Dorr Township (part 4 of 6)

Thomas Raplee occupied the old Scott place for a while, removed afterwards to Ganges, and, returning subsequently to Lee, lives now upon the place of his earliest settlement. Mr. Raplee was prominently identified with township afikirs from the outset, and during his residence in Lee was, to the close of 1876, a town official, his last services being given as supervisor from 1872 to 1876, inclusive.

1867, and made his home in a lumberman's cabin on section 22. At that time the firm named was largely engaged in lumbering in Lee, and moved great quantities of logs down the Black River to South Haven. After working for Dickinson, Rogers & Co. about four years, Johnson concluded to become a tiller of the soil, and bought a farm on section 22, where he has lived ever since. William Rhodes, who came with Johnson, worked with him for a time as lumberman, but, tiring of the business, returned to South Haven, where he died.

When Mr. Johnson came to Lee, in 1867, there were not above a dozen settlers in the township. Among them were Michael Hoy, Robert Hilton, Robert Crawford, John

Orr, John H. Thistle, Charles Griffing, and 0. Hodgman. Town-meetings were frequently held at Mr. Johnson's house, and on such occasions the participants were furnished with a dinner at the town's expense. Mrs. Johnson has prepared many such dinners on election days, but the custom was abandoned after the number of voters reached beyond the number of a baker's dozen, although periodically revived thereafter.

Until lately there was but little done in the way of farming. True, there was some agricultural activity in the east and southwest, where there were a few sections of excellent tillable land, but lumbering was the main industry, highways were chiefly lumber-roads, and the population was naturally of a constantly changing character, for the inmates of the lumbering camps, without any fixed location or permanent interests, moved in and out as the notion possessed them. In 1864 the inhabitants north of the river were few and far between, and one might have then journeyed a long way without encountering a settler. South of the river there were a few settlers and a considerable community of barkpeelers.

G. F. Heath, living on the eastern line of the township, has been a resident of Lee since 1867, since when he has been closely connected with the administration of township aflFairs and a farmer of considerable prominence.

Lee was a portion of Pine Plains township until Jan. 3, 1859, when the county supervisors set it oif as a separate town. Although the reason for giving it the name it _bears docs not appear clear, it is likely that the town of Lee, in Massachusetts, suggested it.

The township records were at first very badly kept, and it is extremely diflScult to obtain information from them. The best information obtainable, however, from the records, has been gathered touching township proceedings since 1859, and is now presented.

" That the Township Board of Lee and Pine Plains met at the house of Michael Hoy, in Lee, August 11, 1859, for the purpose of settling all claims between the above named townships. Harmon B. Rice was called to the chair, and John P. Parish appointed Secretary. It was agreed that the said township of Pine Plains should pay $165.84 school and other funds, due school district No. 2, of what was Pine Plains. It was further agreed that Pine Plains should have the benefit of any money due from Allegan County at the time of the division, and to pay the indebtedness of said township at the time of division. Further, the town of Pine Plains should let the town of Lee have one-third of the library books of said town.

The first township-meeting was held April 4, 1859, when Thomas Raplee was chosen moderator, Harmon B. Rice and Henry Davidson inspectors of election, Ezra H. Heath clerk, and John Joslin assistant clerk. At that election eight votes were cast, and the following persons elected officers : Supervisor, Thomas Raplee ; Clerk, E. H.

Heath ; Treasurer, H. B. Rice ; Justices of the Peace, H. B. Rice, Henry Davidson, Thomas Raplee, and John Orr (the latter subsequently declared an alien) ; Highway Commissioners, Michael Hoy and David W. Matthews; School Inspector, Henry Davidson ; Constables, David W. Matthews, Winchester Jenkins, and Michael Hoy ; Overseers of Highways, District No. 1, H. B. Rice; District No. 2, Winchester Jenkins ; District No. 4, Michael Hoy.

The second annual election was held on section 22, "in Dikeman, Hale & Co.'s block-house,'' in which place also many subsequent elections were held.

Although the votes cast in 1859 were but 8, there were only 5 in 1860, and 13 in 1861. From that there was no material change until 1869, when there was a sudden increase to 27.

A list of the names of the persons who have been annually elected, from 1859 to 1880, to serve as supervisors, clerks, treasurers, and justices of the peace, follows here :

Hoppertown, so called, a signal-station on the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, occupies a quarter of section 9, land owned by Hopper & Bennett, of Michigan City, upon which two brothers named Clement put up a saw-mill in 1870. They sold the mill to Holden & Loney, who took the job of clearing Hopper & Co.'s land. In 1871, Bonfoey & Hurlbut erected a shingle-mill, and Sweet & Ferguson a saw-mill. In 1872, Hyatt & Anderson helped matters along with a 30 horse-power saw-mill, and in that year Hoppertown rose to the dignity of a hamlet, boasting a population of 23 families or about 215 people all told, who were supported by the industry of four sawmills, - a prosperous era indeed in Hoppertown's history. Afi'airs flourished, however, in this fashion only about four years. In the summer of 1876 the mill machinery had ceased to perform its accustomed functions, business had

In the winter of the same year there was a business revival. Snell & Cobb purchased the old Bonfoey & Hurlbut shingle-mill, and, setting it once more in motion, restored Hoppertown to activity. Now the place boasts two sawmills, which have produced for shipment since 1877 from 18 to 20 car-loads of lumber each week. A post-office was established at Hoppertown in 1876, when Bansom Snell was appointed postmaster, and as such he still continues. This station , besides forwarding considerable lumber, shipped during 1879 about 6000 baskets of peaches, and with improved depot conveniences will forward thrice that number the coming season.

Black River Station

BLACK RIVER STATION. George Kraal established a saw-mill at this place in 1871, and presently sold it to William Ferguson, who discontinued it about 1874. Nothing more was done at the place until 1875, when D. J. Dorkey set a saw-mill in operation there, and has carried it on ever since. He employs at times as many as 20 men, and ships considerable lumber. A postoffice was established here in 1877, and called Lee. Mr. Dorkey, who was appointed postmaster, is yet the incumbent. About a mile south of Black Biver Station, Adam White, of Geneva, carries on the business of charcoal-burning. He has three large kilns, owns several hundred acres of land in the vicinity, and employs an aggregate of 75 men in clearing land and burning; coal.

Leighton

Leiqhton is prominent as the northeastern township of Allegan County, and in the field-notes of the original survey was designated as township No. 4 north, of range No. 11 west. It has Kent County on the north, Barry County on the east, and the townships of Wayland and Dorr, in this county, for its eastern and southern boundaries.

The surface is rolling, rendering drainage both easy and practicable. Originally, it was heavily timbered with the deciduous trees common to this region, and many acres of the primeval forests still remain.

The soil is most excellent, and well adapted to all the pursuits of agriculture. This is shown by the fact that, although it was one of the most recently settled and organized townships, it is now one of the largest wheat-producing and fruit-growing districts in the county.

Green Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, embraces portions of sections 2, 3, 10, and 11, some 320 acres in all. It is of great depth, and an excellent fishing-place. Several other small lakes are found in the northeast part of the township. Green Lake Creek, the principal stream of Leighton, takes its rise from Green Lake, and, flowing to the southwest, through the north and west parts of the township, finally becomes tributary to the Babbit Biver. It aifords good water-power privileges on section 8, where are situated Brown's saw-mills.

The road-bed of the Grand Bapids and Indiana Bailroad intersects sections 18, 19, 30, and 31, but no depots are located in this township, the people being afforded railway facilities at the stations of Wayland and Moline.

Events Preceding Permanent Settlements Original Surveys

EVENTS PRECEDING PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS. ORIGINAL SURVEYS. The northern, eastern, and western boundary-lines of this township were run by Deputy United States Surveyor Lu- cius Lyon in the year 1826, but the field-work was not completed until the spring of 1831, when Sylvester Sibley, also a deputy United States surveyor, ran out the southern boundary-line and subdivided the territory described into sections.

First And Other Early Land-Entries

The first entry of public lands in township 4 north, of range 11 west, was made on the 11th day of July, 1835, by the well-known Indian trader, Louis Campau. His tract embraced the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, and lay immediately south of Green Lake. From the fact that he had squatted there some two years previously, and erected a large and substantial framed building, it is very probable that the lands in this township were not placed upon the market until about the time of Campau's purchase.

A few other lots were purchased during the same year (1835), but it was not until the year 1836 that anything like a general raid of " land-lookers" and speculators was made upon this portion of the public domain, and, strangely enough, some entire sections remained vested in the general government until quite a recent period.

September, 1836 ; James Willson, September, 1836. Section 16 was school lands. Section n. - Oliver Davenport, July 15, 1836; Allen A. Robinson,

Louis Campau, the Indian trader whose name is prominent in the history of Kent County and other sections of Western Michigan, made the first improvement in this township. As early as 1833 or '34 he came in from Grand Eapids and built a large framed building on the north part of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 10.

This house stood on the east side of the present highway, between the outlet and the lake, and about forty rods from the latter. The timbers and other material of which it was constructed -were sawed out by means of the oldfashioned saw-pit and whip-saw. Those who were familiar with the appearance of this old structure describe it as having been very substantially built. It was a long, low building, one and one-half stories in height, with dormer windows, a style of architecture peculiar to the French Canadians of half a century ago.

It is a difficult matter, now, to determine what his objects were in the choice of this site and the construction of so large a building here in the wilderness, - whether as a tradingpost, or the nucleus of a proposed village in a locality which his unerring instinct pointed out as romantic and rich in natural beauties. However that may be, he held this location as a squatter or by right of pre-emption until July 11, 1835, when it was entered in his name upon the land-office records.

On the 12th of February, 1836, he purchased the northeast fractional quarter of the same section, also the southeast fractional quarter of section 3. Together, his purchases embraced an area of 280 acres, all resting upon Green Lake.

The first man to occupy the building erected by Campau was one Watson. He remained but a year or so, and then gave place to a man named Pelton. About 1836 or 1837 Campau traded his property here - or part of it at least - with E. B. Bostwick for lands lying within the limits of the present city of Grand Rapids. Bostwick erected a barn, also a small building which he occupied as a store, and in 1837 Lucius A. Barnes found him installed here as tavernkeeper and merchant. His hotel patrons were those unhappy creatures, the " land-lookers," and through travelers from Bronson* to " the Rapids," while his store customers were Indians. Mr. Bostwick remained at the lake two or three years. He cleared about 20 acres, one half of which was brought under cultivation.

During subsequent years this old Campau building was occupied by several different parties and kept as a hotel, and among the landlords of that early period was L. A. Barnes. The building itself has long since disappeared ; not a vestige of it now remains.

in the persons of George W. Barnes, of Wayland, and William Logan, of Gull Prairie, who during the spring of 1836 entered lands situated upon sections 34 and 35.

Messrs. Barnes and Logan were here in the summer of 1839, engaged in lumbering, and the first assessment-roll of Martin informs us that they were assessed for lands before described and one yoke of cattle valued at $70, all in township 4 north, of range No. 11 west; and what is otherwise quite conclusive, no other portion of the township was then assessed as resident land.

The brothers Samuel B. and William S. Hooker were natives of the State of Vermont, and came to Michigan in 1838 or '39, stopping a short time at Gull Prairie, where their brother Darwin had preceded them by some four or five years. On the 29th of January, 1840, they purchased the northeast quarter of section 34 in this township, and began an improvement upon their land during the same spring, which resulted in the establishment of the first permanent homestead in Leighton. The Hookers were prominent and respected citizens. Both held offices in Wayland, and were conspicuous in the organization of their own township. ^^ Kalamazoo.

Boughton Wilson seems to have been the next settler, and came in soon after the Hookers. His location was the northwest quarter of section 24. He was a plain, unassuming citizen, not given to oflSce-holding, and died years ago, while still a young man. His widow still owns a large portion of the original homestead.

When Wayland was organized, in 1844, the Hooker brothers and Boughton Wilson were the only resident taxpayers in township 4 north, of range 11 west. The personal estate of the former was valued at $174 ; of the latter, at $120.

In 1845 the population was further increased by the settlement of George W. Lewis on section 34, Alfred Mann on section 22, and John Woodward on 34. Lucius A. Barnes and H. Gardner were also here at that time.

Prior to the first township-meeting, in 1848, Levi S. Bagnell and Seth A. Lucas were both settled on section 6. Others who were here, but were not real-estate owners, were John Goodspeed, Homer Hulett, Samuel E. Lincoln, Jehu Wilson, Warren Spencer, and Stephen Hartwell.

Darwin W. Hooker, a brother of Samuel and William, came from Essex Co., N. Y., to Gull Prairie, Mich., in 1834, and was a prominent citizen of that locality until 1849, when he removed to his present place of residence in this township. He was born in Rutland Co., Vt., and early in life became a tailor. Afterwards, at Castleton, Vt., and Keeseville, N. Y.,he carried on an extensive merchanttailoring establishment. Since his settlement in Michigan, however, he has devoted all his energies to farming. Here, as well as in Kalamazoo County, he has served many terms as justice of the peace, and with great gratification asserts that none of his decisions have been reversed by a higher court. Especially was he triumphant in the " Leighton road war."

Among other well-known citizens of Leighton who came in during the sixth decade, and in years which are believed to be correctly given below, were the following :

Statistical

The growth of population and the development of the fine farming-lands of this township have not been marked by any period of activity which deserves especial mention. Gradually but surely, however, the people have advanced in population and prosperity, until to-day they point with just pride to theirs as being one of the best agricultural districts in the county of Allegan.

The State census of 1874 (the latest) returned a total population of 1308. An approximate estimate of the present number of inhabitants places them at about 1700.

Formerly the people had a post-office in their midst, but the township of to-day boasts neither a post-office, railway station, village, store, rum-shop, nor tavern. One small church edifice - German Evangelical - is situated on the northwest corner of section 12, in which vicinity quite a number of families of that nationality and faith have settled.

Civil History Organization

CIVIL HISTORY. ORGANIZATION. Forming successively part of Allegan, Plainfield, Martin, and Wayland townships, Leighton was finally set off as an independent organization by an act of the State Legislature which was approved March 9, 1848. The following is that portion of the act applying to this township :

"Section 3. That township number four north, of range number eleven west, in the county of Allegan, be, and the same is hereby set off from the township of Wayland, and organized into a separate township by the name of Leighton, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the Green Lake school-house, in said township."

The electors of the territory thus organized as the township of Leighton assembled at the Green Lake school-house on Monday, April 3, 1848, for the purpose of electing township officers. Thereupon, John Goodspeed was chosen moderator, Samuel B. Hooker clerk, John Woodward and Levi S. Bagnell inspectors of election. The whole number of votes polled for candidates for the office of supervisor was 20, of which George W. Lewis received 12, and Samuel B. Hooker received 8. The final result was as follows : George W. Lewis, Supervisor ; Samuel B. Hooker, Township Clerk ; George W. Lewis, Treasurer ; John Woodward, Jehu Wilson, Assessors ; Seth A. Lucas, Alfred Mann, School Inspectors; Levi S. Bagnell, Samuel E. Lincoln, Jehu Wilson, Highway Commissioners; Homer Hulett, Seth A. Lucas, Alfred Mann, Justices of the Peace ; William S. Hooker, John Woodward, Poormasters ; Pbiletus W. Wood, John Goodspeed, Constables.

The further business of this meeting was concluded by the appointment of John Woodward roadmaster of district No. 1 and Stephen Hartwell roadmaster of district No. 2, by voting to raise $80 for township expenses, to pay a bounty of $5 for each full-grown wolf killed in the township, and to levy a tax of fifty cents for each child of school age residing in the township.

In May, 1844, school district No. 1,* of Wayland, was organized, and included sections 34, 35, and 36 in township 4 north, of range 11 west. The school-house,- which was built soon after, was a small plank building, and stood in the vicinity of Barnes' saw-mill. Here the children of the earliest settlers in the Hooker neighborhood obtained their first school advantages.

Prior to the organization of Leighfon, in 1848, a schoolhouse known as the Green Lake school-house had been erected. But it seems that no schools were taught in it prior to - or for a year or more succeeding - the date mentioned. Seth A. Lucas and Alfred Mann, the school inspectors elected in 1848, made no record of their official acts, and it is very probable they performed none. On the 19th of March, 1849, Darwin W. and Samuel B. Hooker, school inspectors, met at the township clerk's office " for the purpose of forming a school district in said township," and ordered

"That the southeast quarter of section 21, the whole of section 22 and 23, the west half of 24 and 25, the whole of sections 26, 27, 28, and the east half of section 29, shall constitute and form a school district, to be known as school district No. 1."

This was the first school district organized within the township. It was enlarged March 23, 1850, by annexing the north half of sections 34 and 35, territory which had previously belonged to the Wayland and Leighton fractional districts. On the 26th of June, 1850, the first teacher was licensed by the Leighton authorities, but unfortunately her name was not placed on record. The next teacher in district No. 1 was Miss F. M. Jones, who received a certificate April 28, 1851. District No. 2 was formed Nov. 1, 1851, and district No. 3, Dee. 20, 1851. On the latter date Miss Frances M. Ralph and Mr. M. H. Lester received teachers' certificates. Other early teachers were licensed as follows : Sarah Jane Freeman, May 4, 1852 ; Susan A. Matteson, Nov. 22, 1852 ; Miss Caroline Barton, April 9, 1853; Elizabeth Stokes, May 2, 1853; Amanda Brownson, Nov. 5, 1853 ; Charity Cowan, Alfred Brownson, Nov. 12, 1853.

District No. 4 was formed March 10, 1853; district No. 5, December, 1855 ; No. 6, October, 1856. Since the latter date many changes have occurred in the numbers and boundaries of districts.

As showing the present condition of school interests in Leighton, the following statistics, taken from the school inspectors' annual report for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are appended :

Biographical Sketch William B. Hooker

William S. Hooker, the father of the immediate subject of this brief sketch, was born in the State of Vermont, Aug. 17, 1818. After residing for some years in E.'ssex Co., N. Y., he removed to Gull Prairie, Mich., about 1838- 39. In 1840, together with his brother Samuel B., he purchased of the general government lands situated upon section 34 in the present township of Leighton, and during the same year, accompanied by his father (Josiah) and mother, began the first improvement in the southern half of the township. He was an active, energetic citizen, was prominent as a township official, and also served as sheriif of Allegan County.

On the 14th of May, 1857, he married Mrs. Hannah Watkins, of Leighton ; but one child was born of this marriage, viz.: Emma J., Sept. 12, 1859. At the time of his death, which occurred March 21, 1874, Mr. Hooker was the owner of two hundred and forty acres.

His son William B. Hooker, who married Miss Isabella Crittenden, of Martin, March 24, 1880, now owns and occupies the homestead. It is situated on the old stage-route between Kalamazoo and Grand- Rapids, and is one of the most pleasant locations in the township.

Manlius, known on the United States survey as township No. 3 north, in range 15 west, is bounded by Fillmore on the north, by Clyde on the south, by Heath on the east, and by Saugatuck on the west. It contains considerable wild land and some swampy tracts, but, judging from the past, it appears very probable that much of the unimproved land will, within the next ten years, be brought under cultivation and devoted to the fruit business, which, although of comparatively late development in this township, is rapidly expanding. The traffic in lumber has heretofore been important, but is now declining, and is being succeeded by the more important industry of fruit-culture, especially the culture of the peach, from which very profitable results are, with reason, anticipated.

The Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, which runs across the township almost due north and south, has a station in Manlius, called Richmond, from which there is easy communication, both by stage and by river, with the villages of Saugatuck and Douglas. The Kalamazoo River, which passes through Manlius from east to west, is navigable for steamboats from the mouth to Richmond.

Manlius first attracted attention because of its importance as a lumbering region, and its timber-lands were early purchased in large tracts by Eastern capitalists, who for years carried on extensive operations in the country bordering the Kalamazoo River, which afforded an excellent highway upon which to transport both logs and lumber to the lake. The valuable timber has well-nigh disappeared, yet the millbusiness still retains a place among the industries of the township, although farming and fruit-raising are fast superseding.

The largest fruit-grower in the township is James Mc- Cormick, on section 31, who, in the spring of 1880, had 40 acres set out to peaches and 11 to apples. Charles Hanson, E. J. Stow, Allen Owen, G. Veeder, and P. C. Whitbeck, although smaller producers, have, in all, several thousands of peach-trees.

John Allen'S City Of Richmond

* The first movement looking towards the permanent settlement of Manlius was made by John Allen, of Ann Arbor, in connection with three Eastern capitalists and land-owners, - Lucius Boltwood, Luke Sweetzer, and a Mr. Morgan. These gentlemen owned large tracts of land in the western part of Allegan County, and John Allen made arrangements with them by which he took on himself the charge of starting a city on sections 7 and 8, in township 3. Early in 1836 he visited the locality, and upon the whole of section 8 and the eastern half of section 7 laid out a town, which he called Richmond, after the place of that name in Virginia, whence he had come to Michigan. He returned to Ann Arbor, where he caused handsome maps of his intended city to be made and circulated wherever he thought that men might be induced to migrate thither.

At Ann Arbor he encountered Ralph R. Mann, who had just come out from Connecticut with his family in search of a Western location, and bargained with him to go to Richmond and superintend the improvements to be made there, and also to open a store and boarding-house for the benefit of the laborers to. be sent thither. Preparations were speedily made, and in October, 1836, Mann embarked at Marshall upon a scow, with a dozen laborers and a full cargo of supplies, and set out by way of the Kalamazoo River for Richmond. Allen, with Mann's wife and sisterin-law, proceeded overland to Otsego, where they expected to meet the scow. From Marshall to Kalamazoo the rivertrip was a tedious one, and, what with snags and low water to obstruct their progress, Mann and his men were ten days in reaching the latter point. Twice during the trip from Kalamazoo to Richmond the craft ran upon rocks and came very near sinking, but the desperate exertions of the amateur mariners prevented this misfortune, and afler a three weeks' journey the party landed safe and sound at Richmond.

There had been an Indian trading-post kept at that point some time before,'}' and of the abandoned cabin previously occupied as a trading-house Mann, Allen, and the rest took immediate possession. It served them for shelter until something better could be provided, which was speedily done. Not much could be done that fall and winter, but the next spring the work of city-building was begun with great vigor. Allen's laborers cleared some land, Mann carried on a boarding-house and store, a few houses were put up, timbers were got out for what was to be a monster sawmill, work was begun upon a mill-race, and for a time everything went on swimmingly. In 1838, however, just before the improvements in Richmond reached their full development, Allen failed, his brilliant enterprise came to a sudden halt, and the magnificent prospects of tlie city of Richmond faded into nothingness. Allen remained a year after that, and then betook himself to other scenes. Mann lived upon the site of the ruined city until 1844, when he moved to a place a mile and a half south, afterwards known as Manlius, where he still resides.

James M9 Cormick

1838, having come to Michigan in 1837. He made his way with his family overland from Allegan to section 31, where he had bought 160 acres, and, although he was compelled to cut out the road a portion of the journey, the generally open character of the woodland made traveling tolerably convenient. When Mr. McCormick made his settlement, Jacob Bailey was operating a saw-mill on section 10, in Clyde, for a New York company, but there was not at that time, to Bailey's knowledge, even one settler between him and South Haven. Shortly after McCormick's location, however, he had near neighbors in Ganges, where Harrison Hutchins and four or five other pioneers led the march of civilization.

John H. Billings, just mentioned, settled in Ganges in 1838, but in 1841 removed to Manlius, where he lived on section 31, becoming ultimately a resident of Saugatuck village, where he died in 1874.

Manlius Village

When Ralph R. Mann moved to a location south of the site of Richmond City, he erected a water saw-mill - the first in the township - there, and there soon after came to the same locality a number of settlers, of whom Jonathan Wade located in 1844 and Asa Bowker in 1845, the latter having come to the township in 1841. Mrt> Bowker was afterwards drowned, in the lake, oflF the mouth of the river, by the capsizing of a vessel in which he had taken passage for Chicago. James Harris opened a blacksmithshop on section 21, and W. C. Meeker, a hand in the mill, became a settler on section 16, where he died in 1870. Johnson Parsons built the first store opened in Manlius village, and John Roe the first tavern, which T. S. Coates afterwards bought and enlarged.

When the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad was completed to that point, Manlius was made a station, but the mill being abandoned in 1874, by reason of the destruction of the dam, and the tavern being burned the same year, Manlius village became gradually of less and less importance, and in 1879 the railway company discontinued the station at that point. It now bears a deserted appearance, but the very excellent water-power has more than once caused an efibrt to be made for the erection of a grist-mill there. The property, however, is owned by New England people, who do not appear anxious to sell, and so the water-power is suflFered to remain idle. The township has never had a grist-mill, and the people are still obliged to go to Saugatuck to have their grain ground.

John T. Gidley, who came to Michigan in 1836, became a settler in Manlius during the " hard winter" of 1842-43 upon an 80-acre lot on section 28. He died in 1862, leaving a widow, who still resides in Manlius with her son, A. P. Gidley.

Daniel Lamoreux, a New Yorker, came to Michigan in 1844, and located in what is now Fillmore township. In 1845 he moved to section 8, in Manlius, and there, during the same year, was joined by his brother Thomas, who built on section 8 the framed house now occupied by Charles Hanson. When Thomas Lamoreux came, there were living in the neighborhood only his brother Daniel and a Mr. Price, who moved away soon after. Thomas Lamoreux's children now in the town are Isaac, Lyman M., and George, and Mrs. B. Coif; Daniel's children are, Ebenezer, M°rs.' James Smead, and Mrs. E. J. Stow. George Veedor also came from the State of New York in 1845, in-company with Charles T. Billings, and after stopping a while in the shanty of John H. Billings, on section 31, bought of the latter a tract of 30 acres on the same section, where he still lives. Amonothe settlers who came into Manlius at a later date may be mentioned E. J. Stow (a resident since 1847), Allen Owen (since 1858), and the Whitbecks. Down to the year 1861 there were but few settlers in the northern portion of the township. At that time there were in that locality John and Frederick Gretzinger, Charles Eisner, Amos Brooks, Thomas Lamoreux, and Eldredge Stanton. In the east were the Woodcocks, the Shermans, and the Hammonds.

Eichmond Village

EICHMOND VILLAGE. The little village known as Richmond, at which is located the post-office of New Richmond, was created by the completion of the Chicago and Western Michigan road, being chosen as a station because of its easy access by river from Saugatuck. H. F. Marsh, who owned land in the neighborhood, laid out the village, called it Richmond, built a sawmill, and soon afterwards a few people came in and put up residences. Mr. Marsh then opened a store, and in a short time Gilbert Lamoreux stocked a second store and erected the commodious tavern now known as the " Western Hotel." B. F. Wheelock also opened a hotel, called the " Richmond House."

Richmond was quite a brisk place at one time, obtaining its support from the lumbering and farming business around. At least four extensive firms were then engaged in lumbering in the vicinity, employing'a small army of men. Although the business of the village is not now as large as it has been, it is steadily improving by reason of the increase of fruit-shipments there. During the season of 1879 upwards of 11,000 baskets of peaches were shipped at the station, while there were also forwarded considerable amounts of other products.

Early Mails

EARLY MAILS. The first post-office within the present township of Manlius was established in 1837 at Richmond, - i.e., the old village of that name. Jonathan Stratton, a surveyor in the employ of Allen & Co., was the first postmaster, and a Mr. Pairchild was the mail-carrier. The latter was popularly supposed to carry a mail from Allegan down the river on a raft to Saugatuck once every week, stopping en route at Richmond, but, as a matter of fact, he carried the mail as convenience suited, and frequently neglected the business for a month at a time.

Ralph R. Mann became postmaster at Richmond in 1838 and remained so until 1843, when, being convinced that a post-office was useless at a point where little, if any, mail was directed, he refused to serve any longer, and the office was wisely abolished. Once during his term he was advised from Washington that he had failed to make his " returns." Mann replied that he hadn't made any returns for the reason that he had not seen the mail-carrier for a month.

lage, Raodall Curtis, who had put up a tannery there in 1846, being appointed postmaster. On his removal the position was given to William C. Meeker. Ralph R. Mann succeeded Mr. Meeker, and was in turn followed by T. S. Coates, David Signer, Norman Bowker, and James W. Sackett. In 1872 the office at Manlius was discontinued, and one was established at Richmond, the name of New Richmond being given to it, as there was already a Richmond post-office in this State. Gilbert Lamoreux was appointed postmaster and served until 1878, when William Delvin, the present incumbent, succeeded him.

East Saugatuck

East Saugatuck, a village peopled almost exclusively by Hollanders, and a station on the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, lies upon both sides of the line between Fillmore and Manlius, but chiefly in the latter township. In 1859 the town-line road, although chopped out at an earlier day, was a mere cattle-path. The settlements made upon it about that time were by G. F. and John A. Gretzinger and Charles Eisner, in Manlius, and Christian Arzt, Frederick Kern, and Jacob lUg, in Fillmore. The Gretzingers moved into an abandoned log shanty upon a clearing made some time before by William P. Sherman, the only clearing upon the road in 1859.

In the northern part of Manlius, as indeed in nearly every other portion, the land had been taken up at an early day by speculators, and had afterwards fallen into the hands of lumbermen. In 1859 the business of lumbering was briskly carried on in the northern part of the town by Stockbridge & Johnson, who employed a large number of men. At that time the settlers north of the Kalamazoo River in Manlius, besides those "already enumerated, were Theophilus Harrington, Thomas Lamoreux, William Woodcock, John Hammond, and John Boyles. Traveling in that region was an extremely difficult matter, and neighbors living within three miles of each other rarely met except at log-raisings. The settlers named as being on the townline in 1859 remained about the only ones until 1867, when the Hollanders began to gather in the vicinity and locate in considerable numbers upon both sides of the line. When the railway was completed and East Saugatuck station established, Schelter Bergsma built a store at that place, and in 1873 a post-office was established there, W. C. Sempel, who had opened the second store in the village, being appointed postmaster. In 1874 he was succeeded by Jacob Heeringa, the present incumbent. The railway-station, post-office, and one store are on the Manlius side of the line, another store being located on the Fillmore side. Near the village, in Manlius, the Bangor Furnace Company have eight large coal-kilns, which have been making charcoal since 1874, and which have, moreover, rendered excellent service in causing the clearing up of the country round about.

Until 1867 there were no roads in the vicinity worth mentioning, and in 1871 the country was still so wild that the railway-station was built in the woods. The first schoolhouse was a log cabin, put up on the Manlius side in 1867, to which the children from both sides turned their youthful steps.

There is a Methodist class south of East Saugatuck, of which Horace Belcher is the leader, and to which Rev. Thomas Collins has preached every Sunday since 1877.

The first public highway in the town was cut out in 1838 by Ralph R. Mann and two laborers. It extended from the then village of Richmond towards Allegan for a distance of eight miles.

According to the records, the roads first regularly established were the Allegan road, the McCormick's road from section 17 to section 31, the Rabbit River road, the Singapore road, and the Black River road. These all were established May 23, 1839, by John Allen, Samuel Town, and Truman D. Austin, road commissioners.

In 1840 the township was divided into two road districts. In 1845 there were four road districts, in which the highway overseers returned an aggregate of $313.08 as nonresident highway taxes.

Minor Items

Mention has been made in Chapters VII. and X. of the general history of the habits of the Indians and of the principal Indian traders of the early days. Among the subordinate traders were George Campau, a relation of Joseph Campau, and John Godfrey, who used to circulate among the Indian camps, usually traveling afoot with their packs on their backs. Campau had a longing for the soothing fire-water, and had a fashion of pleading for " something that would not freeze a man's heart."

Thomas Lamoreux was the popular coffin-maker for the Indians, and charged ten shillings a coffin, big and little. The Indians had a fancy for elaborate coffin-decorations, and often had those which, though cheap, were quite gorgeous.

For a long time Ralph R. Mann owned the only horse in his neighborhood, and whenever a doctor was wanted Mann's horse was invariably borrowed to hunt up the man of medicine. Dr. Goodrich, of Ganges, was the main dependence in time of sickness, and when he was persuaded to locate at Manlius village it was upon the pledge of the inhabitants of the surrounding country that he should receive a yearly compensation to a certain amount.

At the general election in 1840 only eight votes were cast, and they were equally divided between the Whigs and Democrats. The question of conveying the returns to Allegan coming up for consideration, it transpired that no one desired to undertake the tedious task. Thereupon somebody suggesting that, as the votes were evenly divided, their return would have no efi'ect upon the result, it was accordingly resolved not to send any returns, and that was the end of the matter.

The first white child born in the township was a daughter of Jonathan Stratton, the surveyor, in 1838. Two weeks later David R., a son of Ralph R. Mann, was born, the first white male child born in range 15. He now lives in Plainwell. Susan L., daughter of Ralph R. Mann, was the first person who died in the township, the date of her death being Jan. 1, 1837. She was buried in the woods on the hill back of the then village of Richmond, but was subse- quently removed to the cemetery near Manlius. Near where she was first buried was also interred the body of a German killed by the fall of a tree, and there his bones still . rest.

To Wis Ship Organization

TO WIS SHIP ORGANIZATION. The township of Manlius, previously a part of Newark, was organized by an act of the Legislature approved March 6, 1838. It received its name from John R. Kellogg, a member of the Legislature, who presented the petition for organization, and who, having been born in Manlius, N. Y., desired to honor his native place. John Allen wanted the town named Richmond, but, as there was already a Richmond in Michigan, his desire was not gratified. Manlius was originally of the same size as now, embracing only survey-township No. 3, in range 15. Township No. 4 was subsequently added, but was at a still later date given a separate organization as Fillmore.*

The first town-meeting was held at the house of R. R. Mann, April 1, 1839, when John Allen and' Samuel Town were chosen moderators or inspectors of election, and Ralph R. Mann clerk. The oflScers chosen were John Allen, Supervisor ; James A. Poage, Clerk ; Samuel Town, Orren Ball, and John Allen, Assessors ; R. R. Mann, John Allen, and Truman D. Austin, Commissioners of Highways ; Orren Ball, Constable and Collector ; Samuel Town, Paul Shepard, and Isaac Vredenberg, School Inspectors; Paul Shepard, Treasurer; R. R. Mann, Samuel Town, James A. Poage, and J. W. Palmer, Justices of the Peace ; R. R. Mann and Isaac Vredenberg, Directors of the Poor ; John Allen, Overseer of Highways for District No. 1 ; James McCormlck, for District No. 2 ; Truman D. Austin, Pound- Master. Although there appear to have been 10 voters in the township at this time, less than that number of votes were cast, since the successful candidates received but four votes each. At the same meeting the sum of $50 was raised for the support of the poor and other expenses. Following is a list of those elected annually from 1840 to 1880 to serve as supervisors, clerks, treasurers, and justices

CHURCHES. There was a Methodist Episcopal class at Manlius village in 1846, of which Randall Curtis and Daniel Lamoreux were the leaders, but it exists no more. A Wesleyan Methodist society has been organized at Richmond, and, although now worshiping in a school-house, will presently build a church edifice. A Methodist class was organized about 1850, by Rev. Mr. Mosher, of Allegan, in a schoolhouse in Manlius, upon the Clyde line. The class had 7 members, of whom 5 were C. T. Billings and wife, John Billings and wife, and Harrison Hutchins. Worship was held i°n the school-house until 1870, when Walters Hall, near Fennville, was occupied, and in 1871 the society built the church now standing in Fennville on the Manlius side. The membership is now very small. Preaching is supplied once a fortnight by Rev. N. B. Steele. The church trustees are James Withrow, Edward Cotton, C. T. Billings, Stephen Atwater, and Loomis Benson. The Sabbath-school, in charge of Edward Cotton, has regular weekly sessions, and enjoys a flourishing prosperity.

SCHOOLS. Manlius is well supplied with six schools, which in 1879 provided instruction for 281 pupils. The school-houses are, as a rule, commodious and well conditioned, and a credit to the town. Appended are statistics taken from the official reports for the year 1879 :

PENNVILLE GEANGE, No. 461, was organized in June, 1874, with 30 members. W. H. McCormick was chosen Master, and George W. Whitbeck Secretary. Meetings, which were first held in Walters' Hall, at Fennville, are now held in a public hall on the Manlius side of the village. J. N. McCormick was Master of the grange from 1874 until the election in 1879. The membership is now about 60, and the oiEcers are as follows : J. R. Goodrich, M. ; S. W. Bryan, 0. ; N. D. Benson, L. ;

D. A. French, Sec. ; J. K. Purdy, Treas. ; Charles Shoemaker, Steward ; Peter Sargent, A. S. ; Philetus Purdy, G. ; Mrs. J. R. Goodrich, Ceres; Mrs. Israel Staufi'er^ Pomona; Mrs. Susan Purdy, Flora; Mrs. Milo Barker, Stewardess. Rev. Looniis Benson, the grange chaplain, died Jan. 22, 1880. His death was the first one in the grange membership.

Mr. McCormick, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest in a family of eleven children. A Canadian by birth, he was born Feb. 7, 1806. His father, Nathaniel McCormick, a native of Belfast, Ireland, emigrated to the hospitable shores of America at an early day, and settled in the State of Pennsylvania. He subsequently removed to Canada, where he married Miss Elinor Campbell, a lady of Scottish descent, as the name implies. When James was a small boy his parents removed to the town of Porter, Niagara Co., in the State of New York, where he spent his early life under the shadow of the paternal roof. After he came to manhood's estate he divided his time for two years between Ulster and Dutchess Counties, after which he went to Canada and was employed at carpenters' work, building locks on the Welland Canal. Returning to the scenes of his former home, he purchased a farm, and at the age of twenty-six years chose for a wife Miss Maria Billings. She was born March 25, 1816, near Albany, N. Y., as were also her parents. They subsequently removed to Monroe County, where is located the family burial-place. In 1833 Mr. McCormick disposed of his Eastern home, and, with his family, emigrated to the then far West, locating in Michigan, where, after several changes of location, he settled upon the splendid farm he now occupies. It was then a dense forest, unbroken by the woodman's axe, and the tall hemlocks marked the spot where now stands his beautiful residence. Mr. McCormick possessed, however, the requisite energy to carve a home out of the wilderness ; this, combined with his indomitable will, has worked the transformation.

He has given much attention to the raising of fine fruits, especially peaches, having, during the past year, shipped (to Chicago) fourteen thousand baskets, produced from his own orchards, of this delicious fruit. This land is also well adapted to the raising of the various grains, of which very bountiful harvests are reaped.

Mr. McCormick has few political aspirations ; he formerly voted the Whig ticket, and is generally known as a Republican, though not a partisan ; his vote is a matter of right rather than that.of party. He has held several minor township ofiices, but is not ambitious for political preferment. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have been cheered by the presence of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living; these are married and settled near the paternal home, with the exception of the youngest son, who resides upon the old homestead. Though not a man of stroi^g religious fervor, Mr. McCormick is inclined to the belief of the Spiritualists.

H. F. Marsh

Mr. Marsh was a former resident of the State of Connecticut, and became a Michigan pioneer in 1853. He was identified soon after his arrival with the interests of the village of Allegan, having purchased the hotel known as the " Exchange," which was for a period of nine years under his management. In 1862 he relinquished the duties of host for the congenial pursuits of a farmer. The land in the township to which he removed was wholly unimproved on his advent, but very speedily yielded to the axe and the plow. Mr. Marsh has continued its cultivation since that time, and is fast developing one of the most attractive estates in Manlius. His industry and energy are being well rewarded.

Edward J. Stow

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Stow, who was Capt. William Stow, formerly of Connecticut, removed to Stow, Summit Co., Ohio, at an early day, where the subject of this biography was born, March 18, 1823, being the eldest child and only son. The father of Edward having died when the lad was in his fifth year, he a few years later removed to the home of a Mr. Eldred, and remained for four years under his protection. He afterwards returned to the family of his stepfather, and ultimately learned the trade of a carriage-trimmer. His removal to Michigan occurred at a later period, where, having chosen Allegan County as a place of residence, he engaged in lumbering and rafting upon the Kalamazoo River. This occupation, having proved a congenial one, was pursued for seven consecutive years, after which he was married to Miss Sarah M. Lamoreux, a native of Yates Co., N. Y., from whence her parents came to Michigan in 1844.

Mr. and Mrs. Stow's household has been brightened by the presence of three children, - Allen C, born April 17, 1859; William H., whose birth occurred Oct. 4, 1874; and Mary A., born June 28, 1878. Two years after his marriage Mr. Stow located upon his present farm, in Manlius, which then embraced eighty acres, and has since been increased to two hundred.

He was a soldier in the late war, and much of the time detailed for, special service. During this period Mrs. Stow manifested much ability in her administration of the farming interests. Mr. Stow's industry and acknowledged integrity of character have won for him an enviable place among the citizens of the township of Manlius.

That portion of Allegan County known as the township of Martin is situated on the east border, south of the centre, and is adjoined on the north by Wayland, on the south by Gun Plain, on the west by Watson, in this county, and on the east by Orangeville, in the county of Barry. In no important particular does its general surface differ from that of neighboring townships, having all the natural features which distinguish Michigan lands, - that is, plains, swamps, rolling land, etc., at irregular intervals. Originally, it was termed a hard-wood township, the predominating varieties of timber being beech, maple, oak, sycamore, ash, white-wood, linn, and elm. On section 11 was a grove of handsome pine, and in the southwestern part many acres of " oak-openings." The soil is excellent, especially the central and western portions of the town, and is not surpassed by any other part of Allegan County.

Gun Kiver - its most important water-course - takes its rise in an extensive lake of the same name, and soon after enters this township from the east border of section 1. From thence it flows in a general southerly direction, passing out near the southwest corner of section 36. This stream is sluggish, and in this township alone is bordered by swamp-lands more than 2000 acres in extent.

Fenner and Pratt Lakes and Lake No. 16 are situated on sections 15 and 16, and together embrace an area of perhaps 160 acres. Gun Lake includes within its surface the extreme northeast corner of section 1.

The railroads intersecting Martin are the Grand Rapids and Indiana and the Michigan Lake-Shore. The former passes from north to south across sections 5, 8, 17, 20, 29, and 32. The latter, running in a northwest and southeast course, crosses sections 30, 32, 33, 34, and 35. Those roads effect a crossing at Monteith. The other stations - which are on the line of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad - are Martin Corners and Shelbyville.

Events Preceding Settlement

The United States surveying-party, led by John Mullett, ran the township-lines of Martin in January, 1826, and designated territory supposed to include an area of 23,040 square acres as township No. 2 north of the base-line, in range No. 11 west of the principal meridian.

In the winter of 1830-31, Sylvester Sibley led another surveying-party into this still unoccupied region, and completed the government survey by subdividing the township into sections.

First And Other Early Settlements

Mumford Eldred, the first settler within the limits of this township, was a native of Pownal, Bennington Co., Vt., and passed his boyhood days in sight of the Green Mountains. After arriving at manhood's estate, he engaged for some time in buying and selling live-stock. Subsequently, the brothers Caleb (afterwards the well known Judge Caleb

Eldred, of Kalamazoo County) and Mumford Eldred established a meat-market in the village of Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y. By his first marriage, Mumford became the father of four children, viz. : Norman, Mumford, Jr., Cor-- nelia, and Margaret. While a resident of Catskill he married, for his second wife, Miss Jane Whitaker. About 1832 he removed to Delaware Co., N. Y., where he remained two years. In the fall of 1834, accompanied by his wife and five children, viz. : Andrew, Stephen, Belinda, Elizabeth, and Catherine, he journeyed to Kalamazoo Co.> Mich., where his brother Caleb, his son Mumford, Jr., and many other relatives, had already became conspicuous as among the first settlers and the most active business men of that region. Mumford Eldred first located his family in the Gull Prairie settlement, where they remained about eighteen months.

On the 8th day of January, 1836, he made the first purchase of land in township 2 north, of range 11 west, it being a tract of 40 acre.s known as the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29. Four weeks later, however, he bought 40 acres more, a tract described as the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the same section.

Early in the spring of 1836 (March) a substantial log house was erected upon the land fii«t purchased, and soon after, assisted by Hugh Kirkland, of Gull Prairie, and James Flockhart, o£ Plainfield, Mr. Eldred and family were duly installed within its walls as the first white family in the township. The live-stock brought in consisted of a horse, - " old Black Hawk," - one yoke of cattle, and a cow. The land first chosen by Mr. Eldred was prairie-like in appearance, or in other words contained an " opening,'' some 30 acres in extent, which invitingly awaited the approach of the pioneer's plow.

To observers the improvement of these lands seemed an easy matter, and Mr. Eldrod's real estate was then considered the most desirable one in the township. But with the completion of his cabin - which stood upon or near the site of William Nesbit's present residence - and the removal of his family to it, his difficulties had but just commenced. A small band of Indians, remnants of the once powerful Ottawa and Pottawattamie tribes, occupied the opening and claimed it as their own. Here, on the northern border, was their little village of bark wigwams, and farther out their scattered patches of broken soil, where the women had cultivated for many years corn, pumpkins, potatoes, etc. Here had been celebrated victories gained over their enemies, and the surrounding forests had doubtless reechoed many times with lamentations when defeat had attended their warlike expeditions. Their children had been born here, and here their dead had been prepared for the happy hunting-ground. The little prairie was their home ; they were loth to depart from it. Who can blame them?

Yet had Mumford Eldred been less austere and more gracious in his bearing towards them, this would not have been one of the exceptional cases in the history of the settlement of Southern Michigan in which the white settler and his Indian neighbors were at enmity. But Mr. Eldred chose a different course ; he considered the land his own.

the Indians as interlopers, and ordered them away. They demurred, and moved not. He plowed their little patches of loose soil and planted his crops. Upon their appearance above the surface the corn and potatoes were pulled up and the stalks scattered. His hogs, and for a truth " old Black Hawk," at last disappeared. After vain searches they were given up as gone forever, and he declared the Indians had stolen them.

Terribly enraged, he again ordered his dusky neighbors from his vicinity, threatening that unless they did so within a time specified, he would fell an immense tree upon their wigwams, or such of them as its trunk and branches would reach. At the expiration of the time allowed them the Indians were still there, stoical and unconcerned in danger as only Indians can be. Eldred seized his axe, and with lusty blows began the fulfillment of his threat. They watched him intently for a few moments. The chips fiew rapidly from the incisions made with his keen axe, and at last they seemed to understand that he was in earnest, that it was only a question of moments when the tree would come crashing upon them, demolishing in its fall wigwams and household idols. They called to him to desist, promising that if permitted to remain until their chief, who was sick, was able to be removed, they would depart in peace. With this understanding they remained a few days longer, and then removed to the present township of Wayland.

As soon as vacated, their wigwams were burned by Eldred, and thus did he with his family become the sole occupant of the "opening." He was not fairly rid of the Indians, however, for they made frequent visits to the locality, and his crops and stock were always in danger. He had aroused a life-long enmity, and had not the Michigan Indians been so completely cowed, abject, and in fear of the white man's power, dating from the time of Tecumseh's defeat, Mr. Eldred's career would have terminated ere he had a neighbor in sight of his opening.

Upon the death of the sick Indian before mentioned, his body was brought to the near vicinity of Mr. Eldred's house. A square pen of logs was constructed, roofed with bark, and inside the inclosure, in a sitting posture, was placed the remains of the dead chief, covered with his blanket. Mrs. Eldred, who is still living in the township, wherein at that time she was the only white woman, relates that the sight of this dead warrior keeping his lonely vigil was a most distressing one to her. She could not step outside her house without looking in that direction. About one year after the death of the chief, Mr. Eldred had helping him one or two young men from Gull Prairie. Arising early one morning, they filled the pen with dry wood and brush, and then, setting the whole on fire, finally succeeded in cremating the remains.

In 1837, Mr. Eldred was elected a justice of the peace of Plainfield, and while Martin formed part of the old township he held other responsible positions. As justice of the peace of the latter township he presided at the first election in Martin, in 1839, and was also elected assessor. He died Jan. 24, 1870, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Eldred still survives, at the age of seventy-six years. A son, Samuel, who was born Dec. 10, 183U, bears the distinction of having been the first white child born in Martin. Rev. Andrew

Dr. Calvin White, from Canada, was the next to settle. He purchased 100 acres, situated on sections 28 and 33, May 16, 1836, and became a resident during the fall of the same year. Although a graduate of a medical college, he practiced but little here, devoting his time and energies chiefly to the clearing and improvement of his land. He was a man of many eccentricities, antagonistic in principles to a large majority of those who were his friends and neighbors, and seeking every opportunity to express his opinions concerning politics and religion. Consequently, although ambitious to wear official honors, he found great difficulty in obtaining votes when he most needed them. It is believed, however, that he was the first postmaster of the " Martin'' office, which was established some time during the administration of Martin Van Buren. Walter Monteith was also an early postmaster.

Cotton M. Kimball was born in Marlborough, Windham Co., Vt. About 1805, with his parents, he removed to Rutland, Jefferson Co., N. Y. His father, Ruel Kimball, was a teacher, and afterwards became a minister of the gospel in Lewis Co., N. Y., where he preached for thirty years. Having resided in Lewis and Jefferson Counties, N. Y., until the spring of 1836, Cotton M. Kimball then journeyed to Michigan. He arrived in the present township of Martin in May, 1836, and made choice of lands situated on sections 15 and 17.

The land on section 15 was bought in partnership with one Sidney Stafford, and included a mill-site. During the summer of 1836, assisted by Stafford and residents of Plainfield, Mr. Kimball erected a log house on the latter section, 18 by 24 feet in size. This house was built of whitewood logs, and was the second dwelling erected in the township, although not the second one occupied.

Mr. Kimball remained in the State until Jimuary, 1837, in order to obtain a hearing at the land-office and get a title to his land. He then returned to the State of New York on foot. In April, 1837, accompanied by his wife and three children, Huldah C, Edward R., and Henry, he began a second journey to Michigan, vid the Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit. The family, while en route, suffered much inconvenience and considerable sickness.

At Detroit he hired a man named Stonehouse to take himself and family to that portion of Plainfield now known as Martin, for which he paid him $45. The wagon-journey from Detroit required nine days to accomplish, and from Mumford Eldred's to the log cabin awaiting them they had to cut their own road. During the interval from the building of his house until its occupation. Dr. Calvin White, William and Walter Monteith had settled in the township. Mathew Shelman and family settled the same year (1837).

Upon the organization of Martin, in 1839, Mr. Kimball was elected the first supervisor, and during a long residence there was prominent in many other positions of trust and honor. In 1843 he removed from his first location to the premises on section 17 now occupied by his son, Edward R. Kimball. Mr. Kimball and wife were prominent members of an early Methodist Episcopal class, and were also

Mathew Shelman and his sons, who were prominent in the early history of Martin, established themselves .first upon sections 20 and 29, a location purchased by the former, Feb. 10, 1836, and upon which he settled in the fall of 1837.

Monteith is a name which has ever been conspicuous in the annals of this township since its first settlement. The progenitors of the numerous descendants living here came from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary struggle, and settled in Montgomery Co., N. Y. They very naturally espoused the cause of the colonies. The brothers, Thomas and William Monteith, the fathers and eldest members of the Monteith family who. settled in Allegan County, both participated in the war of 1812. During the early settlement of Livingston Co., N. Y., members of this family, together with many other people of Scotch descent, emigrated to it from Montgomery, and impressed their nationality upon a portion of old Livingston's surface, by naming their place of settlement Caledonia. Here we find them in the year 1835. An exodus from the northwestern counties of New York to the " far West" was then in full progress, and the Monteiths of Livingston, too, soon joined the multitude of emigrants bearing down upon Michigan Territory.

In the fall of 1835, William T. and Walter Monteith journeyed by the usual route from Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., to Moscow, Hillsdale Co., Mich., where they remained during the following winter. Meantime, their father, Thomas Monteith, Sr., had proceeded to the State of Illinois to view land in that region. The season was unpropitious, mud and water predominated everywhere, and, utterly disgusted with Illinois, he returned eastward as far as Kalamazoo. He visited the Gun Plain settlement, and prospected for desirable lands in this township. As a result, his sons at Moscow were invited to meet him at Kalamazoo, and on the 13th day of May, 1836, Thomas Monteith, Sr., purchased the whole of section 32, while William T. entered 280 acres situated upon section 29, being all that then remained of the latter section. Early in the spring of 1837, the brothers, William T., Walter, and Thomas, Jr., began their first improvements here. Their father did not become a resident of Martin until several years later.

As before mentioned, this family have numerous representatives in the township, a majority of them being located in the southwest part, or the vicinity of Monteith Station, and they are the possessors of some of the best farming-lands in Allegan County.

Prior to holding the first township-meeting, which occurred April 13, 1839, John H. Adams, John C. White, Orrin Roberts, Adam W. Miller, Peter Hanmer, and Orrin Hart became residents, and during the years 1840-41 and 42, Darius P. Fenner and Thomas J. StanclifF.

Horace Sornbury, James Patterson, Thomas Monteith, Sr., Duncan A. McMartin, Thomas A. Drayton, Tyler Johnson, Daniel Cook, Eli Arnold, John Cook, Joseph Divine, Nicholas Skinner, Lovinus Monteith, Martin Blanchard, Richard H. Warn, and Rensselaer G. Smith still further increased the population of the township by the arrival and settlement of themselves and families. The township of Wayland, including townships 3 and 4 north, of range 1 1 west, was set off in 1844, and the remaining resident' tax-payers, as shown by the assessment-roll completed in June, 1844, were 44 in number, with property as follows :

During the years from 1845 to 1850, Orrin A. Porter, William S. Wheeler, David Wylie, John Patterson, John Redpath, John B. Nicholson, Miland Gurley, Robert Patterson, Thomas Shepherd, John E. Borie, Joseph B. Cook, Eli H. Chase, Samuel S. Whitlock, Mathew Wylie, and Jason Gillespie also became conspicuous as residents and officeholders.

At the close of the fourth decade of the present century the township still contained but a limited population, as the following statistics from the United States census report of 1850 will show :

In 1860 the inhabitants had increased to 794 in number, and the amount and value of their products and resources in proportion. The census of 1874: (the latest) reported a total population of 1160.

Although more than 2000 acres of swamp-lands lie within its borders, the central and western parts of Martin are conceded to be among the fairest and most productive found in Allegan County. Neat farm buildings and wellcultivated fields abound as a rule, and the inhabitants seem to be in the enjoyment of a high degree of prosperity.

Civil And Political

By an act of the State Legislature approved March 22, 1839, the township of Martin was formed from Plainfield. Section 1, of an act to organize certain townships, reads as follows :

"That all that part of the county of Allegan designated by the United States survey as townships number 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 Martin, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the bouse of John H. Adams."

To Mrs. Mumford Eldred, the first white woman to reside here, was accorded the honor of naming the new township. She suggested several names, but when the Hon. George W. Barnes - the member of the State Legislature from this district - arrived in Detroit, he found that those chosen by Mrs. Eldred had already been adopted by other localities. He therefore sent in the name of Martin, as a compliment to the then President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, - a name which was universally approved by the pioneers then within its borders, and which the township bears to-day.

FIRST TOWNSHIP-MEETING, Etc. In accordance with the act before quoted, 17 legal voters, residents of the territory described, assembled at the house of John H. Adams, on the 13th day of April, 1839, and organized by choosing Timothy Gregg, George W. Barnes, and John H. Adams inspectors of election. Mumford Eldred, Esq., and Calvin White, Esq., took seats as members of the board of canvassers by virtue of their oflSces as justices of the peace, they having been elected to that position in the township of Plainfield in 1837. This first meeting resulted in the election of the following oflScers : Cotton M. Kimball, Supervisor ; Timothy Gregg, Township Clerk ; John H. Adams, Treasurer ; George W. Barnes, John H. Adams, Mumford Eldred, Assessors; Nicholas Shellman, Collector; George W. Barnes, John C. White, Cotton M. Kimball, School Inspectors; Abraham Shellman, Adam W. Miller, Walter Monteith, Highway Commissioners; Timothy Gregg, Abraham Shellman, Directors of the

"That $100 be raised for the support of the poor the ensuing year." " That the sum of $3 be paid as a bounty on each and every wolf taken and killed in said township, and half that sum for each wolfwhelp."

Thirty-one votes were polled at the Presidential election of 1840, and 9 additional ones in 1841. The gubernatorial election in 1845 (after the separation of Wayland) resulted as follows : For Stephen Vickery, 26 votes ; for Alpheus Felch, 17 votes.

In 1837, Road District No. 6, of the township of Plainfield, embraced within its boundaries the present towns of Martin, Wayland, and Leighton ; Mumford Eldred, overseer. No highways recognized by authority existed ; only the by-paths of early settlers and the trails of the aborigines traversed the region mentioned. Consequently Mr. Eidred's duties as overseer could not have been onerous.

" Road No. 12," of the town of Plainfield, seems to have been the first regularly laid highway to penetrate township 2 north, of range 11 west. It was surveyed by William Forbes in January, 1838, by order of Mumford Eldred and George F. Nichols, highway commissioners of Plainfield. This road commenced 84 rods north of the southwest corner of section 8, in the present township of Gun Plain, and ran in a general northerly direction through the Monteith Settlement and Martin Corners, to the north line of Martin township, a distance of seven and threefourth miles.

The first road laid by the authorities of Martin began 22 rods north of the quarter post between sections 15 and 16, in township No. 2 north, of range 11 west; running thence, as described by field-notes, to a post near Col. Barnes' saw-mill, on the southwest quarter of section 2, in the same township.

Another road began on the county-line between Allegan and Barry Counties, at the corner of sections 25 and 36 in township 3 north, range 11 west; thence to quarter post of section 33, on the south line of said township. These roads were surveyed by E. Robinson, surveyor, on the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th days of May, 1839.

The first road districts in Martin were established by Commissioners Abraham Shellman and Adam W. Miller, March 20, 1840, and were described as follows :

" District No. 3. To consist of the east half of townships 3 and 4 north, of range 11 west, also sections 28 and 33, in township 3 north, range 11 west.

During the intervening forty years many changes have gradually taken place in respect to highways and road districts, but it would hardly interest our readers to follow them farther.

^ This list does not show alt vacancies and appointments, f Thomas Shepherd appointed to fill vacancy, April 16, 1858. J David Wylie appointed to fill vacancy, June, 1855. § John Monteith appointed to fill vacancy, Aug. 25, 1864.

The first action taken by township authorities regarding schools and school districts in township No. 2 north, of range 11 west, was in the year 1837. On the 19th day of September, William Forbes, John Nichols, and George W. Kennicott, school inspectors of Plainfield, met and determined the boundaries of nine school districts. Districts numbered from 1 to 7, inclusive, were all located in the present township of Gun Plain, while district No. 8 embraced the south half of township 2 north, range 11 west, and district No. 9 included the remainder or northern half of the latter township.

It is possible that schools were taught in one or both districts last mentioned prior to the organization; but, if they were, we^ave not been able to learn the names of teachers or any statistics regarding them. It is quite certain, however, that no school moneys were apportioned to any districts in this township while it formed part of Plainfield.*

Upon the organization of Martin, in 1839, George W. Barnes, John C. White, and Cotton M. Kimball were elected school inspectors. In August of the same year this board of education, represented by Messrs. Kimball and White, met and organized two school districts, described as follows :

"District No. 1 will embrace sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and the south half of sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, in township number two north, of range. number eleven west, and the first meeting in said district shall be held at the house of William T. Monteith on the 14th day of September, 1839.

" District No. 2 will embrace sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, and 19, and the north half of sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, in township number two north, of range number eleven west, and the first meeting in said district shall be held at the house of Mumford Eldred, Sept. 14, 1839."

Since 1840 changes have been made almost yearly of districts and their boundaries. The records preserved relating to school matters are meagre and incomplete, and to the chronicler afibrd but little satisfaction. It is credibly stated that John McVeanf taught the first school at Martin Corners, or old district No. 2, about 1842-43, and the first school in district No. 1, or the Monteith neighborhood, was opened at about the same time.

At thf close of the township election held in April, 1847, it was voted that the next annual meeting " be held in the new school-house near Lafayette Shellman's." In this house Miss Huldah Kimball taught the first school, probably during the summer of 1847. On the 11th of December, 1847, Elizabeth Adams, Alsina Rose, and Jason Gillespie received teachers' certificates.

The teachers receiving certificates during the same year were Huldah C. Kimball, Delia Divine, and Belinda Eldred. The total primary school fund apportioned during the year 1849 was $48 18.

During the past thirty years, the schools of Martin have advanced in common with those of other sections. Their present condition is shown by statistics gathered from the school inspectors' report for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879:

Total resources for the year ending Sept. 1,1879, including money on hand Sept. 2, 1878, twomill tax, primary school fund, district taxes, and from all other sources $1919.91

Dr. Calvin White, one of the first settlers, was the first physician to reside in the township of Martin. He came from Canada in 1836, and continued a resident until his death. He never practiced here to any extent, however, as the early residents were attended by Dr. L. B. Coats, of Otsego, and Dr. Erastus N. Upjohn, of Gun Plain.

Dr. Alexander Gillis, a native of Scotland, and a graduate of Edinburgh Medical College, practiced here at an early period. He finally removed to Hickory Corners, Barry Co., Mich., where he died.

Dr. David Bradley removed here in 1854, from Wayland township, where he had been conspicuous as the first resident physician, an early postmaster, merchant, and tavern-keeper. He was not a medical graduate, yet was quite successful in the treatment of ordinary ailments.

Dr. George B. Nichols graduated at the Castleton (Vermont) Medical College, in 1852, and thereafter until the spring of 1858, practiced his profession in Ontario Co., N. Y. He then settled at his present place of residence, - i.e., Martin Corners, - where he has long been known as the principal physician of the township. His field is an extensive one, and one in which he has been uniformly successful.

Among other disciples of the healing art who, since Dr. Nichols' settlement, have practiced at various periods, there have been Drs. S. W. Thompson, George W. Houghton, and F. E. Rosenkrans. The first now resides in the village of Otsego, the latter in Plainwell.

Villages And Eaileoad-Stations

The villages and railroad-stations of Martin are known as Martin Corners, Monteith,and Shelbyville. The former is the most important, and includes within its limits a portion of the lot first settled upon by Mumford Eldred, in 1836. A few years later, a school-house, situated one-half mile south of the Corners, was built, and, as a crossing of country roads occurred here, the locality was convenient for holding caucuses and township-meetings, and consequently became an early resort of the townspeople for various purposes.

But it was not until the building of the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids plank-road, in 1853 and '54, that the " Corners" took on the appearance of even a hamlet.

In the year last named, John Gray began the construction of a hotel. When it was only partially built, A. Haggart bought the property and finished the building. He then rented it to Messrs. Bradley & Pratt. In 1856 David Bradley became proprietor of the house, and a few months later it was burned with all its contents. The present hotel was rebuilt by Bradley soon after. A man named Phittleplace sold the first goods in 1854. Tuthill McClelland and William Mathews were also early merchants here. The Martin post-oE5ce was removed to this point upon the completion of the plank-road. -

In 1858 the business men at the Corners were Frederick Faling, hotel-keeper; Hugh Finley, merchant, in the building now occupied by Wylie & Shepherd ; William Mathews, merchant and postmaster ; Drs. David Bradley and George B. Nichols, physicians; and Peter and Stephen Hatfield, blacksmiths.

Since the completion of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, in 1870, the population has gradually increased. The village of to-day contains two church edifices, - Methodist Episcopal and United Presbyterian, - two stores of general merchandise, one hotel, one drug-store, several small mechanical shops, one grist-mill, one saw-mill, grainelevators, and a population of about 200 inhabitants.

Monteith Station

MONTEITH STATION is situated near the southwest corner of the township, and is prominent only as being the point of crossing of the Grand Rapids and Indiana and the Allegan and Southeastern Railroads.

SHELBYVILLE, also a station on the line of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, is situated near the northwest corner of Martin township. It contains an extensive saw-mill, a store of general merchandise, several small mechanical shops, a posto£Gice, and some half-dozen dwelling-houses.

RELIGIOUS. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OP MARTIN.* The original elements of the United Presbyterian Church in North America run back through diflFerent organizations to the best days of the Reformed Church of Scotland. Owing to corruptions in the Established Church of that country, the Associate Presbyterian Church was organized in 1733, under the leadership of the Erskines, Fisher, and others; and in 1743 another branch broke off, called the Reformed Presbyterian Church, but more commonly known as Cameronians or Covenanters ; Renwick, Cameron, and others being the leaders. In the course of time members of these two churches found their way to the United States, and at their request ministers were sent to preach to them. Thus these two bodies were transplanted into this country, - the Associate Presbyterian in 1753, and the Reformed Presbyterian in 1774. They differed mainly on the subject of civil government. But during the Revolutionary war they both united in the support of one government, and thus the way was prepared for an organic union, which took place in 1782, the united body taking the names of the two churches, - Associate Reformed Presbyterian. Some of the Associate Presbyterians, not entering into this union, continued the existence of their church, so that the two churches - the Associate Presbyterian and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian - existed side by side, holding substantially the same doctrines and using the same foi-ms of worship. Descending from the same source, it was but natural that these two streams should eventually flow together, which they did in a formal union in 1858, the resultant body taking the name which it bears to day, " The United Presbyterian Church." The church of Martin having had an existence prior to 1858, and under both of the previously existing bodies, it will be necessary to notice - 1. The Associate Reformed Presbyterian ; 2. The Associate Presbyterian ; and 3. The United Presbyterian Church.

As early as 1838 we read of Rev. T. C. McCaughan preaching in this vicinity. But what may be regarded as the origin of this church was the removal, in 1841, of Thomas Monteith, Sr., to this place from Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y. A ruling elder in the church and devoted to the cause of Christ, to him, and to his wife and family, the church ot Martin is very largely indebted for its existence and prosperity. The first meetings were held in his house and barn. Among the first ministers we find the names of Revs. Wilson Blain, T. F. Kerr, J. Barnett, W. Lind, Jeremiah Dick, John N. Dick, D. B. Jones, J. A. Campbell, and J. A. Frazier. The first members came mainly from Caledonia, N. Y., and Peterhead, Scotland.

In the year 1842, in answer to a petition for the organization of a church, the Rev. Wilson Blain was appointed by the Presbytery of Michigan to perform the duty of organization, which he did on the 5th of February, in the house of Thomas Monteith. The original members were as follows: Thomas Monteith, Jane A. Monteith, Isaac Maston, Jane Maston, William Walker, Elizabeth Walker, William Russell, Margery Monteith, Lovinus Monteith',. Jennett Monteith, William Hay, and Mary Hay by certificate, and William T. Monteith, Walter Monteith, Elisabeth Monteith, and Daniel D. McMartin by profession.* Thomas Monteith seems to have been the only elder elected at the organization. Of the 16 original members, but 7 remain. The additions to the Session were as follows: 1843 William T. Monteith and William Russell were' elected] their ordination taking place June 10, 1843. In 1847

David Wylie, an elder from Fawn River, St. Joseph Co., Mich., was received, elected, and installed. In 1849, Jason Gillespie, an elder from Graham's Church, Orange Co., N. Y., was received, elected, and installed. May 8, 1854, John Wylie, an elder from Ontario, Ind., was received, elected, and installed.

The first pastor was James A. Frazier, a licentiate of the First Presbytery of Ohio. He was ordained in 1848. His pastorate was of short duration, but successful in building up the church. Having had his attention directed to the work of foreign missions, when the church resolved, in 1850, to establish a mission in Palestine, he offered himself, and was elected. He went out in 1851. In 1860, owing to the disturbances in that country, he returned to America, but in a few months resumed his work. He died at his post Aug. 30, 1863.

The next pastor was Rev. William T. Canning, who came from the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, and was installed in 1853. He labored in this place about three years. In 1856 he resigned his charge, when he removed to Canada and connected himself with the Canada Presbyterian Church, where he is still laboring.

The first church building in Martin was erected by this society in 1846, mainly by the labors and generosity of Thomas Monteith, Sr. It is a comfortable framed building, erected at a cost of about $800, with a seating capacity of about 200. It is located one mile south of Martin's Corners, and is now used as a common school-house.

2. The Associate Presbyterian Church. - In the year 1851 a number of persons petitioned the Home Mission Board of the Associate Presbyterian Church for the preaching of the gospel. Their petition was granted, and Rev. D. S. McHenry was sent to supply them for six months. The first services were hold in the house of Robert Patterson, Sr. Some time in the fall of that year a petition was sent to the nearest Presbytery - that of Richland, Ohio - for the organization of a congregation. The petition was granted, and Rev. Samuel Anderson appointed to organize. The organization was effected on the 8th of March, 1852, at which time 12 members were received, 8 by certificate and 4 by profession. The following are the names : Robert Patterson, Jennett Patterson, Orin A. Porter, Jennet Porter, John Redpath, James Redpath, N. Davidson Redpath, Maria Redpath, Lovinus Monteith, Jennet Monteith, Charles Davidson, and Robert Davidson, - the last four by profession.

At the organization Orin A. Porter and N. D. Redpath were chosen ruling elders. These two elders having been removed by death, James Redpath and John Blair were ordained to that oflSce Feb. 5,. 1855. A house of worship was erected in 1855, at a cost of about $1000, capable of seating about 250 persons. It is now used as a carriagemanufactory.

This church never had a settled pastor, but was furnished with preaching in accordance with the home mission regulations of the church. Among the names of the supplies are some of the first men in the denomination, such as Revs. D. S. McHenry, James M. Smeallie, Samuel Anderson, J. B. Clark, J. H. Andrew, Samuel Patten, J. A. Shankland, Gilbert Small, and others.

3. The United Presbyterian Church. - The Presbyteries of the two churches having agreed on a basis of union, the highest courts of these bodies completed the consolidation in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 26, 1858. Where both these churches had existed in the same place, an adjustment in regard to church property, officers, etc., was necessary. To effect this in Martin, Rev. Thomas Calahan was commissioned by the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Michigan.

On the 25th of November, 1858, the churches agreed on a union, the Session consisting of the elders of both of them, as follows : William T. Monteith, William Russell, David Wylie, John Wylie, James Redpath, and John Blair. The members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church numbered 45 ; of the Associate Presbyterian, 34 ; total, 79.

The first pastor of the United Church was Rev. T. J. Wilson, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Chartiers, who was ordained and installed May 5, 1864. On account of feeble health he was obliged to resign. He removed to Oregon in 1868, where he has been engaged most of the time in preaching; first at Salem, at present at Halsey, in that State. Mr. Wilson's work was very successful, and he is affectionately remembered.

The second pastor was Rev. John Anderson. Mr. Anderson was ordained by the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Michigan. June 20, 1857, and labored in Northern Indiana until after Mr. Wilson's resignation, when he accepted a call from Martin. He was installed in 1869. He labored with great acceptance until troubles arose, when he was obliged to resign. He was released April 10, 1877. Since then he has been connected with the reunited Presbyterian Church, and is laboring at Kalamazoo. Since Mr. Anderson's resignation the pulpit has been supplied by the Presbytery, the present incumbent, Rev. William M. Richie, being appointed for a year, commencing Nov. 20, 1879.

The present church building was erected and dedicated in 1871, at a cost of about $6000. It is a large, wellproportioned edifice, with a seating capacity of 500 or 600, finely frescoed, the inside work being of ash and walnut. It is surmounted by a cupola with a good bell, and is heated by furnaces in the basement. Around the church are about 40 sheds, in good order, for the comfort of teams.

Mr. Thomas Shepherd was elected and ordained to the Session in 1875. He, with the surviving members of the former one, make the Session as follows ; William T. Montieth, David Wylie, Thomas Shepherd. The present superintendent of Sabbath-schools is John S. Monteith. Number of officers and teachers, 12 ; number of scholars, 60 ; contributions for the year, $34.

Whilst many have been received into the communion of the church, many have died and others have moved away. The number of church members reported for April 1, 1880, was 124. From published records, this society has, in the last twenty years, contributed to pastors' salaries over $13,000, and for the spread of the gospel in other parts of our own land and in foreign countries, over $5000. The church is at present in a prosperous condition.

Four young men, members of this church, have given themselves to the work of the ministry, and have met with much acceptance by the church : Revs. Thomas Wylie, Hebron, N. Y., died April 3, 1877 ; Thomas W. Monteith,

THE MARTIN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.* This body was organized in 1840 by Rev. William Todd, the preacher in charge of the Allegan Circuit. The first members of the Martin class, who were Ashbel Gates (leader) , Phoebe Gates, Abram Shellman, Mary A. Shellnian, and a Mrs. Hanmer, held their first meeting' in a small log house, situated one mile and a quarter southeast of Martin Corners. Until a school-house was built in the vicinity, other early meetings were held in the dwelling-houses of the pioneers. In time the school-house afforded them a convenient place for worship, and there their usual services were held until the building of a church edifice, in 18B8.

In September, 1811, Rev. F. Gage became the preacher in charge. He remained one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Bush, in September, 1842. Other pastors were Thomas Jakeways, who came in September, 1843 ; Jacob Parker, September, 1844 ; George King, September, 1845 ; M. B. Camburn, September, 1846 ; Curtis Mosher, September, 1847 ; A. J. Eldred, September, 1849 ; and year 1850 the charge was divided, and Otsego became the head of this circuit, the pastors of the Otsego Circuit being T. H. Bignell, who came in September, 1851 ; A. Wakefield, September, 1852 ; W. F. Jenkins, September, 1853, who remained two years. In September, 1855, the charge was again divided, Otsego being set off and Martin attached to Wayland, the circuit assuming the name of the Wayland Circuit, with Porter Williams preacher in charge. He was succeeded by A. C. Beach in September,

The Martin class was attached to Plain well charge in September, 1868, and the last-named pastor appointed to Plainwell, thus retaining the pastorate over the Martin class for the term of three years. In September, 1870, B. S. Mills was appointed, and he was succeeded in September, 1871, by J. W. Miller, who, after a few months, was called to Grand Traverse district. J. C. Hartley was appointed to fill out the year, and was succeeded by J. T. Iddings in September, 1872.

This, with other appointments, became Martin charge in September, 1873, with Abraham J. Van Wyck pastor. He served for a short period, when, having located D. M. Ward was appointed in his stead, who served until May 5 1874. An exchange was then made, and N. Saunders filled out the year. The subsequent pastors have been G. W. Hoag, appointed in September, 1874; T. Clark, appointed in September, 1876 ; and 0. E. Wightman, the present incumbent, who was appointed in September, 1877.

Under the pastorate of J. R. A. Wightman, in January, 1868, a house of worship was completed and dedicated. It is a neat wooden structure, pleasantly situated in the vil- lagc of Martin Corners, and contains about 225 sittings. The church is in a prosperous condition. It has a present membership of 165 persons.

Hon. William F. Harden

Hiram Harden was born in the township of Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., where his ancestors had lived many years. About the year 1820 he emigrated to the town of Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y., where his son, William F., was born July 19, 1830. At that early day (1820) Wayne County was a new country, and Mr. Harden bought a farm in the midst of an almost unbroken wilderness. This farm he cleared up and improved, living on it half a century, leaving it to go into the village of Williamson a few years previous to his death. Wm. F. grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving a good commonschool education. Arrived at his majority, he worked for seven years his father's farm on shares, teaching school winters. In this way he got his first start in life. In 1858, Mr. Harden and his wife came to Martin township, Allegan Co., Mich., on a visit, and while here bought of his brother-in-law one hundred acres of the farm on which he now resides. It was partly improved, and embraced a small barn and a log house. To the farm then bought Mr. Harden has since added, until he now owns three hundred and ten acres, of which two hundred and fifty-five acres are under a splendid state of cultivation, with a large house and many and fine out-buildings, while he stands high as one of Martin's most successful farmers and business men.

In politics Mr. Harden was in early life a Whig, as were his ancestors before him. On the organization of the Republican party he became one of its most ardent supporters, and still believes it to be the party of progress and civil liberty. He has been many times its standard-bearer, having been in his township school inspector, highway commissioner, and for twelve years supervisor, - eight years successively. In 1876 he represented his county on the Slate board of equalization, and in 1875 was elected to represent his district in the lower house at the special session of the State Legislature, to which he was again elected for the full term of 1875-76. He served as chairman on the committee on federal relations, and as a member of the committee on local taxation. All of which positions Mr. Harden has filled with credit and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow-citizens.

On the 29th day of September, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary J. Wilcox, who was born in Wayne County, where her parents were among the earliest settlers. She was a daughter of Earl and Jane (Stewart) Wilcox, and was born Aug. 21, 1830. Their union has been blessed with five children, as follows : Josephine J., born March 31, 1853 ; Malon D., Nov. 6, 1855 ; Jennie E., Sept. 19, 1860 ; Hattie M., May 7, 1866; and Cora B., Mav ll' 1872. ' '