindly heart made it impossible that he could leave an enemy behind. He held many public trusts, always satisfactorily, was a Past Grand Master of the Odd Fellows, a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, and a Knight Templar of the same order. STEPHEN L. LOWING, Lawyer, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1817, came to Ottawa in 1836, locating in Georgetown, and took a leading part in developing that township, being Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and, in fact, holding nearly every township office in succession; was a farmer, lumberman and merchant, and when the war broke out he and all his men rushed to the front in Company I, Third Michigan Infantry, enlisting for three years, and equipping themselves at their own expense for the war; and it was the first full regiment in the field, going into the Army of the Potomac, being under Generals Heintzelman, French and Hancock. Mr. L. was wounded in the leg, which determined his career as a lawyer; he came home for a time and was commander at Detroit Barracks. Rejoined his regiment and took part in Locust Grove, Rappahannock, Mine Run and Rapidan. He is still active and vigorous, and is in partnership with Mr. Cross in law. R. W. DUNCAN, Lawyer, was born in Vermont in 1834, came to Grand Haven in 1851, and has been Prosecuting Attorney two termis and Circuit Court Commissioner six terms. GEO. E. HUBBARD, Hardware Merchant, is one of the old and prominent citizens of Grand Haven, and in that city opened the first tin and hardware store inll Ottawa County in 1856. His present store is the first three story brick erected inll the city. He has been Alderman, Supervisor and Mayor. HENRY GRIFFIN, now retired, was bornl in 1807, inll Ontario, and came to Eastmlanville in 1838, and on being elected Sheriff in 1844, came to Grand Haven. He has also been County Clerk, and carried on the drug business. H. C. AKELEY is one of Grand Haven's most active and enterprising citizens, and has been a resident of the county since 1858. Although a lawyer by profession, he has made his money chiefly by lumbering, in which he is extensively engaged, being one of the leading stockholders of the Grand Haven Lumnber Company, which is buying up mill after mill. Mr. Akeley has just completed a fine residence on the hill in the vicinity of the Court House. He enlisted inl October, 1863, in Second Michigan Cavalry, which was placed inll the military division of the Mississippi, serving until the close of the war, and rising from the ranks to the position of Adjutant. THOMAS STEWART WHITE, of the firm of White & Friant, lumbermenl, was born at Grand Haven June 28, 1810, and is son of Thomas W. and Caroline (Mortonll) White, natives of New England. In 1859, after leaving school, he entered the banking house of Ferry & Son, where he served as a clerk for three years. Finding the position injured his health, he accepted, in 1863, the position of shipping clerk with Gray, Phelps & Co., of Chicago. After two years he re-entered the banking house of Ferry & Sonl as cashier. In 1867 he formed a partnership with Heber Squier, as Squier & White, as log owners, general contractors, and ship builders. He suggested the idea of a barge line for transporting freight between Chicago and the east shore of Lake Michigan; and founded the firm of Kirby, Furlong & Co., which established the line of Kirby barges. In 1869 he disposed of his interest in this business, and became associated with Thomas Friant, under the name of White & Friant, as lumbermen and log runners. All logs sawed at the mouth of Grand River passed through tlheir hands and were delivered to the several mills. At the same time Mr. White became connected with J. M. Avery, of Grand Rapids, in a saw mill. This film was afterwards merged into that of Robinson, Solomon & Co., manufacturers of dressed lumber, etc. Mr. White saw the necessity for a fire department in i '1% I a *:1 A -* J I I * e —4 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 57 I Grand Haven, and with his accustomed energy started one in 1869, which at the end of two years became second to none in the State in efficiency. On the re-organization of the First National Bank in 1871 he was chosen one of the directors. In 1872 he was elected director of the Wait Manufacturing Co., of which he was afterwards secretary and treasurer. April 20, 1870 he married Miss Mary E. Daniel, of Milwaukee. Mr. White:-is an unassuming business man with shrewd business talents, and liberal to all public charities. DERK VYNE is a native of Holland, and came to this country with his parents in 1848. His parents stopped at Holland, Ottawa County, and Derk came to Grand Haven where he found work in the lumber mills. With the industry and prudence that characterize the 'Hollanders, Mr. Vyne kept steadily at work and managed each year to lay up something from his earnings. In 1858 he purchased a team and began draying about the town. His business increased as the business of the place grew, and he was obliged to add other teams and wagons from time to time, until for several years he has operated a general city express business, and also keeps a wood and coal yard. Honest and straightforward in all his dealings, and a hard worker, he has managed to accumulate a handsome competency as the fruits of his industry. BIOGRAPHICAL. J. W.'ACKLEY came to Grand Haven in 1876. Has been sawfiler since 1864, and in his present position as saw-filer at Boyden & Akeley's mill since the spring of 1881. In 1863 Mr. Ackley enlisted in the war at Edgerton, Ohio, and served until discharged in 1864. ' J. M. ALBERS, JR., is a native of Holland, and came to Grand Haven in 1854. Since 1867 he has been in business with his father, who is one of the oldest house painters in Grand Haven. ' JAMES P. ARMSTEAD, head clerk of Cutler House, was born near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1855, came to Grand Haven in 1870, attending the high school, and being one year at Grand Rapids Commercial College; was three years south for the Crystal City Glass Works of E. B. Ward, of Detroit, and was six months in post office, came to Cutler House in 1877, married November 3, 1880, Miss Carrie Barnes, niece of Dwight Cutler, who died about the close of 1881, leaving one child. Mr. Armstead is an obliging and efficient officer. BALL BROTHERS, dealers in dry goods and groceries, Howlett Block, Washington Street, are natives of Grand Haven, their parents having moved in thirty-one years ago from the Kingdom of Holland. Ball Bros. commenced business November 1, 1877, and do quite a large business, carrying a $5,000 stock. The statistics of their business given below show steady improvement: In 1878 it was $16,000; in 1879, $25,000; in 1880, $27,028; in 1881, $29,920. They do an exclusively cash trade. E. BAUGHN is a native of St. Johns, Mich., and came to Grand Haven in 1865, since which time he has been in business as lumber inspector. CORNELIUS BARNS, book-keeper at Boyden & Akeley's shingle mill, was born in Vermont February 17th, 1830, came to Grand Haven in 1862, and was in that position since May 15th, 1872, until in the spring of 1882 he accepted the position of book-keeper to S. C. Hall, the wealthy lumberman of Muskegon. E. G. BELL, one of the leading business men of Grand Haven, came here from Menasha, Wis., in Jnly, 1878, as book-keeper for the Wait Manufacturing Company. Soon afterwards the works passed out of the hands of the original owners, and Mr; Bell was put in charge of the business. In the spring of 1881 a new company was formed, of which Mr. Bell was elected president and gen eral manager. The company is doing a large and prosperous business in the manufacture of planters, hand rakes, etc. Mr. Bell is a careful and sagacious business man, and is managing the business affairs of his company with great success. JAMES A. BRITTON is a native of New York State, and came to Grandville, Mich., in 1838. For several years he operated a mill at Grandville, and in 1868 -came to Grand Haven. In the spring of 1879 he took the position of foreman in the Ermlaw mill. A. BROWN is a native of Scotland, and came to this country in 1854. In 1866 he came to Grand Haven from Detroit, and since that time has carried on the business of blacksmithing. In the spring of 1881 his shop was burned, but he immediately rebuilt upon the site of the old one. JOHN M. H. BROWN was born in New Brunswick in 1847, and came to Grand Haven in 1868. While in New Brunswick he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed since he came to Grand Haven. AVERYVILLE T. CAIRNS, of the lumber firm of Wyman & Cairns, was born in Canada, and came to Grand Haven in 1868. Up to 1878 Mr. Cairns was Lumber Inspector, occasionally buying and selling, as favorable opportunities offered. In 1878 the firm of Wyman & Cairns was formed for the purpose of dealing in logs, lumber and shingles. JOHN W. CALLISTER came to Grand Haven in 1867. During the war he was in the employ of the Government as ship carpenter, and upon leaving the South in 1867 came to Grand Haven, where he has since lived and followed his trade. For some time he has been foreman of the Kirby Ship Yard, in which he has an interest. Mr. Callister has followed his trade since 1847. M. H. CREAGER, Collector of Internal Revenue, is an old resident and one of the representative men of Ottawa County. Mr. Creager was born in Geauga County, Ohio, in 1836, and-was at one time a student of the late President Garfield. In 1856 he came to Berlin, Ottawa County, where he remained until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he enlisted as Sergeant of the Second Michigan Infantry. For a time he was a member of Gen. McCook's staff, and held the position of Inspector General. He was at one time detailed as Judge Advocate at Edgefield, Tenn. At the close of the war he received his discharge and returned to Chester, Ottawa County, where he engaged in lumbering. In 1871 he was burned out, and engaged at teaching for one year when he was elected County Treasurer, and removed to Grand Haven, where he has since resided. He held the office of county treasurer until the first of January 1881. Upon leaving that office he engaged in manufacturing, to which he gave his personal attention until in the fall of 1881 he received the appointment of Revenue Collector. Mr. Creager has always been actively interested in public affairs and has been one of the leaders in the politics of the county. He was Secretary of the Republican County Committee in 1866-7, and has been Chairman of the committe since that time. He is exceedingly popular with the people of the county, and his record is that of an excellent soldier and citizen. J. MORRIS CROSS, lawyer, of Grand Haven, was the son of Jesse and Margaret (Davis) Cross, and was born in Grantham, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, February 24, 1831. His grandfather was conspicuous in the Revolutionary War. His father was a Baptist clergyman, and had six children. He was a man of exceedingly fine personal appearance, and possessed great power and vigor. His ancestry were remarkable for fine physiques, longevity, and buoyancy of spirit. - His early education was obtained entirely through his own exertions. He took a thorough literary and theological course of study, and attained proficiencyin classical and scientific branches of which he was decidedly fond. When about twenty-two years of age, he read law quite extensively, becoming familiar, in an unusual t - Fl%- 0 I 4 -, i I -^-& T 2 V- L __ 58 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. - degree, with the laws of various civilized nations. After completing his studies, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He preached for two years at Fisherville, New Hampshire, a beautiful village on the Contoocook River, which -constituted the northern ward of the city of Concord, where he was loved by his people and esteemed by his associates. After about two year's strenuous labor, his health failed, and an hereditary pulmonary disease showed itself, which he succeeded in arresting, however, by physical exercise, including a system of gymnastics. In the fall of 1858, he accepted a call fronm Presbyterian Church at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, where his services were highly appreciated. In the spring of 1860 he returned to Massachusetts, and was married, April 12, to Lucinda C. Noyes, a lady of culture, who died November 30, 1872. Her death was greatly mourned; her life had been filled with sunshine and beauty. Mr. Cross was next settled at Findlay, Ohio, over a thriving Presbyterian church. After about four years, feeling that the pressure of the climate was injuring him, he decided to go farther West. Previous to his departure he received a very handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed, from the people of his church, as a token of their love and gratitude. He removed to Grand Haven, Michigan, October 6, 1869, where he supplied the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church for a time, until failing health compelled him to resign the position. After a season of rest he entered into partnership with Stephen L. Lowing, in the spring of 1872. They have carried on an extensive law business, but are now dissolving. He has represented the Presbytery on several occasions at the General Assembly, and has taken an active part in all religious progress. He has never solicited official position, and has held no offices except those connected with the educational interests of the country. He is a mall of excellent social qualities, having an inexhaustible supply of humorous anecdotes and a flow of wit. He is remarkable for his indomitable will, and is an exemplary and honored citizen. E. P. CUMINGS, Dentist, Grand Haven, is a native of New Hampshire, and' came to Grand Haven in 1861. He first began the practice of dentistry in 1868, and was the first dentist to locate in Grand Haven. He has practised here continuously since 1868, and does a very large and prosperous business. Dr. Cumings is in every sense a progressive man who keeps pace with the march of improvement, and takes pride in the quality of excellence il all that he does. B. F. CURTISS is a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In 1844 he was admitted to the bar and practice of law in Trumbull County, Ohio. In May 1865 he came to Grand Haven, and was prosecuting attorney of the county during 1866-67. For one year after coming here he was associated with Wm. H. Parks, now of Holland, in the practice of law, but at the end of the year the firm was dissolved and Mr. Curtiss has done business alone since that time. JOSEPH DOUGLASS, JR., is a native of Vermont, and for a number of years followed railroading in the East. In 1880 he came to Grand Haven, and since that time has been in the employ of Brouwer & Vos, as engineer at their mill. F. H. DOWD, carpenter and builder, is a native of Wayne County, New York, and came to Michigan in 1857. Before leaving New York he learned the carpenter trade which he followed at South Haven. He remained there until 1871 when he removed to Grand Haven, where he still resides. JOHN DONKER, saloon keeper, born December 6, 1812, in Hol land, came with his family to Grand Haven in 1854. He has five sons and two daughters; his last son was born July 7, 1877. H. N. ELKINGTON is a native of London, England, and came to this country in. 1861, and has been a resident of Grand Haven since 1865, For nine years prior to 1879 he was in the employ of the Goodrich Transportation Company, and in 1875 took his present position of cashier and book-keeper for the Stearns Manufacturing Company at Grand Haven. A. J. ELMAW came to Muskegon in 1849 and for several years was engaged in mill building. Afterwards he went into the lumber business at Muskegon, and continued there until 1856 when he came to Grand Haven. In 1877 the Grand Haven Lumber Company, of which Mr. Emlaw is a member, bought the mill, now known as the Emlaw mill, and enlarged it in 1880 to a capacity of one hundred thousand feet a day. Mr. Emlaw gives his time and attention to the affairs of this mill. He is one of the pioneer lumbermen of Michigan, and as a citizen is always readyto lend a helping hand to whatever will promote the public good. ISAAC EMLAW was born in Franklin County, N. Y., in 1825. In 1844 he came to Grand Haven and engaged at work in lumber mills. In 1862 he enlisted at Grand Rapids as a member of the 10th Michigan Cavalry, and served until the close of the war in 1865. Since 1877 he has been connected with the Emrlaw mill at Grand Haven. Mr. Emlaw is one of the pioneers of Grand Haven and a veteran in mill service. ROBERT FINCH, superintendent for Squier & White, contractors, was born in England, 1841, came in 1848 to Spring Lake. In 1856 he learned printing in the Grand River.7inmes office. In 1863 enlisted in Company B, 1st Michigan sharp shooters, received a severe wound carrying off his right eye, May 26, 1864, and was discharged in November following. He married 1869 Frances L. Albee, of Holland City, and has four children. I WM. J. GLEASON, foreman of freight sheds, D., G. H. & M. R. R., has resided in Grand Haven since 1869, coming from Detroit where he was born in 1816.. Married in 1869 Johanna Hayes, and has four children-residence First street. F. GRIFFITH, of No. 72, Washington St., Grand Haven, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1851, when seven years of age went to Canada, his father, J. M. Griffith, being general agent for agricultural implements. About fifteen years ago he came to this State and has been in business for himself about ten years. He married November 15, 1877, Miss Dell Page, who was born in Ionia County, Michigan, Nov. 15, 1857. They have one child, Myrtie A., born Aug. 20, 1878. I GEORGE HANCOCK was born in Devonshire, England, in 1816, I and came to Steuben County, N. Y., in 1849, remaining there sixteen years, when he came to Spring Lake and purchased a sawmill, | operating it for three years, after which he went into wagon making. In 1878 he commenced gardening in Grand Haven. In 1844 lie married Miss Joan Howard, of his native shire, by whom he has had seven children, three of whom survive. F. W. HARRIS, saw filer at Boyden & Akeley's mill at Grand i Haven, has been at work in the mill since 1873, and at milling since 1869. He came to Grand Haven soon after the war, was a soldier in the 21st Michigan Infantry from 1863 to 1865. GEORGE W. HEWITT, saw filer at Boyden & Akeley's mill has been in that position since the Spring of 1881, and has been at work in the mill since 1879. He has been at work in lumber mills for I twenty years. I EDWARD HOLSTELL and RICHARD BOTTJE constitute the firm of Bottje & Holstell, in the meat business at Grand Haven. Edward Holstell, son of Peter Holstell, is a native of Grand Haven. His i father is a native of Holland, and came to Grand Haven in 1848. Richard Bottje, son of Antoine Bottje, is also a native of Grand i Haven. His father came to this place from Holland in 1853. The I firm of Bottje & Holstell dates from the Spring of 1880. I J. W. HUTTY, druggist, born in Toronto, Ontario, 1840, left home for New York in 1866, learning the telegraphing and railway | businesses, was on D., & M. R.R., and C. & W. M. R, R., about nine 1 - \ ~ I l/- Ap- t-tz_ ;-4, -S! -: i:,A I - / \ - HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY..- G 59 I Di years; for the last six years has been in the drug and stationery business, and carries a stock of about $5,000. Mr. Hutty is of a social temperament, and is a prominent member of the I. 0. 0. F., being Past Grand of Ottawa Lodge, No. 46, is a member of the Royal Arcanum, A.O. U. W., Knights of Honor, Chosen Friends and Fraternal Protectors. He is a shrewd and successful business man, as well as a most genial and affable gentleman. JOSEPH W. KIBLER is a native of Ohio, where he lived until the breaking out of the war. Iu 1861 he enlisted and went into the army with the 41st. Ohio Volunteers. At Gettysburg he was wounded in the right arm and was in a hospital six months. At the close of the war in 1865 he returned to Ohio. In 1870 he removed to Niles, Mich., where he remained until 1874, when he came to Grand Haven where he still resides. PETER MCCOURT came to Grand Haven from Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1879, and entered the employ of the Stearns Manufacturing Company. In the Spring of 1881 he was made foreman, which position he still holds. Mr. McCourt is a first-class machinist and is the inventor of a noiseless pulley, which is a very valuable improvement in machinery. He owns the patent in company with Mr. Geo. L. Stearns, of the Stearns Manufacturing Co. T. A. MATTHEWS came from Maine, his native State, to Grand Haven in 1868. Since 1871 he has been at ship carpentering and millwright work, and for some time past has been engaged in the shipyard of Robinson & Co., at Grand Haven. C. A. MERCER, foreman for Squier & White, was born in Vienna, Ontario, in 1832, has been a sailor for years, and is a ship joiner by trade. He married in 1856 Helen Campbell, of Hamilton, Ont., and has two sons, Walter F., born 1868; Angus R., 1870. G. W. MILLER & Co., hardware, in Akeley's block; business established October, 1869; stock carried about $6,000. The "Co." is Mr. John Stark. GEORGE W, MILLER was born at Eastmanville in 1844, and is son of Henry Miller, well known as a lake captain, who sailed the early lake schooners, the Caroline, the brig Enterprise, propeller Ottawa, and owned the schooner Ocean. He died at Spring Lake May 11, 1876. Mr G. W. Miller is one of the most energetic and enterprising merchants in the city. He has risen from the ranks, a self made man, from clerk in stores and on vessels to be the leading partner of a fine business. He was for three years a partner of G. E. Hubbard. He and his father built the first brick store in the city. He married in Aug. 1871, Miss Nellie Morse, of Chippewa, Ontario. CHRIST MINICK, retired farmer, was born in Prussia, 1820, came to Grand Haven in 1851, working at cooperage for three years, and then took a farm at Pigeon Creek for ten years, when he moved to 1st Street, near Franklin, owning ten acres in 4th Ward. He married in 1850 Miss Mary Wisch and has one daughter, Mary, wife of John Thornton; and one son, William, born 1870. G. W. MOODY was born in Pennsylvania in 1835. and removed to Michigan with his parents in 1838, In 1855 he began as engineer in a mill at Spring Lake, For several years he was in northern Michigan, but in 1874 returned to Spring Lake, where he remained until 1879, when he entered the employ of Boyden & Akeley as engineer at their shingle mill at Grand Haven. JOHN J. MORE is a native of New York State, and came to Michigan in 1849. In 1869 he came to Spring Lake where he has since been engaged in the mills as engineer. Since 1877 he has been chief engineer of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company. Mr. More has followed engineering for twenty-eight years. THOMAs F. MURPHY was born in Ireland, and came to this country when a small boy. At an early age he learned the trade of ship carpenter, which he has followed since 1854. For many vears he lived in Chicago, and in 1880 came to Grand Haven, Mr. Murphy has built several vessels, and has just finished a very fine one, which he will sail on the lakes unless it is otherwise disposed of. C. NYSON, foreman of the carpenter department of Boyden & Akeley's mill, was born in Holland in 1835, but has been in Grand Haven since 1848, and with the present firl since 1875. In 1869 he married Miss Martha Myer. JAMES O'CONNELL, dealer in brass and iron goods, wrought-iron pipe, pumps, rubber goods, etc, corner of First and Franklin streets, commenced his business May 1st, 1881, and has already a good trade. He was born in Ireland in 1841, came to America in 1848, is an engineer, and has the practical skill necessary to handle his line of goods. In 1869 he married Miss Kearnan, of North Michigan, and has two children. He enlisted at White River in Noah Ferry's regiment, serving to the close of the war. JOSEPH W. O'BRIEN, of the firm of H. C. Akeley & Co., corner of Washington and Second Streets, was born in Chicago in 1860 where he resided until 1871, and has since been with Mr. Akeley. Their store is a very extensive one, being 25 feet front, with a depth of 150 feet; stock, $12,000 to $15,000. W. H. PAINTER, lumber inspector and commission dealer in lumber, has resided in Ottawa since 1864, and now has his office in Grand Haven and residence in Spring Lake. He is a native of Illinois, and has long been connected with the lumber trade in Chicago, and does a large business, employing from fifteen to twenty men. JOSEPH PALMER has been engaged in mill work as saw-filer for twenty-five years, twenty of which have been on Grand River. In 1861 he enlisted in the service and served in the war until the close of it in 1865. Although he saw plenty of active service, he was neither wounded nor in the hospital. In 1878 he took a position as saw-filer in the Emlaw mill in Grand Haven, where he is at present engaged. G. B. PARKS, Cashier of the D.,G. H. & M. Railroad, was born in Grand Haven in 1852, and is son of the late George Parks, whose biography will be found elsewhere. He was educated at the high school, entered the railway first as junior clerk in 1872, and has worked up to the cashiership. On October 15th, 1879, he married Frances Boyce, of Lowell, Mich. JOHN T. PERCIVAL is a native of Scotland, and came to this country in 1865. In 1871 he came to Grand Haven from Holly, Mich., and was agent for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway Company until 1875, when he opened a flour and feed store, in which business he still continues. Mr. Percival is one of the substantial business men of Grand Haven, and is straightforward and upright in all his dealings. EDWARD REENDERS is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1863, coming direct to Ottawa County. In 1871 he came to Grand Haven and worked in the mills. He has been in his present place as engineer at the Bakker mill since 1874. J. N. REYNOLDS, M. D., Grand Haven, was born in Porter County, Ind., August 24th, 1844, his father, Justus Reynolds, being | a prominent farmer and stock-raiser. When about 8 years of age, Mr. Reynolds removed with his parents to Ingersoll, Ontario, and there receiving a thorough classical education, he resolved to study medicine. At the age of 20 he entered the office of Dr. Springer, a prominent homeopathic physician of Ingersoll, with whom he remained one year. He then entered the Cleveland Homeopathic College, where he made rapid progress. After a six months' session he returned and spent another year with Dr. Springer. In November, 1866, he removed to St. Louis, entering the Missouri Homeopathic College, and graduating in the spring of 1867. He practiced six months in Baltimore, Miich., removing then to St. Clair, where -. I hi I -VP: _ _ I I "% i -P I — I)k. .4 Iy 60 HI STO RY OF OTTAWA COU NTY. he remained one year in partnership with Dr. G. Palmer. In November, 1869, Dr. Reynolds removed to Grand Haven, where he has a lucrative practice, and ranks among the best physicians in the State. In September, 1869, he married Florence E., eldest daughter of Captain S. C. Keeler, formerly of Detroit, and a prominent steamboat proprietor and inventor of the plan of building steam tugs with elevated cabins. HENRY RYSDORP, JR., was born in Grand Haven in 1859. His father, Henry Rysdorp, is a member of the Grand Haven Lumber Company, and the son naturally follows in the business steps of his father. For the past three years he has been book-keeper at what. is known as the Fourth Ward Mill, of which his father is manager. JOHN H. RYSDORP, son of Henry Rysdor?, was born il Grand Haven in 1856, and after leaving school, learned the trade of filing in the mills. He has been filing since 1874, and since 1877 has been filing at the Fourth Ward Mill, now operated by the Grand Haven Lumber Company. JAMES SEEK came to Grand Haven from Wisconsin in 1871, and entered upon his present position as saw-filer and foreman of one of the departments at Boyden & Akeley's mill. Mr. Seek has been engaged at mill work fcr thirty years. N. V. SLAYTON, who has an extensive grocery extablishmlent next to the Cutler House Block, was born in Stowe, Vt., in 1838. In January, 1862, he entered Hon. Dwight Cutler's store as clerk, and afterward, by honesty, energy and industry, he accumulated sufficient to open a dry goods store with Mr. Sheldon, which rose to great proportions. After several years, owing to ill healt~h lie closed up business and took a holiday. In September, 1873, having somewhat recovered, he opened his present grocery store. In 1876 he was elected on the Republican ticket as City Treasurer over J. Pfaff and G. Bottje. -CAPT. W. A. SNYDER of Grand Haven, wvas born in- Columbia County, Ohio, in 1839. Most of his life has been spent at steamboating, and since 1852 he has traversed most of the navigable waters of the continent. From 1861 to 1864 he was in the navy, and during most of thattime in charge of transports on the Mississippi River. He put up the first low-pressure, walking-beam engine in the Ohio Valley, and ran the first winter boat on the west shore of Lake Michigan. In 1874 he had charge of the steamer City of Duluth, and quit' sailing altogether in 1875. Captain Snyder has had all the experience incident to a long career of steamboat life. During his life he has owned several boats, and during 1879-80 built the tug Lizzie Frank. In 1869 he came to Grand Haven and has spent most of his time here since 1875. Since the organization of the Grand Haven Tug Association he has been in charge as collector and superintenden't. He is authority on all matters which relate to boating, and is an effiienlt officer of the Tug Association, of which he is a member. WmW. THIELEMANN, saloon keeper, next to Kirby House, was born in West Prussia in 1853. He came to Grand Haven in 1870, working at first in sawmills, and he has been in his present place since May, 1879. On July 15th, 1879, be married Bertha Wilbret, and has two children -Emma, born in 1880, and William in 1881. ANDREW THOMSON, manager for, Ferry Bros., was born in Selkirkshire, Scotland, and before coming to Amnerica was engaged chiefly in iron works in Glasgow, and came to Grand Haven in 1865, serving two years as freight agent. On February 1, 1868, he entered the service of Se-nator Forrir cas general manager o his lumeigoea ions and real estate. Mr. Thomson is a very worthy gentleman, and highly respected in the community for his urbanity and uprightness of life and conduct. FRANK TORRANCE is a native of New York, and for the past ten years has been engaged in lumber mills as engineer. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, and served until the close of the war in 1865. In 1867 he came to Grand Haven from Georgia, and was with the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company until 1881, when he went into the employ of the Grand Haven Lumber Company as engineer at what is known as the Fourth Ward Mill. JOHN R. VAN DAM, agent, was borl! in Overissel, Allegan County, Mich., January 30, 1857, and is son of Roelof Van Dam, who came in with the Holland Colony in 1847, and to Grand Haven in 1876. Mr. J. R. Van Dam married, in 1878, Maggie, daughter of Rev. K. Van den Bosch, and has two daughters-Martha, born January 26, 1879, and diary, August 22, 1881. He was six months at the Chicago Business College, and about two years in that city, returning to Grand Haven in 1880, entering into dry goods business on the corner of Washington and Second Streets, sold out in April, 1881, and since then has been agent of New Home Sewing Machine, in which he has been quite successful. REUBEN VANDERHOEF is a native of New York, and in 1859 removed to Berlin, Ottawa County, from Ohio. After remaining there aU year, he came to Grand Haven. When he first came there he went into the jail as jailor, and remained in that position until 1864, when he was elected Sheriff of the county. In 1865 lie ran the first steam ferry ever operated across the idver, the railroad then running along the west shore of the river. Since that time he has been sailing, and his family resides at Grand Haven. CORNELIUS DE VLIEGER, Sr., is a native of Holland, and when seven years of age came with his parents to this country. -In 1864 he came to Grand Havell fromn Grand Rapids, Michl., and engaged in the dairy business, which he still continues. FREDERICK D. Vos WAS born in the Netherlands in 1843, and came to this country in 1856 and located in Grand Haven, where he has since resided. In 1865 Mr. Vos began business for himself in the grocery trade. Cautious and honorable in his dealings, his business prospered, and-he ranks among the leading business mnen of the county. Mr. Vos held the office of Alderman from 1872 to 1876. J. D. Vos, of the lumber firm of Brouwer & Vos, is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1855. He camb direct to Grand Haven and worked at lumbering until 1863, when he went into partnership with Rysdorp, Busche & Sprik, which continued until 1877, when their mill was burned, and the firm dissolved. In 1879 the present firm of Brouwer & Vos was formed, qan a new mill built on the site of the one burned in 1877. GERRIT VYNE is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1848 anld settled in Zeelanld Township, where he still resides. For several years he has been engaged in the lumb er business, and in the spring of 1881 removed hlis mill from Good Harbor to Grand Haven and engaged in the manufacture of hard wood lumber. Mr. Vyne is a hard working business main, honorable in all his dealings, and noted for his integrity and stability. JAMES WELCH is a native of Ellgland, and came to Canada in 1841. In 1869 be came to Grand Haven and for several years was engaged at work ill the lumber mills. In 1879 he entered the employ of the Stearns Manufacturing Company, where he still remains. C. E. WYMAN is a prominent and successful lumberman of Grand Haven., He was born in Essexr County, N. Y., February 10th, 1826. Being the son of a gentleman engaged in lumbering, he followed the same occupation, and at the age of 20 years he moved to Ohio, remaining six years. In 1864 he had built a mill, the " Ohio," in Blendon, laying down a six-mile tramway to the river. In 186; he sold the mill, going into the oil business on Oil Creek, Penna. In 1866 he came to Grand Haven, going into partnership with Mr. HIenry W. Buswell, buying out the old Ferry mill, and after it was burned building their new mill farther up the river. I" I: - - - I L -- -4 - - I'- l L /l,"""""""" rtx/11 I,' I. 1 st i: i - %h 0 $ HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 61l In 1851 he married Missy Harriet Reynolds, of Cuyahoga, Ohio, by whom he has four children. His residence is on Franklin street. A fine steel engraving of Mr. Wyman appears il this work. LOWTON B. STEARNS was born March 11, 1837, in New York, and first learned harness making. In 1855 he went to Wisconsin, and' in 1862 enlisted in the service for the term of the war. In 1873 he came to Grand Haven, and joined his brother and Mr. Chaffe in business. He married, May 23, 1867, Frances C. Payne of Wisconsin. Mr. Stearns is a man of sound judgment and strict integrity, and respected by the whole community. G. L. STEARNS came to Grand Haven in 1874, first as member of the firm of Chaffe & Stearns, but the forner sold out his interest, and the firm became Steams Bros. (G. L. and L. B.), as sash, door and blind manufacturers, which has now developed into the important Steams Manufacturing Co., referred to elsewhere. MIr. Stearns was born Jan. 22, 1832, in Montgomery County, N. Y., became in his youth a builder and contractor, removing in 1856 to Wisconsin. In 1858 he married Miss Mary E. Snyder. In 1862 he served for a time in the 67th Illinois Infantry. After various removals in Wisconsin, he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he married a sister of his former wife, who had died in Wisconsin, leaving three sons. Mr. Stearns is a mnan of genial nature, and is a thorough, reliable business man. D. E. ROSE came to Grand Haven in 1861, as ticket agent for the D. & M. Railway, then four years teller il Ferry & Son's -banking house. He was Supervisor in 1872, and Alderman in 1875, Justice of the Peace in 1865-9. He is eminently social in his disposition, and esteemed by all who know him. G. W. MCBRrDE has been prosecuting attorney for the Conrt since 1877. He came to Holland in 1871, and was City Attorney 1873-6, and in 1874 Deputy Collector of Customs. He was born in Ohlio, Sept. 26, 1845. MAjoR GLOVER, Postmaster, came to Grand Haven in 1870, entering into the lumber firm of White, Glover & Co., but July 4, 1877, a fire swept away the earnings of six years. Major Glover at once leased a neighboring mill, and within a week had it in operation, furnishing his contracts. Major Glover was born in Ohio, Sept. 11, 1841. In 1877 the Hon. Robert A. Haire was chosen President of the Village of Spring Lake. He has been elected to the Legislature in the sessions of 1872-3. He was born in Bombay, Franklin County, N. Y., July 20, 1836, and entered into lumbering in the eastern part of Ottawa County, in 1852. He enlisted in the 5th Michigan Cavalry in 1862, and was raised for meritorious services to a captaincy in December, 1864., He settled in Spring Lake after the war, engaging largely in lumbering. REV. GEO. W. COOKE was a proninent Unitarian pastor of Gratnd Haven, who came in February, 1876. He was a hard worker, both with pen and tongue, for the propagation of his ideas. EON. T. D. GILBERT came to Grand Haven in 1835, one of the earliest settlers,failed in mercantile business in the crash of 1837, but, in company with his brother Frank he succeeded in doing a large and successful business in lumnber, shipping and commission, so that in 1856 he retired on a competency. After two years travel ill Europe, he settled in Grand Rapids. He was Sheriff of Ottawa County in 1842, and in 1860 a Member of the Legislature. JACOB DE BOE was born in Netherlands in 1837, and his family came to Zeeland in 1847. He served in the war three years, in the 8th Mhich. Ilifty., Co. D. In 1867 he became the first City Treasurer, and in 1877 he was elected County Register of Deeds. W. N. ANGELL came to Talmadge in 1813. In 1848 he was elected County Register of Deeds. In 1851 he was Justice of the Peace, and also, in connection with J. & J. W. Barns, published the -first newspaper ill Ottawa County. REV. E. C. OGGEL was a former pastor of First Reformed Church of Grand Haven for 1872-6. His congregation was the largest in the city-nearly 300 families. 61 el -9:1 -R rI P GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP. This township has a mean width of about four and one-half miles from east to west, and an extreme length of about nine miles, with the city of Grand Haven occupying the north end of the town. SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. Nothing can be said of the settlement of this township as distinct from that of the village of Grand Haven, which was the nucleus for at least all the northwestern part of the county. The pioneers of the city were the first settlers in what was known as Ottawa township until the year 1363, when it was changed to Grand Haven. Ottawa township was co-extensive with the county (save two congressional towns organized as Talmadge), and was organized in April 1838. Wm. Hathaway was supervisor, and the election took place at the house of Nathan Troop. It may be regarded as the parent town from which, by successive pruning, all the other towns have been separated, until it finally gave up its name, and in fact when separated from the city in 1867, the town dwindled to quite a small affair. The city limits are pretty extensive, and the population of the town numbers but 642 according to the last United States census. SUPERVISORS. In 1867, the year the city was chartered, the town officers were: Supervisor- R. W. Duncan, the Grand Haven lawyer; Clerk-John Fuite; Treasurer-Jacob De Boe. J. Mastenbroek was supervisor in 1876-7-8-9, and Henry Saul in 1880-1. STATISTICAL. The town contains 18,319 acres of land. The valuation of real estate as equalized by the County Board of Supervisors has been of late years as follows: In 1877, $106,720; in 1878, $98,305; in 1879, $86,471; 1880, $80,672; 1881, $81,827. SOIL, PRODUCTS, ETC. The town contains over 16,000 acres of taxable land, and its general quality is seen in the fact that although adjoining a flourishing city, where "corner lots" command good prices, the lands of the town are rated at about $5.00 per acre on an average for purpose of taxation. A considerable portion of the town consists of a series of sand hills, some of them about 200 feet in height, and since experiments have demonstrated that much of these are valuable for horticultural purposes, it is possible that a great change will soon take place. There is a considerable portion of marsh in the town, too little above the lake or river level for thorough drainage. FRUIT. Peach Plains settlement, to the south and east of the city limits is a tract of about 2,000 acres that is becoming famous as one of the choicest fruit regions, although it is less than fifteen years since it was first selected. The pioneer in fruit growing, and still a leader in that line, was the Hon. Townsend E. Gidley who bought about one-third of the lands of the Robert Stuart estate, which had been out of the market for about a score of years since the death of the owner, and amounted to about 2,000 acres. Mr. Gidley bought the lands near the river about two miles to the southeast of the city, paying about $15 an acre, for what now would be worth perhaps $30. He has now 70 acres of orchard with over 10,000 trees, chiefly peach, with apple, plum and cherry, and his heaviest crop has been 5,000 baskets. Mr. Walter Phillips is next south of Mr. Gidley, and is quite extensively into fruit. He has also an elegant residence. He has been quite successful with small fruits, of which he has 20 acres. Mr. Smith is next south, next James Seek, who is on the river. On the west side of the road past Mr. Gidley is E. T. Andrews, Mr. Bissell, John and Johannes Goudberg. Messrs. Norcross, father and son, are nearer Pottowatamie Bayou which extends west from Grand River nearly one and a half miles. Mrs. Woolcot and son are energetic fruit growers, and have a small but well cultivated plot of 15 acres. The most successful in strawberries in 1881 was E. Branch, who has fifteeu acres next to Norcross, The Hon. D. B. Conger, on Peach Plains, is an old resident, an extensive peach raiser, with more or less small fruit. He is a man of energy and of great will power. He was educated for the law, has been in Australia and in many other foreign lands, was senator in Wisconsin for two terms, and has been in Peach Plains about twelve years. G. R. Harris is a successful grower of small fruits, having a fine location of 20 acres; and two Hollanders, Messrs. Gringhuis and Grubno, have 40 acres each of all kinds of fruit, and are earnest, successful men. BIOGRAPHICAL. GEO. W. AIKEN, of Section One, was born in Rumney town, N. H., in 1846, and spent his youth boating on the lakes until 1875, when he settled on his present place. In 1872 he married Emillia Doud, born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1845. They have one child, Jesse MI., born in 1874. ANDREW M[. COLE, of Section Thirty-Five, was born in Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1824, and moved thence to Lockport, N. Y., where in 1861 he enlisted in Company M. Eighth N. Y. Artillery, under Capt. Catheren. He was present at some hot engagements, of which the principal were the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, and Antietam. In 1863 he took his discharge. From Lockport Mr. Cole then moved to Battle Creek, and there engaged in mercantile business. In 1876 he settled on his present place. In 1848 he married Miss Mary A. Culver, born in Royalton, N.Y., in 1826. HoN. T. E. G1IDLEY, after having passed the first few years of his business life in mercantile pursuits, at Poughkeepsie N. Y., the place of his nativity, warned by his failing health, closed his business, and in the Spring of 1833 sought and found, or rather made a home in the then far away and almost untrodden wilds of central Michi 1IC St I e I I — K HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 63 I - gan. Here, a leading characteristic of "the new settler", soon developed itself, in causing the wilderness around him "to blossom as the rose. The facilities for effecting improvements on the free burr oak openings, enabled him to bring large tracts of land under cultivation, and to become, in a few years, the heaviest producer of both agricultural and horticultural products in the State. Enterprise and liberality are elements certain of recognition in new settlements. In the second year of his residence in the territory Mr. Gidley was elected a member of the convention to form a State constitution. In the convention he was brought into intimate relations with many of the prominent men of that day, destined to become still more so at a later day in the administration of State affairs. Mr. Gidley was elected a member of the first legislature under the new constitution, and subsequently held a seat in either house through some fifteen or more sessions, as shown by the records, quite overtopping the legislative roll of the State, and, here in this connection we would state the fact that he was never known to use his influence, directly or indirectly, in any degree, to secure his nomination for any office. In the Scott Presidential election Mr. G. was made one of the five Presidential electors. In the gubernatorial election of '52, he found himself a candidate against his intimate personal friend of the constitutional convention, Robert McClelland, but declining to contribute a large amount to a fund which he feared would be applied to illegitimate purposes, he was not elected. Mr. Gidley, quite tired of public office and in declining health, positively refused all further tender of office. Again thinking that a change of residence might be of advantage to his health, in the Spring of 1868 he purchased and settled on unimproved lands next adjoining the city of Grand Haven. With his reputation as a fruit grower, and, with the ability to effect large improvements, his advent on the lake shore, gave an impetus to the business that came to be felt quite throughout "the old fruit belt" of western Michigan. In our day, in calling on Mr. Gidley, at his own country home, we are glad to find him, though a man of many years, comparatively hale and hearty, making the most through the bleak season of the year of home and fireside; a well stored library and tables loaded with the current literature of the day-quite longing for the genial airs of "the summer time" to call him to his wonted work of caring for his ten thousand fruit trees, nearly all of which are in bearing condition. JoAdHtz QOUDBERG, fruit grower in Section 27, was born in Holland in 1821, and came to Grand Haven in 1853, working first fora few months at White's and at Norton's mills. In November of the same year he went to Indiana, returning in July of the following year, working again at Norton's mill, settling in December 1854 on his present farm, which he has made very productive by his constant labor on it. He married in 1853 Miss Betta Speelman and has had five children, two of whom survive. JOHN GOUDBERG. fruit grower, was born in Holland in 1829, and emigrated in 1854, working first at Norton's mill for several months, and settling the same year on Section 27, Grand Haven township. He married in 1868 Miss Clara Felt, and has one child, born April 18, 1874. He has an excellent fruit farm and is a hard worker. G. R. HARRIS, fruit grower on Section 34, was born in Erie Co., Pa., in 1839. When but fourteen years of age he left home and made his own way in the world; going to Wisconsin, which he left for Allegan County in 1866, being there engaged in fruit growing. He. married in 1868 Miss Emma Morse, born 1844 in Chittenden County Vt. In 1861 Mr. Harris fought for his country in a Wisconsin regiment, under Col. Mansfield and Captain Hill. In 1871 he settled on his present fine fruit farm. ABRAHAM MASTENBROEK was born in,,the Kingdom of Holland in the year 1833, and emigrated to America, arriving at Philadelphia on the first of May, 1853, where he remained three months, and then came to this State, working first for Mr. Campau, the Indian trader, and then for Galen Eastman eleven years. He then came on Section 12 on the 1st of May, 1878. He married in 1860 Nellie Vanderman, and has three sons and one daughter. PETER SMITH was born in 1835 in Holstein, near Denmark, and in 1854 came to this country, settling in New Orleans, but in 1873 came to Ottawa County. In 1855 he married Miss Anna Katie Ahrens, who was born in Hanover in 1832. They have but one daughter, Ida Emma, born 1865. Mr. Smith'is engaged in piloting at New Orleans, while his wife manages the fine fruit farm, which she wishes to dispose of. LEvi TRACY, of Section 34, was born in 1809 in Randolph, Orange County, Vt., and in 1852 went to Wisconsin working as a carpenter and wagon maker. He had studied law in Vermont, and had satisfactorily performed the duties of Justice of the Peace for many years. In 1867 he settled on his present place, on Section 34, on Peach Plains. Squire Tracy has also served the township in the capacity of school commissioner, ever seeking to promote the cause of education. In May, 1840, he married Miss Ann Ford, a native of the town of Brookfield, and they have had three children, two of whom survive: a son, born March 4, 1841; a daughter, born Jan. 20, 1848. The son who died was named Orum, who was born Oct. 17, 1855, and died Feb. 6, 1872, aged seventeen years. *~:j 0 V:,Al: t --— ~ -:~; FW R -- 4 I'i :S -::: \ vI I eA ) Vi I A I r SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP. I i -I I This town is of very irregular shape in the south and west, being bounded on the south by the Grand River, which winds to the Lake by a slow and tortuous course, generally northwesterly, spreading into wide bayous which extend quite across the township to the northeast. On the west is Lake Michigan, the shore line trending to the northwest. The town may be described as the north part of Town 7 and 8 north, of Range 16, west. On the east the boundary line from north to south is fully six miles, on the west the same boundary line is only about half that distance. Spring Lake is a beautiful sheet of water extending back from the river for six miles to the northeast, away into Fruitport Township, with the main arm to the east reaching up to Fruitport village, and a smaller arm to the west into Stahl's Bay, where good clay for brick making may be found. A little below Fruitport on the bayou are the Spring Lake Iron Works, fully described elsewhere. About the middle of the lake, extending to the east about a mile, is Hammond's Bayou, which is crossed by a bridge about the middle. Smith's Bayou extends into Section 9, from Spring Lake a short distance northeast of Ferrysbuig; and Lloyd's Bayou, about two miles long, is west of Spring Lake village. The shore line of Spring Lake and its bayous is about twenty-five miles, and the township has a larger water surface than any other in the county, but has not much more than half as-much taxable land as the next smallest township, and considerably less than one-third as much as Holland or Olive townships. Ii I I Norton, Clerk. Next year, but sixteen turned out to election, and G. L. Norton was made Supervisor. On June 20, 1853, a special election was held to determine the question of liquor prohibition, and forty.two votes were in favor of prohibition, one was against, and two ballots marked " free trade and saylers' writes." The following have been the rest of the Supervisors in the years marked after their names: Wm. M. Ferry, Jr., 1854-9-1860 -61; G. G. Lovell, 1855-6; George Redfield, 1857; J. V. Hopkins, 1858-'66; U. B. Eames, 1862-3-4-5; A. C. Adsit, 1867-8-9-70-71-2 -3; J. B. Perham, 1872; D. R. Waters, 1875; Hunter Savidge, 1876; Aloys Bilz, 1877-8; H. W. Pearson, 1879; C. M. Kay, 1880-1. The present officers are (1881-2): C. M. Kay, Supervisor; C. A. Pearson, Clerk; H. Beckwith, Treasurer; E. J. Pruim, Highway Commissioner; Dr. W. S. Walkley, School Inspector; James F. Zwemer, Supt. of Schools. The fruit interests of this town are perhaps the most extensive in the county, but a few winters ago the peach trees were nearly all killed off, which was a severe blow. In 1874 there were about 700 acres devoted to the various kinds of fruit. In 1872 and 1873 the value of the fruit product averaged over $20,000. To show how uncertain the peach crop is, Mr. Martin Walsh informed us that in its third year a ten-acre plat netted $3,000, and the next year the trees were all killed. Mr. Walsh, who has also an extensive dry goods and grocery store, is the most prominent fruit grower in the town, having forty acres in apple, peach and pear, and three acres in vineyard... Mr. Martin Walsh, in speaking of the soil of the township, 'gS that sufficient attention has not been given to its agricultural capabilities; but what little has been done shows it to be excellent for wheat and grass. He plows, and puts in a subduing crop of oats, and then lets in the cattle. After stumping, he summer fallows to wheat, sowing on two bushels of salt to the acre, and reaps thirty bushels to the acre, and has had splendid grass crops year after year. Off less than three acres in 1881, he took two ton to the acre. BIOGRAPHICAL. DAVID G. ALSTON, fruit grower in Section Twenty, was born at Glasgow, Scotland, in 1841, came to Wisconsin in 1848, thence to his present farm in 1869. He married Dec. 20, 1853, Miss Mar garet Campbell, and has four children: James, -born Sept. 18, 1854; Daniel Campbell, Nov. 1, 1855; Margaret, May 20, 1859 (died in 1863); Margaret, May 12, 1865; Christina, June 10, 1869. B. F. EAMES, fruit grower in Section Nine, was born in Mendon, Monroe County, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1816, and came to Milwaukee in October, 1844. In Dec. 5, 1849, he entered into copartnership I i I ' i it -;.( ORGANIZATION. I I I The town was early organized as a part of old Norton Township, and was set apart as a separate municipality in 1849, the name of Norton being exchanged for Spring Lake, owing to some petty feeling against Col. Amos Norton, who was a pioneer and one of the most active men of his time. Jabez Barber, from Canada, was an early pioneer and lumberman, and it was a blow to the village of Mill Point (afterwards Spring Lake) when he was drowned in coming from England on the ill-fated steamer I'acific in 1854, The first meeting of the electors for organization was at the school house near Barber's Mill (since consumed by fire), April, 2, 1849. Le Moyne S. Smith, moderator; Augustus Stahl and W. M. Ferry, Jr., inspectors, and J. Vincent Hopkins, clerk. 29 voters were present. S. C. Hopkins had 24 for Supervisor, J. H. Davison, 3, and Amos Norton 1 vote. M. L. Hopkins was elected Clerk, L. M. S. Smith, treasurer; Justices of the Peace, G. G. Lovell, G. S. Miller, and Jedediah Brown: W. M. Ferry, Jr., and P. P. Cady, Directors of Poor. $100 was voted for township expenses. At the election in 1850 there were but twelve voters present, who all voted for W. M. Ferry as Supervisor, M. L. Hopkins, Clerk, and L. M. S. Smith, Treasurer. J. V. Hopkins was Supervisor in 1851, forty-six voters present. In 1852, eighty-one were present, Amos Norton, Supervisor; A. S. I i iI ti I I i i i, I I i I iI I i i I Ii i i 11 i i I i I i t i i I i I 1 Q) i: i~.. — I - --- I I I! b l a; n.I ~If in-a ft.=;; la-; S ~*,,0 i y B.'. St, W?~ It. * ' '' *'" '..,. - * 81'l id I~S ft:.. b-,:-': A:: A:: , >,, ad,, S.._.::... -:,:::~:-: I,-,4"". -i..:;.. rS ii ~ - s ~- l: i ' EI~-"ar;^ ME-:fl; r o — 4 —1 I"I~ i-, t~l:~~ w - ~ ~.~_. ~.~.?I,s: v'~:: ~ir u i:,~~.i..c~:,in i-:~::::~~~.~;~: rr~ ~ ~:-. ~-,;:li~:"~,n'i~~;".:~*:'F::~;C;,i.-?.'.*..-:i ~ *",~~ C- -;''P 1: — 'IC iii ii i ~r,.:I.._,I:~~. i-~-il:i; ~'~:~.i-.. r:r?I..~ — ~'~' ()-)ii "...' f. r;~ ~~r~-;.-,-_:~ *~:--~':~ r i.-~_.s:ii *~~:P~~~~~-I;~~ ": —" '.':4iX ~~~- ~~.:* ~;u'l:~~ ~ ~.~~: i:-"' —~ ~;. ~~;~.~~ ~-r ~-' ':::-l:~i_ ~:b -r~~~ ri~ 1~~~ ' liL-i~:i.-:; " '-i ` ~~;b:o N f..,.,,, V,, 7. * 0\ t 4f74 ft o m I m it e Al;jl \\\\ ii i\ :; ~:.~.~-" ~'....= ~~-~-' Ane - e,r ' ' I'- i t':?:,x "~ X w~a *,....._ ~-< ~T....~ ~~:t w -' iS m J 1 N LAKE HOUS R ' ~ :1~~~ ~' ~:~I,'_~l;:i —; I~ - ~ I-~:. 0001 I I,,.,4 c, SPRING LAKE, MICH. i i 4 ~C - -. 10! L_1__: i s I I E 4 K -:W _ra M HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 65: vIlI with Johin W. Luscomb in the manufacture of wooden ware. Desiring a location in a lumbering region with the advantages of transportation, they tried first Grand Rapids, but failing to secure the power they desired, they made arrangements with Mr. Ferry to drive their machinery at Ferrysburg, then called Ottawa Point, for five years from April 10, 1850. Mr. Luscomb withdrawing, Mr. Eames continued the business alone, and in 1856 erected a large building with steam power. In 1861 he sold to Messrs. Willard & Bolles, and next year bought twenty-three acres of land across the bayou from Spring Lake Village, now owned by W. C. Baker. Mr. Eames embarked in the fruit business, planting 1,000 peach trees, 600 apple, and also other fruit. In 1867 he sold to Charles E. Soule, and bought thirty acres hi Section Nine, which he also cultivated as a fruit farm. FRANCES M. FINCH, daughter of Cbryden E. and Eliza Hinckley, was born in Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio, in 1851. In 1856 she removed with her parents to Hope, Barry County, Mich., and thence to Kalamazoo County. In 1871 she was united in matrimony to Norman S. Finch, who was born April 26, 1850. CALVIN HOLCOlMB was born in Orleans County, N. Y., in 1819, and came to Lapeer City, Mich., serving three years in a drug store under Dr. Vincent, of Chicago. He enlisted in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, under Col. Wm. Ennis, Captain Parmelee. After he left the army his chief work was engineering. He married in Detroit, in 1854, Miss E. S. Perkins, and has had three sons. H. G. SMITH, farmer on Section 16, was born in Steubenville, Jefferson County, O., in 1815, coming to Spring Lake in 1847, working for Jabez Barber at his mill for two years, after that settling on his present farm. In 1842 he married Lucinda J. Sisco, who was born in Cleveland, in 1825. They have had four children, two of whom survive. Mr. Smith is one of the very oldest pioneers of Spring Lake. SPRING LAKE VILLAGE. Spring Lake, a very thriving and prosperous village, with many beautiful residences in it, and unrivaled for its beautiful aquatic scenery, was first platted as Mill Point in 1849, by T. W. White and S. C. Hopkins. In two years its population reached 371, but in the next seven years it gained only eighteen in population. But the rise of the fruit interest after this gave it an impetus, as in 1874 half of the improved land was devoted to that object. Lumbering also, although not very profitable, had also considerable to do with its development. As early as 1874 it had nine saw mills in its limits, and some of these, the largest on the river; and also two planing mills and a sash and door factory. The village was incorporated in 1869, the people choosing the following named gentlemen for their officers: President, H. A. Hopkins; Trustees-Allen C. Adsit, John H. Newcomb and Martin Vischer; Recorder, H. W. Cleveland; Street Commissioner, Stephen Woolley; Marshal, Frank Lilley; Treasurer, L. O. Perham. Within its corporate limits, which are almost bounded by Grand River and Spring Lake, are six large saw mills, some of which are of immense structure and capacity, one large planing mill, one wash-board factory, three hotels, one of which, the Spring Lake House, owing to the large and well conducted facilities for bathing, the curable qualities of the water, the pleasure of fishing and other sources of amusement, its beautiful grounds and excellent accommodations, has become famous as a Summer resort. It has also three large general stores, two hardware, six grocery, three millinery, three boot and shoe shops, two drug stores, one jewelry and one tailor shop. Also one flour and feed store, one good livery stable, one blacksmith shop, one wagon shop and a barber shop, three doctors, five churches namely, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Dutch Reformed and Catholic. A splendid and well attended graded school, two fire engines and a company second to none in the State. In a word, this village is supplied with everything required by a well regulated incorporated town. Its resources are lumber, fruit and farm products, all of which are made valuable by easy access by water or rail to all consuming markets in the neighboring States. Sail vessels and steamboats are daily landing and leaving its docks. On the whole, this is as clean and handsome a village as the State can boast of with a population of 1,500. Its present officers are: President-T. D. Denison; Treasurer- Otto De Wit; Trustees-John Koster, Alex. Wood, Martin Walsh; Recorder- C. M. Kay; Marshal-M. M. McLean; Street Commissioner-Enno Pruim. The village is delightfully situated on a peninsula or tongue of land south of Spring Lake and north of an arm or bayou of Grand River. It is narrower from north to south, and the D., G. H. & M. Railway runs from east to west across the north of the village, with a station at the west end of the village, whence it runs across the narrow inlet of Spring Lake into Ferrysburg. The chief business 'street with fine residences at the east end is State Street, one block south of which is Exchange Street, and Liberty Street running one block noith and parallel to State. The original plat was in the west to'School Street, which was the section line; then comes Barber's Addition, then Bryant's Addition and various small additions to the southeast. THE HOPKINS FAMILY. The Hopkins family had considerable to do in the early settlement of the village, but they have all passed away except the youngest brother, Mordecai L., who is still in Grand Rapids. The widow of Hannibal A., a former Representative of the county, still resides in the village, and her daughter teaches in the public school. She has treasured up some relics of the celebrated Col. Ethan Allen, among which is the sword and scabbard with which that hero, "in tiae. name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress," demanded the surrender of Fortress Ticonderoga on May 10th, 1775. This sword is an old-fashioned affair, 27 inches in length, figured with flower-work, and with a handle of bone or ivory 7 inches long. The scabbard is not the original one, but a fac-simile of the one that.was consumed in the burning of the Spring Lake Masonic Lodge, in which was the Tyler's weapon. The sword was saved, but the scabbard was burned, and the Brethren took pains to reproduce an exact copy. It has a silver band on which is inscribed, "Ethan Allen, 1775." Ethan died in 1789, and his eldest son, Col. Hannibal Allen, died in 1813, leaving a widow, "Aunty Allen," recently deceased, and who lived many years in Spring Lake, being connected by marriage with the Hopkins family. The Hopkins family were Silas the eldest, then John V., Hannibal A., Franklin and Mordecai, who were all engaged in the lumbering and mercantile business. They built the Hopkins mill, afterwards' purchased by Montague, Savidge & Cutler. About fourteen years ago the mill site proper and other adjoining property were sold to the Spring Lake Mineral Company, who built a splendid hotel, cottages, bath houses, etc., which ultimately fell into the hands of the late Hunter Savidge. Captain Benjamin Hopkins went from Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1831, to Canada, which he left during the troublous times of the rebellion in 1837, settling in Eastmanville with his four sons and three daughters. Hannibal A. was the third son, born September 5th, 1821, and: - 0 I I_ For; R-!, i " ' ", r _ 66 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. died July 1st 1871. He was president of the village from its organization to his death, and was actively engaged in agricultural and lumbering operations. He was the originator of the project which resulted in the discovery of mineral springs. He was a man highly respected, and his death was regarded as a loss to the community. CHURCHES. The Presbyterian Church at Spring Lake was organized by Rev. H. Lucas, a missionary of the American Home Missionary Society, and the Rev. W. M. Ferry, of Grand Haven, on February 12th, 1853. There were five members when it was organizedGeorge G. Lovell, L. M. S. Smith, Anna H. Smith, Miss Lydia Norton and H'~rriet J. Franklin. G. G. Lovell and L. M. S. Smith were elected ruling elders. The Rev. H. Lucas supplied the church for a year after its organization, followed by Rev. Henry Redfield, one year. The Rev. Joseph Anderson was afterwards minister, he at the same time serving the church at Grand Haven. He was succeeded by Dr. A. P. Eddy, who commenced his labors in May, 1858; he also laboring at Grand Haven. He continued until some time in 1866, and was succeeded, as stated supply, by the Rev. Joseph Lud, who served the church for three years. He was succeeded by Rev. I A. G. Bebie, who stayed something less than two years. The Rev. W. H. Blair commenced inll July, 1872. The Rev. T. Towler is the present pastor, and is now in his second year. Tile first church edifice was destroyed by fire. The present building was dedicated January 26th, 1874. The cost was about $10,000. From a feeble beginning it has gone onl until it takes respectable rank among the churches in the valley, and its fine edifice is an honor to its enterprise. The missionary who first collected the little band went to his rest in 1876. Spring Lake is not the only place that cherishes his memory. METHODIST EPISCOPAL, Before the organization of any class there had been occasional preaching. In 1862 a small class of twelve or fifteen was gathered by Elder Wm. Colby, some of the members of which were Daniel B. Thorpe, Mrs. H. A. Hopkins, Mrs. T. D. Denison, Mrs. Wim. Flanders, Mrs. Wm. Britton and Loren 0. Perham. Services were held for two years in the schoolhouse, with a slow increase of numbers. The Presbyterian and Methodist societies bought a partly-built church of the Hollanders; finished and jointly occupied it. That house was so used five years, when it was burned down. During this time there was some increase. The Methodists bought the ground of the Union Church, and directly commenced to rebuild, and were three or four years in completing it. It was dedicated in 1872. At this time the membership was about sixty. Thle size of the church is 88x60 feet, with basement; cost, $7,500. The parsonage, built during the same time, cost $1,200. W. M. Colby, David Engle, James Roberts, Janmes Cowan, J. R. A. Wrightman, James '. Reid and Levi Master were early pastors. The present pastor is Rev. J. Roberts. The church has been harmonious and generally prosperous. The Baptists have no settled pastor, but have Sunday School; C. M. Kay, Supt.; Catholic, Rev. M. Dalton, of Berlin, officiates; First Dutch Reformed, J. F. Zwemer, pastor; Childrenll of Zion have no church edifice, but have service in private houses, Rev. Mr. Northrop, of Grand Rapids, officiating; Christian Dutch Reformed have about eighty families, and are about to build. SOCIETIES. The societies are Hope Lodge, No. 226, I. O. O. F., with W. G. Sinclair, N. G.; Robert Shearer, Sec'y, which meets on Wednesday evenings. Spring Lake Lodge, No. 234, F. and A. M., has the following officers: Enno J. Pruim, W. AM.; H. C. Taft, S. W.; J. Volmer, J. W.; F. C. Bury, Sec'y; George Seagrove, Treas.; S. S. Rideout, S. D.; S. Volnmer, J, D. The Lodge meets Monday onl or before full moon. Harmony Council Fraternal Protectors meets last Friday of each month, and the Chief Protector is J. B. Perham, and C. M. Kay is Secretary. The Women's Christian Temperance Union meets every Tuesday afternoon, and the Spring Lake Temperance Union was instituted January 26th, 1882, with James Emory, President and E. D. Frink as Secretary, to fight against the three saloons in the village. HOTELS. SPRING LAKE HOUSE. To the tralvelingr public and the tourist in searchll of health and pleasure, a well appointed hotel is a great attraction, and such they will find in the above excellently appointed hotel, now in charge of Mr. John McVicar for the fifth year. The popularity of the house is proved by its being visited by the same people year after year. A double-page view of the house in this work will give the reader some idea of its eleganlt appearance. It has sevenlty-four rooms in the main building and thirty rooms in adjoining cottages, and visitors are attracted from all quarters. From St. Louis last summer there were over seventy, and also numbers from New Orleans. The discovery of a spring of magnetic water in 1870 led to the erection of this large hotel by a company, which ultimately became the property of the late Hunter Savidge, and is now owned by Mrs. Savidge, who desires to dispose of the property, which would be an excellent investment for one "who knows how to run a, hotel." A comparison of the water with the most favorably known mineral waters in the United States, such as the Pavilion al- d Excelsior at Saratoga, and the noted spring at Gettysburg, Penna., proves that it has the greatest total of solid mineral matter of either, and is most heavily impregnated with valuable substances. It is in growing demand from all parts of the country. The cures it lhas effected have given it a national reputation. The virtues of the water are such as have secured it the highest encomiums of physicians and others who have used it, possessing, as it does, in a marked degree, cathartic, alterative and tonic qualities. The hotel erected at this spring, with cottages attached, affords first-class accommodations for 250 guests. The parlors, dining room and chambers are all superbly furnished. A bowling alley' and billiard room afford amusement and healthful exercise. Broad verandas around two sides of the building afford a cool and pleasant promenade and resting place from which the view takes in one of the loveliest lake scenes ever pictured. The lawn surrounding this palatial hotel is beautified with fountains, flowers and trees, and is directly upon the lake shore. The bath house nearly adjoins the hotel, and is erected over the spring. It is large, elegantly furnished, and complete in all respects, with every approved adjunct deemed advantageous for invalids. Bathing in this water is a luxury. It is perfectly cleansing without soap, and remarkably strengthening. The attendants are faithful and experienced, having been connected with the establishment for the past five years. SINCLAIR HOUSE. S. S. RIDEOUT, proprietor of Sinclair House, came to the Haven 1 4 iV -L i 0 f iVA 1r k 4s - ~... LI II - -33. f. _ * I 7! HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. _ _ in 1868, and two years afterward to Spring Lake, and in 1879 purchased the Sinclair House, where he does a good business, having accommodations for about thirty guests. This house is on Division street, near State street, and is the oldest hotel in the place. It was owned over twenty years ago by Robert Clydsdell, who was killed some years ago by a falling tree. When kept by Mr. Barnnum it was called the Barnum House. Then it was kept by Walter Sinclair, now foreman of Sisson & Lilley's mill, and its name changed to Sinclair House. Then Mr. Dickson kept the house for a few years, until in March 1879 Mr. Rideout took it, having been burned out of the National Hotel in January preceding. SCHOOLS. The Spring Lake graded school contains eight rooms and is under the superintendence of James Warnock, Jr., with Miss Stella Skinner, as first assistant in the high school, which has 40 pupils. Miss Lizzie Shore teaches the 1st grammar department with 53 pupils, Miss Richards in the 2nd department with 45 pupils; in the intermediate department Miss Carrie Patchin has 58 pupils; in the 2nd primary Miss Jessie Gray has 62 pupils; in the 1st primary Miss Fannie Hopkins has 63 in charge. Miss Edith Miller has the Ward School, at Nortonville, with 65 scholars. 'SAW MILLS. The -saw mills of Spring Lake in order from the north side of the peninsula, and going first west and then turning east around the south side, which lies on the river, are first the Monroe, Boyce & Co. mill, above which is all unused fruit drying factory, built 1871 by Messrs. T. D. Denison, Aloys Bilz and Mr.Vos. Then west is W. H. Bell & Co.'s one circular mill,- then the ice houses and the elegant Spring Lake Hotel and grounds, then the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company's two mills, one a single circular and upright and the other a single circular mill. The company have also a fine planing mill and machine shop. On the river are Cutler & Savidge's, then Sisson's & Lilley's, and finally, farther up the river, White, Friant & Co.'s mill. These three mills are about equal, we believe, cutting about 150,000 feet a day, and all have two circulars and a gang with edgers, etc. Messrs. Sisson and Lilley have two fine, new residences in close-proximity at the east end of the village, beyond the residence of Mr. Gee, which would be~ credit to any city. HUNTER SAVIDGE. A history of Spring Lake would be incomplete without a sketch of one whom all acknowledge to have been one of the chief factors in the present prosperous condition of the village, a man of great energy and business capacity, beloved by all who knew him. We of course allude ~o the late Hunter Savidge, who was born in Columbia County, Penn., April 6th, 1828. At the age of nine years he removed 'with his parents to Northumberland County, where he remained until the age of 21, assisting at carpenter work in the summer and attending school in the winter. At that time he started westward and located at Rockford, Ill., where he was engaged at contracting and building. In 1855 he came to Spring Lake and engaged in the manufacture of lulmber. In 1860 the firm of Cutler & Savidge was formed, which became one of the most extensive and best known lumber firms in the West. He was married February 12, 1857, to Sarah C. Patten, of Grand Rapids. Six children were born to them, three of whom have died, and three are still living. January 1st the Cutler & Savidge Lumber.Company was formed, of which Mr. Savidge was president. Possessed of a wonderful degree of energy, Mr. Savidge devoted himself unremittingly to the vast business concerns of the company, and his great physical endurance enabled him to perform an almost miraculous amount of labor. But in time his strength began to faill, and it became apparent that he must have rest if lie would prolong his life. In the fall of 1880, accompanied by his wife and Miss Millie Cutler, he made a trip to California, returning late in December, feeling very much improved in health. But the seeds of disease were already too firmly rooted, and upon the 11th of the following April he passed away. His funeral was conducted by the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, of which he was a member. His death was the occasion of wide and deep mourning. All who knew him felt that they had lost a personal friend. Upon the day of his burial the villages of Spring Lake and Grand Haven were arrayed in the habiliments of deepest mourning; flag; were at half mast, business suspended, and the appearance of all testified to the universal grief which was felt. Mr. Savidge was beloved by all, and to-day his memory is treasured as a rich legacy by all who knew him. A finely executed steel portrait is presented in this book. JOHN B. HANCOCK. Intimately connected with Mr. Hunter Savidge in his life work in developing Spring Lake lumber interests, was John B. Hancock, who was born in England April 5, 1819f, which country he left when young, with his parents for Corning, New York; and when about sixteen years of age his parents again removed to Spring Lake, his father having an interest in the Hopkins Mill. John early assisted his father, and chiefly by his own exertions he was enabled to give himself a good education. He had been in a New York city school before lie came west, and then- went to Grand Rapids High School, and was also a pupil of Prof. Everett, and spent one year at the State Agricultural College, withdrawing on account of his health. In order to be of more assistance to his father, and to perfect his business qualifications, he went to Grand Rapids Business College, and when he returned he was employed by Aloys Bilz for about a year as book-keeper and manager of his hardware business. He then entered the employ of Haire, Savidge & Cutler, as book-keeper and foreman of the shipping department. Previous to this he had been in the mill at Nortonville, now White & Friant's, when Mr. Haire sold the mill to Cutler & Savidge and they formed the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company, taking in Mr. Hancock as one of the partners. In two years he rose to be Secretary of the company, in which capacity he served five years, when his death occurred. The company was eminently successful. He was married October 20, 1875, at Spring Lake, by the Rev. Mr. Snyder, of Muskegon, to Miss Ruth M. Beckwith, a native of Spring Lake, and daughter of the Rev. Hiram Beckwith, a retired Universalist minister. Mr. Hancock died March 19, 1881, and with the exception of that of Hunter Savidge,'who died three weeks later, his funeral cortege was the largest that has ever been seen in Spring Lake. He was buried at Grand Haven on the 22nd of March, the Rev. S. H. Woodford, officiating clergyman. Mr. Hancock's kind and generous disposition had greatly endeared him to all, and many were the flowers strewed upon his grave, and his widow has been gratified by the kindly letters from firms in Chicago with whom he did business. The pall-bearers were representatives of the leading lumbering firms. He was -in politics Republican, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and a member of the Baptist church. He was beloved and respected by all, and the death of two such men as Hunter Savidge and John B. Hancock, within a few days of one another, was a severe shock to the community in whicir they lived. His portrait in steel will be found elsewhere. GEORGE D. SISSON, of Spring Lake,.was born in Oxford, Chenango County, New York, in 1839. In the spring of 1871 he came to Spring Lake, and for two seasons was landlord of the Spring Lake House. His natural tastes were for a more thoroughly. busi 67 L _ __ __ __ -:- f lo, (a L. 1 - - -j 6 68 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. s ness life, and he turned his attention to lumbering. His first venture was the purchase of 300,000 feet of logs from Wilson Shaw, on Crockery Creek, and had them sawed at the Cutler & Savidge mill. In June 1872, he formed a co-partnership with Thomas Seymour, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. This firm continued until 1874, when Mr. Seymour sold his interest to Francis Lilley, and the present firm of Sisson & Lilley was formed. Mr. Sisson is a thorough business man, a most genial gentleman and deserves the abundant business success which has thus far crowned his undertakings. The firm of which he is the senior member is one of the most extensive lumber manufacturers in the State, and one of the most prosperous as well. He has just completed an elegant residence in the suburbs of Spring Lake, and within easy distance of the mill. FRANCIS LILLEY, of Spring Lake, was born in England Julne 23d, 1844. After coming to this country he remained for a time in Milwaukee. In 1867 he came to Spring Lake and tallied lumber for about five years. Possessed of excellent business qualifications and indomitable energy, he began to look for an opportunity to get into business for himself. In February, 1874, he purchased the interest of Thomas Seymour in the firm of Sisson & Seymour, and the foundation of the present prosperous firm of Sisson & Lilley was then laid. Although obliged to undergo. severe business trials during the hard times, yet the firm has kept moving, and is one of the soundest and most prosperous in the State. Mr. Lilley has just completed a fine residence in the suburbs of Spring Lake, which is a credit to the place and an elegant possession for the owner. Mr. Lilley is a thorough business man in all respects, and a most excellent citizen as well. In November, 1881 the lumber yard of Sisson & Lilley was visited by a disastrous conflagration, which consumed about 10,000,000 feet of lumber, chiefly, however, the property of a Chicago firm. Messrs. Sisson & Lilley suffered but little loss, as only their office was burned. PRESS. The press of Spring Lake is represented by the Spring Lake JMessage, an independent sheet, first issued in September, 1881, by Charles F. Wasson. It is a sprightly, newsy sheet, full of interesting local matter, and devoted to the moral and material progress of the village and vicinity. The office is on the corner of State and Division Streets. POST OFFICE. Le Moyne S. Smith was the first postmaster of Spring Lake, and he resigned in 1857, when H. A. Reed held the office for several years. Mr. L. O. Perham, the present postmaster, has held ever since Lincoln's inauguration, and the office has grown from a salary of $75 a year to be worth $900. The office is in the rear of Mr. Perham's drug store. MISCELLANEOUS. Ferries ply regularly every few minutes to Grand Haven and back. They are the "Geo. P. Savidge," belonging to the Savidge Estate, and the "Maude Lilley," owned by J. McCluer. Brick making is carried on largely by Hiel Gray at Stahl's Bay, at the head of the lake. The greatest fire that ever occurred at Spring Lake was that at Sisson & Lilley's lumber yard, when 10,000,000 feet were consumed in the fall of 1l881. Mr. Martin Walsh has a very extensive dry goods and grocery establishment, and J. B. Perham, Representative in the Legislature, has also a fine dry goods store. their employ since that time. He has been foreman of the yard at mill No. 3 since 1878. Mr. Adams enlisted at New Haven, Ohio, in 1864, and served one year. D. W. AINSWORTH, foreman of the planing mill of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company at Spring Lake, has been engaged in lumber mills since 1865. In 1863 he enlisted in the army and served in the war until 1865. For some time he was in the employ of the Wait Manufacturing Company at Grand Haven, and has been in his present position since 1877. ALOYS BILZ was born in Germany in 1841 and came to this country in 1849. In 1854 he came to Michigan from Buffalo, and remained at Detroit until 1866, when he came to Spring Lake and engaged in the hardware trade. He continued in that business until 1871, when his store and dwelling house were destroyed by fire, together with their contents, involving a loss of $30,000. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He was imarried in August, 1864, to May Alice, daughter of Rev. O. C. Thompson, of Detroit. In 1878 he was elected County Register, which office he held for one term. He was President of the village of Spring Lake in 1876, and has held the offices of Supervisor and Alderman for several terms. During 1879 and 1880 he was editor and proprietor of the Spring Lake Republican-having interested himself in the establishment of a villagepaper, he was subsequently obliged to assume its entire control. Mr. Bilz is a stirring business man, full of enterprise and succeeds at whatever he undertakes. LAMBERTUS BOEREMA is a native of Holland and came to this country in 1868 and located in Spring Lake. For several years he followed civil engineering, and since 1877 has been at work for Sisson & Lilley at their mill. C. P. BROWN, M. D. Spring Lake, was born in Medina, Mich., in 1844. His father, Dr. David Brown, of Medina, is one of the pioneer physicians of the State. Dr. C. P. Brown is a graduate of Hillsdale College and of Rush Medical College at Chicago. He began practice in 1869, and in 1871 came to Spring Lake from Hudson, Mich. At the beginning of his practice he encountered nlumerous and varied obstacles, but they only tended to increase his energy and strengthen his determination to succeed, and he has done so to a remarkable degree. To-day he ranks among the first physicians of the State, and his practice is very large. One of the old settlers is MRS. M. BURBANK, whose maiden name was Madora McMahon, and who carries on a confectionery and cigar store and restaurant on the main street. She came to Grand Haven thirty-three years ago, and her husband, Mr. I. Burbanl, a carpenter, came from Canada thirty-two years ago. They formerly lived in Crockery in the Patchin neighborhood, and experienced the hardships incident to pioneer life. T. D. DENISON is a native of New York State, and came to Spring Lake in 1850 from Grand Rapids. Most of the time since coming to Spring Lake he has spent in the lumber mills. His present place as engineer at the mill of Monroe, Boyce & Co. he has held since 1869. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Denison was elected President of the village for the term of one year. He is one of the few remaining pioneers of the place, and has always been a most excellent, citizen. His portrait and a view of his residence adorn this work. JOHN D. DIXON came to Michigan from New York in 1856, and located in Spring Lake. He has been at work in lumber mills about twenty-six years, fifteen of which he has been filing. He has been filing at the mill of Sisson & Lilley at Spring Lake since 1874. OTTO DEWIT is a native of Holland and came to this country in 1863, and settled in Spring Lake. For a number of years he I j H.M. and in 187C D e - i, BIOGRAPHICAL. ADAMS came to Spring Lake from Clyde, Ohio, in 1867, ) began work for Cutler & Savidge and has continued in to if~~~~-y ql ff: W'I_ HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 69 __ __~I worked at his trade of millwright. In 1878 he engaged in the undertaking business, and also opened a wagon and carriage factory,' both of which he still continues to operate. R. F. GRIN is a native of New York and came to Michigan in 1869. Since 1876 he has been in the employ of Sisson & Lilley as saw filer. He has been filing since 1865. H. H. HUNGERFORD is a native of Spring Lake, and has always resided there. After leaving school he learned the tinner's trade, and in 1877, in company with C. A. Pearson, purchased the hardware stock and business of Aloys Bilz, at Spring Lake. The firm does a large business and is very prosperous. HORACE HOWE is a native of New York State and came to Michigan after the war. He enlisted in 1861 in New York State, and served in the army as a member of the 13th New York Infantry until discharged in 1863. For several years he worked at filing, but has been running an engine since 1875. In 1876 he began in his present place as engineer at the Bell mill, Spring Lake. A. A. JONES is a native of New York and came to Spring Lake in 1868. He finished learning the trade of millwright in 1865 and has followed it since that time. In 1872 he built Sisson & Lilley's mill, and has continued in their employ as millwright since that time. JOHN LOOSMORE is a native of Canada. In 1868 he came to Spring Lake and entered the employ of Cutler & Savidge. He has been in his present position of engineer at what is known as Mill No. 3, since 1879. R. H. LEE is a native of Ohio and came to Spring Lake from Wisconsin in 1866. In 1864 he enlisted in the service and received his discharge in 1865. During his term of service he was promoted to first Lieutenant and afterwards to Captain of Company C., 41st Wisconsin Infantry. After coming to Spring Lake he was engaged in the jewelry business there for seven years, and at the end of that time removed his business to Grand Haven, but still continues to reside at Spring Lake. GEORGE G. LOVELL is one of the pioneers of Spring Lake. He was born in Vermont in 1813 and went from there to Ilalamazoo County, Mich., in 1832. From there he went to Ionia County where, for eight years he was engaged in the milling business. In 1846 he came to Spring Lake where he has since resided. For many years he has been engaged in lumbering and fruit growing. His fruit farm, which is a splendid one of forty acres, is situated near the village of Spring Lake, and is very valuable. Deacon Lovell, as he is called by his townsmen, is a plain, unassuming man, always noted for integrity and held in high esteem by all who know him. J. MCCLUER, boat owner, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1832, and come to Grand Haven in 1836, and after a year there, spent many years in Grand Rapids, returning to Grand Haven in 1872. He built the Maude Lillie steam yacht, and in 1881 one to ply up to Nortonville, costing $3,000. He enlisted in 1862 in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, but was discharged for physical disability in 1863. He works near Kirby's ship yard; residence Spring Lake. M. C. MESSINGER is a native of Vermont and came to Spring Lake in 1855. Mr. Messinger has always been engaged at mill work and has been filing since 1869. He began in his present place as saw filer at the mill of Monroe, Boyce & Co., in the Spring of 1873. W. H. MILLARD is a native of Michigan. After spending some time in Canada he came to Spring Lake in 1863, and in 1865 purchased a building and opened a meat market. In 1877 E. Devries went into partnership with him, and the business is continued under the firm name of Devries & Co. JOiN H. NEWCOMB, one of the pioneers of Ottawa County, was born in New York State in 1811. In 1837 he determined to try his fortunes in what was then the far west, and set out upon the slow and toilsome journey to Michigan. He made his way to Muskegon, and his first work after reaching that place was to build a mill. He remained at Muskegon until 1841, when he came to the place where the village of Spring Lake now stands. Here he built the first house and the first mill built in the place. From 1842 to 1848 he spent in Chicago selling lumber. In 1848 he was married inll Chicago and returned to Spring Lake, and for a time operated a lumber mill, and afterwards engaged in the mercantile business which he continued for several years. He was also engaged in the insurance business, and after going out of the trade he confined his attention to that business which he still continues. Mr. Newcomb has held various town offices, and has always interested himself in the growth and welfare of his town. Having passed the limit of three score years and ten, he is now spending the remainder of his days in quiet comfort, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he holds the esteem of his fellow townsmen, all of whom have a good word to say of "Uncle" John Newcomb. WILLI.AM H. NEWHALL came to Spring Lake in the Spring of 1880, and entered the employ of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company as saw filer. He has been at mill work since 1871. NELSON READ, sailor, Spring Lake, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1829, and came to Grand Haven in 1862, and has for years sailed on the lakes. He marrried in 1854 Adeline M. Calhoun, of East Cleveland, 0., and has four sons and four daughters. HENRY RYSDORP is a native of Holland and came to Grand Haven in 1859. For a few years after coming here he worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1863 went into the lumber business as senior member of the firm of Rysdorp & Co. This firm continued until 1877, when their mill was burned and the firm dissolved in consequence. In 1880 the Grand Haven Lumber Company was formed and Mr. Rysdorp became a member of the company, and since that time has had the management of one of the company's mills, known as the Beech Tree mill. V THOMAS SAVIDGE is a native of Pennsylvania and came to Spring Lake in 1865, and remained for a short time. In 1868 he returned and became connected with the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company, of which his brother, Hunter Savidge, was president. Mr. Savidge has always been actively interested in local affairs, holding various offices and was president of the village of Spring Lake during 1879 and 1880. -He is a most genial gentleman and very popular with his fellow townsmen. GEORGE SCHWAB is a native of France. While a child his parents came to this country, and until 1860 he remained in New York. At that time he came to Spring Lake, and in 1861 enlisted in the service with the 14th Michigan Infantry. He served in the war until 1864, when he received his discharge and returned to Spring Lake. In 1868 he went into the grocery business, which he still continues. GEORGE SEAGROVE was born in England in 1827, and for several years before coming to this country was in the English navy. In 1855 he came to this country and located at Spring Lake, where he has since resided. The first three years after coming here he worked at lumbering, and then bought a fruit farm in the suburbs of Spring Lake, and has devoted his time to the raising of fruit. JOB S. SESSIONS, of Spring Lake, was born in Onondaga County, New York, in the memorable year of 1812. In 1833 he came to Michigan and first located in Ionia County. In 1867 he removed to Livingston County, where he remained two years. In 1869 he came to Spring Lake, where he has since resided. For many years Mr. Sessions was engaged at farming, and still lives on a fine farm in the suburbs of Spring Lake. More recently he has been engaged in tj I:- -- -I - 4;. I 4 ~L - - - 70 HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. - - - - furnishing fruit packages to fruit growers, and still devotes most of his time during the season to that business. Mr. Sessions is a brother of Hon. Alonzo Sessions, who was Lieut. Goyernor of Michigan from 1876.to 1880. WALTER G. SINCLAIR is a native of Illinois, and in 1855 came to Spring Lake from Chicago. For several years Mr. Sinclair was engaged at lumbering in the woods, and in 1879 took the position of foreman and book-keeper for the lumber firm of Sisson & Lilley, in which place he still continues. O. SLAUGHTER is a native of Hollandl, and came to this country in 1851. -In 1870 he removed to Spring Lake from Eastmanville, Ottawa County, and opened a meat market in which business he still continues. J. VANDERBERG is a native of Holland and came to Spring Lake in 1858, and has resided here continuously since that time. He has been scaling lumber since 1869. JOSEPH VOLMER is a native of New York, and came to Spring Lake in 1867, and began work in the mills as engineer. In 1873 he entered the employ of Sisson & Lilley as engineer at their mill, and has continued in that place ever since. WARNER Voss is a native of Holland, and came to this country in 1853. In 1856 he camie to Spring Lake, and for twelve years worked for Cutler & Savidge in charge of millwright work. From 1868 to 1873 he was a member of the lumber firml of Monroe, Thompson & Co. Iln 1873 the mill burned and Mr. Voss built several mills up north, after which he returned to Spring Lake, and at the present time is millwright for the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company. DR. W. S. WALKLEY is a native of Hillsdale, Michigan, and in 1853 came with his parents to Casnovia, Muskegon County. His early life was spent in assisting his father to clear up land and work the farm. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the 24th Michigan Infantry. He was in active service until the close of the war, and was then engaged in the Freedman's Bureau in North Carolina. In 1877 he graduated at Ann Arbor, and immediately began the practice of medicine. In 1879 he came to Spring Lake and opened an office. He already has an excellent practice and ranks well among the physicians of the county. WILLIAM WALLACE is a native of Scotland, and came to this country in 1869. In 1870, soon after coming to Michigan, he went into the employ of the Detroit & Grand Haven Railway Company, and in 1874 was made station master and express agent at Spring Lake, where he resides at the present time. MARTIN WALSH was born in Ireland in 1828, and came to this country in 1849. In the fall of 1856 he came to Spring Lake from New York. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the service and served the country well until he received his discharge in 1864. He enlisted as private, and during his service was promoted to First Lieutenant. Mr. Walsh was an excellent soldier and did good service, but was fortunate enough to escape without a bullet scratch, or a taste of hospital life. Upon leaving the service he returned to Spring Lake and opened a store with a general stock of dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc. He still continues in the same business, which has increased to very large proportions, and he now has one of the finest stores in the county. Mr. Walsh is a shrewd business man, and has prospered in his undertakings. He is an active and enterprising citizen, and always ready to lend a helping hand to everything that his judgment approves. JAMES WEBSTER was born in Spring Lake, June 19, 1855. His father was a day laborer, and young James was brought up to work. In 1859 his parents returned to England and stayed there about one year, returning to Spring Lake in 1860. James has resided there till the present time. In 1881, October 29, he married Miss Ellen Brady, of Spring Lake. J. N. WILLIAMS is a native of Massachusetts, and came to Spring Lake, and entered the employ of the Cutler & Savidge Company in 1872. In 1879 he was made foreman of the mill known as mill No. 3, which position he still holds. Mr. Williams has been at mill work since 1867. FREDERICK WILLIE was born in January 1850, and when 18 years of age, left his native land, landing in New York on the 15th of September, 1868. Thence he pushed on to Milwaukee, and afterwards to Manistee, returning in 1871 to Milwaukee. Next year he removed to Muskegon City, but in the same year he went to work in the Ferrysburg Iron Works. In 1879 he commenced to work for the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company, in whose employ he still is. In 1872 he married Abbie Hudson, of Ferrysburg, by whom he has three children. ALEXANDER WOOD was born in Scotland in 1839, and came to I this country in 1849. For some time prior to the war he was agent for the Creek Indians, in the Indian Territory. At the commencemllent of the war he was taken prisoner by Confederate soldiers, and was kept at work at his trade, blacksmithing, in Texas and that vicinity until the close of the war. He was an excellent mechanic, and that fact probably saved him his life. At the close of the war he went into Arkansas, and was in the employ of the Government for two years. At the end of that time he went to Wisconsin, where he remained two years and then came to Spring Lake, where he has since resided and carried on the business of blacksmithing. NORTONVILLE. Nortonville, two miles up the river above Spring Lake, was founded by Col. Amos Norton, who arrived in 1837 and built Norton's mill. There is a public school, which is part of the village [ system of schools, under Miss Edith Miller, with sixty-five pupils. I Mr. Norton, Jabez Barber and Mr. Middlemiss, the latter of whom sold out the Washington House at the Haven and kept the Barber Boarding House at Mill Point, were all Canadian patriots in 1837, and early pioneers of Spring Lake. At Nortonville the great industry is sawmilling, the mill of WHITE, FRIANT & CO., called the Nortonville mill, has a cutting capacity of 200,000 feet per day, an engine of 400 horse-power, which, in 1881, was supplemented by another of half that power, and employs on an average 115 men. The officers of the mill are: Foreman, C. J. Abbott; engineer, J. H. Norris; filers, R. Gebott andArchie Sullivan; bookkeeper, Wm. Stewart; millwright, Wm. Brough. The foreman, C. J. ABBOTT, was born in London, Ontario, in 1854, and came to this State in 1867, engaging in the lumber business, and has for the last five years worked for his present employers. In 1880 he married Miss Lillie F. Crane, born in Greenville, Michigan. The engineer, JAMES H. NORRIS, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1830, removed thence to Kent County, and in 1869 came to Grand Haven, for three months acting as foreman in Friant & Hall's sawmill when he was promoted to be engineer, laboring seven years with the same firm. He has also been engineer of tugs for several years, among these was the "Claude." On April 6th, 1853, he married Carolina A. Friant, by whom he has had two children, one of whom survives. R. H. GEBOTT, saw-filer, was born in Caistor, Lincoln County, Ontario, in 1855, and at 12 years of age moved to Wellington Co., Ontario. In 1881 he came to Grand Haven, going at once to work I-q.? (9 - f - - - i~^~ 4 -I* C.) h '-> XD. ii 0 0 bJ e: Cj CD z! i c: Q (n CO I s r1 I1 LU LI 0 en cn t 11, I1 1.:. I A 09 f f 0 vSt:~: aI I I I I i i i i.0. i i I I I HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.Y. CONY 71 I at his trade of saw-filing. On January 17th, 1881, he married Orvilla Horn, who was also born at Caistor, Ontario, in 1854. ALEXANDER L. JEFFERS, blacksmith at White & Friant's mill, was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., i 1838, and came to Nortonville to his present situation in 1880. In 1863 he married Mary Ann O'Hara, who died inl 1871, leaving three children. In the following year he married Mary Holley. GEORGO E. VAN ETTEN was born in New York State, and came to Spoonville in 1877, working for two years for John Spoon in his mill. Since then he has worked in White & Friant's mill at Nortonville. In 1870 he married Miss N. Murphy, by whom h e has three children. WL LIA M BROUGH, millwright, was born in Scotland in 1828, and at three years of age his parents immigrated to America. He came to Michigan in 1865, having previously learned his trade in Canada. Mr. B. -has been twice married, first to Miss Adelina Kelly, who died in 1872, and next to Miss Ida Rich in 1875. He has two sons and one daughter, and his home is in Grand Rapids. JOSEPH L. JACKSON, carpenter, came to Nortonville in 1880, having resided in Grand Haven since 1876. He was born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1844. In 1868 he married Miss Caroline Andrews, by whom he has three sons and three daughters. He served his country two years in the Thirty-third New York Infantry, and seven months in the Second Ohio Cavalry during the late war. JOHN BRADY, who is also employed in White, Friant & Co.'s mill at Nortonville, is a son of Thomas Brady, and was born in Canada, in 1853. FERRYSBURG. This is a small village at the outlet of Spring Lake, and is opposite the village of Spring Lake, and just across Grand River from Grand Haven. It was settled by the Ferry brothers in 1857. It is noted as the location of the Ottawa Iron Works, which is quite an extensive establishment, and turns out quite a large quantity of machinery of all kinds. Johnston's boiler works are also located here. It has one large sawmill, lately owned by Mr. Batcheller, but recently with his pine lands purchased by the Grand Haven Lumber Company for $110,000, and will be run next season by it. Extensive repairs and improvements will be made in the mill this winter; a gang of saws will be put in. There is one general store, a meat market and a post office. It is at the junction of the D., G. H. & M. and the C. & W. M. Railroads, and has a station, where there is a change of cars for the East. THE OTTAWA IRON WORKS is an old and established institution, which is being greatly enlarged and extended under the energetic management of Mr. W. F. Parish, the other members of the firm being Senator Ferry and Andrew Thomson. They now employ about 150 men, but intend to add to their already large buildings. It was established in 1855 and entirely rebuilt in 1880 and manufactures steam pumps stationary and marine engines, propeller wheels, and general foundry work; offices, Ferrysburg and Grand Haven. The works in Ferrysburg are closely connected with water and rail communication, the river being at the door, and sidings being built from the railway. Mr. Parish's ambition is to make it the largest establishment of its kind in the West, as it has an unrivalled position. Mr. Parish has a great many valuable patents of his own and is still getting out more. He is a native of Elgin County, Ontario, has had a great deal of experience and is the right man in the right place, The foreman is W. SECHRIST, born in Erie, Pa., ill 1852; came with Mr. Parish from Erie, having worked under him as superintendent of the Stearn s Company. Married, 1871, Elizabeth Bibel, of Erie, and has two daughters and one son. The draughtsman is a brilliant young German artist, RUDOLPH SCHENCK, born in Baden, 1859, who was six or seven years at a gymnasium, and two years at Stuttgart Polytechnic, also three years in a machine shop. Came to Chicago in 1880 and has been in his present place since January 1, 1881. BOILER WORKS. Thomas and James B. Johnston constitute the firm of Johnston Bros., proprietors of the Ferrysburg Boiler Works, located at Ferrysburg. The business was established by J. W. Johnston, who was succeeded by the present firm in 1880. They do a large and prosperous business, mostly in marine work, and employ about thirty men. BIOGRAPHICAL. U. B. EAMES is a native of New York state, and came to Fer, rysburg in 1848. He has always followed his trade, that of millwright, and for eight years prior to the spring of 1881, was millwright at the Batcheller mill. In the spring of 1881 he took his present position of millwright for the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company,.at their mill No. 3. B. F. RICHARDSON is a native of Maine, and came to Spring Lake in 1838. Since June 1881 he has been saw filer at the Batcheller mill, and was in the same mill from 1873 to 1879. Mr. Richardson has been filing for 33 years, all of the time in Ottawa County, and is the oldest saw filer in the State of Michigan. G. F. SHIPPEY came to Grand Haven in 1875 to take charge of the mill and lumber business of Webster Batcheller at Ferrysburg. He has been interested in the business of the firm since 1866, and attended to the sales of 11imber in Chicago. A. S. PARRISH, engineer at the Batcheller mill at Ferrysburg, has been in that position since July 1881. He came to Grand Haven in 1878, and for two years and a half was master mechanic of the Grand Haven Railroad. Previous to that time he lived for several years at White Pigeon, Michigan, and was master mechanic of a branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern road. He was in the navy from 1864 to the close of the war. ROELOF OSTERHOFF, merchaint, was born in Holland, July 2, 1830, in the province of Groningen, and came to America in 1855, working as a carpenter on Mr. Ferry's residence in Ferrysburg. He then worked seventeen years in the pattern shop of the Ottawa Iron WNorks, and for the last eight years he has been engaged in mercantile business. He married, in 1857, Miss Jane Griede, who died October 28, 1874, leaving eight children to mourn her demise. -y4 I I I I I I I i I i i I I I I iI i i i I i I i i i i i I I I I I I I I I I - r I I A rI! I OLIVE TOWNSHIP. Olive is a very large township, comprising over a regular township and a half. The soil is varied; the west part near Lake Michigan is sandy, and, particularly in the southwest part of the township, it is being utilized in the way of fruit raising. Some of the best peaches in the State are grown here. The sandy lands, which a few years ago were considered nearly valueless, are furnishing homes and occupation to very many families. It was about 1860 that the fruit interest began to be developed. Ill the southeast part of the township we find splendid soil and fine farms. Over the entire center we find large tracts of low, marshy land, where cranberries and whortleberries grow wild. Much of this land is being reclaimed by thorough drainage, and eventually will become good farming land. The township contains several small hamlets, the better of which are Olive Center and Ottawa. There are several mills cutting pine and hemlock, the latter being the more prevalent. The southern part of Olive and the north of Holland, known as Ventura, has a post-office of that name, and is mainly devoted to fruit raising, in which great success has been met. The land, much of it, was bought for twelve and one-half cents an acre. Quite extensive orchards are alreddy planted, and the product yields a handsome income. The township is not very thickly settled as yet, but has, perhaps, something over 3,000 acres under improvement, and is found by judicious cultivation to produce good crops. Greenleaf C. Jones, Charles Post, and Porter P. Piner are among the early settlers, and each have fine orchards and excellent fruit. It probably cantains 1,500 ilnhabitants. The Grand Haven Railroad, now under the control of the Chicago & West Michigan R. R. Co., has a station at West Olive, and it has a post office of that name, although the place is inconsiderable. It was platted by R. iM. Paget, in 1870, while Ottawa Station was platted by James Sawyer, in 1872. EARLY SETTLEMIENT. There were a few settlers at quite an early date, for a portion of the town was surveyed in 1831, but, with the exception of the fiasco of the Port Sheldon Company, in 1836-8, there was little done in the way of settlement until after the Holland Colony came in 1847. The history of the stupendous undertaking at Port Sheldon is in the general history of Ottawa, and will be found very interesting reading. ORGANIZATION. Olive was organized in 1857 with fifty-seven voters, when the following named persons were chosen to fill the offices: G. C. Jones, Supervisor; J. M. Fellows, Clerk; K. Warner, Treasurer; Stephen Baxter, Arend Smith, J. B. Eastway, Highway Commissioners; Hendrik Ven Balgoojen, James B. Eastway, Timothy Tainter, Warner Semple, Justices of the Peace; K. Warner, School Inspector; John Vantongern, Overseer of Poor. Stephen Coleman, Jan Hoffman, Wm. Timers, Constables. At the same meeting one hundred dollars was voted to be raised to defray town expenses. Since which time the following named persons have acted as Supervisors: G. C. Jo)nes-1858-1865-6-8-9; Charles H. Coleman-1859 -60-61; R. M. Andrews-1862; Otto Breyman —1863-4; Chas. F. Post —1867; Silas S. Kuler-1870; Joel M. Fellows-1871-2-3; Win. A. Willis-1874-5; A. P. Stegen1ga-1876-7-8-9-80-81. TOWN CLERKS. J. M. Fellows —1857-8; Reuben Dalniel-1859-60; Walter Weener —1861; Isaac A. Allyn —1862-3; Chas. Porter-1864; A. P. Stegenga-1865-6-7-8-9; Win. A. Willis-1870-1-2; John D. Wood ---1873-4; Chas. L. Waffle-1875; H. D. Jones-1876-7-8-9; James H. Carey-1880-1. Officers for 1881; A. P. Stegenga, Supervisor; J. H. Carey, Clerk; Joel M. Fellows, Treasurer; J. Ovens. Commissioner of Highways; C. Ovens, Justice of the Peace; O. Trumble, Superintendent of Schools; C. Nivison, School Inspector. BIOGRAPHICAL. GEORGE W. YATES Was born in Clermont County, Ohio, April 19, 1837. He settled with his father in Iroquois County, Ill., in 18144, and remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, 10th Illinois Infantry, serving three years and five months as rank sergeant. Mr. Yates now resides on Section 27, Olive township, and is engaged in lumlbering. A. P. STEGENGA, born11 in the Netherlands, June 28, 1842, and settled in connection with his father's family in Holland, Mich., Aug. 4, 1847. He engaged in farming which he still continues on Section 33, Olive township. Mr. Stegenga has been largely identified in the government of his township, for he has held the several offices of Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, School Commissioner, Town Clerk for five years and is now serving his sevnth term as Supervisor. He married Dec. 12, 1868 Martha Diekema, who was born Nov. 1, 1846. They have five children. Mr. Stegenga's father, Popke M. Stegenga, was born Sep. 6, 1801, and married April 23, 1828 Johantje Bysta, who was born Jan. 27, 1801. Both are still living (1882) having passed fifty-four years of married life, and very hale, bidding fair to live for at least a few more years. The portraits of Mr. Stegenga 1and wife and his father and mother occupy a page in this work. JAMES H. CAREY, born in Hillsdale County, Mich., July 22, 1851, and settled in Olive township in 1861. His first occupation was that of a lumberman, owning a saw mill in 1876, and now is the sole owner of the large saw mill at Olive Centre, also is the present township Clerk. He married May 26,1875 Cora Lyon, who was born in Medina County, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1857. They have one child, Herbert W., born March 6, 1877. JOHN D. WOOD, son of William Wood and grandson of Robert, is the only male descendant, and was born in Detroit, Mich., April 14, 1836. He early learned the wagon makers' trade which he worked at for some years. Subsequently he acted as foreman for -.- -A ir 0 __ _ _____ -~ --- - e Al *s v Z-I^ \!4 C3 I.............. IJ I I Illl I ~ I;f - - 4 1 A i i i i i I I I I I I l HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 73 three years in a large lumber firm at Saginlaw. He served in the Quarter Master's department during a part of the war of the Rebellion. He then settled in Illinois where he married Mrs. A. Sherman, whose maiden name was Elizabeth M. Beard, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., November, 1837, and died June 14, 1878. Mr. Wood settled in Olive township in 1870 and has been township Clerk, Drain Commissioner, and is at present Justice of the Peace. M. R. MERRITT was born in Monroe County, N. Y., May 7, 1830, and settled in Olive township in 1864, and engaged in farming and blackslllithing, which occupation, in connection with a wagon shop and meat market, he still follows t Olive Centre. In 1862 he enlisted ill Company H, 19th Michigan Infantry, and served three years; was wounded at Ft. Donaldson and Spring Hill, and taken prisoner at Brentwood, Tenn., also incarcerated at Libby prison for three months; he gets a pension. He has been Justice of the Peace, Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He married April 5, 1854 Elizabeth H. Harvey, who was born Oct. 20, 1835. E. L. RHODES was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., on Sept. 10, 1842, andc at the age of two years his father moved to Montcalm County Mich. In 1863 he enlisted in Company K, 4th Michigan Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. He was with the party who captured Jeff Davis ill his lady's attire. He married Feb. 7, 1870, Jennie S. Conner, who was born in Ionia County, i Mich., Jan. 16, 1848. He has one child, Carrie M., born March 13, 1872. Mr. Rhodes now resides at Ottawa Station, Olive township, and carries on blacksmithing. J. M. FELLOWS, born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1827, and settled in Hillsdale County, Mich., in 1853 and in Olive township, Ottawa County, in 1855, working at farming and shoemaking. He was the first township Clerk of Olive, and has been Supervisor, Justice of the Peace for many years, and the present township Treasurer and Post-master at Ottawa Station. He married Aug. 15, 1847 Matria C. Eastway, who was born in London, Eng., March 30, 1826. ELIJAH ANGEL was born in Cuyahoga County,Ohio, May 13, 1849, and came to Ottawa County, Mich., in 1865. He has always been engaged in lumbering, and at present acts as head sawyer and filer at Olive Centre mills. He married Sept. 27, 1876 Minnie Pocox, who was born in Fulton County, Ohio, March 18, 1856. Mr. Angel's present home is Whitehall, Muskegon County. He enlisted in 1863 in Company I, 128th Ohio Veteran Infantry and served till the close of the war. H. J. DAVIS, born in Delaware County, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1840, and settled in Olive township, Section 34, in 1859, where he still lives. He married July 3, 1864, Margaret E. Adams, who was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., July 1, 1847. He has three children, George W., born June 4, 1865; Maria J., Dec. 7, 1866; Frank, Dec. 7, 1870. J G. BOYES, born in New York City, June a, 1837, early learned the trade of blacksmithing. He settled in Ottawa County, Olive township, Section 44, in 1863. He owns 165 acres and is engaged in farming and fruit growing. He has been twice married, first in Aug. 2, 1863 to Josephine L. Joscelyn, who died May 12, 1877; second marriage to Laura A. Calkin, who was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 13, 1849. - - J t- OW q - -4 -i I I I i I i i I i i I i i I i i I I i Ii i I I I i i i i I I I II I I i i I i I i I f i i t i i I Rl:: i H(T OL LAND. We now enter upon a subJect, perhaps the most interesting and truly historical of anlly that will occur in the History of Ottawa Countv. For we are now to attempt to describe a movement, unique in its form and its results. How a few hundred Hollanders, generally poor and unskilled ill the arts of the bacl-wvoodsmanl and pioneer, lhave through varied fortunes %isen to be a power inll Ottawa, and also in Allegan, Mluskegon, Kent and otller nortllern counties, and with their descendants in about a generation, or one-third of a century, number perhaps 20,000 souls. They forni tile great majority inll the two southern tiers of townships in Ottawa, and thle two northern tiers in Allegan, they lre half the population of Grand Haven city, and nnliber hlundredl s ill Mulskegon city, Grand Rtapids, Manistee and other places. They are gradually encroachillng upon the towns near them, and with their habits of thrift, sobriety, enlergy, and their deep-seated love of principle and morality are seemingly destined to leaven western lMichigan writh their ideas anld habits. Of course a reactive process is going oln and the nlew generation are becoming mllodified Ameriicans. Let us hope that thle good qualities of both races will be preserved inll the contact. The chief centre of civilization was Hollandl City, which is ' pleasantly situated at tle head of Black Lalke, a beLautiful sheet of water with low balnks, illto whichll a sluggish streamn, too slow for mill sites, empties. Hollandcl has a quliet, steady substantial air, withl gaps made by- the fire Oct. 1871, a most disastrous conflagration, which occurrel from bush fires tle salme night as tile Chicago fire, and swept away sevellty-six busilless house an1d two lluldred and forty-three dwellings, but by the energy of the inllhalbitants most of the traces of tllat black day have been effaced. Two railroads centre here. It has one bank, two bakeries, six butcher sllops, eight dry goods and grocery stores, sis boot and shoe stores, four hardware stores, four merchant tailors and one I clothing store, two book stores, two jewelry stores, three lhotels-anld three livery stables. Its manufactories are five blacksmith shops, two wagonll shops, one pump shop, one foundry, one machine shop, two saddle and halrness shops, two 'furniture factories, two grist mills, two saw mills, one shingle mill, two planing mills, one stave annd heading factory, two tanneries, and other minor industries. The sawmills, stave and heading, and tanneries employ about $250,000 or $260 -000 capital, and turn out about $550,000 to $575,000 of product. There is also a ship yard here for the building and relpair of sailing vessels. Holland bids fair to be a great fruit growing region along the shore of Lake Michigan north of Black Lake. It has already assumed large dimensions and bids fair to be still greater. The grape and peach flourish well, and the annual product is about $4,000. Over 20,000 trees are said to have been planted. THE CITY OFFICIALS. Holland was incorporated as a city in 18t67, and the officers have been as follows: MIayor, Dr. Bernardus Ledeboer, - - - 1867 Recorder, H. D. Post, - - Marsllhal, Tuenis Keppel, - Mayor, Isaac Cappon, - Malyor, Edwa1rd J. Harrihgton, Mayor, John Vtaldldigham, - Mayor, B. Ledelboer, M'ayor, E. J. Harrington, Supervisor, D. te Roller, Treasurer, H. Doesburg, Marshal, A. Woltmall, School inspector, C. Scott, Mayor, E. J. Harrington, Clerk, C. F. Post, Treasurer, A. Flietsta, Mayor, I. CaplporIL, Supervisor, D. te Roller, Ma;yor, J. Vlan Landegend, - Supervisor, D). te Roller, Clerkl, G. VanTt Sch;llelven, MIayor, J. Van Landegalnd, Clerk, Johlln A. Roost, - - Supervisor, D. te Rollelr, - - Mayor, K. Schaddelee, Clerk, J. A. Roost, - - - Supervisor, D1). te Roller, Mayor, K. Schladdeleo, - - Clerk, J. A. Roost, Supervisor, G. Van Schelven, - Treasurer, D. R. MIeengs, Mayor, I. Cappon, Clelrk, Geo. H. Sipp, Supervisor, G. H. Vanl Schllleven, Malrshal, J. TVaupell, - - Mayor, E. Vanderveell, Clerk, G. H. Sipp, Supervisor, G. Van Schelven, - Treasurer, L. T. KEanters, - Mayor, Jolln.Roost, Supervisor, K. Schaddelee, - Clerkli, CG. H. Sipp, - - Treasurer, D. R. Meengs, - Marslhal, Pieter Koning, - ( W. H. Beach, Aldermn J. Beukema, Alderen, Pieter Winter, [ Jacob Kuite, 1868 - 1869 1870 - 1871 1872 - 1873 1874 1875 - 1876 - 1877 - 1878 1879 - 1880 - - 1881 THE FOUNDER OF THE HOLLAND COLONY. In this work will be found al fine steel portrait of Dr. A. C. Van Raalte, thle founder of the Holland Colony, contributed at the expense of two of his adlmirers, Isaac Cappor and R. Kanters. It will be appropriate to preface the history of the Holland Colony by Ij -A -I I ERR AT A. In the list of IMayors of Hollan-d, collmmencing on last line of first columni of page 74, it slhould read: "Isaac Cappon, elected first May-or of the city, 1867; Dr. Bernardus Ledeboer, Mayor 1868, and I(860. Isaac (Cappo)ln Mayor 187o().' r i4.. lo - - - - r - - j_ HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY. 75 a biographical sketch of the man who was its guiding spirit. This we are enabled to do by a carefully prepared biography from the pen of one intimately acquainted with the subject. DR. VAN RAALTE. Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte, D. D., the founder of the large settlement of Hollanders in these counties, was born in Wanneperveen, in the Province of Overyssel, Netherlands, on the 17th day of October, 1811. His father was a clergyman of the Reformed Church, a man of considerable local reputation. His mother was of good family from Amsterdam. He grew up in the enjoyment of the advantages which the better European circles afford. He received the usual University course, and graduated in theology at Leyden's famous school in 1831. His connections were such that nothing needed to prevent his obtaining an advantageous position in an establishment in which, as elsewhere, patronage is a chief element in success. His father was a man of more than ordinary ability, and of exemplary godliness, and was intimate with not a few of the more influential men in the church, counting among his intimate friends some of the most eminent of the learned circles. Through his mother's acquaintance he had the entree into the best society of the metropolis. His home brought him into contact with men of Station and wealth. So there seemed naturally to open for him, as a young man of much native talent and force and of good education, a career of profit, comfort and reputation, in the profession to which his parents had early dedicated him. His life, however, was entirely different from this, and that by his free choice. Naturally of a lively disposition, with strong feelings, profound in his convictions, determined in will, impatient of restraint, fearless of self-assertion, active, and with a relish for hard work, he was one of the men fitted to feel the peculiar influences of his surroundings, as they called to self-denial and to an attempt to get out of the rut of his day. Two years before his graduation his thoughts were led to a more serious contemplation of humanity and its needs, and the special demands of his time and country. Indifference and formalism were rife everywhere. Rationalism had crowded out truth from nearly every pulpit. The spiritual and social life of the common people was void of hope. The tremendous influence of an escape to these shores of liberty and of an equal chance for improvement had not yet begun to act upon the European masses. Everything was at the dead level of an enforced submission. Van Raalte felt the need of more liberty for truth and of a greater concern for the neglected masses. In the meantime these needs became also gradually more apparent to the class most affected by them. A constantly larger number became restless under the existing state of affairs. Inquiry after truth grew prevalent. In many parts of the land appeared the signs of a powerful revival of religion. Young preachers were found to voice the demand for truth, as applicable to the every-day wants of men. Most of these were acquaintances and fellow students of Van Raalte, but a little his seniors. His father, rapidly declining in life, strengthened him in these nobler thoughts and aims, though he did not live to see his son actively at work. When Van Raalte left the University he found the religious movement, whose spirit he shared, already well started. He was known as one of its sympathizers. This was enough to lead to the unworthy obstruction of his career by the ecclesiastical authorities through technical difficulties. He had satisfactorily passed the necessary examinations, and held the diploma which made him a licentiate. Hindered in the regular exercise of his callel. X< | — a 43) 10 I - I I i I 130 MILITARY HISTORY. I 6; discharged for disability, &c., 166; transferred, 824; missing inl action, 39; re-enlisted as veterans, 207. The portion that enlisted in the Fifth remained till the close of the war. We append an extended history of one of the companies, as it was wholly recruited in Muskegon. COMIPANY H., THIRD MIICHIGAN INFANTRY. This company was raised chiefly in the city of Muskegon by a number of patriotic citizens who were aroused to white heat by the firing on the old flag at Ft. Sumter, and first enrolled as " Ralngers" under the leadership of the late Emery D. Bryant, Chas. D. Spang 1st Lieutenant, and W. L. Ryan (now Major) 2d Lieutenant. Thos. J. Waters (now CaptaiIn and -County Sheriff), enlisted as a private, but was elected Orderly Sergeant. The first organization was merged as Co. H. in the Third Michigan Infantry, the secolnd company on the left of the color company. They joined the colrpanlly about the middle of May 1861, at Grallnd Rapids, enrollinl, in the State service on May 13Stll, and inl the United service onl the 10th of June, Lieutenant-Cololel Backus, of Detroit, in conlmmand. Spang resigned October 28th, 1861, and Ryaln w-as promoted to the vacancy, and Waters took Ryan's place, and was promoted 1st | Lieutenant August 5tll, 1862; Ryan Captain on October 20th, 1862; Waters Capatin Malrch 20th, 1863. Ryan was wolunded at the second Bull Run, August 29'3tll, 1862, and resigned iMarch 25th, 1863. The Sergeants were: G. A. Bennett, 9d; Peter Bergevin 3d; W. W. Smith, 4th; Jackson S. Bennett, 5tlh The Corporals were: A. H. Smith 1st, G. W. Bennett 2d, Hugh Boyd 3d, Wm. Payne 4th, Rufus W. Skeels 5th, Salmuel D. Murray 6th, James Little 7th, Franiis Kelly 8th, F. Higbee, W. Millne, C. A. Althous, S. Jennler, W. T. Jones, Miles Chubb, L. Lull, Jr., Cada White, Thomlas White, Andrew J. Johnsoll, J. H. Miller, G. N. REiildall, and W. H. Paradise. Bergevin was promoted to 2d Lieutenant, and R. W. Skeels and Samuel T. Murray to Captaincies. Corporals Slmith, Griswell, Higbee and Chublb were advanced to Sergealntcies. There were 31 deaths and 9 desertions, and they were three years and tenll days in servie, being inl the 1st brigade of the 1st division of the Army of the Potomac. The followillng is the list of privates. Those who were not in the original company are m,-rked "recruits." R. W. Attwood, C. A. Althouse, P. G. Archer, J. M. Bennett, J. A. Bennett, G.A. Bennlett, G.W. Bennett, G. Barnier, Nelson Bressau, G. F. Brittain, Tllomas Boyers, Martin Biber, Lewis Brandis, Geo. Bridgman, John Barnhart (recruit), Horatio Barnhart (recruit), Steph. E. Bigelow, H. E. Boyd, W. H. Cummings, Perry A. Crandall, Dennis Conway, Albert A. Cole, Wml. Courser, C.lvin Curler, Miles Chubb, Robert Conner, Lawrence Cavenler, Jeff. N. Davis, Marvin H.Dunham, John T. Dibble, James F. Dibble (recruit), Wm. H. Denny (recruit), A. E. Durphy (recruit), Miner J. Emlaw, James Fox, Wmi. Ferguson, F. P. Falford (recruit), John George, Malcolmln J. Gillis, E. L. Graves, George Garner, A. A. Griswell, R. Graham, Thomas Griffinl, Wm. Gibson, Samuel R. Holmes, M. V. B. Hopemlan, F. Higbee, Z. T. Horine, C. Henderson, Wim. Herrick (recruit), A. G. Herrick (recruit), R. L. Hart (recruit), Wm. Harris (recruit), C. W. Hope (recruit), Samuel Jelnner, W. T. Jones, Zeph. Jeffer, O. Johnson, A. J. Johllnson, J. P. Johnson. Yans ' Knudsen, Hugh Kerr, Francis Kelly, Porter Knapp (recruit), James Little, G. W. Lemon, Smith K. Lewis, Ezra W. Lewis, John Lewis, James Lavelle, L. Lull, Jr., Ed. Lazure, C. Langley (recruit), S. D. I Murray, H. C. Marviii, mu3ician, W. W. McKernan, Jlames MU11- I nie, Wm. Milne, John H. Miller, John Martill (recruit), John K. Marlsh recruit), Louis Napoleon, Thomas Otry, Jamnes O'Neil, Wilm. H. Paradise, Austin Postel (recruit), James S. Pew (recruit), Wm. Payne, Walter Quigley, Jas. E. Richardson, Geo. Root, G. M. Randall, Chas. Rose, Wm. W. Smith, A. H. Smith, John Smith, Francis Smith, John Sweeney, Austin V. Swazy, G. W. Shaver, Anson A. Shelley, Seth R. Simons, Aslet Swinson, L. D. Small, David Stone, Lyman A. Salbs (recruit), Judson A. Smoke (recruit), Jer. Saunders (recruit), C. D. Spang (recruit), A. B. Stevenson. (recruit), R. W. Skeels, Caleb Tompkins, Moses M. Townsend, P. I B. Thayer, Wm. H. Tillson, Geo. Vanderpool, Geo. Van Renchlier, I Cada White, Thomas White, Eli J. Wright, Caleb Woolpert, Wim. H. Wood (recruit). The inartyr roll of leaths is as follows: Seth Simons, M. Gillis, Geo. Root, Yans Knudsen, David Stone, James Lavelle, Chlas. F. Brittain, Jolln Sweeny, Geo. Garner, Wn1. McKeran, Aslet Swinsonl, P. G. Archer, J. George, Horatio Barnhart, Dennis Conway, Wm. Ferguson, John Smith, VWm. Milne, James O'Neil, Geo. A. Bennett, G. M. Randall, F. P. Fulford, Jer. E. Richardson, M. Biber, Ab. G. Herrick, John K. Marsh, WVm. H. Denny, Louis Brandis, Eli J. Wright, James Fos, Thos. Griffin and Chas.:Hope. The heaviest loss WAlS at Fair Oaks and the next at the second Bull Run. Thle company was in every battle of the army of the Potomac from the first Bull Run to Cold Harbor, Junle, 9, 1864, with the exception of Anltietam. MIany of the company reelllisted and served till the close of thle war. Among whom were Cada White, P. B. Thayer, Cal -b Tompkins, L. D. Small, G. M. Randall, W. H. Paradise, W. Cummzings, Thos. Boyers aLnd James Fox, the last of whom died at Anldersonville. They went into Fair Oaks with 44 enlisted men and 2 officers, 1st Lieut. Ryan and 2nd Lieut. Waters, on the 29th of May, 1862, Land came out witl 22 menll and 2 officers one killed, Jas. Lovelle —ill the field, and 21 wounded, of whom 4 subsequently died of their wounds. AtN the second Battle of Bull Run, the 29th of Aug. 1862, they went inl with 27 men and 2 officers, and came out leaving 7 dead on the field, leaving nine to muster in the morning. IMuskegon sent out another full company, as Company C, 23th Mich. Inf., and many enlisted at Grand Rapids and Chicago in thle artillery and marine service who are not credited to the State. TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY. This regiment rendezvousecl at Ionia, and recruited from the 4tll District, which includes allong other counties those of Muskegon and Ottawa. It left camlp Sept. 12, 1863, 1,008 strong, with orders for Cincinnati, and on the 8th of Oct. lost at Perryville-24 wounded (1 mortally,) and 3 mlissing. In 1862 it w0as at Nashville with Gen. Rosecrans' army. It participated in Murfreesboro, and onl Sep. 2, 1863, mnade with McCook's corps, a splendid forced nlrch from Alpine to Chattanooga, and came into line in the battle of Chickamtauga, whllere it lost 11 killed, 58 wounded, 35 missing, S3 prisonlers- iotal 107. The Colonel was wounded and captured. It was stationed in June, 1864, near Chattanooga, employed in building bridges, at that time forlmlillg part of the Engineer Brigade. With Gen Rosseau it pursued the rebels under Forrest beyond Florenllce. In the close of 1861 this regilment was in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th corps, Armv of the Cumberland. THE TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY Was olrganizd at Kala1m1zoo under H. G. Wells, and left Sept. 29, 1862, under Col. Orlando Moore, for Louisville, Ky., with a muster of 896 men anlld officers. June 10, 1863, five companies proceeded to Lebanon, and thence to Green River Bridge, near Columbia. On the 4th of July, I I.1 i I -1 A 0 s i-~ X,00 ~ <,~~~~f ff.:i'*'^. * - t:: ' f * eJ y If. '40 " - 1: 7;. ) k fl.:- I:-, I MILITARY HISTORY 131 these companies, numbering 200 men in all, were attacked by a rebel division under Gen. John H. Morgan, who summoned them to surrender. The Col. replied that "the 4th of July was not a proper day to entertain such a proposition," and after three and a half hours' fighting the rebels retired with a loss of 50 killed, (among whom were a colonel, two majors, five captains and six lieutenants,) aud 200 wounded. The contest was one of great obstinacy, and at times the enemy occupied one side of the temporary breastworks of fallen timber, while the men of the 21st held the other. On request of the enemy, under a flag of truce, they buried their dead. The legislature of Kentucky unanimously tendered their thanks to Colonel Moore and his men for this defense, for they had delayed Morgan thirty hours, which saved Lebanon and Louisv.lle from "sack and pillage." During the year 8 died in action, 23 were wounded, and 82 died of disease. They served in the summer of 1864 in-the Army of the Ohio, losing 20 killed, 33 by disease, and 87 wounded. The Twenty-fifth was present at Nashville on Dec. 15 and 16, 1864, and subsequently rendered good service in pursuit of Hood. In 1865 it acted under Gen. Schofield in the Carolinas until mustered out at Salisbury June 24, 1865, and received its discharge at Jackson, July 2, 1865. THE TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY was organized at Jackson, September, 1862, and left for Washington Dec. 13, under Col. J. A. Farrar. Soon after its arrival at Washington it was ordered on provost duty at Alexandria, Va., and remained there until April 20, 1863, when it proceeded to Suffolk, Va., and participated in several expeditions to the Blackwater. In one of these, May 23, in a skirmish near Windsor, it lost one officer mortally wounded. June 20, the regiment moved to Yorktown and formed part of the command of Gen. Keyes, that marched to Bottom Ridge on the Chickahominy, and returned to Yorktown July 11. The next day the regiment was ordered to Washington and thence to New York to put down the draft riots. Oct. 13th, they were ordered to the Army of the Potomac, being assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2d Army corps. Deaths in 1863 were 73, 68 by disease, 4 accidentally shot, and 1 died in action. In 1864 the Twenty-sixth won great honors. In the terrific charge on the position of the rebels on the Po River, May 11 and 12, it lost 30 killed and 123 wounded, and was the first to hoist its colors on the captured works. During the year 81 men fell in action, 38 died of disease, and 242 were wounded. During the campaign of 1865 they participated in nearly every action of the Virginia army from White Oak Swamp, Aug. 16, 1864 to Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865. Returning, it was discharged at Jackson, June 16, 1865. SECOND CAVALRY. This regiment, organized by Hon. F. W. Kellogg, left Grand Rapids Nov. 14, 1861, for St. Louis, with about 1200 men and officers. Its first operations were against New Madrid and Island No. 10.' It was very actively engaged, and in its turn is credited with 70 battles and skirmishes, the chief of which are Point Pleasant, Mo., March 9, 1862; Tiptonville, New Madrid, Island No. 10, Mon terey, Farmington, Siege of Corinth, Boonville, (twice), Perryville, Spring Hill (1863,) Columbia, Triune, Chickamauga, Anderson Cross Roads, Sparta, Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill (1865,) Pulaski, Corinth, Talladaga, Ala., April 23, 1865. On March 29, 1864, 328 veterans reenlisted and had 30 days furlough. This regiment was in 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of Cumberland. COMPANY E., SECOND MICH. CAVALRY, although organized at Grand Rapids, was chiefly raised in Muskegon. The first captain was B. Whitman, who enlisted Sept. 2, 1861, and resigned May 12, 1862, now residing near Berlin in Ottawa County. H. F. Nicholson was the second captain, but Harry Vance, now of Saginaw, was the most popular captain. Captain Nicholson was over the company from June 1, 1862, to March 1864, and then promoted to be Major. The company was mustered out Aug. 17, 1865. We give below from the diary of George Bradford, 1st Orderly Sergeant, the Company roll: Captain, Benj. S. Whitman; 1st Lieutenant, Henry W. Sears; 2d Lieutenant, Harmon F. Nicholson, 1st Sergeant, Geo. Bradford; 2d Sergeant, S. F. Dickerson; 3d Sergeant, Henry Vance; 4th Sergeant, Wmin. Bingham; 5th Sergeant, Charles Barton; 6th Sergeant, Alvin Mapes. Corporals, 1st Corporal, Wmn. H. Harrison; 2d Corporal, EdsonBurrows; 3d Corporal, A. M. Kocker; 4th Corporal, L. R. Fenton; 5th Corporal, Franklin Perkins; 6th Corporal, Jas. Lee; 7th Corporal, Daniel Moody; 8th Corporal, E. H. Landbah. Buglers, Wm. E. Murray (deceased,) and John F. Chubb. Farriers and Blacksmiths, A. McNaughton and Truman Young. Saddler, Peter Ryan. Wagon Master, Calvin S. Rogers. Privates, John Allen, Andrew Allen, John W. Barry, Christian Brown, Val Beach, Washington Brown, Robert H. Barton, Henry Barton, Gabriel Carlyle, Jas. F. Cole, Geo. T. Carlyle, Amos B. Cook, John Olney, Jacob Davis, John D. Edmonds, Jno. Eaton, Geo. Eccles, Lewis R. Fenton, John Fitzmorris, Antoine Gabriel, Napoleon B. Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Hoag Wenderlin, George Hilton, Chas. Hutchinson, David Herren, Geo. R. Jones, Eph. Keller, James Keating (deceased), Decatur Knickerbocker, Nathan Lovell, Chas. Leland, Frank Murray, Lawrence Millet, Charles Mathon, Oliver B. Mason, Arch, McMillan, Jas. McKee, Alex McDonald, Jas. S. Monroe, Win. H. Millard, Duncan McNaughton, Thos. Newcomb, Nelson Oleson, John Olney, Thos. O'Brien, Elson Omans, Win. W. Pierson, Francis M. Perkins, Martin Pettit, Wm. Post, Philip Post. Jacob Post, Lansing Post, Jno. B. Robinson, Thos. Ryan, Thos. Rowling, John Rowling, Wm. H. Russell, Dennis Rafferty, James Root, Wm. P. Smith, I. A. Mapes, Jos. Scoles, I. M. Sines, John N. Snider, Volney Trask, Warren Trask, Thos. Terry, Jas. Tompkins, John J. Water, Thos. Wall, Fernando W. Willet, Lewis Willys. THIRD CAVALRY. This regiment was organized simultaneously with the Second Cavalry, at Grand Rapids, leaving Nov. 28, 1861, with 1,163 names. It was at Benton Barracks during the winter, and participated in 1861 in the engagements at New Madrid, Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Hutchie, Spangler's Mills, Bay Springs, Holly Springs, etc., to Coffeeville on Dec. 5, also in the sieges of Island No. 10, and Corinth. Besides what they had taken while co-operating with other regilents, they had by themselves captured 3 Lieut. Cols., 2 Majors, 13 CaLptains, 19 Lieuts., and 1,249 privates, and on Nov. 30th the regiment numbered 971, with John K. Mezuer, Colonel. The adjutant general, speaking of this regiment, says: "From Nov. 1, 1862, to Nov. 1, 1863, it has captured 1,100 prisoners, making with the former year 2,100 prisoners, and during the year it has marched 10,800 miles, exclusive of marches by detatched companies." It would be too long to give all the details of its glorious marches, suffice it to say that from Nov. 1864 to Feb. 1865, it did duty at Brownsville, Ark., where it made such improvements that the place was named "Michigan City" instead of Brownsville Station. In the spring of 1865 it was transferred to the Department of the Mississippi, and took part under Canby against Mobile, and I L, -.- -----------------------------------------------— K ~* ( A I,-I 6 I l I 132 MILITARY HIIISTORY. 132 - afterwards this regiment was selected by Gen. Canby as his escort on receiving the surrender of Gen. Dick Taylor. It was finally stationed at San Antonio, Texas, for protection of the Rio Grande frontier, being in the First Brigade of First Cavalry Division, Military Division of the Gulf. Disbanded at Jackson, March 10, 1866. THE FIFTH CAVALRY. This regiment was organized by Col. J. T. Copeland, of the First Cavalry, and mustered into service Aug. 30, 1862. The command, with the Ninth Battery, proceeded to the seat of war and was attached to the Army of the Potomac, with which it continued service until transferred to the Army of the Shenandoalh. Its record of battles contains 67 names, beginning with Hanover, Va., June 30, 1863, and ending with the Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Consolidated with the First and Seventh Michigan Cavalry, the entire commllland was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, and mustered out there June 22, 1855, and reported at Detroit for discharge eight days later. WHITE RIVER. The country around White Lake felt the pulsations of that patriotic wave which swept over the Northern States at the opening of the war with as deep heart throbbings as any other part of the community. Noah Ferry, of the saw mill at the Mouth, entered heart and soul into the raising of a company of cavalry from his own employes and others, which was afterwards enrolled as Company F, of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, raised at Grand Rapids. It was organized in 1862, mustered in at Detroit, drilled for three months, and went to Washington and thence to Fairfax Court House. Captain Ferry was promoted before he left Detroit, and when his lamented death took place, at Gettysburg, he was holding the rank of Major. Captain Dicey also organized a company of Sharpshooters around White Lake. SIXTH CAVALRY. This regiment was organized at Grand Rapids, mustered into service Oct. 13, 1863, with 1,229 officers and men. Left its rendezvous on Dec. 10th for Washinlgton, going into the Army of the Potomac with Geo. Gray, Colonel, R. A. Alger, Lieut. Col., Thaddeus Foote, E. D. Waters, and S. D. Brown, as Majors, D. G. Weare, Surgeon, H. F. Hale, Adjutant, C. H. Patten, Quartermaster, J. Chapman, Commissary. S. N. Greely, Chaplain. The following is a list of the battles and skirmishes of this regiment: Hanover, June 30, 1863, Hunterstown, Gettysburg, Monterey, Cavetown, Smithtown, Boonesboro, Hagerstown, WVilliamsport, Falling Waters, Snicker's Gap, Kelley's Ford, Culpepper, Racoon Ford, White's Ford, Jackshop, James City, Brandy Station, Buckland's Mills, -Richmond,Wilderness, Cold Harbor, etc., to Appomattox Court House April 9, 865, and Little Laramie, D. T., Aug. 6, 1865. On Sept. 17, 1865, the men whose term of service did not expire before Feb. 1866, were consolidated with First Michigan Cavalry, and sent to Fort Leavenworth and there mustered out Nov. 24 1865, and arriving at Jackson on the 30th were there disbanded. SEVENTH CAVALRY. This organization left Grand Rapids Feb. 20, 1862, with two battalions, the remaining companies joining them in May, Col. G. Gray commanding. At the close of 1863 it was in 2nd Brigade, 3rd division, cavalry corps of the army of the Potomac, and its colonel was W. D. Mann. At the close of 18614 we find this regiment in 1st Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, of middle military division. This regiment has a history somewhat similar to that of the Sixth Cavalry, as in mllany engagements they fought side by side. Their first engagement was at Thoroughfare Gap, May 21,1863; their last at Little Laramie, Aug. 6, 1865. Their last march was to the Rocky Mountains to fight the Indians, a march of 700 miles west of Fort Leavenworth. About the first of November came an order for all whose term extended beyond March 1, 1866, transferring them to the First Michigan Cavalry, and ordering them to report at Denver City to be mustered out. By this order 250 wtere mustered out, and on arriving at Denver were ordered to Fort Leavenworth to be mustered out, which took twenty-seven days marching across the plains with snow on the ground, and only one wagon for 300 men, insufficient to carry their provisions for three days, and across a country destitute of supplies or wood. Permission was granted the men to hire mules at a cost of $25 each, to carry provisions! The regiment was disbanded at Jackson on Christmas day. TENTH CAVALRY. Organized in 1863 at Grand Rapids, leaving with 912 men under Col. Thaddeus Foote, on Dec. 1st, for Camp Nelson, where it lay until Jan. 25, 1864, and was assigned to Second Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd corps,Arimy'of the Ohio. In 1864 Col. John H. Standish, now of Muskegon, ranked as Major, and Luther S. Trowbridge as Colonel, July 25, 1864. The regiment was in a great many engagements and bravely did its duty from its first skirmish at House Mountain, Tenn., Jan. 1864, to its last at Newton, N. C., April 17, 1865. It is credited with 55 battles and skirmishes. Mustered out at Memphis, Nov. 11, 1865. FIRST ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. This regiment was organized at Marshall and left Dec. 1861, for Louisville with 1,032 men, and as most of valuable services were performed by detachments the regiment was more or less separated front the first. One of those detachments under Gen. Mitchell was the first to enter Bowling Green after its evacuation by the rebels. This regiment was employed in repairing and opening railroads between Nashville and Chattanooga, Nashville and Columbia, Corinth and Decatur, etc. During June 1862, it built seven bridges on the Memphis & Charleston R. R., aggregating 2,758 feet. After PittsburgLanding for eight weeks it was engaged with but one day's rest. On Oct. 31, 1864, the term of enlistment having expired, the officers and men whose term was out were allowed to leave, but so great was the number of re-enlistments that the regiment maintained its full strength and organization entire. After stirring times in active service, the regiment rendezvoused at Jackson, Michigan, onil Sept. 25, 1865, and on Oct. 1, was disbanded. They had taken part in the following battles and skirmishes: Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862; Farmington, Miss., May 9, 1862; siege of Corinth, May 10-31, 1862; Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862; Lavergne, Tenn., Jan. 1, 1863; Chattanooga, Oct. 6, 1863; siege of of Atlanta, July 22, to Sept. 2, 1864; Savannah, Dec. 11-21, 1864; Bentonville, N. C. Mar. 19, 1875. ARTILLERY. There were raised at Grand Rapids three batteries, the Secolld (Ross'), the Third (Dees'), and the Thirteenth. Ross' left Dec. 17th, 1861, and at Pittsburg Landing, teing cut off fromn infantry support, it lost four of its six pieces, and sixty officers and men. After being connected with a MIissouri battery, it was supplied with new guns, and operated in West Tennessee. Dees' Battery left the same day as Ross', and was engaged at the siege of Corinth, at Iuka, and on Nov. 30, 1862, had 108 men, who were assigned to West Tennessse under Capt. Geo. Robinson. It is credited with sixteen battles and skirmishes, from Pittsburg Lapding, April 6, 1862, to Bentonville, N. C., March 21-22, 1865, having marched " with Sherman to the sea." The Thirteenth Battery was mustered in on Jan. 20, 1864, swith 160 names. On Feb. 3d it left for Washington, and after drilling I I I I I I I I L'F 111 fi -l lg - - I ~-,I __ D Ur _. - - MILITARY HISTORY. 133 11 I. was ordered to Fort Slemmer, D. C. On July 11th and 12th it assisted in repelling the attack of Early on Fort Stevens. GRAND HAVEN. In Grand Haven and Ottawa County generally, a sustained feeling of the most ardent patriotism existed throughout the contest with tile Southern Confederacy. and many were the noble and generous deeds that might be recorded. Senator Ferry, the late C. B. Albee, and many others, were~ liberal of their means, and attentive to the wants of the soldier and those near and dear to him. Capt. Elmer H. Dicey, then a machinist in the city, and now of Chicago, raised a company at the opening of the war, Co. B of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, which left sixty strong and rendezvoused at Kalamazoo, entering the Army of the Potomac, in Burnside's 9th Corps. On the 30th of June, 1864, at the explosion of the mine before Petersburg, all the commissioned officers of the company were either killed or wounded, and Orderly Sergeant D. P. Sanford became the leading officer, and the company was the first to enter Petersburg. Co. G, 21st Michigan Infantry, rendezvoused at Ionia under Capt. Horace Albee, Isaac Hunting, of Grand Haven, Major, and this company was raised chiefly at Grand Haven, Alderman Isaac H. Sanford, the clothier, and others, taking an active part in organizing it, and also a company in the 3d Michigan Infantry. There was one company of the 14th Michigan Infantry, composed chiefly of men from Grand Haven and vicinity; and there were many Ottawa men in the Mechanics and Engineers. Grand Haven never was behind in the tally of men required, and when the war was over, the city had overpaid its quota by 106 years service, which, divided by three, would give nearly 35 men over, as the term of enlistment was for three years. The city was always liberal in entertaining and banqueting the men in passing through the city. Although the majority was always democratic, they were war Democrats. There were a number of Grand Haven men in Loomis' Battery, among others John Miller, one of the youngest in the battery, which was raised in Coldwater. H. C. Akeley was in the 2d Cavalry, as was also Lieut. G. H. Osgood. James A. Stephenson was in the 3d Cavalry. Among the other veterans, either from the city or now residents, may be mentioned Major B. D. Safford, Capt. S. C. Moore, Capt. Glover, John Thornton, Senator Farr, Major N. H. Ferry, and three of the Sandford family, G. D., H., and D. P. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. In 'the County of Muskegon there are two "posts" of this benevolent and patriotic order, which is intended to keep alive in the breasts of the survivors the memories of their stirring campaigns, to aid their needy comrades, to assist their widows and orphans, and to broaden and deepen the patriotic feeling in the hearts of all. In Montague there is a post known as the " Major N. H. Ferry Post" No. 3, G. A. R., which was organized May 27, 1877, with the following charter members: Dallas Johnson, L. F. Thompson. Dr. J. H. Johnson, H. M. Bigelow, F. Yeomans, Samuel Durham, J. W. Austin, G. H. Carr, J. Bordwell, and George Burdick. The officials for 1881 were T. S. Watson, Colonel Commandant, and Dallas Johnson, Adjutant. The first Colonel Commandant was Dallas Johnson, and the first Adjutant, H. M. Bigelow. They meet monthly in summer, and semi-monthly in winter. There are about thirty members. Initiation fee, $1; annual dues, $2. The organization does not allow politics to be discussed, or in any way to be brought into play in its workings. It demands of its members their clear record in the army or navy. PHIL KEARNEY POST, No. 7, Deparment of Michigan, has been for a number of years in successful operation in Muskegon City, and in January, 1882, had the honor of entertaining the State Grand Commandery. Their hall is in Gustin's Block, and they meet twice a month. Their first Post Commander was Major W. L. Ryan, and the next was Capt. Samuel D. Murray. -Those actively engaged in organizing the society were Messrs. Ryan, Murray, Moon, H. J. Bradford, L. Kanitz, J. G. Campbell, L. A. Waldron, D. G. Crotty, W. Jones, Sheriff Waters, etc. The present officers are: Post Com.-L. D. Lochlin; S. V.-A. Eddy; J. V.-D. G. Crotty; Surgeon-F. Olney; Chaplain-James Sprague; Officer of the DayT. Cady; Quartermaster-S. D. Murray; Delegates-L. J. Warner and W. F. Wiselogel. I I I PI tl c -- --— ILr ar -I - w --— II-.-. ----....l.. —, ------- —...-.... -.. t..,, A -- - ' I. af t - I I I -aI - - I. i -, - - - - a \ \, 4 3 q 4 / v j-? \,l I a-:l I...I... I, 1" `; ~ I ~~ ~-~- '~ -- ~ i; 5 m'