Barry County, Michigan - The whole text, 1912 (part 2 of 4)

Calvin G. Hill was tlie first white proprietor of tlie land on which the present village of Middleville stands. It was probably surveyed and platted before 1850, but the work was so imperfectly done that it is impossible to tell its date. The plat was not recorded until 1859. The name Middleville was transferred to the village after it was platted, it being a survival of the Indian village known as the Middle village whicli was located on Scales Prairie, and the name given to the first postoffice established at Gates Corners and named by Lucius Lyon, then a member of Congress, as Middleville. The name Middleville in reality was first attached to the old French block house on the prairie used as a hotel and stopping place on the Battle Creek and Grand Rapids road.

Isaac N. Keeler was the pioneer merchant of Middleville. This village was incorporated in 1867. Isaac N. Keeler was the first President and William L. Cobb, still a resident of Middlevillc;, was the first village Clerk.

The first location near the present village of Woodland was in 1847 by John McArthur. In 1849 one Snyder set up a blacksmith shop there ; Jacob Strauss opened a store at Woodland Center in 1853. In 1861 J. S. Goodyear started to open a store at Woodland, but he thought the prospects there were too poor and hauled the goods back to Hastings without unloading them. Lawrence Hilbert engaged in trade here and about 1865 lots began to be set off and sold. The place was known as Woodland Center until 1892, when it was incorporated under the name of the village of Woodland under the general village law by the Board of Supervisors of Barry County.

Elated at tlie prospects of securing a railroad at an early date at Freeport, Samuel Rousli in 1874 platted the village. Eventually it secured railroad facilities, being on one of the branches of the Pere Marquette Railroad. It was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature in 1907.

When The Circus Came To Yankee Springs

The man who lias lived longest in Hastings is Oscar Youngs a well-known citizen. He has lived here 70 years. Born in Battle Creek on July 1^ 1810, he was brought to Hastings by his fatlier, Vespasian Youngs wlio conducted a store here until he died in 1848. While Mr. Young resided in Battle Creek lie bought furs which he sold to the firm of Godfrey & Campau, of Detroit. In Hastings his place of business was in a building which stood where John Robert's news room now is. Henry Goodyear had a store on the corner occupied by the National Bank building. There was a hotel kept by Nathan Barlow and another kept by George Fuller. Hastings was accessible by roads leading from Battle Creek^ and Yankee Springs. ^Ir. Young's father bought furs^ and sold blankets^ bars of lead for bullets and other necessities which the Indians required. He also made buckskin gloves and mittens. He spent his spare time in studying law. There was a number of pettifoggers in Hastings at that time. When Mr. Fuller had an Indian arrested for not returning a kettle which he had borrowed^ Dr. Upjohn pettifogged the case for the Indian and w^on it. At another time James Darling, a ^lexican War veteran, was bitten by a dog owned by O. N. Henry. Trouble ensued, and Hemen I. Knappen, who drove the stage between Hastings and Battle Creek, appeared as attorney for Henry. These trials and cases were held in a little office in a building which stood on the corner now occupied by Loppenthien's store. Indian trails and the river made the settlement accessible to Indians. Mr. Young, though only a boy, recalls the visits to his father's store of Chief Sobby, a heavy-set red man, who combined with his Indian costume of skins a unique head-piece, Avliich was nothing but a plug hat with a tin band about it. Chapultepec was another well-known Indian. Sundago, another Indian whose name is familiar to many today, adopted the white man's habits so far that he wore a small beard. Askasaw was the last Indian chief in this vicinity. When he died, says Mr. Young, the Pioneer Society, then headed by Daniel Striker, took up a subscription and purcliased a head stone for the chief's grave in Barryville cemetery. Tliis is the only existing memorial to any of the red men who used to live here.

Probably the most noted man who penetrated to the remote settlement called Hastings was Lewis Cass, candidate for President. In the presence of a great crowd of Democrats he spoke in the grove on the east side of the old court house. There was a great deal of political spirit in those days, and the Democrats here wanted to honor the distinguished visitor in every way they could. They placed a cannon on Grant's hill, and whenever Cass said something which delighted his audience, William Goodyear standing in the court yard, waved a signal flag to tlie men at the cannon and it was at once fired. This delighted the audience more than it did Cass, for he stopped speaking long enough to inform his guests that he wished they would stop firing that pop gun as it annoyed him. Cass is described by Mr. Young as a stern looking man with a very large head, and a wart on his chin. Cass came and went by stage.

There was considerable excitement here at the outbreak of the ]\Iexican War, and John VanArman opened a recruiting office liere. Among those who enlisted were Ivcvi Chase, proprietor of Chase's tavern, and his brother Charles; William Boorum, who died in the Soldiers' Home several months ago ; William Seavey, who died a year ago, and a man named Tabor. Tabor and the Chases died eitlier of s])otted fever at Detroit or in the service. Tabor's clothes were sent back packed in a bee hive. In addition to these men was Harvey Horton. When the load of recruits passed Fuller's hotel on their way to Battle Creek, a man came out of the hotel with a decanter of whiskey and treated tliem to a farewell drink.

Shortly after they left Mr. Horton regretted enlisting, and returned, and there was excitement in town soon after. The men Jiere were thoroughly in sympathy with his decision not to go to Mexico. When an officer arrested and took liim away, a number of Hastings men made their way tlirough the woods, and lieaded them off. They seized Mr. Horton and brought him back. Later when another officer came for him Mr. Horton happened to be in a room in Barlow's hotel. Word of the officer's arrival spread rapidly^ and again Mr. Horton's friends came to his assistance. They crowded into tlie room and about the officer^ until Mr. Horton was able to escape into the woods. After these two experiences in trying to take him into custody the officers gave up trying to get him.

Amusements during tlie early days were few and far between. Occasionally some enterprising man/iger would bring to the settlement a puppet sliow^ and dancing images, Punch and Judy, and Babes in the Woods. Tlie residents were fond of dancing and the shows would be followed with dances in Barlow's hotel. In this hotel there was an excellent floor for dancing. It was called a "swinging floor" and the joints rested on tamarack poles.

One jjarticularly well known entertainer who came to H/istings was named Carey. In those days they were boosting the western country just as they are doing today. Carey had a show here, and one of the songs with Avhich he made a hit ran thus:

Conic all you that arc not faint liearted and arc bound for tlie west In search of the country that you would like best, Come and go along' witli me after tliose that have gone And we'll settle on the hanks of the i)leasant Oregon.

A big event happened in Hastings in 1850 and many of the folks were looking forward to it with great pleasure, and so were the boys w^ho could atli'ord to go - Van Amberg's Circus and Menagerie was coming to Yankee Springs, then the j)rincipal settlement in the county. Flaming posters in Hastings announced the wonders that were to be seen. Oscar Young was then ten years old, and he gazed in wonder at the })ostcrs but had no ide/i that he could go. But there was one kind-hearted man in the settlement who knew the longings in a boy's heart. Early on show day Henry Hoyt saw Oscar and William Hitchcock and his brother standing near his store. Mr. Hoyt, who was afterward County Clerk and afterward well-known resident of Kalamazoo, married tlie daughter of William I^ewis^ proprietor of tlie Yankee Springs hotel. ^Irs. Hoyt is still living in Kalamazoo. Mr. Hoyt and his brother were engaged in dry goods business in part of Barlow's liotel.

Manning Doud^ still a resident of Hastings^ was preparing to take a load to the show for 25 cents per head for the round trip. Into this wagon Mr. Hoyt placed Oscar. With the kind heart of a man who knows what a boy needs wlien lie starts out for a good time^ Mr. Hoyt said, ''You'll want something to eat. Hold on ! a boy never goes to a circus without a glass of lemonade. You'll need money for that."

Provided witli funds by Mr. Hoyt, Oscar took his place in the wagon, and eagerly waited until the big tent west of the Yankee Springs tavern came into sight. He immediately jumped out of the wagon and joined the crowd. About the first thing he heard was a barker presiding over a lemonade stand. He was at once attracted to the "barker" in charge of the stand. What he said Mr. Young has always vividly remembered, and he says that he has never since heard a man in this business repeat a lingo anything like it. This is what he heard:

''Right this way for your cool ice lemonade. Cool as the ice from a frozen ocean. Made by the light of a diamond 75 feet under the ground and sweetened by the kisses of Jenny Lind."

Oscar could not withstand such an appeal and he at once invested in his first glass of lemonade. He had never before imagined anything which tasted as good. After drinking his lemonade he strolled about the hotel with its "seven stories all on the ground." Here he saw "Yankee Bill," the famous landlord, whom he remembers as a red-faced, portly man. Here were gathered a great crowd of people gathered from all directions. Some came with horse and ox teams, and others came on horses. As often happens, there was a brawl between some of the persons present and the show men. When the fight took place, Constable Edgecomb attempted to arrest one of the show men. The men connected with the circus rallied to the support of their companion. They seized the constable, lifted up a rail fence, placed him under it, and let the fence down upon him. While he was engaged in the difficult task of extricating himself, the man whom he attempted to arrest galloped away over the hill on a white horse en route to Grand Rapids. After a fine dinner on gingerbread sold on the grounds, Oscar was ready for the sights.

He enjoyed the circus^ its acrobats and animals. Many of the young ladies present had the privilege of riding on an elephant. A ladder was provided^ and they took turns in climbing upon the back of the animal and taking a turn about the ring. If the name of one of these ladies, now a well-known resident of this city, were published there would be a great deal of amusement. He returned late in tlie evening to Hastings, very happy over his day of pleasure, and during the life of Mr. Hoyt he never forgot the kindly feeling for the man to whom he was indebted for one of the most pleasant experiences of his boyhood days.

Yankee Springs

(An article on this famous half-way house, written by Mrs. Mary Hoyt of Kalamazoo, in 1894.) On the afternoon of a summer's day, August 26, 1836, nearly fifty-eight years ago, tliere miglit have been seen a covered wagon containing a stalwart man of tliirty-five years and five children, between the ages of eleven and two years, driving through the then unbroken wilderness of Barry Count}^, in the Territory of Michigan.

Accompanying this wagon was a woman on horseback, carefully guiding her gray saddle-horse over the rough roads of the new country. She had in this way performed nearly the whole of the journey, we having started from Weathersfield, Wyoming County, New York, three weeks before, taking in Canada on our route, and expecting to settle in South Bend, Indiana, where my fatlier had bought a tract of land of 160 acres.

This party consisted of my father, William Lewis, and Mary Goodwin, his wife, three daugliters and a son, also an adopted daughter, Flavia Stone. We were at this time about to spend the night with an older brother, Calvin Lewis, who came to Michigan a few weeks in advance of us, and settled at Yankee Springs, but the result was that we settled there also. I was a child of four 3^ears at the time, so the words of my mother will best describe our coming into Micliigan :

''After leaving Detroit the road was mostly through dense woods, Marshall, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo being marked by little clusters of houses surrounded by forests. After leaving Battle Creek we passed through Gull Prairie, now Richland, and there met Leonard Slater, located on the Indian Reservation as a missionary to the Pottawatamie tribe of Indians. Leaving this place we plunged into the wilderness and, the road having disappeared, we followed an Indian trail marked by blazed trees and journeyed eighteen miles farther through the woods without seeing a single habitation. Tired and travel-worn, weary and hungry, we halted at nightfall in a lovely valley in the wilderness, where a log house was in process of erection. Living springs of clear cold water were gushing from a bank, and on a nearby poplar tree someone had fastened a shingle marked Yankee Springs.

''In 1835 a young man by the name of Chas. Paul, in company witli the family of Henry Leonard, were eating their luncheon under the trees beside one of the springs. A stranger joined them and it came out in conversation that they were all from New England States, and one of the party said, 'We are all Yankees.' At this suggestion Charles Paul hewed the bark off the side of an oak tree and cut the words 'Yankee Springs' on it. The name clung to the place and was finally adopted by the township."

door space and the windows were boarded. A supper was served and we settled down for the night. Dismal tales have come to me of those first nights in the forest; that the barking of wolves broke the stillness of the hours and that the glittering eye-balls of the panther looked down upon us with no friendly gaze.

My father located 1,000 acres of land there and it soon grew to be an attractive place. We endured in common with all the early settlers the trials and privations of pioneer and frontier life, and lived to see the wilderness subdued^ and surrounded by all that pertains to a later civilization. Here in this thick forest^ the land entirely unclaimed, we settled. The woods were filled with Indians, and our nearest white neighbor, Calvin G. Hill, was eight miles distant from us. P'rom Middleville to Ada, the direct route to Grand Rapids, was a dense forest, an unbroken wilderness without an inliabitant. We were on the direct line of the great Indian trail running from Detroit to Grand Rapids, which passed directly through Barry County. But we were not long alone. The fur trader and the speculator were abroad in the land, and to fill tlie increasing demands of the weary traveler, our little cottage of two rooms was extended, building after building, until we occupied "nine stories on the ground," seven distinct buildings in a row in the front and two additional in the back. Tliey presented neither an imposing nor a graceful appearance, but were the hurried creation of backwoods life, when there was no time to waste on architecture, symmetry or beauty.

The fame of the place spread througliout the country and so brisk was business at the old "^Mansion House," as it was called, that it was no uncommon tiling for one liundred people to tarry there for a night, while sixty teams were often stabled there between sunset and sunrise.

The extreme ends of the old house were named. The one farthest north was "Grand Rapids," and the extreme south was "Kalamazoo." The Kalamazoo was considered the "best room" and was furnislied rather better than the others and the better class of people occupied it generally, bridal parties, etc. All the other buildings have tumbled to ruin. This building alone stands out all by itself. It is close to the road down in the hollow, seemingly proud of the fact that it has survived all of the changes of the last century and inviting admiration and respect because of it. If the old building could speak what stories it could tell^ what historical information it could impart that would be of interest and benefit to future generations.

Together this husband and wife labored and toiled^ their chief desire seeming to be to give happiness to those about them. With a hospitality that was proverbial and a generosity that can not be measured by ordinary methods^, they greeted all who came. The man without money was treated as well as the man whose pocket bulged with the currency of tliat day. ^linisters of all denominations, irrespective of creed, were entertained free of charge, but were expected to hold an evening service in our large dining room, and men were sent out to notify tlie neighbors to that effect. The first Episcopal service I ever heard was rendered there by Dr. Francis Cuming, who was journeying to Grand Rapids to settle over St. Mark's church in that city.

We were in very close touch with the people at Grand Rapids m the early days and visited often in their families. Much of our trading was done there and, altliougli thirty-eight miles distant from us, we made frequent journeys tliere. I remember seeing Louis Campau and Rix Robinson - those grand pioneers - the earliest. Their names sliould never be forgotten by us. They were here in the early 20's and none who came after exceeded them in powers of endurance, or tlie cheerfulness with which they bore the hardships and toil of that period. The name of Louis Campau is reverenced by older Grand Rapids people, for he came there first. He once owned the wliole village of Grand Rapids. In the old days all knew of his tender heart - all who met him received some kindness at his hands. We used to hear how, when his bank failed, he brought liome armfuls of wildcat money and papered his cupola with it, saying ,'*If you won't circulate, you shall stay still." I recall the Withey family, tlie Moreaus, the Godfreys, Morrisons, Richmonds, Whites, Henry R. Williams, the Almys, P. R. L. Pierce, Canton Smith, an early hotel keeper of that city; the Rathbones, early settlers there, who built a large hotel and opened it with a big dance. I was there and danced all night. Mrs. T. B. Church, that noble pioneer woman, who played the organ of St. Mark's church for fifty years and is still living in that city, her gifted son, Frederick Church, then a babe whom I often carried in my arms, now celebrated world-wide as an artist - all these and many more were household names with us and went to make up a part of our family life in a time when there were few social barriers and man felt and needed the sympathy and encouragement of liis brother man.

Lewis Cass was twice our guest. Ex-Governor Felch, ex- Governor Ransom, United States Senator Zach Chandler^ Senator Chas. E. Stuart^ Judge Pratt - and;, indeed^ all men of note who traveled in those days were at some time or other entertained there in the primitive style of the day. Royalty was once entertained at the Mansion House, and this occasion was memorable as being the first time tliat tlie table was set with napkins for each guest^ word having been sent in advance of his coming. Almost the first guest I can remember was Douglas Houghton, then a young man. He was first appointed State Surveyor and later, as we all know, filled the office of State Geologist for many years.

Thefts and robberies were unknown, although large quantities of money were carried by travelers and it would have been an easy matter for it to cliange liands had there been the desire for it by designing persons. For example, every year large quan- titles of mone}^ were carried through from Detroit to Grand Rapids to pay the Indians at their annual payments. This money^ $15^000^ was conveyed through in an extra stage by a man named Lee, accompanied by an Indian interpreter named Provonsol. The money was all in specie and was carried in boxes about a foot square, very lieavy, as I remember liearing. These boxes were all set in the room at the south end of tlie old liouse. There was an outside door witli an old lock and key to it. Two old guns they liad were set up in one corner of the room and those men probably slept without a care or thought of being robbed and went safely tlirough from Detroit to Grand Rapids in this simple and easy way.

My father was a man of indomitable courage and perseverance - never discouraged - always happy and with a fund of humor, wit and story-telling rarely excelled. He was just the one to lead in settling and establishing a new country. He planned largely and liberally, and was able with his perseverance and strong health to carry out his plans, and by his })ersonal magnetism encouraged others to work and persevere also. He was the first to contract for carrying the United States mail through that portion of tlie country. In tlie first contract lie was assisted by General Withey, of Grand Rapids. This route was from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids. I^ater a contract was taken to carry the mail from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. Lines of stages were put on and several coaches a day were started from these points, all meeting at Yankee Springs - the "half way liouse" - for refreshment of passengers and change of horses. For many years this was the only route through the woods from Battle Creek and Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, and until other roads were opened up it made very lively times at the old house. The Yankee Springs postoffice for a long time supplied the adjacent country. Letters were luxuries in those days, rare and costly. Envelopes and postage stamps were unknown. We wrote on three pages of the paper, folding it so the name could be written in the middle of the fourth, and sealing with a wafer, directed it and then paid our 25 cents postage on it or left it to be collected by the person to whom it was addressed, just as we chose. Sometimes it was difficult for the old settler to produce the 25 cents to pay postage and he had to earn it before he could claim his letter.

My father and Rix Robinson built the first bridge across the Thornapple River in 1838. The road then ran on the old Indian trails across Scales Prairie. In 1838 my father also built the first bridge across the Coldwater Stream on Section 35, in Caledonia. Split Jogs were used for flooring, pinned down by wooden pins. He, in company with some others, started in 1819 to build a plank road that was to run from Galesburg to Grand Rapids. A good deal of time, energy and capital was expended on this sclieme, but it was finally abandoned.

Tliere was a ])eriod when the Yankee Springs property was considered very valuable, and the Rathbones, in Grand Rapids, wished to excliange tlieir liotel property for our own, we to retain the farm lands. This Grand Rapids property is now wortli several liundred thousand dollars, and is tlie present location of the Widdicomb building, corner of Monroe and Market streets. The other, deserted and forsaken, requires a stretch of the imagination to believe that it was ever of great importance.

Wheat and potatoes at this early date brought fabulous prices,, but the table was always well supplied with the essentials and with many delicacies. Great care and attention were given to the large garden of several acres that lay across the road from the old house. No vegetable or flower then lieard of but was grown there. The light soil, highly enriched by muck taken from the marsh, was calculated to bring them forward to speedy perfection. The most luscious fruits, melons and vegetables were grown in abundance, all luxuriating in the new, warm soil of the valley. Arbors were filled with choice grapes, peaches ripened in the sun, and flowers, the good old-fashioned flowers of that day, grew in abundance. Celery - the first grown in Barry County and perhaps in the State - was raised there. Tomatoes were raised. They were first called "love apples," and we grew them for their beauty, but soon learned to eat them. Men were constantly employed in caring for the ground. Water was supplied for use by wells dug on the grounds. JNIy father was a skillful caterer. Each guest who came was made to feel at home under that hospitable roof. The first Thanksgiving celebrated at Yankee Springs tavern was in the fall of 1838. My father sent out invitations to all the new settlers for miles around and later sent men and teams to gather them in. My mother meanwhile was superintending the first Thanksgiving dinner in the new country^, which consisted of wild turkeys brought by the Indians from Gun Lake woods^ two immense spare ribs cooked to a turn before the great open fireplace^ as were also the turkeys. Mince pies such as only my mother could make^ also pumpkin pies and puddings^ were baked in the large brick oven by the side of the kitchen fireplace. Cook stoves there were none. The turkeys and ribs were suspended by stout tow strings and slowly turned before the open fire and some one had to burn their face while continually basting tlie meats with their rich gravies^ brought out by the heat of the fire. Cranberries were brought by the Indians and was about the only fall berry. Not a fruit tree or berry bush Iiad yet been planted.

The tables wxre spread and the guests came from their homes in the woods to enjoy this banquet prepared for tliem in so hospitable a manner and, while all must liave remembered tlie parents and homes so recently left by them, it was not their way to mourn for what they liad not, but to enjoy fully what they had, which they did in a way tliat would astonish tlie dyspeptic of today.

It began to snow, the first of the season, but the liarder it snowed tlie livelier grew the party. An old violin was pulled out of some corner and all began dancing and kept it up until morning, when breakfast was prepared for them, after which they were conveyed back to their homes, and so passed our first Thanksgiving in the old Mansion House at Yankee Springs.

The political campaign of 1840 made a hot time in the old house, as I well remember. Pole and flag raising and stump speaking were the order of the day, but the doings on the Fourth of July, 1846, beat everything on record before or since, so far as I can remember. A tamarack pole was spliced until it was of the desired length and a flag was flung from it to the breeze with much hurrahing from the crowd that had collected from everywhere and filled the road-front before the old house from hill to hill. Twentysix girls, all in white, representing the states - then twenty-six in number - and a Goddess of Liberty in red, white and blue were loaded into a monster wagon drawn by twenty-six yoke of oxen. A girl for each state and a yoke of oxen for each girl ! We went above the hill to form the procession and came down into the crowd in fine style.

way. We lieard rumors of its approach^ but so slow was it in coming that the old stage coach kept right along its undisputed way for many years. Tlie road started from Detroit in 1836. when Michigan was a territory. It reached Kalamazoo February 21^ 1846, and six years later^ May^ 1852^ the road reached Chicago. It has been said "there is no good Indian but a dead Indian/' but in our experience we did not find in them the treachery and deceit they are usually credited with. They had great respect for my father and we lived in peace and liarmony. The woods were full of them^ but we did not fear them and I believe they were our friends. They were strict in their deals and if they made a promise tliey kept it. Tliey brought us berries of all kinds from the woods and constantly supplied us with fresh venison^ never bringing any part of the carcass but the liams^, which were always twenty-five cents^ no more nor less. They brought us fresh fish from the lakes, and tlie muskallonge from Gun Lake were enormous. They made a great deal of maple sugar. In 1840 these Fottawatamies were removed by the United States Government beyond the Missi8sii)pi, and very reluctantl}" they left their homes among the lakes and oak openings and the silver streams of Michigan. Noonday, the cliief of tlie Fottawatamies, greatly impressed me by his dignified bearing. Six feet tall and well proportioned, lie was at that time nearly 100 years old. His face was painted and a great circlet of eagle feathers was around his head. He looked kind and he laid his hand on my head. He died soon after and was buried in Richland cemetery by the side of his wife. He, Noonday, assisted in the War of 1812 and witnessed the burning of the city of Bufialo.

There were poets in those days and frequently the old place was sounded in story and song, and occasionally one was found whose "feelings" overflowed to the extent that he published his production. Such an one was George Torrey, Sr., who, coming from Boston at an early day, settled in Kalamazoo County and was associated with the Kalamazoo Telegraph at its birth in 1844. He traveled through Barry County at that date and a poem published in the Telegraph soon after reached us in this form. He had not the world-wide fame of a Kipling, but this poem has survived perhaps longer than some of Kipling's will, which, having been carefully preserved for sixty years, I have the pleasure of presenting to you:

Personally, I knew little of the hardships of pioneer life, for I was protected and sheltered by my parents. There was so much of life and activity about us that it was akin to life in a city, and we had no time for loneliness. Being the almost constant companion of my father and visiting with him all the towns within a large radius, I saw life in all its forms in tlie new country, traveling in stage coach, wagon or on horseback. There was no underbrush in those days, the annual fires consumed it, leaving the forests free from obstruction, and one could walk, ride or drive anywhere as freely as in a beautiful park. Nature was liberal in the diffusion of fruits, nuts and flowers, and from the little violet in the early spring there was a successive gradation of flowers of all kinds and colors until the frost came in the fall. We lived only two and one-half miles from Gun Lake - that inland gem of Barry County. My first view of it will never be forgotten. Scouring through the woods one day on my little pony - born of the gray mare ridden by my mother when we came into the country - we came suddenly out on the shore of this lake and I gazed in silent wonder on that broad sheet of water, flashing and dimpling in the sunlight where no white man's boat had ever been^ and only the Indian's canoe had disturbed the calm serenity of its waters. Not a tree liad been disturbed and the dark forest clear around was reflected on the glistening surface of the water. As I silently gazed a feeling of awe stole over me. The solemn stillness of lake and forest frightened me. I turned my pony and fled and never drew rein until my home was reached.

In the new country you sometimes looked around for your neighbors and the}^ were not there, and so it was that some of the birds we had known - the robin, the wren and the swallow - were not there, but blue-jays and whip-poor-wills were not lacking. The crows had not come, neither the flies, but fleas and mosquitoes were plenty. We heard of a neighbor who opened her Bible one day and found a fly pressed between its leaves. **Now, children," she said, "don't you touch tliat fly, let it remain right here in this book, just as it is, because that fly once lived in our old home in York State." Tliere were no rats or mice, neither were there any house cats. Tlie country liad no need for tlie latter, but I had, and so pleaded that one day a box came from Grand Rapids, upon opening whicli out jumped two lovely maltese kittens. The prettiest, irrespective of sex, was immediately christened Tommy and nursed and petted to a great extent. One day Tommy was missing, and there was a great outcry. Finall}^, when found, he was nursing a lot of little kittens of his own. From this small beginning many came and, no doubt, the descendants of this same cat are racing around on tlie sand hills of Barry County today.

^ly fatlier represented the counties of Allegan and Barry in the State I>cgislature in Detroit in 184^6. He came home for a sliort time during tlie winter and when he returned was accompanied by his two youngest daughters, who took their first ride on the new railroad and indulged in the gayeties of the Capital City for two weeks.

The ride to Battle Creek was duly performed by stage coach and four horses and from there we took our first and never-to-beforgotten ride on that new railroad we had heard so much about. We were nearly frightened to death with the almost constant scream of the engine whistle and the clanking of the cars over the rough road^ which was about equal to that of cattle cars at the present time. We wished ourselves back in the old stage coach many times before the journey ended.

The Wales Hotels on Jefferson avenue^, East^ just thrown open to the public January 1^ 1846^ we thought very fine. It was kept by Austin Wales and his two sons. It was very crowded, as many members of the Legislature and their wives were staying there. The dining room was large and nearly square and was frequently used for entertainments in the evening, balls, fancy-dress parties and concerts, all of which we attended. About January 24 a Scottish ball was given. Perhaps it was a Burns' reunion and seemed to us a grand affair. There was fine music, with bag-pipes included (the first I ever heard), the gay costumes with kilted skirts, plaid hose and scarfs and jaunty caps quite charmed us, and the Scottish dances and hornpipes altogether made it a veritable fairyland entertainment, the impression of which I have never forgotten.

We visited a daguerrean gallery and had our pictures taken. This room liad just been opened in Detroit and the art was considered something wonderful and had but recently come into practice on this side of the water. We thought it very tiresome, as we had to sit still five minutes to get a picture. My father had a number taken and presented one to each of his seven brothers then living.

TJiat was the last winter the Legislature convened in Detroit. Some feared that the frivolities of the gay city miglit affect the manners and morals of the members of that day, and so voted that Lansing, forty miles from any railroad, in the heart of the forest of Ingham County, should henceforth witness the assembling together of that august body. My father lived for six years after this event, dying in September, 1853, at the age of fifty-one. His last request was that he might be buried on tlie hill overlooking the old place. I have twice removed his remains - once, after the old place passed from our hands, to the nearby cemetery, and again to lay them by the side of my mother in Kent County. She outlived him by thirty-five years, dying March 1, 1888, at Alaska, Kent County, at the age of eighty-three years. My mother descended from old Revolutionary stock, on the Norton-Goodwin side, and will ever be remembered as a faithful friend and worthy type of womanhood. In the afflictions of life, from which she was far from being exempt, she displayed that true Christian fortitude which commends her example to us.

The solid forests have vanished and we sometimes feel that the solid man has vanished, too. The type of character they represented may not be needed now, but they are worth remembering for their courage in opening up this country and reclaiming it from brush and bramble trees and stone, and placing Michigan in the front rank she holds today among the states of the Union.

The men have done much to make this a grand and noble State, but the women have not been idle. If **the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" ours have certainly been kept busy. In all ways pioneer women gladly did their share in bearing the heavy burdens of that period, and today can pride themselves upon being "the first ladies of the land," and by right, because we got here first !

Mrs. Mary Hoyt, the author of the above sketch and the daughter of "Yankee Bill" Lewis, was born at Weathersfield, Wyoming County, New York, October 1, 1832. She came to the then Territory of Michigan in August, 1836, and is now living in Kalamazoo. She is greatly interested in Barry County and is thoroughly in sympathy with every movement to advance the cause of preserving the records of pioneer days.

Nathan Barlow

In presenting the biography of Hon. Nathan Barlow we feel that we can do no better than to give in full the following paper read before a meeting of the Barry County Pioneer Society by Hon. Chas. Mack:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been called upon to give a sketch of the life and character of one of the early pioneers, one, who in his lifetime, was well and personally known to every person in Barry County. I refer to the Hon. Nathan Barlow. He was, indeed, one of the early pioneers. Coming to this county with his parents from the state of New York, in the year 1840, the family settled on a new farm in the township of Yankee Springs. In the year 1842 he was elected County Clerk of this county. The whole number of votes cast in the county that year was 315. There are today more legal voters in any one township in Barry County, than there were in the entire county at that time. The population of this city at that time was about 100. In the year 1844, Mr. Barlow was elected to the office of County Treasurer.

After finishing his duties as a county official he launched into business for himself, by renting and operating the old flouring mill owned by Messrs. Dibble and Hayes.

He built his first residence on the ground where now stands the Parker Hotel. He soon opened this residence as a hotel and operated it as such for several years.

Later on he associated himself with the late Wm. S. Goodyear. The firm Barlow & Goodyear proved to be one of the strongest and most reliable that ever did business in this county. The firm was engaged in the mercantile business; they were also the owners and operators of the large flouring mill that was located on South Hanover street, which in its time was a great boon to the farmers of this county. They also operated the old woolen mill located on Fall Creek, which will be remembered by the surviving pioneers of this county.

Mr. Barlow's push, enterprise, and business sagacity were perhaps best shown in his connection with the building of the Grand River Valley railroad. The project lay dormant for more than twenty years after the act had been passed by the Legislature authorizing the construction of this road. Mr. Barlow was a member of the Board of Directors of this company, and with that spirit of enterprise that marked his whole career, resolved to put an end to the hauling of all merchandise used by more than onehalf of the population of this county. This liauling was done over the long and tedious wagon road from Battle Creek to this city. There are some here today, who well remember the sand liills and the mud holes they had to contend with, while teaming over this road. As I said before, "Sir. Barlow resolved to put an end to this liauling of goods by wagon, and in the fall of 1863, and during the dark days of the War of the Rebellion, wlien it was no easy task to arouse men, and raise money for a project of this kind, he was instrumental in getting the directors together in the city of Jackson, and at that meeting it was resolved to build the Grand River Valley railroad, or perish in the effort. The labors performed, and the trials endured by this Board of Directors during the construction of this road, will never be fully known by us. Reward finally came to them, and in April, 1869, the cars rolled into Hastings for the first time; and in March of the following year the road was completed to the city of Grand Rapids.

That he was held in high esteem by the people of this city and county is shown by the honors showered upon him by calling him to fill so many positions of public trust, having filled with marked ability the offices of County Clerk, County Treasurer, Representative in the State Legislature, Postmaster at this place, and member of the Board of Education of this city. He was a member of the School Board in 1872, when our present high school building was erected. This building stands today as a monument to the enterprise and good judgment of the members of the board at that time.

The agricultural interests of the county were near and dear to him, and perhaps no class of people could say more kind things of him today than the pioneer farmers of Barry County. They remember him as their friend, and their benefactor in their early struggles, when the county was new, and when money and favors were hard to get. In truth, and in conclusion I will say that Mr. Barlow was one of those men who do things, and say little about

In addition to the above excellent and well written sketch by Judge Mack^ it might be well to recite something of the home life of Mr. Barlow. On February 2^ 1843^ he married Melissa B. Tyler. To them were born four children - Chas. E., Fred H., Henry H. and Sarali L., of whom two, Sarah L. and Henry H., are still living, Sarah L. being Mrs. Chas. Huffman of Hastings. Mrs. Barlow died March 28, 1869, and on May 31, 1870, Mr. Barlow married Hannah M. McNair, who survives him, as does also their son, Royce E. Barlow of Chicago.

Another subject which perhaps should be commented upon more fully is the connection of Mr. Barlow with the organization of tlie Grand River Valley railroad and in dealing with his efforts in this direction we believe an account written by Edward W. Barber of Jackson will be read with interest. The sketch is as follows:

In tlie fall of 1863 it was determined by the directors of tlie Grand River Valley Railroad Company to organize for the purpose of building the road from Jackson to Grand Rapids. Prior to that time the idea had been to construct the road by way of Lansing, but this was given up on account of the proposed construction of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw. Pursuant to the plan to build by way of Eaton Rapids, Charlotte, Vermontville and Hastings to Grand Rapids, a meeting of the stockholders of the Grand River Valley Company was held in Jackson on the 20th day of October, 1863. Before the meeting was held the question of who sliould be chosen was fully talked over, and the result of tlie election was that all of the shares represented, were cast for the following persons, namely: Nathan Barlow, Edward W. Barber, Henry A. Shaw, Amos Root, Joseph E. Beebe, William H. Withington and Moses A. McNaughton. This is the order in which the names are given in the official minutes of the meeting. Of the persons then elected Mr. Barber is the only one now living.

As soon as notified of the action of the stockholders, Mr. Barlow filed the oath of office required by law with the Secretary of the company, which bears the date of November 21st, 1863, and on tliat day a meeting of the new board was held in Jackson, and tlie purpose to proceed at once to build the road was evidenced by its action in adopting a resolution that Director Barlow of Barry- County^ Director Shaw of Eaton County and Director Root of Jackson County^ be authorized and directed to procure on belialf of the company the right of way through their respective counties for the track of the road.

At every subsequent annual meeting of the stockholders of the company until the year of his deaths Mr. Barlow was chosen a director^ and from the outset took an active part in the construction of the road^ and as to every detail with reference to building the line in Barry County he was consulted and his advice accepted.

Matters with reference to the road in Barry County were placed formally in his hands. At a meeting of the directors^ held in Jackson^ August 3, 1865^ at which Mr. Barlow was present and the contract was let for its construction^ the board authorized him to make such arrangements with Mr. Hiram J. Kenfield^ or some other person^ as he should deem for the best interest of the company^, to procure subscriptions to the stock and rights of way in Barry County. Later in the same year, at a meeting held November 9th^ Mr. Barlow was authorized to negotiate for rights of way in the County of Barry.

At a meeting of the directors held in the village of Hastings on the 24th day of June, 1868, the matter of locating depot grounds was considered, and it was determined, after remarks by Messrs. Mills, Holbrook and others, that plats of the lands which would be needed either east or west of the village, should be made and sent to Hastings to be viewed by the public, and that written propositions sent to the President and Secretary of the company would be considered by the board. Mr. Barlow was specially anxious for an open and square deal in this matter.

This subject came up again at a meeting of the Board of Directors held in Jackson, October 7, 1868, when the proposition of Mr. Barlow and H. J. Kenfield to donate ten acres of land east of the village of Hastings for depot purposes was formally accepted. This action was unanimous on the part of the board.

During all the years that Mr. Barlow was a member of the board there was entire harmony, and in regard to every important action the determination was unanimous. In attending meetings the members paid their own expenses. Building the road was a hard financial struggle. About four years after his first election as a director, in the fall of 1867, the road was completed and cars commenced running to Onondaga in Ingham County; in July, 1868, to Eaton Rapids, and in October, 1868, to Charlotte; in April, 1869, to Hastings, and in March, 1870, to Grand Rapids. Witli all the details of the work during its slow progress Mr. Barlow was familiar and his advice and counsel in regard to the work in Barry County were regarded by the other members of the board as of great value. He seldom, if ever, seemed to be in doubt as to the best policy to pursue.

John Bessmer

In the death of John Bessmer, February 5, 1912, Hastings lost a substantial citizen and an active business man. A resident of that city for forty-eight years, he built up a splendid reputation for integrity and rectitude and made a large circle of friends. Every one wlio knew John Bessmer, knew him for a man who merited the respect and admiration of all.

Mr. Bessmer was the last of the prominent German residents of Hastings. He came to this country a poor lad, but equipped with an excellent education. He mastered the language, worked industriously, and made good in every sense of the word. He was interested in movements for the advancement of education and culture in this community. His influence as a member of the board of education was strongly felt, for he always wanted the youth of this city to have the advantages of excellent schools. He was a charter member of the German Arbeiter Verein, a society organized by the German residents of Hastings, years ago. Mr. Bessmer had a strong sense of humor, and to listen to his recollections of amusing incidents in the early days in this city was a pleasure.

Mr. Bessmer was survived by the following children: Mrs. Anna McOmber, Miss Olga, Louis V., of Hastings; Mrs. E. A. Clarke, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. J. C. Rock, of Goldfield, Nevada. He also left liis sister, Mrs. Eckardt, brother Gottlieb of Hastings, and a sister in Germany. Mrs. Bessmer died in December, 1903.

Mr. Bessmer was a resident of Hastings since 1864. When he came to Hastings, then a settlement of 800 persons, he started the first good barber shop, and made a success of the venture.

When lie rented from Mrs. Knappen a building for fifty cents weekly it was predicted by many that he would be unable to make enough money to pay his rent. ' Mr. Bessmer arrived here via stage from Battle Creek in February. 1861. The only barber shop in the settlement was conducted by the late James Hewes^ wlio did carpenter and cabinet work in the same building. When any one wanted a shave or a hair cut^ Mr. Hewes laid aside the plane and draw shave and took up razor or scissors. Mr. Bessmer bought Mr. Hewes' tonsorial outfit^, paying $25 for the good will.

Mr. Bessmer's shop became very popular^ much to the wonderment of those who had told him he was crazy for starting a barber sliop in the village. Two and a half years later he erected the building in which W. L. Hogue's store now is^ and continued his business until March^ 1876^ when he moved into his present store buildings which he had purchased the previous November. He had concluded to retire from the barber business when he became fifty years old. In 1883^ at the age of 49 years^ he sold his barbering outfit and purchased a stock of jewelry^, the foundation of his present business.

Mr. Bessmer was born on August 27^ 1831, in the village of Nabern, kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany. He went to school until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to a ladies' tailor for whom he worked three years without any pay. When he had mastered his trade he went on a walking tour in search of work, as was required of every young man in Germany at that time. This was known as the **Handwerksbuscli", and Mr. Bessmer spent two months in wandering through the southern part of Germany and in Switzerland. He returned to Wurtemberg and obtained a position in the town of Bachnang, where he worked one year. Hearing of the fortunes to be made in America, he determined to take his chances with many of his countrymen who were emigrating to this country at that time. Together with his sister, Mrs. P'red Eckardt, of Woodland, he embarked from the port of Havre in a sailing vessel for New York in April, 1853^ landing in New York thirty-four days later. He went to Philadelphia and from there to Reading, where he expected to meet a German friend. Then he faced the darkest time of his life. At the railway station, a German baggage master told him that the friend for whom he was looking had gone to Philadelphia. Alone_, unable to speak a word of English, with nine cents in his pocket, Mr. Bessmer stood on the platform to think things over. He decided to walk to the liome of his friend's relatives a few miles distant. They kept him for some time, during which he did truck gardening long enough to earn enough money to pay his fare to Philadelphia, where he finally joined his friend. These people who helped him were named Blessing, which Mr. Bessmer considered a very appropriate name. After working in Philadelphia for two months, Mr. Bessmer went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he worked a year at his trade for a ladies' tailor. The firm failed and Mr. Bessmer returned to Philadelphia, where he learned the barber's trade in Camden.

Three years later his health began to fail and he went to Washtenaw County, Michigan, to see his sister, Mrs. Eckardt. In 1857 he returned to Pliiladelphia and purchased the shop in which he liad previously worked. Two months later he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Branch.

Mr. Bessmer left several brothers in Germany. In 1857 he sent a passage ticket to Jolm M. Bessmer, who died some time ago, who arrived in June and went to Waukegan and the following March to Woodland, where Mr. and Mrs. Eckardt had taken up land. He got there in time to finish the log house which they were building. After doing this he went to Hastings to work for Mr. Stebbins.

His work in Pliiladelphia being successful, Mr. Bessmer decided to go back to Nabern and see his mother, and to Switzerland to see his brothers. He made the journey in 1863.

A year later he and Mrs. Bessmer came to Hastings to make their permanent home. They saw the city grow from a back woods village to a city. Mr. Bessmer was well thought of by the residents from the start. He was elected treasurer of Hastings Township in 1869 and 1870. In 1871 Hastings became incorporated as a city. The late Henry Goodyear was the first mayor, Mr. Bessmer the first treasurer. Later on Mr. Bessmer served as a member of the Board of Education nine years and during that time he had the enviable record of missing only one meeting, and this when he was out of the city. He was for many years a member of the Riverside Cemetery Association, and through his

He was one of the city's substantial business men. When he bought his jewelry business, he mortgaged the building in order to go into business on a cash basis, which he maintained ever since.

Dr. Charles S. Burton

In the death of Dr. Charles S. Burton, December 5, 1902, Barry County lost a real pioneer and a man who in the course of his long life of seventy-eight years had experienced much and accomplished much.

Charles Seymour Burton was born at Waterloo, New York, on September 13, 1824, his ancestors on his father's side coming from near Manchester, England.

Charles Burton received his primary education in the Village of Waterloo and was assisted by his father in the higher studies at home. In order to pursue his studies at night, for lie was a great student, he was compelled to read by the light furnished by pine knots burning in the fireplace of tlie little home. The family was large and money scarce, but by diligent work Charles managed to accumulate a little money with which lie pursued his studies in the City of Albany after he arrived at the age of 21.

Leaving Albany, he again went to work to accumulate more money and with this he went to New York City to study medicine, devoting his time as much as possible to Bellevue hospital. He did not graduate from any medical institution, but after studying in this hospital for some time he started out to practice as an allopath, at that time there being no homeopatli school of medicine in the United States. He placticed allopathy but a short time when he concluded that homeopathy was the proper process to combat disease and started out under that school. Like all new theories, this practice did not take readily with the people and it was hard work to obtain sufficient practice to maintain himself. But he was always equal to, the emergency and when he failed in one direction to accomplish his object he turned in another way toward tlie same end. In the winter of 1847-8 he taught school in Romulus, New York, and among his pupils was a Miss Anna Eliza Monroe, the daughter of Ward Barnabas Monroe and his wife, Emmeline Janes Monroe.

of lovers and Miss Monroe became the wife of Mr. Burton on the 13th day of February ;, 1848. They still continued to live in Romulus until after the birth of their first son, Charles F., in November, 1849.

It was at this time that the California gold fever sprung up and swept over our country, and Dr. Burton concluded that he could make a ready fortune by going to California. With this end in view, he went to New York City and tried to engage passage either across the isthmus or around the Horn to the new Eldorado. He was much disappointed at finding that every available space on all of the boats that were leaving New York which could carry passengers for this new country, was engaged for more than six months in advance, and that he would certainly be compelled to wait at least that length of time before he could make a start, and even then, after waiting so long, he could not be absolutely certain that he would obtain passage.

In consequence of this state of affairs he returned to Romulus and from that place, taking his wife and young son, he came to Michigan. During the latter part of this journey he was accompanied by two homeopathic pliysicians who entered the state with him, and the three were the first homeopathic physicians in Michigan.

He looked around the City of Detroit but concluded it was not a good place for him to locate in, so he again went westward on the Michigan Central railroad to Battle Creek, which was as far as this railroad extended at that time. Here he took up his residence in 1850.

His practice as a physician not occupying his entire time, he formed a partnership with a man named Gant and purcliased the type and press and started tlie Battle Creek Journal, Mr. Gant, Dr. Burton and his wife setting all the type and doing all the work connected with the paper. His medical practice was now quite lucrative and he managed to lay by a considerable sum of money.

He had not been fully cured of the gold fever and during the winter of 1852-3 he made arrangements witli some other people similarly afflicted to start for California in the early spring of 1853. All of his accumulations were invested in material necessary for this journey. Early in 1853 they started westward on a journey, the difficulties of which cannot be fully expressed to the people of today by comparison with any hardships that we know. It was a journey of six months' duration, through the wilderness and across trackless prairies where the footsteps of the white man had never passed, where only at long intervals was a human being to be seen, and where the wild beasts and the wilder Indians put the traveler constantly on his guard for the preservation of his life and of his property. They were six months in reaching their final destination in the gold region near Father River, sixty-five miles northeast of Maryville in a little settlement called Whiskey Diggings.

Here commenced his miner's life and here on the 18th of November, 1853, their second son, Clarence M., was born. While he was quite successful in his mining operations, he did not make the fortune anticipated, and in the year 1854 he went with his family to San Francisco and engaged passage to New York City across the isthmus, taking the steamer Yankee Blade, which belonged to the Vanderbilt line, as far as the istlimus.

They set out on this vessel in October and had proceeded southward along the coast only about two hundred miles when the vessel, which had on board a goodly supply of gold, was taken in charge by a gang of ruffians who were called stowaway pirates. These men attempted to run the vessel ashore for the purpose of plundering it, but unfortunately ran the vessel upon a rock which split it asunder and she soon went down. Many of the passengers were drowned, but the larger portion succeeded in reaching the main land, some two miles distant, where they lived upon such food as was washed up from the vessel and such as they could obtain from the salt water, for about ten days, when they were taken off; part of them south to the Isthmus and the remainder back to San Francisco.

Dr. Burton and his family were all saved and all returned to San Francisco. They went back to their old mining camp and remained one year until the following October, when they undertook the same trip they had set out upon before. This time, after the usual delays of travel in that early age, they reached New York City safely.

husband iDroceeded to the State of Michigan and settled in Hastings in 1855. He had been in Hastings but a sliort time when his wife and children came to make tlieir home with him^ which was from tliis time on their future home and wliere were born three more children^ William, Ellen and Edward.

Dr. Burton took an active part in the campaign of John C. Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the presidency, and stumped the county for him.

After the defeat of Fremont and for the purpose of commencing then the w^ork of the new presidential campaign, which resulted four years later in the election of Lincoln, Dr. Burton and some others purchased type, presses ;uid paper and started the Hastings Banner. The doctor was an incessant worker and in addition to his political work lie carried on the work of the newspaper, his work as a physician, which was constantly growing, and cleared and cultivated the farm which he had purchased when he first visited tlie village and where he resided so many years.

His medical practice grew so large that he was obliged to give up his paper, so he sold it out, but he never lost interest politically in the Republican party and always liad time to spare to convert to his way of thinking any person who had been misled into any other belief. His accumulations brought him other property, both real and personal, the attending to which occupied all his time.

During the War of the Rebellion, he was one of the foremost in tlie accumulating of sufficient funds to fill the quota of the Townsliip of Hastings, and it is well known that Hastings was one of the few places in which there was no draft. Those who lived in Hastings during these exciting times will remember the congregation that assembled every day in Dr. Burton's store to hear him read to the crowd the latest news from the battle ground and from the capital.

He carried his love for hard work through life and devoted as many hours to hard labor the last year as he did when he was young. His idea of thrift was carried to an extreme, but those who would impute this to him as a wrong would not do so if they could pass through all the walks of life that he passed through and see the absolute need of economy in order to have the necessaries of life and the positive good that comes from affluence. He was an enthusiastic adovcate of popular education and the maintenance of schools. His own children were put to school at an early age and kept there until they had passed through the highest branches which the state afforded.

He constantly used his efforts to persuade young men and women to obtain an education in order to better their situation in life and maintained that money thus spent was a better investment than any other.

Charles F. Cock was born at Charleston, Kalamazoo County, about a mile and a half east of Augusta, March 11, 1839. He comes from one of the oldest families in this country, certain of his ancestors having come to this continent in the seventeenth century by way of the Bermudas, settling first in Virginia and then on Long Island.

Charles Cock's father was Andrew Cock and his mother was Maria Reeves Cock. In 1836 they left their home in Wayne County, New York, and came to the then territory of Michigan. Arriving at Buffalo, they came down Lake Erie to Detroit and then made the journey to Charleston, which they made their destination, by trian. The country in which they found themselves was perfectly new territory and the land had to be cleared before it could be tilled at all. The two pioneers wrested a farm for themselves from the all-encompassing wilderness and lived on the same until their death, the mother dying in 1869 and the father in the next year.

Charles Cock had three brothers and one sister, and of this family of five, three are still living. Charles was the next to the oldest, the oldest brother being James Edward, who was killed at the battle of Shiloh. He had enlisted in the First Nebraska Regiment and was the first Nebraska man to be killed.

Young Charles' education was received first in the rural schools of Kalamazoo County and then in Olivet Institute, now Olivet College, which he attended in 1857 and 1858. At that time Olivet had about 250 students and was a co-educational institution, being peculiar because of this feature, women students not being generally admitted to higher educational advantages as they are today. Persident Bartlett was the head of the institute and on the faculty was Prof. Ormel Hosford. He was one of the strong pillars of the school and a man of great influence among the students. Later he became one of the state's first Superintendents of Public Instruction.

After studying at Olivet^ Mr. Cock returned to Kalamazoo and went to farming, which has been his vocation all his life. It was not long^ however^ before the war of the rebellion broke out, and in September^ 1861^ Charles Cock enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Volunteers^ Company F. This company was largely recruited from Hastings, although a few like Mr. Cock came up from Kalamazoo County and joined the regiment at Hastings. In the battle of James Island^ June 16^ 1862, Mr. Cock was wounded and was discliarged because of his wounds. It might be well to note here that his regiment was styled the ''Wandering Eighth", being said to have travelled more miles than any other in the service.

In August, 1870, Mr. Cock, at Ashtabula, Oliio, married Miss Ella King of Erie, Pennsylvania, and soon after came to Barry County, locating in Hope township on the same farm where he now lives.

In Hope Mr. Cock has prospered and has made many friends, while his absolute rectitude of character has led liis neighbors and friends to })lace him in many ofl^ces of trust in the township. As a matter of fact he has lield almost every office in the township, having been Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer, Highway Commissioner, School Commissioner, School Inspector and Supervisor. This latter office he has held for nine terms, liis first term being in 1879. An interesting fact is that at this time George Abbey, Charles Mack, Charles Policy and Edward Nye were also all new men and broke into service as supervisors at the same session.

In 1906 Mr. Cock was elected County Treasurer and in 1908 he was again returned to the same office. As a county official Mr. Cock was painstaking and scrupulously careful and made a most enviable record. In politics he has always been a Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

rectitude. He is square in all his dealings and merits and possesses the confidence of all who know him. He is a progressive citizen of whom his community may well be proud.

George E. Coleman

There is no county in the State of Michigan where more young men have made good than in Barry County^ and among Barry County's successful young men we are glad to record tlie name of George E. Coleman as a young man who, by hustling and honest progressive methods, has earned the respect of all.

George E. Coleman is the son of Hiram and Julia Coleman, early pioneers of Barry County, they having come to Johnstown township in 1852 from Orange County, New York. They made this trip through Michigan as far west as Battle Creek by rail, but there they had to adopt other metliods and proceed by stage, their drivers on tlie stage trip being the well known stage drivers, Hiram Merrill and William Burroughs.

Arriving in Johnstown, the pioneer couple located on the farm still owned by George E. Coleman. All was wilderness at that time and the land had all to be cleared before cultivation was possible. Those were days when men met nature with naked hands and wrested from her the stern necessities of life, and the then young Coleman was always sturdy and strong in the hard fight.

An interesting story of these pioneer days is that of the first election in Johnstown township. In this first election Hiram Coleman cast the very first ballot, walking six miles through the woods to register his vote. Twelve ballots were cast altogether at this first election, the polling place being at the home of William P. Bristol.

It was on this farm in Johnstown township that George E. Coleman was born, May 24, 1868, he being the next to youngest of six children, three girls and three boys.

Mr. Coleman's youth and young manhood were all spent on the farm and his start in life was secured through the hard work necessary to farm life.

At the age of 23 Mr. Coleman married Carrie C. Fry, daughter of Henry and Anna Fry of Johnstown township, and from this marriage two children have been born, Annawave and

Mr. Coleman has been entrusted frequently with public office and by careful attention to his duties has always justified the confidence of his fellow citizens. For nine years he was clerk of Johnstown townsJiip and for four years he was county treasurer.

After completing liis two terms as treasurer^ Mr. Coleman entered the City Bank of Hastings as assistant to cashier and then^ after three years of banking work, he became treasurer of the Michigan Mutual Insurance Company, whicli insures against loss by wind and tornado. Mr. Coleman also conducts a fire insurance agency, having a strong and reliable list of companies.

Mr. Coleman has always been interested in the things which make for the advancement of his county and city and lias been secretary of tlie Barry County Agricultural Society, giving the county excellent service in this respect. He is also treasurer of the Barry County Chautauqua Association. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is treasurer of Hastings Lodge, F. and A. ^I. He is also a member of the Woodmen and is a staunch Presbyterian.

i\Ir. Coleman has a firm and unyielding belief that allegiance to one's word and perfectly square dealing with every one alike are bound* to succeed in business and he has squared his actions to these ideas witli tlie most excellent results.

George E. Coleman is known in Barry County as a man of absolute integrity who can be trusted fully in any capacity in which his services may be required. He is still a young man, but he has achieved enough to make his record an enviable one. Still Mr. Coleman is not content to rest on the past, but is ever on the lookout for otlier opportunities of service.

Philip T. Colgrove

Mr. Colgrove is a native of the State of Indiana, having been born at Winchester in that state, April 17, 1858. His first American ancestry is traced in the person of Francis Colgrove, born in 1667, who settled in Warwick, Rhode Island. Philip T. Colgrove's father was Charles H., who came from Steuben county, New York, and liis mother was Catherine Van Zile, a sister of Judge Philip T. Van Zile of Detroit.

Good educational advantages in his early youth^ at Olivet College^ coupled with a commendable energy and application, placed him some years in advance of the average student. He read law concurrently witli his literary studies and was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of Michigan, on his twentyfirst birthday, one of three out of a class of fourteen.

Mr. Colgrove's first practice was at Reed City, but in 1880 he removed to Hastings and formed a law partnersliip with Clement Smith, now Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The partnership was terminated upon the appointment of Mr. Smith to the judgeship in 1893 and Mr. Colgrove is now the senior member of the firm of Colgrove & Potter.

In 1882 Mr. Colgrove was elected prosecuting attorney of Barry County and was re-elected for two additional terms, in 1884 and 1886. In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate, and although nominated for re-election in 1890, declined the honor. During his term in tlie senate Mr. Colgrove was a member of the Judiciary committee and chairman of the Committee on Insurance. He has also been city attorney at Hastings for several years. He is a Republican in politics and during many campaigns has been an eloquent and effective speaker in the behalf of his party's principles and candidates, not only in Michigan, but in the nation at large.

Of recent years Mr. Colgrove has been actively interested in the cause of good roads. As president of the Michigan Good Roads Association he has done much to increase the efficiency of Michigan's higliways and much of the present widespread interest in better thoroughfares must be directly attributed to the entliusiasm and organized effort which Mr. Colgrove iias given to tlie duties of his office as executive of the State association. During Mr. Colgrove's administration the membership of the association has grown almost unbelievably and he is always ready to preach the cause of good roads at public gatherings everywhere. Mr. Colgrove is without doubt the great apostle of good roads in Michigan.

Mr. Colgrove's business interests are many and varied. He is director and stockholder in numerous enterprises and is also the owner of a considerable number of successful farms. In the management of these farms he has shown conclusively that modern

Mr. Colgrove is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Hastings lodge of the Knights of Pythias. In this latter fraternity Mr. Colgrove has been especially prominent. In 1886 he was a member of the Grand Lodge and was elected Grand Master-at-Arms of that body. In 1887 he was elected Grand Chancellor, and in 1889 and 1890 he was the representative of the Grand Lodge to the Supreme Grand Lodge. In 1891 he was elected Supreme Vice Chancellor. But the highest honors of the order awaited him in 1896 when^ at the session of the Supreme Grand Lodge lield at Cleveland in August of that year^ he was elected Supreme Chancellor of the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pytliias of the world.

Mr. Colgrove has two children, Mabel, who is Mrs. William M. Stebbins of Hastings, and Lawrence, of Pontiac, Michigan. Two years ago Lawrence Colgrove married Miss Grace Grant of Hastings and to them has been born a son, Philip Grant Colgrove.

In churcli relations Mr. Colgrove is a vestr^^man of Emmanuel Episcopal church and has always been ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and help the church through all difficulties.

Mr. Colgrove is a lawyer of abilit}^ and learning. He is a convincing and eloquent pleader and speaker and an energetic citizen who is always to be found on the side of progress.

David R. Cook

Scarcely another name in Barry County has been better known than tliat of David R. Cook. One of that group of hardy pioneers who have now nearly all gone to their rest, he will ever be remembered as one of the men who were foremost in the making of Barry County.

David Randolph Cook was born of sturdy German stock (the original name was Koch) in Mapletown, Steuben County, New York, September 1, 1830, and died in Hastings February 6, 1907. In the spring of 1851 he left his home in the Empire State and started for Michigan, arriving in Prairieville, where his sister already lived, iNIay 21. The next year he and his brother, Sylvanus Cook, bought a farm where the two brothers lived until Sylvanus was elected register of deeds in 1860. October 13, 1857, he married Martha M. Marshall of Prairieville.

November 17, 1863, lie moved witli liis family to Hastings and went into the office of his brother as deputy register of deeds, holding tlie position until Iiis brotlier's term expired in 1868. While the two brotliers were in this office they prepared the abstract of Barry County, which Philo A. Sheldon now owns.

Upon leaving the register of deeds' office the brothers formed a partnership in the abstract, real estate and loan business, but the following year this arrangement was broken by the death of Sylvanus. About a year later, or in 1870, Mr. Cook took into partnership with him Philo A. Sheldon, and for nineteen years the firm of Cook & Sheldon continued in business. Then Mr. Cook sold out to Mr. Sheldon and retired from active business, with the exception of being associated, at times, with Major G. M. Anderson in soliciting for railroad i)rojects. After Major Anderson's death, Mr. Cook entirely refrained from active business, spending his later years ])leasantly and quietly in his comfortable home on West Green street. This home, which lie built in 1868, is novv^ the home of Kellar Stem.

Politically, Mr. Cook was in early life a \\^hig. ^^'hen the Republican party was formed he joined it and was an active member thereof to the close of his life. He was treasurer of Prairieville townshij) in 1858 and su])ervisor in i860 and 1862. He was a trustee of the village of Hastings in 1868 nud 1870 and supervisor of Hastings township, including the village, in 1871 and 1877. He was a member of the school board in Hastings from 1870 to 1872, and mayor of Hastings in 1872. having been the city's second mayor.

In 1876 Mr. Cook was elected to the State Senate, serving through the twenty-ninth session of tlie legislature. His health failing him at this time, he retired from ])ublic life, but five years later he was again elected to the senate to fill tlie vncnucy caused by the death of Senator Tewis Durkee. In 1880 he was one of the presidential electors on the Republican ticket. After the death of the late Henry A. Goodyear, Mr. Cook became ])resident of the county pioneer society in whose proceedings he always took a deep interest.

Such is the brief resume of an active, successful and honorable life. Without the advantages of early schooling, he became by reading, observation and experience, an exceptionally intelligent and well informed man. Possessed of strong will and intrinsic good sensC;, he won his way to success in business life and earned and deserved the confidence of his fellow citizens^ the esteem of his neighbors and the affection of his family and friends. He was public spirited and generous^ charitable and kindly of heart. He fought tlie battle of life bravely and well^ and he came to its end with the calmness and peace that follows a work well and faithfully done.

Mrs. D. R. Cook is the daughter of William and Ellen Marshall^ who were among the earliest pioneers of Prairieville township. She was born in Ontario County^ New York, June 29, 1839. Her father moved to this county in 1812, his brother, John Marshall, having located the farm on which William settled in 1839. Mrs. Cook, full of years, and with the gracious sweetness of a happy and mellow old age, is living with her son, William R., in Hastings.

Oscar L. Crook

A man who comes from pioneer stock and whose career it is a pleasure to set forth in this volume is Oscar L. Crook. He is known to his community as a man of irreproachable integrity, of impeccable habits, and one who gives to his vocation the utmost attention and care.

Mr. Crook was born in Monroe County, Michigan, July 8, 1854, and in the following year was brought to this county by his parents, Elam and Catlierine Crook, who located on a farm just north of tlie present County Farm. The story of their first years in Barry County is a vivid chapter from real pioneer life. It was in March when they first arrived and the family stayed at the liome of D. McDonald while the father cut logs for a house. There was no bridge over the Thornapple and this stream liad to be crossed in order to permit the pioneer father to reach his property from Mr. McDonald's. Accordingly, taking off his boots, lie would wade through the icy waters to get to his place of work. Snow was still on the ground and this had to be shovelled away to make it possible to build a house. Finally the home was completed and when the family were finally ensconced

During tlie summer he cleared some land for corn and potatoes and thus supplied his family with the necessaries of life. Mr. Crook, senior, had his corn ground in Hastings, taking it to mill down the river in a boat and in returning home he would })ush the boat up the stream.

At that time Indians were numerous in the vicinity of the Crook farm and Oscar L. Crook rem.embers watching the redskins as tliey camped in tlie woods on the banks of the Thornapple. At this time there were all kinds of wild game and hunting was widely indulged in. All these conditions Oscar Crook lias seen changed. From a real wilderness he has seen come forth the present cultivated and fertile fields.

For the past thirty years he has been connected with the railway m;iil service, receiving his a[)pointment under President Arthur. In this connection he has been a faithful ,'ind competent employe. In his earlier years Mr. Crook taught school for five terms and among his best friends today are some of his former })U[)iIs.

October 13, 1875, Mr. Crook married Miss Anna Green, who also had taught in the rural schools. Mr. and Mrs. Crook are the parents of three sons, Guy K., a real estate ;ind insurance broker in Hastings; Don K., who is engaged in the ])lumbing business in Vicksburg; and Shirley B., who is cashier of the Thornapple Gas and Electric Company at Hastings.

Len W. Feighner

One of the hustling and progressive men of Barry County is Len W. Feighner of Nashville, editor and owner of the Nashville News and postmaster of that village. He is a man who is always to be found pushing any project which will be of advantage to the community and he is distinctly a citizen who is worth while.

Oscar Crook

In September, 1862, when Len W. was only four montlis old, his parents moved from Ohio to Castleton, whither the fatlier's two brothers, Henry and John, had preceded him and had become the owners of a saw mill. He had acquired an interest in this mill while yet living in Ohio and on his arrival in Castleton he became actively engaged in the mill business.

In this same year, 1862, David and Elizabeth Stauffer, the parents of Mrs. William Feighner, also moved with their family from their liome in Ohio to Castleton and located on a farm in that townsliip on which Mr. Stauffer lived until his death in 1878, this being occasioned by a tree falling upon him while chopping in tlie woods.

Mr. and Mrs. William Feighner, on their arrival in Castleton, at first located upon a farm, but soon afterwards moved to where Nashville now is. Here Mr. Feighner, with his brother-in-law, the late S. E. Stauffer, started, in 1863, the first store in Nashville, this store being located at the north end of what is now Main street on the south bank of the Thornapple. A short time later Mr. Stauffer bought Mr. Feighner's interest in the business and the latter then started the second store in Nashville. This was located opposite where the postoflice now is and here Mr. Feighner continued in business until his death, December 12, 1869. Mrs. Feighner, who survived liim, is still living, being a resident of Hastings.

Young Feigliner's first education was secured in a slab schoolhouse in Nashville, not only the building but also the seats being made of slabs. Holes served for windows, glass not being obtainable. His first teacher was Miss Agnes Smith, now Mrs. C. M. Putnam of Nashville.

On tlie death of his father, wlien he was only seven years old, Len W. went to live with his uncle, L. E. Stauffer, the family of four children being too great a burden for the widowed mother. In the next year, 1870, Mr. Stauffer moved to Grand Rapids and young Len attended school in that city. A short time later Mr. Stauffer moved to Hastings and here young Feighner completed his formal education.

In December^ 1878^ he engaged to learn the printer's trade in the office of tlie Hastings Journal. In 1879 and 1880 he worked in Nashville for Arno Strong of the News. He then returned to Hastings^ where he worked on the Banner for George M. Dewey and later for Cook & Bowers. He left the Banner in 1881 and for three years was a journeyman t)rinter, being employed in Muskegon, Indianapolis, Greencastle, Ind., and Cliicago. He remained in Chicago until 1881, when he returned to Nashville and became foreman and local editor of the News.

In 1885 Mr. Feighner married Stella L. Wilson of Nashville^ daughter of Lyman J. and I^adosca Wilson. Mr. and ^Irs. Feighner have one daughter, Vada M., born March 1, 1895.

October 1^ 1888, Mr. Feighner bought the Nashville News from Arno Strong and has remained its proprietor and editor since tliat time, now nearly a quarter of a century. The News lias the well founded reputation of being the best paper in the best shop in any toAvn of equal size in the state.

In politics Mr. Feighner is a Republican and has always been an enthusiastic worker for his })arty. He has been postmaster of Nashville since 1899, receiving liis first appointment from President McKinley.

Besides liis newspaper, Mr. Feighner is interested in manufacturing and various other business affairs, both in Nashville and elsewhere. He is president of the Cirand Rapids Textile Machinery Company and is active in advancing the com])any's interests. He is a member of tlie Knights of Pythias, Masons, Odd F(^.llows, Maccabees and tlie I'oresters.

One institution in which .Mr. Feighner is particularly interested is the Nashville Club, whose organization eight years ago Avas due, to a great extent, to his efforts. He was its first president and has continued to hold this office ever since. The club is a social organization and has splendid rooms in the Griffin block, the second story of which is owned by and devoted almost entirely to its uses.

Len W. Feighner is pre-eminently a progressive and forceful citizen. He is a man who has made his own way to success and one who has made his success of benefit to his fellow citizens. It is most fitting that he should be a representative of Nashville in this History.

Len Feighner Charles R Field

Charles F. Field was born in Manchester^ Michigan, September 23, 1851. His parents were John and Alcey J. Field, natives of Wayne County, New York. His boyhood was spent in his native town, wliere he attended the village school, and when the new High School building was finished in 1867 lie became a member of the first class, which graduated in 1871. In the fall of that year he was one of four young men that entered the State University from the Manchester High School, graduating from the literary department in 1875 with the degree of A. B.

For several years following graduation Mr. Field taught scliool, one year in Clinton and four years in the Manchester High School. He tlien purchased the Clinton News, which he conducted until the spring of 1884, wlien he moved his plant to Tecumseli and founded the Tecumseh News. In 1896 lie sold the News and shortly afterwards became an editorial writer on the Detroit Free Press. After three years in this work he was elected to a position in the Detroit Central High School, where he taught Fatin and Rhetoric for a year, when he again yielded to his journalistic proclivities, resigning his position in Detroit to purchase the Hastings Herald, which he conducted until the fall of 1911, when the Herald and Journal were merged into one paper, called the Hastings Journal-Herald. He is one of the editors of this paper and vice president of the Hastings Printing Company, the corporation which owns the aforesaid journal.

During all the years of his active life Mr. Field has been connected at various times with the work of the public schools. While living in Manchester he was township superintendent of schools. During his Clinton residence he was for a time a member of the school board. In 1891 he was elected by the Lenawee County Board of Supervisors, county commissioner of schools, and in 1893 was re-elected by the people. Soon after locating in Hastings he was the candidate on the Democratic ticket for school commissioner of Barry County, but was defeated. In December, 1901, he was unanimously chosen by the Board of Education of the City of Hastings, Superintendent of the City Schools, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the superintendent. He entered upon the duties of superintendent January 1st, 1902, and held the position until June, 1904, when he retired from school work to devote all his attention to his newspaper. In the fall of 1892 he was the Democratic candidate for member of the state board of education, but, his party being in a hopeless minority, he of course was not elected. A similar lionor was accorded him in 1910, when he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for state senator.

On December 31, 1878, Mr. Field married Miss Kate Kies, daughter of Joseph S. and Elizabeth Kies, of Clinton. They have two children, Will J. Field, editor of Electric Traction, of Chicago, and Elizabeth Louise, wife of Adelbert .M. Hall, a prominent merchant of Belding, Michigan.

In religion Mr. Field has been actively identified with the Episcopal church for most of his adult life, having been a member of the vestry while at Clinton, Tecumseh and Hastings. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has held the secretaryship of Tecumseh Lodge and Chapter, and for the past eight years he has been secretary of Hastings Chapter No. 68, R. A. M. He is at present Worthy Patron of Hastings Chapter No. 7, Order of the Eastern Star.

Henry A. Goodyear

There is no name in the county more closely associated with its advancement than that of Hon. Henry A. Goodyear. He came to the State of Michigan at a time when it was nothing but a still unsettled wilderness, inhabited principally by Indians and widely scattered white settlers, and offering little in the way of opportunity to any one not possessed of that hardy and indomitable spirit of conquest that actuated the minds and bodies of our early pioneers. He witnessed the evoluion of Barry County and the City of Hastings from their rough inception to finishd maturity. He saw comfortable homes and thriving interests supplant the log shacks and itinerant enterprises of the '30's and heard the whistles of the factories and locomotives where the axe of the woodman had sounded before - all this in a lifetime of industry and progress that has left its lasting impress on the community in which he lived.

Mr. Goodyear was born in York, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1818. He secured an academic education at home, remaining there until he was sixteen years of age, when he embarked in his first business experience^ entering the employ of a druggist in Philadelphia^ working in the drug store and learning the rudiments of pharmacy.

Young Goodyear remained in Pliiladelphia two years and then^ in 1838, he came to Micliigan, locating in Detroit. Here lie continued working at liis profession until ]8iO^ when he came to Hastings, arriving there, for the first time, in the month of November.