Dorr Township (part 2 of 6)

As an agricultural district. Gun Plain stands in the front rank among Allegan County townships. Indeed, for many years succeeding its first settlement it took the lead of all others as regards the number of acres of improved land, value of live-stock, and farm products.

Its population in 1850 was 587 inhabitants ; in 1860, 1068 ; and in 1874 (the time of taking the last enumeration) it had a total of 2166 inhabitants. With 784 voters, it has now (1880) an estimated population of 3500 inhabitants.

Original Surveys And First Land-Entries

The township boundary-lines were run by John MuUett, deputy United States surveyor, in December, 1825, and the sectional lines by Sylvester Sibley, in March, 1831.

The first purchase of lands in this township and in the county was made by Sylvester Sibley, of Wayne Co. Mich., June 15. 1831. His purchase embraced the northeast fractional quarter of' section 30, and was chosen, doubtless, while he was engaged running the subdivision lines. Samuel C. Wells, of Jefferson Co., Ohio, concluded the next purchase, Juno 22, 1831, his choice resting upon a portion of section 18, and on the 9th of December, 1831, Hull Sherwood, of Otsego, Mich, bought lands situated upon section 15. These three entries included all made during the year 1831 in Allegan County.

Dr. Cjrenius Thompson, whose parents emigrated from Connecticut to Hudson, in the present county of Summit, Ohio, about 1801, was born in the latter town during the month of January, 1802. Early in life he studied medicine with the practitioners of his native village, and finally graduated from the medical college of Middlebury, Vt. In 1828 he married Miss Anna Pelton, of Euclid, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, where he practiced his profession for a short period, as he also did in the town of Dover, in the same " county. He likewise purchased a farm in Dover, but, the location not suiting him, he sold his possessions in Ohio, resolved to try his fortunes in the Territory of Michigan.

He came to Gull Prairie in 1830 and pre-empted lands, which were finally entered for him in 1831 by Levi White. During the spring of the latter year Dr. Thompson settled upon the prairie. He practiced medicine but little, his attention being devoted more particularly to farming. He soon became dissatisfied with his prairie farm, however, from the difiSculty found in obtaining a plentiful supply of water. Again selling out, he soon after purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20, in township 1 north, of range 11 west.

Pine Creek, and removed his family to that location, having purchased for their occupancy a small board shanty erected by an earlier pioneer. In company with Charles Miles, he managed this mill until July, 1832, when it was burned. He then tore down his shanty, and, moving the material to his land in the present township of Gun Plain, erected with it the first habitation in range 11 of Allegan County. This house stood on the north side of the road, opposite the eastern part of the cemetery, and was first occupied early in the fall of 1832. It was a story and one-half in height, and was constructed by fastening the boards - which ran up and down, barn fashion - to the frame with wooden pins. A fioor of loose boards and a door finished its appointments. The cooking was done outside. Mrs. Thompson relates that while occupying this shanty she was greatly annoyed by the dogs owned by her Indian neighbors. They would dig holes under the sills of the house, and, by pushing aside the loose flooring, thereby gain an entrance and steal any and all eatables left in their reach, and it was difficult to imagine a place which those wolfish dogs could not reach. The Indians seemed to think more of them than of their wives, and as this was the time of the " Black-Hawk war," when all Indians in Michigan were looked upon with fear and suspicion by the few white families then in the interior, Mrs. Thompson's position was not a pleasant one, as can well be imagined.

After Dr. Thompson's house had been completed, Calvin C. White and John H. Adams came from Gull Prairie and boarded with him for about a year while clearing and improving their individual farms, Mr. White having first purchased land on section 17 in February, 1832. Upon the organization of the township of Allegan* in 1 833, Mr. Thompson was elected township clerk. During the same year the Plainwell post-office was established, and he was appointed postmaster. In the fall of 1834, Dr. Thompson, with his family, returned to Ohio, where he remained a few years. He then resumed his residence in this township. Not an office-seeker, he was yet a prominent and highly-respected citizen. He died April 17, 1853, at the age of fifty-one years.

His widow, Mrs. Anna P. Thompson, still resides' upon the premises first occupied in 1832, and is remarkable for the pioneer vicissitudes through which she has passed, as well as for her lively recollections and youthful appearance. Her daughter, Myra E., now the wife of Dr. Erastus N. Upjohn, of Nebraska, was born here in the fall of 1833, and her birth was one of the first, if not the first, to be chronicled in the township.

The next family to settle here was that of Jonathan Eussell. Mr. Russell emigrated from New London, Conn., to Gull Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., in the fall of 1830, where he joined his father-i^law, William Giddings. He purchased an 80-acre lot, situated upon Gull Prairie, and made some improvements upon it, but sold the same in 1832. He then bought the east one-half of the northeast quarter of section 19 in this township. In June, 1832, he hired at Gull Prairie a breaking-team of five yoke of oxen, and, coming here, plowed five acres, situated on the extreme northeast corner of his lot. This land was sowed to wheat in the fall, and was the first field plowed and cultivated in the township. Mr. Russell's dwelling was also completed in the fall of 1832, and during the succeeding winter Mr. Thompson and himself were the sole householders in the eastern tier of townships of Allegan County. During the Black-Hawk war Mr. Russell was called out, and with the Gull Prairie men proceeded as far as Niles, Mich. He was afterwards commissioned a lieutenant in the Michigan State forces. For his services he received $75 and warrants for 160 acres of land. His son, Ulysses D., was a gallant soldier, and color-sergeant of the Second Michigan Infantry. He died of wounds received at Knoxville, Tenn., in 1863.

In the spring of 1833, Orlando Weed boarded with Mr. Russell while he (Weed) was building his barn, the first framed building erected in the township, and during the same year the population of the township was still further increased by the arrival and settlement of about ten persons with their families.

Among them were Norman Davis, on section 19 ; Warren Caswell, who was the first settler in the northeast quarter of the township ; Isaac Aldrich, who, in 1835 or 1836, kept the first tavern on the Plains ; Friend Ives, from Medina, Ohio ; and William Forbes, from Scotland.

In the south part of the town, on the road leading to Gull Prairie, were Dan Arnold, from Chittenden Co., Vt. ; Silas Dunham and William Still, both from Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y. Mr. Dunham also kept an open house for the accommodation of weary travelers and ''land-lookers." His daughter - since Mrs. D. A. McMartin - brought from Buffalo, N. Y., the pits from which were grown the first peach-trees to bear fruit in Allegan County.

William Forbes emigrated from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to America in 1832. He remained for a few months in the city t)f New York, where he married a Mrs. McCausland. In the spring of 1833 he came to Gull Prairie. Learning that Lucius Lyon, the surveyor, was the owner of some desirable lands situated on section 18 in this township, he purchased a tract from him, and in the fall of the same year, after having built a substantial dwelling, made it his home.

Mr. Forbes was a surveyor, a gentleman of talent and education, afid was prominently identified with the early public interests of this township and county. For some six years immediately preceding his emigration to America he was engaged upon the survey and'mapping of the county of Sutherland, Scotland, for the Duke of Sutherland. He was the first township clerk of Plainfield, one of the early county surveyors, and ran out many of the early highways in this and other townships of the county. In 1837 he platted the village of Plainfiejjl, - a place described as " situated near Gun River, one mile north of the Kalamazoo River, in township 1 north, of range 11 west, twenty-seven chains and eighty-five links from the southeast corner of section 18."

John Forbes, - a brother of William, - now a resident of the village of Plainwell, came direct from Peterhead, Scotland, to this township, arriving in October, 1834. He settled west of his brother, on the premises on section 18 now owned by Jerome Wait. It required three months' time to accomplish the journey from Scotland. He was accompanied by his wife and two children, one member of his family - a daughter - having died at Detroit while on the way.

James Floekhart, also from Peterhead, Scotland, preceded Mr. John Forbes by some three months, having arrived July 4, 1834. He purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of section 19, where he resided for a, period of about forty-five years.

Justus B. Sutherland, of the town of Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y., came to Michigan first in 1833, and bought the south half of the southwest quarter of section 35. In May, 1834, accompanied by his wife and six children, he began a journey, vid the Erie Canal and the lake steamer " Old Pioneer," for the purpose of settling upon his purchase. At Detroit he bought a yoke of oxen, and, attaching them to his wagon, which had been shipped as freight, he set out along the Territorial road to Battle Creek ; thence via Gull Prairie to Silas Dunham's residence, where his family remained for four weeks, while he was building a log house. Dan Arnold was his nearest neighbor on the road towards the Plains, while Dr. Demming's, in Cooper, was the nearest habitation in that direction.

In June, 1834, John Anderson, from Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., became a resident. He was one of the first justices of the peace elected in Plainfield, and for many years was the postmaster of the Plainwell office. He was also an early supervisor and one of the associate judges of Allegan County.

Other settlers of this year were Nathaniel Weed, who built the first saw-mill in the township, on Silver Creek, and Elisha Tracy, his son-in-law, from Wayne Co., Pa.

Elisha B. Seeley and family came from Pittsford, Monroe Co., N. Y., and in the early part of the summer of 1835 settled upon a portion of section 33.

George W. Kennicott, now a resident of Kalamazoo, Mich., came from Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., to this township in July, 1835. He purchased from the general government the north half of the southeast quarter of section 29, where he settled and remained until November, 1853, when he removed to Kalamazoo. In 1850, as an assistant United States marshal, he took the census of Allegan County, which then had a total of 5127 inhabitants. His son, James C, a member of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, was killed in the Shenandoah Valley, Aug. 19, 1864.

John Murphy, .the first supervisor of Plainfield and the first elected sheriff of Allegan County,* came from Rochester, N. Y., and settled upon section 34 in August, 1835. His family, consisting of himself, wife, and three children, made their home at Mr. Seeley's house while his own was in process of construction. He became the sheriff of Allegan County in 1836, and besides holding that office two terms he served one term in the State Legislature, and was also elected district attorney, - a position he did not fill, by reason of non-qualification legally.

Archibald Jameson, prominent for many years as the supervisor of Plainfield and Gun Plain, also began his residence in this township in the fall of 1835. He came from Erie Co., N. Y., although a native of New Hampshire, and first settled on section 19. In 1861 he removed to his present residence at Silver Creek, where he is now postmaster and merchant.

Prior to the making of the first assessment of the township of Plainfield, in June, 1836, there were also settled there, in addition to those already mentioned, Silas Hall, Charles Bush, John W. Watson, Peter Dumont, an early justice and postmaster, Mumford Eldred,* Jefferson Warner, Curtis Brigham, Chester Wetmore, Charles Ives, Orrin Orton, Leman G. Orton, Freeman Calkins, John Stewart, and William Y. Gilkey.

As showing the names of resident tax-payers in June, 1836, the amount and kind of their real and personal estate, the following statistics, gathered from the first assessment-roll of Plainfield, are hereto appended :

3; young cattle, 5; total value of real and personal estate, $415. Cyrenius Thompson, acres, 80; value of real estate, $280. Friend Ives, acres, 640 ; value of real estate, $1920 ; oxen, 8 ;- cows, 5; young cattle, 9 ; horses, 1; total value of real and personal estate, $2300.

value of real and personal estate, $128. John Murphy, acres, 80 ; value of real estate, $200. Elisha B. Seeley, acres, 1 03 ; value of real estate, $282 ; oxen, 4; cows,

2 ; young cattle, 1 ; total value of real and personal estate, $1120. Alfred Dunham, acres, 40 ; total value of real estate, $80. Freeman Calkins,f acres, 112; value of real estate, $284. John Stewart, acres, 40 ; value of real estate, $110. John F. and William Y. Gilkey, oxen, 4; cows, 8; young cattle, 100.

The total tax levied on resident and non-resident estatej was $235.92, of which but $50 were collected by William Still, the township collector.

During the years 1836 and '37 there were many accessions to the settlement, and many of the new-comers fared hardly in consequence of fevers, lack of medicines, and necessary supplies of every kind. Those who had settled prior to 1835 were enabled to buy cheap live-stock and provisions, from the pioneers of Kalamazoo County. But when the flood-tide of emigration from the State of New York swept over Southern and Central Michigan, beginning in the spring of 1836, it soon consumed the scant surplus of the earlier settlers, and the year which followed (1837) was in many localities one of utter destitution.

All who came to Michigan in those days, however, did not remain. Many who started out from the Empire State with buoyant hopes, flushed with the anticipation of cheap homes and a future competency in the new State, became utterly discouraged by the privations they here endured, the women particularly ; so that after a few weeks' sojourn, with their purses depleted, their ranks thinned by death, the survivors carrying with them the unmistakable effects of a bilious climate, they hastened back to their old homes as rapidly as the means of locomotion then in vogue permitted. This remark would apply with equal force to all parts of settled Michigan during the fourth and flfth decades of the present century.

Among the additional residents of this township assessed for taxes in 1837 were Chauncey Abbott, Eli Arnold, Henry Babcock, Timothy G. Crittenden, Henry Crittenden, Jonah Halsted, William Kelly, John Kobinson, Lucius Wait, Levi Monroe, George P. Nichols, Sandusky Nichols, John Nichols, Maj. D. Nash, Henry Flockhart, Jonas Rouse, Orrin Roberts, and Horace Lounsberry.

History Of Allegan And Barry Counties, Michigan

ship and was an early mail-contractor, etc., George Warner, Abram I. Dedrick, John Robertson, Ashbel Gates, Clark Corey, Lewis F. Tobey, H. B. Seymour, and William Chart.

With the completion of the plank-road, in 1854, began the growth of the present flourishing village of Plainwell. Its population and industries, as well as those of the agricultural districts of the township, were successively accelerated by the construction of the Lake-Shore and Michigan Southern and the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroads, until the township of to-day is one of the most flourishing and populous in the county.

The names of other prominent early citizens not previously mentioned will be found by referring to lists of township ofiBcers, history of village, societies, churches, etc.

While this township formed, part of Allegan several roads were laid out under the orders of Turner Aldrich, Jr., and Norman Davis, highway commissioners for the township of Allegan. They were surveyed by Col. Isaac Barnes, of the Gull Prairie settlement, in the winter of 1833 - 34, and were placed on record by Cyrenius Thompson, township clerk of Allegan, in February and March, 1834.

No. 5 commenced on the south line of section 24, eight chains east of the southwest corner stake, and ran to a quarter stake on the south line of section 19. Whole distance, one mile, fifty-seven links, twenty-five chains.

No. 6 commenced on the banks of the Kalamazoo River, running thence north, .45° east, twenty chains, to the southeast corner of section 19, township 1 north, range 11 west, thence north on section-line two miles to the northwest corner of section 17. Whole distance, two miles and twenty chains.

No. 7 commenced at southwest corner of section 17, running thence east on section-line two miles, thence north, 45° east, one mile and eight chains, to a yellow oak eighteen inches in diameter, north 34° 30' west, twenty chains five links from quarter stake on the east line of section 15. Whole distance, three miles eight chains.

No. 8 commenced at the base-line fifteen chains west of the quarter stake on the south line of section 34, and ran thence to a point on the Kalamazoo River south, 45° west, twenty chains from the southeast corner of section 19. Whole distance, three miles twelve chains.

No. 9 commenced ou the section-line fourteen chains east of quarter stake on the south line of section 29, running thence west on said line to a quarter stake on the south line of section 30. Whole distance, one mile fourteen chains.

south, 55° east twenty-five chains twenty-five links from a quarter post on south line of section 19, thence to a point south 58°, east twenty-seven chains from a quarter post on the south line of section 30.

Road No. 12 of Allegan township was surveyed by Carlos Barnes in June, 1835, and extended from the baseline seventeen chains seventeen links east of the quarter stake of section 35, to a point in the Territorial road south 79° 20', west twenty chains ninety-five links from the northeast corner of section 24. "Whole distance, five miles two hundred and ninety-eight rods.

Civil Histoet Organization

CIVIL HISTOET. ORGANIZATION. This township, originally forming part of Allegan,* was erected as Plainfield in 1836. Section 38 of " an act to organize certain townships, and for other purposes," approved March 23, 1836, reads as follows :

"All that portion of the County of Allegan designated by the United States Survey as townships number one, two, three, and four, north of range number eleven west, be, and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Plainfield, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the dwellinghouse of Isaac Aldrich, in said township."

" If in any of the townships organized at the present session of the Legislature there shall not be held n. township-meeting on the first Monday of April next, then said township-meeting may be held on the third Monday in April next.'*

FIRST TOWNSHIP-MEETING. Pursuant to the foregoing act and amendments thereto, the electors of the township of Plainfield assembled at the house of Isaac Aldrich, on Monday, April 4, 1836, and duly organized for business by choosing John Murphy moderator, William Forbes clerk, and John Anderson, Esq., judge of the election. As a result of this meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : John Murphy, Supervisor ; William Forbes, Township Clerk ; William Still, Collector ; Curtis Brigham, John Anderson, Peter Dumont, John Murphy, Justices of the Peace; Orlando Weed, Justus B. Sutherland, Chester Wetmore, Highway Commissioners ; Curtis Brigham, John Anderson, William Forbes, School Commissioners ; Charles Bush, Friend Ives, Blisha B. Seeley, Assessors ; Peter Dumont, Chester Wetmore, Overseers of the Poor ; Friend Ives, Elisha B. Seeley, Warren Caswell, Fence- Viewers ; William Still, Peter Dumont, S. H. Upson, Chester Wetmore, Orrin Orton, Warren Caswell, Leman G. Orton, John H. Adams, Constables.

Pathmasters. - Charles Bush, District 1 ; Charles Ives, District 2 ; Elisha Tracy, District 3 ; Elisha B. Seeley, District 4. It was resolved at the same meeting :

" That S3. 00 for a wolf and $1.50 for a whelp shall be given by this township for all killed in township one north, and that the money be raised next year and paid in township orders.

Early Elections

At the gubernatorial election of November 6th and 7th of the same year C. C. Trowbridge received 36 votes and Stevens V. Mason 30 votes. In 1840, 80 votes were polled for the two candidates for the office of supervisor, and there were tie votes for several of the candidates of the opposing Whig and Democratic parties, the contest being finally decided by lot.

The township of Martin, including survey-townships Nos. 2, 3, and 4 north, of range No. 11 west, was set oif as a separate organization by an act of the State Legislature approved March 22, 1839.

Name Changed To Gun Plain

By an act of the State Legislature, approved March 19, 1845, the name of the township of Plainfield was changed to Gun Plain, the latter being the name long borne by a beautiful and quite extensive tract of country lying between Gun River and the present village of Plainwell.

The following list embraces the names of the principal officers of the township for the years from 1837 to 1879, inclusive, except for a period of which no record can be found in township clerk's office :

According to the recollection.s of the earliest inhabitants, the first school-house erected in the township was built in the spring of 1834, upon lands then, or soon after, owned by Charles Bush. Jonathan Russell was chosen school director, and the same season he hired Miss Hensdill, daughter of Judge Hensdill, of Gull Prairie, to teach the school. Receiving as compensation one dollar a week, she taught for a few days only, being compelled to relinquish her task by reason of sickness.

Miss Sabra Ives, afterwards the wife of Dr. Coats, of Otsego, was then employed to finish the term, for which she received one dollar and a quarter per week.

This unpretentious yet historic edifice was built of logs, and was long known as the " Gun Plain School-house," and in it were held early religious services of the Congregational and Baptist societies.

In the spring of 1837 the residents of the Silver Creek settlement built a school-house on or near the site of Mortimer W. Sutherland's present residence. The first school in this district - No. 1 - was taught the following summer by Miss Lucy Eldredge, of Cooper township.

The winter term of 1837 and 1838 was taught by Miss Esther Doolittle. Twenty-four pupils attended, of whom eight were from the family of Justus B. Sutherland. During the succeeding summer, Miss Polly Nichols oflSciated as school-mistress in the same district.

The first mention made in the township records concerning schools are found in the proceedings of the first township election, held April 4, 1836, when John Anderson, Curtis Brigham, and William Forbes were elected school commissioners, and at its close the meeting was " adjourned to the school-house this time next year." Nothing seems to have been done by this board of commissioners, - at least they made no record of their proceedings.

In 1837, William Forbes, John Nichols, and George W. Kennicott were elected as school inspectors. They held a meeting Sept. 16, 1837, and organized nine school districts, the boundaries of which were described as follows :

" District No. 2* will contain section 28, and that part of sections 29, 30, 32, and 33 lying northeast of the Kalamazoo River, and the meeting to organize shall be held at Silas Dunham's, Oct. 2, 1837.

" District No. 3* will contain section 31, and all that part of sections 29, 30, 32, and 33 lying southwest of the Kalamazoo River, and the first meeting shall be held in the house of Simeon Calkins, Oct. 2, 1837.

"District No. 4 to contain sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and south i of section 7. The first meeting to be held in the ' Gun Plain school-house.'

"District No. 6 will contain sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, north i of 12, the whole of 15, north J of 14, and the whole of 22. The first meeting in said district to be held in the house of Warren Caswell, Oct. 2, 1837.

The following embraces the names of the residents in school district No. 1, and the amount of tax paid by each for the support of a school during the winter of 1837 and 1838:

The teachers granted certificates in 1840 were Miss Sarah Bates, for district No. 1 ; Miss Eliza Patrick, for district No. 2 ; Miss Harriet Cooper, for district No. 4 ; and Miss Laura Parkhurst, for district No. 6.

The names of teachers mentioned as receiving certificates during the years from 1846 to 1850 were Mary Bennett, Harriet A. Wood, Hellen Williams, K. H. Mitchell, Ellen Fyfe, Mary H. Williams, Eliza A. Bingham, Samantha J. Woodward, Mary McMartin, Mary A. Warner, Henry Jackson, Flavel J. Woodward, Harriet Dedrick, Miss P. Earl, David E. Towers, Duncan A. McMartin, Edward Phetteplace, Hannah M. Howe, Elizabeth A. Adams, Lydia A. Estes, Maria T. Dunham, Mary Barnett, Sarah M. Woodward, Ann E. Allen, and Mary Jane Forbes.

Since the era of railways and the building up of Plainwell village, population and school interests have largely increased. In comparison with the foregoing brief summary, statistics compiled from the report of the township board of education for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are herewith appended :

From moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878, two mill tax, primary school fund, tuition of non-resident scholars, district taxes, and all other sources $6948.89

Village Of Plainwell

The village of Plainwell, an incorporated municipality of about 1650 inhabitants, is pleasantly situated on both banks of the Kalamazoo River. It is also a station of importance on the lines of the Grand Rapids and Indiana and the Kalamazoo division of the Lake-Shore and Michigan Southern Railroads, which roads here cross each other. By rail it is distant 12 miles from Kalamazoo, 36 miles - from Grand Rapids, and 13 miles from Allegan, the countyseat.

Plainwell is a village of comparatively recent origin and growth, yet, lying in the midst of a district rich in agricultural resources, the seat of busy mills and manufactories, and the home of a thrifty, energetic people, it is deserving of more than mere mention in the history of Allegan County. Among the original owners of the lands within or near its present corporate limits were Norman Davis, Thomas J. Warner, Sylvester Sibley ,J Lebbeus Sherwood, Thomas M. Warrant, Lucius Lindsley, Samuel Foster, Joseph D. Beers, Samuel Sherwood, Hull Sherwood, James Hanmer, and Sarah R. Hoskins.

Prior to the beginning of the plank-roads, these lots, lying mainly upon sections 29 and 30, had changed ownership repeatedly, and the vicinity was looked upon by the pioneers simply as farming-land ; not even a mill-site seemed practicable. The early residents in its vicinity were William Still, John Anderson, William Chart, William Woodhams, and George W. Kennicott.

In 1852 began the building of a plank-road from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, and a branch extending from this point to Allegan. This being the intended junction of the

+ Sibley purchased the northeast fractional quarter of section 30, 35^jy acres, June 15, 1831, thus - according to the land-oiBce records, becoming the first private owner of lands in the county of Allegan.

two, a man named Wellever* looked upon it as an exceedingly advantageous locality for the establishment of a relayhouse, tavern, etc. Consequently, he purchased one acre of land, and during the fall of 1853 began the construction of the old Plainwell House.

At this time - in November, 1853 - came Orson D. Dunham from Eaton Rapids. He purchased 40 acres of land situated on the east side of section 30, south of the river, a tract which nearly encircled Wellever's acre. By purchase he soon after became the owner of Mr. Wellever's unfinished building and lot, and in July, 1854, the Plainwell House was formally opened to the public as a place of entertainment for wearied, hungry men and beasts. Thus began the settlement and business at the Junction, and this was the origin of a name which the village continued to bear until after its incorporation.

The plank-road was completed in 1 854, and immediately became a thronged thoroughfare for the hauling of freight, lumber, and farm produce ; besides, it was a favorite route for stage travel.

Mr. Dunham relates that very frequently he had the passengers of seven four-horse stage-coaches stopping at his house for dinner. He also became postmaster at about this time, succeeding Judge Anderson, who had been postmaster for many years.

When Mr. DunEam first came here, William Woodhams was living in his residence, the ancient-looking structure still standing on Bridge Street, near the river, and an unoccupied log house stood on the site of Waldo's store. These were the only dwellings on the site of the village proper, and the log house was used as the residence of the Dunham family until the completion of the hotel.

After Wellever sold his hotel property he purchased the opposite corner, - now owned by George H. Anderson, - ' erected a small frame building, and within it exposed for sale a meagre stock of groceries. He soon after, however, sold to Alfred S. and Albert Pierson, who continued the business, while Mr. Wellever removed to the city of Flint, Mich.

In the fall of 1855, Mr. Dunham sold his hotel property to Messrs. Mills & Merritt, and a man named Pratt then became proprietor of the same, changing the name to the " Merritt House." Mr. Dunham then built a store, on the site of the Sherman store, bought Pierson 's stock of groceries, removed the same to the new building, added dry-goods, notions, etc., and thus kept the first store of general merchandise at the Junction. Soon after, Messrs. Bannister & Whitney succeeded Mr. Dunham in the mercantile business, and largely increased the stock. Among other early merchants were old Mr. Wooley, Cummings, and Peter Saxe, brother of John G., the poet.

John H. Lasher, the first shoemaker to settle here, came in July, 1855. His recollections of people and matters at that time are as follows : William H. Woodhams was residing near the bridge. On the northeast corner of Bridge and Main Streets was Alfred S. Pierson's grocery-store, he residing in the same building. Hart Dunham's dwelling stood near the present post-office building, and hard by was the blacksmith-shop. Orson D. Dunham was postmaster and proprietor of the Plainwell House, and in the old log house, previously mentioned, lived Harry Munn, an Englishman. The old school-house stood near Corporation Hall, and a man named Franklin lived in a small dwelling standing near the school-house. Abel Dunham's house was where Frederick Woodhams now resides, and a considerable distance west, on Allegan Street, was Hiram W. Anderson's log dwelling. The Lovelock family also lived near the blacksmith-shop. Nathaniel Seeley was on the extreme west side, and in the vicinity of the village, on the northeast side of the river, were John Anderson, William Still, and Calvin Dunham. Lasher's first dwelling, which stands on the north side of Allegan Street, west of the race, was built in the fall of 1855.

After the plank-road and the success attending Patterson, Glenn & Lyon's line of stage-coaches, the next impetus given the village was the organization of the Plainwell Water-Power Company. It was formed in the spring of 1856, the members being George C. Mills, Orson D. Dunham, Mr. Fairchilds, Giles Sherwood, William H. Woodhams, and John K. Bingham. The race was excavated during the summer and fall, and a saw-mill completed in the winter following, the cost of first mill and race amounting to $3000.

In 1858, George C. Force and Orson D. Dunham built for a rake-factory the mill now occupied by Patterson, and during the fall of the same year Henry J. Cushman built the grist-mill now owned by Lantz. The planing-mill owned by Cressy was built by 0. D. Dunham and Walter Pierson in 1860. The mills already mentioned and a thriving mercantile trade had gradually attracted population to the Junction ; so much so that at the beginning of the war the inhabitants gathered here numbered about 200.

On the 8th day of April, 1863, William H. Woodhams, George H. Anderson, John C. Bannister, M. E. Cushman, Peter Hatfield, and M. E. Gifibrd, proprietors of lands situated on section 29, west side of the river, had the same surveyed by Ira Chichester and a map recorded as the first plat of the village of Plainwell. "f-

About the year 1864 a flouring-mill which stood between the present paper- and saw-mills was built by Orson D. Dunham, Sanford H. and K. B. Corbyn. After running two years, and while owned by Bartley & Co., it was burned. Messrs. Bartley & Co. then erected the extensive flouring-mills now owned by Merrill & McCourtie.

Incorporation

the -village had increased to about 1000 in number. Those engaged in merchandising and mechanical pursuits were very active. Mr. Winegar had established a bank of exchange and brokerage, associating with himself a Mr. Soule, formerly of the map-firm of F. W. Beers, Ellis & Soule ; and a newspaper, the Plainwell Express, was about to disseminate news abroad concerning the doings in the busy village

Leading citizens believed that their interests would be best promoted and protected by a village charter, and in consequence, during the winter of 1868-69, a petition, very generally signed, was sent in to the State Legislature then in session, praying that an act be passed for the incorporation of the village of Plainwell. Their petition received favorable consideration, and by an act approved March 26, 1869, the territory herein described was duly incorporated as the village of Plainwell. The act reads as follows :

" The People of the State of Michigan enact, That so much of the township of Gun Plain, in the county of Allegan, as is included in the following territory, to wit : The southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, the southwest quarter, excepting the southeast fractional quarter thereof, of section twenty-nine, the east half of the southeast quarter, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, the east half of the northwest quarter and the northeast quarter of section thirty, the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section nineteen, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty, in town one north, of range eleven west, be, and the same is hereby constituted a village corporate, by the name of the village of Plainwell."

Section 2 of the same act authorized the inhabitants of the village having the qualifications of electors to meet at the Plainwell House the second Monday of March next, and on the first Monday of March annually thereafter at such places as shall be provided in the by-laws of said village, for the election of village oflScers.

First Charter Election

Pursuant to the provisions of their charter, the qualified electors of the village assembled at the Plainwell House, Monday, March 29, 1869, and from among their number Henry Keeler, Eli Hart, and Jacob V. Rogers were chosen judges of election. The whole number of votes polled was 215, and as a result of this election the following officers were declared elected: Joseph W. Hicks, President; Henry W. Church, Clerk ; Augustus H. Hill, Treasurer ; William Still, James T. Hyde, Giles Sherwood, William L. Ripley, D. C. Kenyon, Abel S. Dunham, Trustees; Carrick B. Randall, Marshal.

Since its incorporation and the completion of the two railroads, the village has gradually increased in population to its present numbers. Street grades have been established, miles of sidewalks have been laid, and the Holly system of water-works has been adopted.

In 1873 the present Plainwell Water-Power Company was organized and incorporated, the village becoming part owner. The old company, for a comparatively minor consideration, then deeded its right, title, and interest to the new one. During the same year the race was enlarged to its present proportions, - i.e., a fall of 10 feet at the bulkhead, and a power of 8000 inches, - thus placing Plainwell in the front rank as a manufacturing centre. An extensive paper-mill was also established in 1872. Following along the course of time to the present day, we find that many other minor industries have since contributed their mite to the general prosperity, until the village of to-day, with its busy mills, its active merchants, its churches, and a noble school edifice, may justly be regarded as one of the most prosperous of the many villages which dot the surface of Southern Michigan.

Village Officers Since 1869 Village Fire Department And Water-Supply

On the 3d day of February, 1870, the trustees of the village by resolution established a fire department and enacted by-laws to govern the same, the department to consist of two hose companies and a hook-and-ladder company, controlled by a chief engineer and assistant engineer, who were to receive their appointment from the village council. Each hose company was to have at least 20 members, and not more than 25, the hook-and-ladder company not to exceed 30 members.

In March, 1870, a committee of trustees, consisting of Norton P. Kellogg, Dewitt 0. Kenyon, and Jonas Rouse, was sent to Kalamazoo to inspect and report upon the Holly system of water-works there in use. It reported on the 26th of March, 1870, as follows : " In the opinion of the committee, the Holly system, in connection with our water-power, would aiford the best and most secure protection against fire for the least money."

with Horace Phelps, to construct the works, on the 14th of June, 1870. In December, 1870, William Cox and 0. M. Bradley were appointed the first fire-wardens.

Dewitt C. Kenyon was appointed superintendent of water-works Jan. 20, 1871, and was ordered to take full control of keys, fire apparatus, etc., until a fire company should be organized and a chief engineer appointed. J. J. Monroe was appointed the first chief engineer, March 13, 1871.

The water-works were completed in the spring of 1872, and on the 8th of April of the same year a contract was made with Messrs. 0. D. Dunham and R. P. Corbyn for 1000 square inches of water from their race, for which they were to receive $1150. Jonas Rouse was appointed to take charge of the works in August, 1872.

Halcyon Hose Company was formed in December, 1872. Early in the spring of 1873 the present water-power company was formed, and for an unknown consideration the title was transferred from Messrs. Dunham and Corbyn to it. The village then became part of the new company, with the understanding that it was to have the first right to 1000 square inches of water, " subject, however, to the rise and fall of the river.''

During the summer of 1873 the race was enlarged to its present proportions. A hook-and-ladder truck, costing was purchased in October, 1877, also Babcock fireextinguishers. Hook-and-Ladder Company No. 1 was also organized during the same month. To A. E. Smith and Fred. A. Williams was given the contract for erecting a building for the storage of fire apparatus. The building was completed in January, 1878, costing about $700.

In February, 1878, George H. Bean, chief engineer of the Plainwell Fire Department, in his annual report for the year ending March 1, 1878, said:

"At the time of my appointment last spring there was only one company, of about fifteen members; now, at this date, we have two full companies, a substantial building for all purposes of the fire department, and Plainwell is as fully provided with protection against fire as any place of its size in the United States. The present force of the department is a chief engineer, Halcyon Hose Company, No. 1, with twenty members, and Plainwell Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1, with thirty members.

" The apparatus consists of one good hose-cart, - two-wheeled, - equipped with one thousand feet of serviceable linen hose, one new hook-and-ladder truck, with all equipments, and eight Babcock extinguishers, the Holly pump, supplied with about three thousand feet of pipes, and five hydrants in good repair.

"I would recommend to your consideration the advisability that the ofiice of chief engineer be an honorary one, and that some competent person, recommended by the chief engineer or hose company, to be confirmed by the board of trustees, be appointed to take charge of the wheel-house and pump, and to be held responsible for the good working order and care of the same.

"Also that some plan be provided that the business men may have the use of water during the summer season for sprinkling the streets, etc. For reasons :

" 1. It is not the duty of the fire department, or those in charge of the pump, to let on water at the call of any and every one who sees fit to ask it, as was done last summer, and then be cursed when not doing it.

2. Tom, Dick, and Harry should not be allowed to run it, - perhaps go and let on the water, and then forget all about shutting it off or oiling the machine bearings.

Plainwell Paper-Mills

These mills were established by Messrs. Lyon and Page in 1872, and are now controlled by the firm of B. F. & F. M. Lyon, of Kalamazoo, Mich. Twenty-five people are steadily employed, and the daily products amount to two tons of news-printing paper.

Plainwell Exchange Bank

PLAINWELL EXCHANGE BANK. This institution was established in 1869 by Messrs. Winegar & Soule. Upon the death of Mr. Winegar, Mr. Joseph W. Hicks, the first president of the village, became a member of the firm. Mr. Hicks has served as county surveyor, and in many other responsible positions has proven himself a gentleman of ability and integrity.

Plainwell Post-Office

As previously mentioned, the Plainwell post-office was first established in 1833, Dr. Cyrenius Thompson, the first settler in the township, becoming the first postmaster. Mails were received weekly, vid Gull Prairie, John H. Adams usually performing duty as mail-carrier. When Dr. Thompson returned to Ohio, in the fall of 1835, Orlando Weed became postmaster. A year or so later, when Weed removed from the Plains, Peter Dumont succeeded him. Mr. Dumont retained the office but a short period, however, for in 1837 he removed to the northern part ot the county. John Anderson then became postmaster, and continued as such for nearly eighteen years.

In the summer of 1854 the office was transferred to the Junction,* where it has since remained. Orson D. Dunham, the first postmaster at the ' Junction, has been succeeded by John H. Lasher, George C. Mills, Milo E. Gifford, Eli Hart, Krouse, Fred. Hays, and John Crispe.

Professional

Physicians. - As already noticed, we find that Dr. Cyrenius Thompson was the first physician to settle in the township. He did not practice, however, the early residents relying mainly upon Dr. L. B. Coats, of Otsego.

About 1840, Dr. Erastus N. Upjohn, brother of Dr. Uriah Upjohn, of Gull Prairie, a native of England, and a "raduate of a New York City medical college, became the first resident practicing physician in the township. He married Myra E., daughter of Dr. Thompson, in 1850, and removed to the State of Nebraska in 1855.

Dr. Charles W. Hawley was born in Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1827. With his parents he removed from New York to Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., in 1836. He studied medicine with Dr. James A. Allen, of Kalamazoo, and completed his course at Laporte, Ind. In 1849, Dr. Hawley taught school in the Silver Creek neighborhood, this township. The following year he located in Wilmington, Will Co., 111., where he practiced three years. He then returned to this township, settling at Silver Creek, In the fall of 1875 he removed to his present place of residence, in the village of Plainwell.

Histoky Of Allegan And Bakry Counties, Michigan

For several years subsequent to 1853 the doctor's practice extended throughout this township, also into the towns of Martin, Prairieville, and Cooper, - situated respectively in the counties of Allegan, Barry, and Kalamazoo. Quite early in life Dr. Hawley married a daughter of John K. Bingham. Mr. Bingham was one of the earliest pioneers of the State. He came to Ann Arbor first in 1826, and, being a practical millwright, built the pioneer mills in many localities of Southern Michigan. He finally settled at Silver Creek, where he placed in good working order the old saw-mill first built by Nathaniel Weed, and in 1847, in the same locality, established the first grist-mill in Gun Plain. He was also one of the original members of the Plainwell Water-Power Company, and to his advice and energy was largely due the success which attended the enterprise.

Dr. J. D. Peters is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute. He first began practice in Alamo, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where, he remained eighteen months. He then removed to Otsego, Mich., remaining there one year. In the fall of 1861 he settled here, thus becoming the first physician to settle permanently in the village. Previous to his coming, a Dr. McNett had practiced here for a few months. Dr. Peters removed to the city of Grand Rapids in 1872, and remained there until January of the present year (1880), when he returned, and is again established in the village of Plainwell. Succeeding Dr. Peters, and prior to 1869, Drs. 0. E. Yates, Benjamin Thompson, E. C. Adams, E. M. Hume, L. A. Daniels, and Dr. Sherman had settled here.

The physicians at present practicing in the village are Drs. Charles W. Hawley, J. D. Peters, 0. E. Yates, Benjamin Thompson, and Rosenkrans.

, Attorneys. - Silas StaiFord, the first lawyer to settle in the village or township, came here from Martin, in 1865. In 1867, J. V. Rogers, a former resident of Wayland township, began the study of law with Mr. Stafford, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. Mr. E. D. Steele also practiced here for a short time, and, later, Bronson Schoonmaker was admitted. The resident attorneys at the present time are Messrs. Silas Stafford, J. V. Rogers, B. Schoonmaker, Daniel Earle, E. J. Anderson, and Burnett.

Village School Statistics

School district No. 2, of the township of Gun Plain, includes within its territory the village of Plainwell, and from the director's (0. J. Woodard) report for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are taken the following statistics:

Secret Benevolent Associations

Plainwell Lodge, No. 35, F. and A. M., commenced work under a dispensation Sept. 9, 1867, and was chartered Jan. 9, 1868. The first officers installed were Jacob V. Rogers, W. M. ; James J. Hart, S. W. ; Walter C. Piersons, J. W. ; Jerome J. Monroe, Sec. ; Simeon R. Piersons, Treas. ; James B. Smith, S. D. ; Henry Sherman, J. D. ; P. S. Stearns, Tyler. Its presiding officers since that time have been Jacob V. Rogers, 1868-69 ; William E. Forbes, 1870; Jacob V. Rogers, 1871; Jerome J. Monroe, 1872; Jacob V. Rogers, 1873-74 ; Benjamin Thompson, 1875- 77; George H. Bean, 1878; and Benjamin Thompson, 1879. The present officers are Benjamin Thompson, W. M. ; Darwin E. White, S. W. ; Frank D. Carter, J. W. ; J. V. Rogers, Sec. ; Hamilton W. Wright, Treas. ; William A. Murphy, S. D. ; Levi W. Cheesbrough, J. D. ; Lewis W. Bean, Tyler. Regular meetings are held Wednesday evenings, on or before the full moon of each month, and the lodge numbers 68 members at the present time.

The first meetings were held ip a hall over J. C. Ives' hardware-store, and were continued there until 1872, when the lodge was removed to its present quarters. For building, furnishing, etc., nearly $2000 have been expended.

Gun Plain Lodge, No. 120, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted July 2, 1868, and the first officers installed were Milo E. Gifford, N. G. ; Henry Day, V. G. ; C. J. Poore, Sec. ; William Starr, Treas. ; J. B. Munson, Warden. Presiding officers during subsequent years have been Henry Day, C. J. Poore, 1869; William Starr, 0. A. Conrad, 1870; Augustus H. Hill, H. K. Mills, 1871 ; Jonas Rouse, J. C. Estes, 1872; William Hay, J. N. Hill, .1873 ; Oscar E. Yates, William Cox, 1874 ; William English, Avery Chappell, 1875 ; Amos M. Hart, Samuel F. Murphy, 1876 ; Edward K. Root, L N. Hitchcock, 1877; Arlando C. Masson, Daniel F. Lantz, 1878 ; Joseph W. Hicks, Edward K. Root, 1879. The present officers are A. V. Badger, N. G. ; Frank Houghtailing, V. G. ; I. N. Hitchcock, Sec. ; Monroe Durkee, Per. Sec. ; John Sternberg, Treas.

The lodge numbers 88 members, and regular meetings are held Monday evenings of each week. This lodge also held its first meetings over Ives' store, removing to its present rooms in 1874.

Plainwell Encampment, No. 11, I. 0. 0. F, was instituted April 26, 1875, and the officers then installed were William Cox, C. P. ; Joseph W. Hicks, H. P. ; Samuel F. Murphy, S. W. ; Jerome Winchell, Sec. Those who have since held the position of presiding officer have been Samuel F. Murphy, Joseph W. Hicks, 1876 ; Avery Chappell, J. N. Hill, 1877; Edward K. Root, 1878; and Augustus H. Hill, 1879. The present officers are Harvey W. Chamberlin, C. P. ; Joseph W. Hicks, H. P. ; J. Cullom, S. W. ; J. N. Hill, J. W. ; William Cox, Sec. '; John Sternberg, Treas.

Religious

The encampment meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, and numbers 26 members. These lodges are in a prosperous condition, and have expended large sums for benefits, regalias, furnishing, etc. RELIGIOUS.

when meetings were first held at the house of Silas Dunham. These meetings were continued at irregular intervals, generally at the house of Mr. Dunham, until March 8, 1835, when Deacon Curtis Brigham commenced stated meetings in the log school-house on the Plains.

On the 13th of September, 1835, Rev. Jeremiah Hall, of Kalamazoo, was employed to preach once in four weeks. Deacon Brigham occupying the intervening Sabbaths. A meeting was held at the house of Silas Dunham, Dec. 26, 1835, to " take into consideration the expediency of organizing a Baptist Church. After conferring on the subject, it was resolved to unite in church fellowship." The constituent members, eight in number, were Silas Dunham, Tirza Dunham, Elisha B. Seeley, Sarah Seeley, Curtis Brigham, Lydia Brigham, Alfred Dunham, and Edwin Dunham. Thus was organized the First Baptist Church of Plainfield, and the first church of any kind in the county of Allegan.

Eev. Henry Munger became its pastor April 26, 1840, which position he continued to hold for a period of five years. In 1844 the organization changed both its name and location, and was known as the First Baptist Church of Otsego. Meetings were held alternately on the Plains and at the village of Otsego. Subsequently the place of meeting was changed from the Plains to the school-house at the Junction, an insignificant hamlet, from which has arisen the present flourishing village of Plainwell.

It soon became evident that a village of some importance would be the result of the development of the Plainwell water-power and the construction of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and on the 11th day of May, 1864, the Plainwell Baptist Church was organized, 22 persons having received letters of dismission from the Otsego Church for this purpose. Rev. 0. S. Wolfe was at this time pastor.

Rev. J. Fletcher, who had just previously served as chaplain of the Ninth Michigan Cavalry, became its pastor Oct. 1, 1865, and has remained continuously to the present time. In 1865-66 a house of worship was built. It was enlarged in 1870, and a spacious lecture-room added. A chapel, situated two and one-half miles east of the village, was built in 1871, for the accommodation of those members residing in that locality.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Plainwell. - In the spring of 1836 a class composed of Elisha Tracy and wife, Nathaniel Weed and wife, and Mrs. John Murphy was formed at the house of Elisha Tracy, in the Silver Creek settlement. Rev. Messrs. Davis and Franklin Gage were the first preachers. Their meetings were held at irregular intervals in the dwellings of the early members.

Three years later Rev. William Todd came into the field to do missionary work, in the territory comprising all of Allegan County, and Cooper and Alamo, in Kalamazoo County. A class of 7 members was then formed in the Gun Plain school-house, one mile north of the present village of Plainwell. Of this class Archibald Gates and wife, Abram J. Dedrick and wife, Amos Rouse and wife, and Levina Batchelor were the original members. Mr. Todd remained on the mission two years, and was then succeeded by Rev. F. Gage. In the summer of 1841 a camp-meeting was held near Gun Marsh, east of the Plains. Large numbers of the people attended, and many joined the church, which gave Methodism its first important start in the county.

At the session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Three Rivers, Sept. 3, 1868, a new circuit was organized, embracing Plainwell, Martin, and South Wayland, receiving the name of the Plainwell Circuit. Thomas Lyon became the presiding elder, and Ira R. A. Wightman preacher in charge, the members constituting the official board of this circuit being L. S. Church, A. C. Beach, A. C. Wheeler, L. Spaulding, D. S. Owen, William Chappie, C. C. White, Jonathan Russell, 0. A. Conrad, R. G. Smith, A. W. Miller, Stephen S. Germond, David Gilger, Wm. H. Southwick, and J. R. Richardson.

In May, 1869, a church site was purchased in the village of Plainwell at a cost of $500, and the work of building a house of worship at once commenced. It was completed at an additional cost of $6000, and dedicated Feb. 3, 1870. It is of brick, and has sittings for 400 people. In the summer of 1878 a vestry, together with a kitchen, was built, costing $550.

Rev. Ira R. A. Wightman remained two years. He was succeeded by B. S. Mills, who remained one year. J. W. Miller served three months, when, having been appointed presiding elder of the Grand Traverse district, Charles Hartley filled out the year. Others since have been J. T. Iddings, one year; J. H. Potts, three years; J. P. Force one year; J. S. Valentine, two years; and George L. Cole, who is the present pastor.^

Plainwell Presbyterian Church. - Vaia society was first organized, as the Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, at the house of George N. Smith on the 7th of January, 1837. The original members, sixteen in number, were Rev. Mr. Knapen, Rev. A. S. Ware and wife, Mr. Chamberlin, wife, and son, George N. Smith and wife, Cyrenius Thompson and wife, John Forbes and wife, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Powers, Mrs. Adams, and Mr. Orr.

+ This building was removed to the village of Plainwell - north side of the river - in 1866, and is now owned and used by the Catholics as their house of worship.

situated one mile north of the present village of Plainwell, was built. 1872 a new house of worship was completed at the village, the one in present use. It has sittings for 400 people, and cost about $4000. A session-room was added in 1879, at a cost of $400. From 1842 to 1850 the pastors were Rev. Messrs. McLaurens, M. Fuller, and E. F. Waldo.

Oilier Religious Organizations. - In 1871 a Protestant Episcopal society was organized m Plainwell, and three years later a neat little church edifice was completed. Some twenty families are connected with this church, which stands, relatively, as a mission of the Allegan Episcopal Church. Rev. Walter Scott, rector, officiates here weekly.

The Catholics of this and surrounding townships form a parish, of which their church edifice - formerly the old Presbyterian church building - is pleasantly situated on the north side of the river. They comprise some twenty or more families, and are under the care of the Battle Creek Church.

William A. Bellingham

William A. Bellingham was born in Rutherfield, Sussex Co., England, Nov. 19, 1824. When nine years old his father came to Washtenaw Co., Mich. A history of their voyage and of his ancestors will be found in the biography of his father, to which reference is here made. Growing up in a new country, as he did, his chances for an education were necessarily very limited, yet he made the most of his opportunities and acquired enough to fit him for the successful business life he has led. Arrived at his majority, he at once bought the eighty acres on which he now resides, and worked by the month in Allegan to pay for it, taking his pay in lumber, which was accepted as payment, as no money was to be had for work in those days. His land paid for, he at once commenced to improve it, and had made considerable advance in doing so when, in 1852, he joined a party who were going to California and made the trip across the plains, enduring the hardships and privations then attending a three months' trip to the land of gold. He worked in the mines and at teaming, meeting with fair success. In the spring of 1855, Mr. Bellingham returned to the States, and soon afler married and settled down on his farm, which he has improved, and on which he has built one of the finest houses in the township, which, with good outbuildings, makes a fine home ; a view of which appears on another page of this work. To the eighty acres then bought he has added until he now owns four hundred and eighty-six acres, with three diflFerent sets of buildings. Mr. Bellingham is called by his fellow-townsmen one of Gun Plain's most successful farmers, and one who has made his wealth by hard work and good management, and whose honesty and integrity are above suspicion. He is a Democrat in politics, but not a politician. On the 4th day of March, 1856, he was married to Miss Ann Stewart, daughter of John and Anna (Underwood) Stewart, who was born May 30, 1826. There has been born to them seven children, viz.: Eliza A., born May 8, 1858; Hattie, born April 27, 1860; Ella, born Feb. 11, 1863; Edgar, born July 3, 1865; Mary, born July 11, 1867; Charles E., born Feb. 2, 1869 ; and Sarah A., born July 15, 1872.

Levi Arnold

Levi Arnold was born July 11, 1844, in the township of Gun Plain, Allegan Co., Mich., where his father, Dan Arnold, settled in 1833, buying the farm now owned by his heirs, and occupied by Levi, from the government. On this farm Levi has grown to manhood, seeing much of early life in a new country, and growing up with the county his family has done so much to clear up and improve. In 1862, Levi and his brother, George T., bought the homefarm of the heirs, and for several years worked it in common. They then sold back to the heirs, and Levi has since then rented it and carried it on successfully.

On the 11th day of December, 1872, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Julia Starr, who was born Feb. 17, 1850. Their union has been blessed with one child, Harold L., born Feb. 14, 1878. On the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. Arnold enlisted in the First Michigan Infantry, but was thrown out on account of size and a broken foot. In 1869, with an idea of improving his own stock, he bought of E. B. Bissell the Poland China known as " Old Darkey," which was the first full-blood Poland brought to the county. The following year Mr. Arnold bought of F. B. Pratt the Poland China known as '- Lady Pratt," and the same year of E. B. Bissell "Long John," and soon after." Richard Jones," of C. W. Jones, of Richland. The same year, wishing to better his herd, he went to Ohio, and of David Finch, one of the best stock-breeders in that State, bought " Old Success," which was one of the best Polands ever brought into the State. These purchases were followed by others as good, making his herd one of the best in the State. He also bought in Ohio, of Joseph Morton, another famous breeder, the animals known as " Black Bess" and "Maid of Oxford;" also of William W. Greer. "Billy Greer A," and second " Queen of Butler." These purchases represent the Harkrader, Pugh, and Perfection strain. Mr. Arnold keeps his herd well filled by purchasing, from time to time, from other States, the best animals that can be bought, thus keeping up the reputation of his herd and increasing his popularity as a breeder of pureblooded swine. From the small beginning made in 1869 he has increased his business, until now his animals are sent to all parts of the United States, and his patrons are each year increasing.

Hon. Friend Ives

Among the early settlers of Allegan County we find the name of Friend Ives, who may well be ranked as one of the self-made and prominent men of the early days of the county. His an- 'cestors were New England people, he himself being a native of Plymouth, Conn., where he was born on the 22d day of December, A.D. 1790. His father was a farmer, and on his farm Friend grew to manhood. His chances for an education were limited to the district schools of his day, yet he obtained enough to fit him for the active, successful business life he afterwards pursued. Arrived at his majority, he started out in life for himself. He traveled through the States of Maryland and Virginia selling Yankee clocks. This he followed several years, acquiring an insight into the ways of the world and its people which afterwards served him well. In after-years he used to relate, in his graphic way, incidents of his wandering life that would have made an interesting volume. We next find him and his family living among the Shakers in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he stayed a few years pursuirg his old business. In 1818, becoming desirous of settling down with his family, he emigrated to Medina, Medina Co., Ohio, where his father-in-law had bought for each of his children one hundred acres of wild land. Medina County was then a new country, and Mr. Ives found only forests of heavy timber awaiting him. It was thirty miles to Cleveland, where they had to go to mill and for their supplies. He built a log house and at once commenced to improve his land. Before the neverceasing strokes of his strong arm the forest rapidly disappeared, and cleared fields and fine buUdings soon took its place. In 1833, having sold his Ohio farm, he again turned his face westward, and we find him in the fall of that year bAilding a log house in the town of Allegan, Allegan Co., Mich.,* now the town of Gun Plain. He had bought a section of land and reared his home on the beautiftil burr-oak plains from which the town derives its name. There were but few in the town at that time, and he had his choice of land, all of which he bought from the government. Again he cleared up a farm in a new country, set out orchards, and erected good buildings, thus doubly earning the title of a pioneer. In the township of which he became one of its most prominent citizens, Mr. Ives passed the remainder of his days, honored and respected by all, passing away Feb. 22, 1874, in his eighty-fifth year. In politics he was always a Democrat, and by his party was elected to fill many oflBces in the gift of his fellow-citizens. In 1835 he was elected assessor of the then town of Allegan, and was also one of the first assessors of the town of Plainfield. He was also elected one of the associate judges of the county, and subsequently represented his district in the lower house of the State Legislature, all of which were fiUed with credit to himself and his constituents. Mr. Ives married Miss Harriet Warner, who was born Jidy 17, 1792, and died March 17, 1867. Of this union there were born to them eight children, as follows: Jane, June 22, 1812; Charles W., 1814; -Sabra D., Dec. 22, 1816; Betsey, 1818; Harriet, May 15, 1820; Blnathan, May 2, 1822; James, Sept. 17, 1824; and Ann, June 17, 1827. Of the children only Harriet, James, and Ann are now living. Harriet married Joshua Hill, Nov. 25, 1842 ; their children were Sarah, born Jan. 2, 1845, James, who died in infancy, and James N., bom April 9, 1849.

James was married, Dec. 31, 1851, to Octavia Chambers; they had but one child, viz., George T., born Oct. 22, 1852. Married, second. Miss Mary Jane Pierson, who was bom Nov. 13, 1834.

William

WILLIAM The Delano family are of English origin, and emigrated to America soon after the great fire in London in the fifteenth century, they having, it is said, lost their all by that disaster. Israel Delano was born in Pembroke, Mass., where his mother resided during her husband's absence at sea, he being captain of a whaling vessel and dying on board ship. Israel, when quite young, emigrated to Ontario Co., N. Y., which was then an almost unbroken wilderness, and was called Ontario township as well as county. He located in what afterwards was known as Palmyra township, subsequently divided, making his residence in Macedon township, Wayne Co. He thus lived in two diflferent counties and three townships without ever changing his abiding-place. He bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, receiving an article which said he should have a deed when the purchase-price was paid. He was the possessor of only an axe and the indomitable will and the industry for which the pioneers of America have always been noted. He went into Ontario with the family of Judge Rogers, whose daughter, Martha, he afterwards married. The judge's mother was noted far and near for her great strength, there being but few men in the country around that she could not master in a trial of strength. Accounts of her prowess are still given by the descendants of the early settlers of that part of New , York. On the land thus obtained Mr. Delano resided until his death, in August, 1857, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He cleared up and improved the farm, which ultimately became one of the fine farms of Wayne County. There were born to them eleven children, - four sons and four daughters, growing to man's and woman's estate. William R. Delano, the ninth of the family, was born in Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y., April 6, 1812. His chances for an education were very limited, as the children of his father's family were put to work as soon as they were old enough to be of any assistance. Arrived at his majority, he commenced life on his own account. He cleared and cropped land on his father's farm a couple of years, then, in the fall of 1835, came to Michigan, and bought of the government one hundred and sixty acres of land in Gun Plain township, Allegan County, and then returned to Washtenaw County, where he worked at jobbing during the winter. The following spring he joined a surveying-party sent out by the government, and spent the spring and summer of 1836 surveying in Wisconsin. The winter of 1836-37 was passed in Washtenaw County, working at whatever he could get to do, and the following season in St. Joseph, Mich. The spring of 1838 found him on his land in Gun Plain, on which he built a log shanty just large enough to eat and sleep in and keep out the wolves. For several years he then worked on his farm when not working for other parties, to earn the money necessary to keep his modest establishment, over which he alone presided, in running order. In 1848 he returned to the old home in Wayne County, and worked his father's farm, which he continued to do until the death of his father, when he bought out some of the heirs and became part owner of the old homestead. In 1865 he returned to Michigan, having previously sold his interest in his Wayne County property and bought in Gun Plain township four hundred acres of land lying in sections 1, 10, and 15. The home-farm is nicely situated on a beautiful little creek which meanders through it. In this fine home Mr. Delano will probably pass the remainder of his days. He is a Republican, but not a politician, and is not a member of any church. Of him his neighbors and fellow-townsmen say that he is a man whom to know is to respect and esteem, and one of whom naught but the highest praise is spoken.

George H. Anderson

The Anderson family are of Scotch origin, Daniel Anderson having been born in Scotland, from whence he emigrated soon after his marriage, and settled in the town of Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., where he bought a tract of wild land, Mayfield being then a newly-settled country. His son, John Anderson, was born in Mayfield, Dec. 29, 1797, and grew to manhood on the home-farm. He was early taught that work was one of God's ordinances, and that boys, though small, were no exceptions to the rule. His education was obtained evenings by the light of the fireplace, and by a close observance of men and the ways of the world. He was a natural mechanic, and could make anything that could be made with tools. Arrived at his majority, he built on his father's farm a saw-mill, which he ran until about the time of his marriage to Miss Laura Rice, which occurred Feb. 23, 1826. Miss Rice was born in Fulton Co., Feb. 19, 1799. After his marriage, Mr. Anderson worked at the carpenter trade, also as a millwright, which he followed until the spring of 1834, when, with his wife and two children, he started for Michigan in quest of a home. He came to Grass Lake, in Jackson County, where he left his family and then set out on foot in search of government land. He came to Kalamazoo, but, finding the desirable land occupied, he pushed on farther north into Allegan County, which was then on the outskirts of civilization, and in what is now Gun Plain township he bought of the government four hundred acres of land. He then returned for his family, and at once came on to the new home in the wilderness. Until a log house could be built they lived in a deserted house, then moved into their own home, which was built on the northwest quarter of section 29, part of which is now the village of Plainwell. He at once commenced to improve his farm, and 'Soon cleared fields made beautiful by waving grain took the place of the forest, while on every hand the homes of new settlers were springing up. Mr. Anderson cleared up one hundred acres of his farm and erected on it good buildings, and upon it he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 17, 1877. In politics Mr. Anderson was in early life a Whig, and joined the Republican party on its organization, and was always one of its strongest supporters. He was for many years postmaster at Plainwell, was also justice of the peace, school inspector, supervisor, and associate judge. He is spoken of by his old friends and neighbors as one of nature's noblemen, a man whom to know was to love and esteem, and against whom no evil could be said.

George H. Anderson was born in Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1827. In 1834 came to Michigan, as set forth in the biography of his father, John Anderson. On the farm in Gun Plain Mr. Anderson grew to manhood, going to school with his sister to the log school-house in the woods, they being the only scholars from their part of the town. When eighteen years old he attended Dr. Stone's school one term, and four years after passed two terms in the college at Olivet. He then worked on his father's farm summers, and taught school winters until his marriage, which occurred June 25, 1852, his bride being Miss Elizabeth Woodhams, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth

(Chart) Woodhams. She was born in Croyden, Surrey Co., England, May 1, 1833. In September, 1852, Mr. Anderson and his wife, in company with a party of friends, sailed in the clipper -ship " Green Point" for California, going around the Horn, and being five months on the way. They arrived in San Francisco March 11, 1853, and soon after went into a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, near Redwood City. Remained on the ranch one year, engaged in stockraising. He then returned to San Francisco and bought a mill-ranch near the city, on which he remained until the fall of 1859, and meeting with marked success. He then sold out and returned home, coming vid Panama. Soon after his return he engaged in the mercantile business in Plainwell, also carrying on his farm of two hundred acres near the village. In 1869, Mr. Anderson sold out his mercantile business, since which he has managed his farm and attended to his property in the village, consisting of tenant-houses and other buildings. He is, and has always been, a Republican, but not a politician, never having sought or desired office.

Mr. Anderson and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church. There have been born to them six children, as follows: George W., born March 29, 1853; Edward J., born Sept. 9, 1854; Ella E., born Jan. 25, 1857 ; Ida M.,born Nov. 18, 1858, all born in California; Edith A., born Nov. 1, 1860 ; and Lewis C.,born Feb. 21, 1876, the two last in Plainwell, Mich. George W. is a conductor on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, a position he has held six years. Edward J. enlisted in the regular army when fifteen years old, and served five years. After his return he entered the office of Silas Stafford, in Plainwell, as a law student, was admitted to the bar in 1876, since when he has followed his profession in Plainwell, where he has an office and a good practice. He is at present one of the Circuit Court commissioners for Allegan County. Mrs. Anderson's father, William H. Woodhams, was born in the county of Kent, England, Oct. 12, 1801. He is of Welsh descent, his ancestors living in Wales prior to their removal to England. His family were wealthy farmers, he himself having a lease of a farm whitih had been leased by his family for generations. In his boyhood days he was a miller's apprentice, but never followed the business. In 1827 he married Elizabeth Chart, whrch union was blessed with six sons and two daughters. In 1845, Mr. Woodhams bought ninety-five acres of land in Gun Plain, Allegan Co., Mich., and the following year sold his lease, and with his family emigrated to America ; he at once moved on to his farm, which he improved, and on part of which he laid out a portion of the village of Plainwell. The growth and prosperity of this flourishing village are due in a measure to Mr. Woodhams, who has done much for its advancement. He also bought other tracts of land, and lots in Kalamazoo village, a good deal of which is now owned by his sons. He has now in his old age retired from business with more than a competency.

Mrs. Woodhams, who was a lady of fine literary abilities, and noted for her generous and noble qualities, died Dec. 15, 1873, in California, whither she had gone for her health, mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives.

John Murpht John Murphy

Among the self-made men of Allegan there are none who better deserve the title than John Murphy, of whom this brief sketch is written. He was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1794:. He was of Irish descent, his grandparents having first seen the light of day on the Emerald Isle, from whence they emigrated to America when John's father was an infant. John grew to manhood in Pennfield, Genesee Co., N. Y., where his father owned a farm bought in its wild state. The country was new and schools were few and of the most primitive kind, hence Mr. Murphy obtained but a limited amount of the knowledge derived from books, but what he lacked in education he made up in energy and natural ability. Arrived at his majority, he bought a farm in Pennfield, which he carried on a number of years. During this time he served as constable for several years, thus becoming proficient in a line of work that afterwards made him useful to the new county of Allegan. After selling his farm in Pennfield he went to Rochester and engaged in the grocery business, which he followed a few years, and then went to Ohio, where he took jobs in building the Ohio Canal. He also helped to build the Pennsylvania Canal, on which he lost a large sum through the dishonesty of a partner. Having married while in Ohio, and being somewhat disheartened by his losses in Pennsylvania, he concluded to settle down, and in a new country. He returned to Rochester and sold out his business there, and in the spiing of 1835 came to Michigan in search of a home, leaving his wife and children in Ohio. He came to Detroit, and thence on foot through the country to Allegan, where he bought 80 acres of land on section 34, in Gun Plain township. Mr. Murphy stayed in Gun Plain during the summer, living with a Mr. Seeley, whose house he helped to build. In the fall he returned to Ohio for his family, with whom he at once returned to Mr. Seeley 's, where they remained while he built a house. While living with Mr. Seeley's people Mrs. Murphy, who was an old teacher, taught her own and Mr. Seeley's children, they' occupying seats near the spinning-wheel, which she ran as she taught. This was the first school in their part of the town, and the lessons then learned were as valuable as those received in the costly schools of to-day. When settled in their new home they found themselves with a capital of twelve dollars and fifty cents, and with no team, stock, or tools, but with energy and perseverance they at once commenced to make for themselves a home. Fruit-trees were at once set out, clearings were made, and fences built. Roads and cleared fields soon took the place of the forests, while on every side the homes of the new-comers were springing up as if by magic, and Mrs. Murphy says they were very happy in those days, with none of the jealousies and heart-burnings of the present day. Mr. Murphy was a Democrat, and was often the standard-bearer of his party. He was the first supervisor of the town, and held other township ofiBces. When the county was organized he was elected its first sheriff, which oflSce he held two terms, the first term doing the entire business on foot. His popularity and the efficiency shown in the offices he had held brought him prominently before the public, and in the fall of 1852 he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature, which position he filled with credit to himself and his constituents. He was chairman of the committee on Indian affairs during the time of his service in the house. On his return from Lansing, Mr. Murphy retired from political life and gave his attention to his farm, until his son finally took entire charge of it. He died June 19, 1874, mourned and ren-retted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Murphy was married Jan. 4, 1825, to Miss Mary Ayers, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hawkins) Ayers. She was born in Bridgewatcr, Windsor Co., Vt., Dec. 19, 1804. There were born to them the following children :

Justus B. Sutherland

Reuben Sutherland was' born at Horse Neck, on the seacoast, in the State of New York, where he grew to manhood. (His father was born in Scotland, and wore the bonnet and kilt.) Arrived at his majority, he went to Dutchess Co., N. Y., and bought a farm, and there he married. He was a strong Whig, and had unboVinded faith in the Continental Congress and its financial policy. To prove his faith he took entire pay for his farm (which he sold about the beginning of the Revolution) in Continental money, and which became worthless in his possession, thereby depriving him of his all. He was not subject to the draft, but enlisted in the patriot army and served as a private. Was present I at the surrender of Burgoyne. After the war he moved to Broome Co., N. Y., where he bought ofle hundred and ten acres of new land, which he partly improved, and where he died, Sept. 10, 1799. His son, Justus B. Sutherland, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y., March 15, 1799. Here he grew to man's estate, living with his mother until her death, which took place when he was twenty-two years old. After his mother's death he bought a small farm of fifty acres which was all new. This farm he cleared, and upon it he lived until 1833, when he sold out and, leaving his family behind, canle to Michigan in search of a home where land was cheap and plenty. Coming to what was then Allegan township, now Gun Plain, he bought the south half of the southwest quarter of section 35. He then returned to Broome County, and the following spring, with his wife and six children, started for the new home in the wilderness. They came by water to Detroit, where he bought a yoke of oxen, and with his goods and family loaded in the wagon started for Allegan, on the old Territorial road. It was not then the road it is to-day. Its bridges were of the most primitive kind, many of the little lakes and streams bein"- bridged only with floating logs, which often rolled under the oxen's feet, looking at times as though a ducking, if nothing worse, awaited the whole family.

The distance from Detroit to Gull Prairie, now made in five hours, then took Mr. Sutherland, with his ox-team, as many days, and, although he traveled as cheaply as possible, it cost him sixty-four dollars. Arrived in the town, he stayed a few days with old Mr. Dunham while he built a log house on his farm. There were then but a few families in the town, Mr. Arnold's family being the nearest one west, while east of him there was no one living in the township. The house completed, he at once moved his family in, and life in the new home had begun. Around the house the deer and other game roamed by day, while the wolves made night hideous with their howling. So thick were the latter that Mr. Sutherland found it impossible to keep sheep or calves unless in a high pen. With the energy and perseverance for which the pioneers were noted, he at once commenced to clear and improve his farm. His land and traveling expenses had taken nearly all his means. Still, his family never went hungry or knew want. Clothing then was hard to get, and often buckskin took the place of cloth. On the farm he then bought Mr. Sutherland has lived nearly half a century, and he intends to pass the remainder of his days where so many pleasant hours have been passed. The then wilderness has changed to beautiful homes, churches, and villages, all of which changes he has done his share to create. He is now in his eighty-second year, and a man respected and esteemed by all who know him. In politics Mr. Sutherland is a Democrat. When the town was first organized he was elected constable and collector, which ofiices he held at different times. He has also been treasurer and school inspector. For his first wife Mr. Sutherland married Elmira Bliss, daughter of Ebenezer Bliss. She was born Oct. 10, 1803. They had the following children: Bliss, born Jan. 1, 1824; Abraham K., born Dec. 12, 1825 ; Mercy, born March 1, 1827 ; Louisi, born April 30, 1829 ; Francis N., born March 12, 1831 ; Morris J., born Oct. 10, 1832 ; Lazetta, born Aug. 15, 1834; Pitt D., born Aug. 18, 1837, killed by a horse, Oct. 27, 1856 ; Emily M., born Dec. 18, 1839 ; Darwin D., born Dec. 28, 1841 ; Dewitt C, born Aug. 28, 1842; Mortimer W., born Oct. 21, 1845. Mrs. Sutherland died- March 1, 1853. For his second wife, Mr. Sutherland married his first wife's sister, Mrs. Esther Allen, who was born Oct. 11, 1796.

Eliezer C. Knapp

Eliezer C. Knapp was born April 14, 1828, in the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess Co., N. Y. He is of Scotch origin, his ancestors on his father's side having emigrated from Scotland. Peter Knapp, the father of Eliezer, was bora in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he resided on the farm of his father until 183-i, when he moved into Wayne County, same State, and bought a farm in the town of Arcadia, on which he resided until his death, in 1848. Eliezer grew to manhood on the home-farm, learning early that boys as well as men were destined to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. Arrived at his majority, he started out in life for himself, his capital consisting of health, strength, and determination to carve out for himself a successful future. His first work was in a warehouse in tlie village of Newark, where he worked one year. Then for a couple of years he found employment in a machine-shop in Newark, and at the carpenter's trade in Clyde. In the spring of 1852, having been in poor health for several months, he started for California, his physician having recommended a change of climate. He went by the Nicaragua route, and arrived in San Francisco in July, 1852. Soon after his arrival he went up the north fork of the American River and engaged in mining. In the fall he went to Sacramento, and there worked at his trade for a short time, when he went to Marysville and took charge of a machine-shop, a position he held until the spring of 1854, when he returned to the States with but little more money than when he left home. Soon after his return he came to Michigan, and in the town of Gun Plain bought the farm he now owns, running almost entirely in debt for it. There were no buildings and but twenty acres improved. By his management and labor the farm has become one of the fine farms of the township, with good buildings and nearly all improved, while to it he has added, until it now comprises one hundred and forty-six acres, the result of untiring energy and industry.

In politics Mr. Knapp is a Democrat, although he now and for eight terms past has held the office of supervisor in a Republican township, filling the office to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. On the 16th day of November, 1851, he was married to Miss Charlotte Harvey, daughter of Byron and Ruth (Waite) Harvey, who was born Oct. 15, 1830. To them was born Ida E., Feb. 9, 1855. She is the wife of Henry Crosbie, and resides in Ionia. Mrs. Knapp died Sept. 1, 1856. For his second wife Mr. Knapp married, June 28, 18.58, Miss Frances Linderman, who was born Dec. 16, 1833, daughter of Jacob and Desire (Conrad) Linderman. Their union has been blessed with three children, viz. : Will, born Jan. 23, 1860 ; Mabel, born Aug. 11, 1862 ; and Genevieve, born March 16, 1865, died Oct. 20, 1865.

William Bellingham

William Bellingham was born March 20, 1800, in the town of Rutherfield, Sussex Co., England, where his ancestors had resided for more than a century, and being what is called in England small farmers. His father, Joseph Bellingham, at one time owned a small farm, which he sold, and then rented a large farm, which he was working at the time William was born. They were men in moderate circumstances, but always bore characters which were above reproach. William grew to manhood on the farm in Sussex

County, going to what was called a charity-school, and which was kept by his uncle. His father paid his schooling, although it was called a charity-school. Arrived at his majority, he started out in life for himself, at one time working his father's farm, then taking a farm, which he continued to work until he emigrated to America in 1833. Prior to that time his brother-in-law had emigrated to America, and sent back such glowing accounts of their farm and home in the New World that Mr. Bellingham resolved to cast his fortunes in the same country, and with his wife and children England in the spring of 1833. They landed in New York, from whence they went to Troy. Their money being exhausted, they stopped in Troy, where Mr. Bellingham worked in a market-garden, while his son, William A., then a lad of eight years, worked in the market mornings, recoivin"- sixpence a morning for his services, which consisted in calling out in his English way, " Here's where you get your nice inyans and lettuce," which attracted much attention and a good deal of merriment. In August they came on to Detroit, where they again found themselves out of means, save a half-dollar. The family and goods were located in the street, where they were to stay until Mr. Bellingham and William A. could walk to the brother-in-law's (Mr. John Young), in Washtenaw County. As they were about to set out, a stranger came to them and asked what they were doing in the street. On being told that it was for want of means to do any better, he at once invited them into his house, to stay until 5Ir. Bellingham returned. They then invested their half-dollar in crackers and cheese, and set out about four o'clock in the afternoon for Washtenaw. That night they slept in a straw-stack and the next day reached their destination. William A. and his cousin returned for the family, whom they found with the kind stranger, who refused to take any pay for his kindness. They found Mr. Young, like the most of the early settlers, the owner o a farm and scarce anything else. They remained with him a shoi.'- time, then went by themselves, Mr. Bellingham working at whatever he could get to do, mostly ditching. He finally got enough ahead so that he bought of the government forty acres in the town of Lima. To this he added eighty acres, all of which he traded for the west half of the southeast quarter of section 15 in Gun Plain township, Allegan Co., and on which he located in 1844, and where he resided until his death, Nov. 2, 1878. His farm he cleared and improved and enlarged to three hundred and twenty acres. He was a Democrat, and held the offices of justice of the peace and township clerk. Was a member of the Baptist Church. He was highly esteemed by his neighbors and fellow-townsmen, and is spoken of as one whom to know was to admire and respect. Mr. Bellingham was married Jan. 18, 1819, to Miss Phillis Powell, who was born March 28, 1800. There were born to them the following children : Catherine, born April 9, 1822 ; William A., born Nov. 19, 1824 ; Ellen, born April 20, 1827 ; Ruth, born July 19, 1829 ; Esther, born May 9, 1832 ; Ann, born Sept. 28, 1834; Sarah, born July 7, 1838; and Orpha, born Jan. 6, 1843, - the two last born in America. Mrs. Bellingham died Jan. 2, 1844. Sarah, married July 4, 1853, Ralph Richmond, who was born in Twinsburg, Portage Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1828. Their union has been blessed with two children, viz. : Lucy, born Sept. 25, 1859, and Ernest, born Oct. 15, 1869.