Fennville City (part 3 of 6)

Mrs. Lapham died in October, 1877, and in January, 1878, Mr. Lapham married Miss Hannah M., daughter of Lonson Dewey, born in Almont, Lapeer Co., Oct. 5, 1840. They still reside in Maple Grove, surrounded by a pleasant circle of old friends and relatives, whose esteem and regard they possess to an eminent degree. ~

Abram 8S. Quick

Among the earliest and most active pioneers in Maple Grove township, Abram S. Quick was especially prominent, and now, after a residence of upwards of forty years upon the place of his first settlement in Barry County, enjoys wellearned comfort and ease. His father, John Quick, was born in New Jersey and lived thereafter in Pennsylvania, Canada, and New York, and in 1842 took up his residence with his son Abram in Maple Grove, where he died, in 1851. He served through an active campaign in the war of the Revolution, and had; at his death, reached the advanced age of ninety-one. Abram S. Quick was born in Pennsylvania, March 9, 1808, the sixth child in a family of eight, and, until he reached his majority, lived at home with his parents, working chiefly as a farm-hand. This occupation he continued here and there until 1838, when he set out for the far West, and at Adrian, Mich., obtained employment with the Michigan Southern Railroad Company as " boss" of a party of laborers at work on the line. In the fall of 1838, with Abel and Daniel Baldwin, he penetrated into Maple Grove township, Barry Co., and erected a saw-mill in section 26, upon land owned by John Mott, a Quaker, living then in Jackson County, with whom the mill was to be worked on shares. From Mott the property was known as the Quaker Mill, and that name it retains to this day. This, the pioneer saw-mill of Maple Grove, was carried on by Quick and the Baldwins in company until the spring of 1840, when Mr. Quick (haying, in 1839, bought a place on section 34) turned his attention to clearing and cultivating his land, and upon that place he has ever since resided. When he settled in Maple Grove there were but five other settlers in the town. He built upon his present place, in 1840, the first framed residence in Maple Grove, the building being destroyed by fire in 1868, and put out one of the first two orchards in the town. By exchanging labor with his neighbors and attending logging-bees, he managed to clear and fence forty acres of his land before he owned a yoke of oxen, and has, during his life in Michigan, chopped and logged upwards of two hundred and fifty acres. During the hard winter of 1842-43 he cut out three miles of the road to Hastings, and worked otherwise early and late to save his home, which was mortgaged to Quaker Mott, and by him threatened with foreclosure. In 1842 his wife made a halfbarrel of sugar, carrying the sap, and boiling it in small vessels, while he chopped the wood. The home was, however, by the most heroic exertions, saved from foreclosure, and when Quick finally got it clear and set out to build a house, he used to tramp eleven miles to Bellevue with forty pounds of sugar on his back, and with the proceeds, two dollars and forty cents, buy nails to use in the construction of his dwelling.

Mr. Quick has, during his life in Maple Grove, been prominently identified with the interests of the township, and has often been called upon to render services in local offices of public trust. He has been county superintendent of the poor two terms, treasurer seven terms, justice of the peace two years, and for a number of years conspicuously concerned with grange affairs. Rachel R., his wife, was born in the town of Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., July 20, 1823, being fourth in a family of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lapham. Her parents were natives of Vermont, her father having been born in 1788, and her mother in 1800. Eli Lapham moved, with his family, from Erie Co., N. Y., to Wayne Co., Mich., in 1830, and in 1837 pushed on to Maple Grove township, in Barry County, where, upon section 35, with a son and daughter and his son-in-law, Abel Hallock, he made the pioneer settlement in the township. He was a Quaker minister, preached the first sermon in the town, and every Sabbath during his pioneer experience held public religious services, and preached to his family, to neighbors, and Indians, as they gathered at his house or the houses of others in response to his invitation. After an extended stay in Maple Grove he removed to Battle Creek, and died in Calhoun County in 1864, having up to the time of his ' death continued with more or Jess regularity his work as a minister in Maple Grove and other localities. His widow died in Maple Grove in 1877, at tHe residence of Mr. Quick, after having been an invalid eight years. Mrs. Quick has herself participated in hardy pioneer work in Michigan. She was married to Mr. Quick, in Maple Grove; and, from the time she became a pioneer's wife, took her full share of a pioneer's burdens. As an instance it may be noted that, during the hard winter of 1842-43, while her husband was at work cutting out roads, she cut her own firewood and drew it from the woods, and that spring boiled a considerable quantity of sugar. She has all her life been a member of the Quaker Church, and, during her father's time, enjoyed the privilege of frequent worship according to that faith. Mr. and Mrs. Quick have four living children, viz.: George, born in 1842, and now living in Battle Creek; Irena Sophronia, born in 1845, and now Mrs. Elbridge Potter, of Maple Grove; Frank M., born in 1850, and now a farmer in Calhoun County ; Frederick J., born in 1853, likewise a farmer, and in Maple Grove.

Charles 8. Dunham

Charles §. Dunham, one of Maple Grove's best known citizens, has lived in the town upwards of twenty-seven years, and in the State since 1837. He was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1820, of good old New England stock, his father having been a native of Massachusetts, although his mother was born in New York State. At the age of ten the lad Charles was called upon to mourn his father's death, and with his mother, brothers, and sisters faced the stern necessity of battling for an existence. In 1837 the family moved to Michigan, and, still pursuing the path of dependence upon his labors, Charles engaged in whatsoever industry his hands could find to do, his chief fields of toil being in Jackson and Kalamazoo Counties, and his pursuits those of farming and painting, as occasion served. In 1841, he and his brother Casper purchased some land upon section 30, in Haton County, and to that place the family moved that year, Dec. 25,1844. Mr. Dunham married Catharine, daughter to Peter and Pamelia Downs, of Maple Grove township, Barry Co., and upon the Dunham farm, in Eaton County, the worthy couple lived until April 25, 1853, when they moved to Barry County, where Mr. Dunham had bought new land, and in Maple Grove they have ever since resided.

Mr. Dunham has always concerned himself in a spirited way with the advancement of the interest of his adopted town, has frequently been called upon to fill various offices of local trust, and has in short been a man of mark and influence in the community. He has long been a member of the orders of Odd-Fellowship and Freemasonry, and is now connected with Nashville Lodge, No. 255, F. and A. M., and Hastings Chapter, No. 68, R. A.M. Mr. Dunham takes a good deal of pride in the recollection that for thirty-nine years he has not missed a season of sugaring. He proposes to make the record an even forty years and rest content. Mrs. Charles S. Dunham, as already recorded, was the daughter of Peter and Pamelia (Styles) Downs. Her father was born in Vermont, Dec. 11, 1795, and her mother in Massachusetts, Aug. 2, 1791. They were married in New York, July 21, 1817, and shortly afterwards settled in St. Lawrence County, where Catharine (now Mrs. Dunham), their fourth child, was born Dec. 20, 1824. In 1837, Mr. and Mrs. Downs settled in Calhoun Co., Mich., and in January, 1841, became settlers upon section 36, in Maple Grove township, in Barry County. - Later they removed to section 15, and upon the place now owned and occupied by Charles 8. Dunham died - Mr. Downs, Oct. 4, 1871, and Mrs. Downs, June 5, 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. Dunham's children, three in number, are all living, and are named Peter O., born Aug. 3, 1846; Esther, born June 29, 1848; and Matthew H., born Aug. 3, 1861. Living with them are their two adopted children, Evey L., adopted February, 1863, and Charles E., adopted February, 1880. Of Mrs. Dunham's family two brothers are now living, and of Mr: Dunham's one brother and two sisters.

SuRVEY-TOWNSHIP 2 north in range 10 west, known as Orangeville, lies on the western border of Barry County ; having Yankee Springs on the north, Prairieville on the south, Hope on the east, and the Allegan county-line on the west. The township contains a number of small ponds or lakes, among which Fish Lake, near the centre, is conspicuously attractive. Gun Lake touches the northwest eorner, and there covers about 1000 acres. That locality is much resorted to by large parties of pleasure-seekers in the summer seasons, and from Kalamazoo especially the visitors gather in great force.

Thé surface of the country is undulating and hilly, and the soil-is sandy, yet agriculturally the region ranks well. There is but one village, called Orangeville, where there is a post-office. Although three separate railway projects through the town have been agitated, no locomotive has yet presented itself for welcome. Such an event is, however, not at all improbable.

The first route through from Gull Prairie to the present township of Orangeville was "blazed" with a hatchet by George Brown, who in the fall of 1835 marched afoot over the ground, looking for a good location, while his son, William, followed him on horseback. Having reached what is now called the Brown neighborhood, he concluded to make a settlement there, and, retracing his steps eastward, took up some land on section 32. With his wife and his father, Calvin Brown, he came on the next summer from Connecticut to begin active preparations in the work of making a home in the Michigan wilderness. Leaving Mrs. Brown at Blashfield's, in Prairieville - five miles south of their destination, - the two Browns pushed on, and in July, 1836, began upon section 32 their pioneer work in the present township of Orangeville. George Brown had engaged John Patton and Joshua J. Pease to clear some of his land, and found them on the ground, they having come to the township in April, 1836. They were the first actual residents of the township.

After remaining at Blashfield's during three weary weeks Mrs. Brown grew restless from inactivity, and, eager to join her husband as a pioneer, sent word to him to that effect, and very soon afterward appeared before him. She found upon her arrival that a shanty had been put up on the Brown place, and that in it, besides her husband and father, were living John Patton and Joshua J. Pease with their families. Patton and Pease were brothers-in-law, and had come in together partly to clear land for Brown and partly to improve some land of their own on section 28, and abided with the Browns while making ready their own habitations. Patton and one Joseph Brown, of Gull Prairie, raised a saw-mill on section 28 in 1837, but did not set it in motion until 1838. This pioneer mill was carried on for some time by Patton and Brown, and was naturally a valuable convenience to the incoming settlers. The water-power has not been suffered to waste itself in much idleness since that time, and still turns a saw-mill wheel, the business being now in the hands of Jefferson Bagley. In 1837, when Henry Brown came from Connecticut to make a settlement in Orangeville, in response to the persuasions of his brother George, he found in the Brown neighborhood a smart little community of pioneers. There were George Brown and Calvin-his father, Duty Benson, Tsaac Messer, a family named Adams (who soon sold out to William Dvwellie, of Prairieville), John Patton, and Joshua Pease. Of the settlers above mentioned as among the pioneer vanguard of Orangeville, George Brown, Calvin Brown, Duty Benson, and John Patton are dead. Henry Brown still lives on section 32, in Orangeville, where he located in 1837. George _Brown's widow lives on the same section, Joshua Pease lives in Hope township, and Isaac Messer in Carlton. Following close upon the earliest comers named came Elam Nichols and Silas Nichols, to section 32;.Aaron Ellis, to section 29; J. D. Kelly, to section 31; William Sykes, to section 20 ; and Hiram Chase, to section 29. Dr. Fordyce Rhodes, Orangeville's pioneer physician, came to the town in 1840, and occupied the Messer place, on section 32. Elam Nichols, who settled on section 32 in 1838, was a carpenter and joiner, and built not only the first school-house the town had, but also the first framed barn. He lived in the town but a year or so, and then moved to Gun Plain. Silas Nichols had a family of twelve children, but did not ndt seem to consider that complement a very big one, for, being upon one oceasion asked by preacher Shaw whether he had much of a family, replied, "Oh, not much of a one; thirteen or

The Brown Neighborhood

THE BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD, as the place of Orangeville's first settlement was called, and is called to this day, gathered residents quickly after George Brown and his father delivered the first axe-strokes upon Orangeville's forest giants. The settlers were all moderately near neighbors, and were necessarily fraternal and sociable. Hospitality was a marked feature in the community, and amid the toils and privations of pioneer life friendly visits and a happy interchange of social sentiments cheered and refreshed existence. A participant in the events of that time refers with glowing animation to the many delightful social occasions incidental to his pioneer experience, and honestly believes that for good old-fashioned enjoyment and hearty hospitality that period was far in advance of the present day, and that, all things taken into consideration, there was more solid comfort than can be found now in any community.

Fever and ague was, however, a great terror, and caused at first much distress. By many the presence of the disease was chargeable to the fact that, the scttlers' stock of meat being usually exhausted by May, they lived largely on cucumbers and milk, and fever and ague rapidly followed this diet. The universal ague remedy' was Dr. Osgood's cholagogue, and in every household it was as common as were the most urgent of life's necessaries. Dr. Osgood lived in Norwich, Conn., and made a vast fortune from his cholagogue, towards which Michigan contributed no small share. Osgood visited Michigan but once, and then stopped at Yankee Lewis' for dinner, and in dwelling upon the excellence of that dinner as being the best meal he ever ate he never grew weary.

The first birth in the settlement was that of Albertus, son to George and Mary Ann Brown, who was born July 16, 1837. The first girl child was a daughter to Isaac Messer, born also in 1837, and now Mrs. Martha Morrill, of Hastings.

The first death was that of Mrs. Henry Brown, who died in July, 1837, and was buried on Mr. Brown's farm. The cemetery in the Brown settlement was not laid out until some time afterward, the one in Prairieville being used in common by both towns.

Pioneers In The North

As early as 1837, or perhaps 1836, one McKnight made _ asmall clearing on section 9, put up a log cabin, and, between trading with Indians and keeping a house of entertainment for such land-lookers as happened to pass that way, managed to eke out a precarious subsistence. Among the land-seekers who were entertained at McKnight's house in 1838 was David Townsend, who bargained with McKnight for the 40 acres the latter occupied, and also left with him $100, with which McKnight was to buy more land for him. Townsend went back to New York, and, in 1839, came out with his family. When he reached the McKnight place, expecting to find that worthy at hand with an account of his stewardship in the $100 affair, he found an empty cabin, and directly learned that McKnight, seeing before him a more inviting financial scheme than either keeping tavern or trading with Indians, had slipped away with the $100. Neither he nor the money was ever heard of more.

Joseph Coffin, an Indian trader, was living on the townline, in section 3, when Townsend moved in, and carried on a brisk traffic with the Indians, especially in the sale of whisky to them. Upon that whisky the redskins used to get most villainously drunk, and then their howls carried great dismay and terror to the souls of such women as resided in the neighborhood, but, farther than that, it is not recorded that they inflicted any damage. Coffin's wife died in 1840, and shortly after that he moved to the far

South. John and James O'Connor, two brothers, were the next to make a settlement after Townsend. They came to section 3 in September, 1838, and moved from the town after a residence therein of six years. EH. O'Connor, a third brother, came to section 3 in 1839 and still lives there.

In December, 1838, James Stewart came from Canada to section 11, and occupied land located by his father-inlaw in 1836. At the same time Donald McCallum also came from Canada and settled upon the same section. Mc- Callum moved to Hope in 1851, and there died. Stewart still lives upon his old farm. In the northern portion of Orangeville the owners of lands held back their property in most cases for an advance in price, and for that reason that quarter was at first slow in being populated. Among the earliest in following Stewart and McCallum were John Gillespie and Adam Elliott, to section 3; James McDermott, to section 12; and Isaac Young, to sections 10 and 11, which he bought of Donald McCallum.

Settlers thereabout could get to no grist-mill short of Otsego or Gull Prairie, and to make the journey to either place two days, and often more, were fully occupied. Fighting against fever and ague was a common matter, but, fight as they would, the people suffered sorely, and, indced, there was more unhappiness from that cause than from all others combined. Dr. Upjohn, of Gull Prairie, was the only available physician, and his welcome presence even could not always be counted on in times of sickness, for his circuit was a large one, and, tax his energies as he might, he could not always meet his engagements.

South of Stewart the early settlers were John and George Bugbee, Otis Bugbee, Peter Castle, Elder C. Blake, a preacher, and Calvin Preston. Farther south, on the Grand River road, S. C. Woodman, still living on section 23, came to that place in January, 1846, where John Rogers had lived a while and cleared about an acre. Among the settlers in his neighborhood soon after he came in were the Bugbees, the Castles, Samuel Youngs, William Johneock, Joshua Hart, Ansel Haven, the Osborns, ete.

Fishing was fine sport in that vicinity, and yielded welcome returns too, for food of any kind was not over-plentiful among the pioneers. Mr. Woodman recalls a fishing excursion in which he and seven others participated, and relates that, after an all-night campaign, they got home with 400 pounds of pickerel and bass, many of which weighed 25 pounds each. He and his son were great deerhunters, and counted it as no uncommon occurrence when they brought down four deer aday. Hunting and trapping were followed by the settlers not only as a sport, but as a necessity. Money was exceedingly hard to get, and, as furs and deer-hides always commanded cash, they were eagerly sought whenever opportunity offered.

South of Woodman, on the Grand River road, Peter Falk and his son William settled on section 26 in 1844, their coming to Michigan dating from 1837, when they located in Barry township. William Falk was a cabinetmaker, and his services in that capacity were in almost constant demand in the neighborhood. He still lives on section 26. His. wife is a daughter of Richard Collier, who settled on the Grand River road in 1842. Thereabout, among the early comers, were also Seth Lewis, Seymour Adams, Augustus Williams, J. H. Earl, A. D. Storms (who located upon section 35 in 1841), Elbridge Smith, Aaron Orr, Charles Matthews, and a Mr. Cass, a pensioner of the war of 1812.

The earliest settler in the neighborhood of the present village of Orangeville was Isaac Fish, who located in 1837 in Oakland County, and in 1844 in Orangeville, upon section 17. The father of his wife was Abner Livermore, who settled in Oakland County in 1833. The region in which Mr. Fish made his Orangeville home was in 1844 a wilderness. On the south his nearest neighbor was Wil- . liam Sykes, on section 20, and on the north David Townsend, two anda half miles distant. In Mr. Fish's vicinity and west of the village, the settlers came in rapidly about 1848. Among the earliest were Josephus Snook, to section 20; Parmenio Wolcott, to section 17; John Valentine,.to section 17 (a place occupied in 1864 by Hiram Harper, a settler in Calhoun County in 1832) ; Sylvanus Clark, Leonard Johnson, Liscomb Brigham, Joel Johnson, William England, W. W. Wait, Ezra Barker, and S. M. Nichols.

Watson Wait, one of those named, was given at times to uttering original expressions, and among others is remembered to have remarked, upon returning from church where Elder Owen, an exhorter, had presided, '' Oh, nobody preached. Elder Owen, he just read a short chapter from the Bible and then exaggerated." Stillwell, another character, is remembered for his anti-abolition speech, in which he-eharged the Black Republicans with running 150,000,000 of slaves from the South into Canada; Pettingill for his famous couldn't stand up in Canada; and Valentine for his rejoinder to the effect that "the Upper Providence and Lower Providence of Canada were bigger than the whole State of Michigan."

The Grand Rapids Road

The old stage-road extending from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids, v@ Yankee Springs, passed through the castern portion of Orangeville and much enlivened that section, for the volume of travel was something quite remarkable. On that thoroughfare in Orangeville there was, however, but one tavern, and that not a very important one. Charles Peck was the landlord of the inn, which was a log structure, and stood on section 35, upon the place now occupied by J. H. Earl, Peck opened his house about 1838, and it was then the only house in the township on that road. Of course this highway was a great convenience to the pioneers, for it gave them ready means of communication with the outer world, and, as stages and other vehicles passed over it frequently each day, there was always a chance to send to market or secure the performance of any similar commission. This business of "sending to town" by the stages for such articles as might be needed was carried forward liberally, and at various points along the line the driver would take up orders from people who had in some cases come miles to intercept the stage. Merchants at Battle Creek used to drive a flourishing trade in the execution of these orders by stage, and the experience of one clerk is recalled to the effect that it-was no uncommon thing for

Other Roads

On the 15th of July, 1843, 'a road was laid out, commencing in the centre of the highway north of the Rogers House, running thence north and east to the northwest corner of section 2. Before that date the Yankee Springs and Pine Lake road had been laid out, and March 29, 1844, a road was laid out beginning at a stake in-the Grand River road, running thence south to the east line of section 10, thence to a stake in the highway north of the Rogers House. March 25, 1845, the survey of a road was made from the quarterpost on the east side of section 25, thence north and west to the road between the two towns Orangeville should take the part from the Grand River road west to the centre of section 33, and Prairieville from the centre of section 33 to the southwest corner of section 32, A road from John Patton's to Prairieville was laid June 12, 1843, and May 10, 1847, one running from the Grand River road at the south line of section 23, northwest and north to the Grand River road near the line between sections 14 and 15. May south side of section 35 east to the town-line was laid, and Dec. 9, 1847, a road was laid between the towns of Yankee Springs and Orangeville, running two and a half miles due east from the quarter-post on the south line of section 34, - - Yankee Springs to work one and a half miles, and Orangeville the remainder. A

The first school known to the history of Orangeville was taught by Mrs. Isaac Messer, in 1837, in her home on section 32. She had 8 or 10 scholars and taught about two months. After that, in the spring of 1838, a framed district school-house was built by Elam Nichols, a carpenter and joiner living in the township. The contract for building the house was taken by Henry Brown, who hauled the lumber for it from Gun Plain and Silver Creek. The building, which stood on George Brown's farm, cost $400 completed, and now does duty as one-of the out-houses on Henry Brown's place. Although the school-house was not built until 1838, the district, including all of township 2, was organized as district No. 12 in Prairieville, July 4, 1837.

The first school-teacher in that house was Harriet Hoyt, and after her the early teachers were Calvin White, Jr., Miss S. M. Woodard, Miss Mansfield, and Hannah Benson.

On the 4th of April, 1838, district No. 12 was changed to No. 3, and there were then attached to it sections 4, 5, and 6, in township 1. Oct. 18, 1843, the district was changed. to No.1. March 10, 1845, district No. 7, in Prairieville, was organized to include the north half of the northwest quarter of section 1, the whole of section 2, the south half and the northeast quarter of section 3; the east half of the southeast quarter of section 4, the east half of section 9, the whole of sections 10 and i1, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 12, the whole of section 14, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 15, in town 2. The first meeting of the district was held at the house of Adam Elliott, March 21, 1845. Nov. 21, 1845, the northwest quarter of section 2 and the north half of section 3 were set off to district 3, of Yankee Springs.

In answer to the petition of Peter Falk and others, district No. 8 was organized, Nov. 7, 1846, and included sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, and the east halves of sections 22, 27, and 34. A log school-house was built on section 26 by Peter Falk and J. C. Woodman. Mary Warner, of Prairieville, taught the first term in that school-house. Oct. 4, 1849, upon the petition of Isaac Fish and others, No. 4 was formed, and embraced sections 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and the north half of section 29.

Oct. 14, 1849, district No. 7 was changed to No. 2, and June 7, 1851, No. 5 was organized out of sections 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fractional district No. 7 was formed June 30, 1851, and included portions of Martin and Gun Plain and the southwest quarter of section 30, the west half of section 31, the west half of the northeast quarter and west half of the southeast quarter of section 31 in Orangeville. Nov. 5, 1853, district No. 5 was dissolved and attached to No.2. At the same meeting No. 2 was changed to No. 1, No.3 to No. 2, and No. 4 to No. 3.

May 8, 1854, the districts in the township were numbered and divided as follows: No. 1 included sections 1, 2, 3, 4, the east halves of the northeast and southeast quarters of section 9, and the whole of sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,and 15. No. 2 included sections 23, 24, 25, 26, the east half of section 27, the east half of section 22, the northeast quarter of section 34, and the north half of section 36. In No. 3 were sections 5, 6,7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and the northeast quarter, the east half, and the northwest half of section 29. In fractional district No. 3 were sections 35, the south half of 36, and the southeast quarter of section 34. In fractional district No. 7 were the west half and the west half of the east half of section 31, and the southeast quarter of section 30. Fractional district No. 1 included the west halves of sections 22, 27, and 34, the whole of sections 28, 32, and 33, the south half of section 29, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 29, the north half and the southeast quarter of section 30, the east half of the northeast quarter and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 31.

es children of school age........-+sseerseseae 323 Average attendance bree 296 Value of property ....... toe Teachers' WAGES ....c00ecsececceeserersoseasesecenvonsseeses

The school directors for 1879 were J. S. Young, Franklin Patton, Severn Thompson, John Van Luke, Oliver Chalker, F. Chamberlain, and. C, M. Smith.

Township 2 north, range 10 west, was a portion of Prairieville until April 1, 1847, when, under an act approved May 4, 1846, it was organized as Orangeville. The name was bestowed in pursuance of a suggestion by Peter Falk, who wished to have it named Orange, in recollection of a township of that name in Ohio, whence he came to Michigan, but, there being already an Orange in Michigan, a compromise was effected on Orangeville.

Fish, April 5, 1847. . Samuel C. Woodman was chosen moderator, Seth Lewis clerk, and George Brown and Aaron L. Ellis inspectors of election. The votes cast for supervisor were 43, of which George Brown received 22 and Adam Elliott 21. For clerk, Henry Brown had 23, William Falk 18, and George Brown I. For treasurer, Donald McCallum received 23, and David Townsend 20. For justice of the peace, Isaac Fish and Aaron Ellis received each 22, Adam Elliott 28, and Donald McCallum 20. Ellis,and Fish drew lots, and the latter"was declared elected. The several candidates for highway commissioners were John ©. Bugbee, Robert Emory, Royal Ellis, William EH. Sykes, and David Townsend, of whom Sykes, .

and Brown were chosen. 'The assessors elected were Isaac Fish and Joshua J. Pease. Poormasters, Seymour Adams, Stephen Nichols, George W. Bugbee, and Joseph Cole. Overseers of highways, Samuel 'C. Woodman, in district No. 1; John Gillespie, in No. 2; Michael Powers, in No. 3; Isaac Fish, in No. 4; Stephen Nichols, in No. 5; Duty Benson, in No. 6; Joseph Cole, in No. 7.

At the same meeting 12 votes were given for license, and 21 votes for no license. Ten dollars were voted to be raised for the children of poor parents, and $60 for the " contingent expenses" of the town.

In 1847, Aaron L. Ellis, Henry Brown, David Townsend, Adam Elliott, Samuel ©. Woodman, James A. Hathorn, and Duty Benson were grand jurors, and Isaac Fish, William E. Sykes, George Brown, Stephen Nichols, John C. Bugbee, Samuel Youngs, and Peter Falk were petit jurors.

For 1848, Curtis Brigham, Jr., R. H. Bristol, Isaac Diamond, Joshua Hart, "tioiniis W. Lindeman, Donald McCallum, Isaac Osborn, and Elbridge Smith were grand jurors, and John H. Williams, Josephus Snook, Royal Ellis, -John Patton, Parmenio Wolcott, James Stewart, Adam D. Storms, and Joshua J. Péase were petit jurors.

The grand jurors for 1849 were Aaron L. Ellis, William Sykes, David Townsend, Henry Brown, Henry Lyon, Peter A. Keeler, James N. Hathorn, and Otis C. Bugbec; the petit jurors were Thomas Osborn, Aaron Blake, Peter Falk, Samuel Hart, Isaac Fish, George Brown, John C. Bugbee, and Aaron Orr.

In 1850 the grand jurors were. Donald McCallum, Calvin Preston, Isaac Osborn, Henry Lyon,~William Betts, and John §, Stone; the petit jurors, John Patton, Aaron Blake, Isaac Dibivoad Curtis Brigham, Elbridge Smith, and John P. Kelly.

Orangeville Mills Post-Office

The post-office at the village, which was called from the outset Orangeville Mills, because there was already an Orangeville post-office in the State, was established about 1853. Hiram Tillotson was the first postmaster, followed by Eli Nichols in 1855 ; H. C. Turner in 1861 ; Eli Nichols (second term) in 1868; W. H. Cressy in 1868 ; and after Cressy, Mrs. S. H. Thiers, the present incumbent. At first the mail-route that supplied the office extended from Kalamazoo to Yankee Springs, and mail was received once a week from each point. The office is now on the route between Plainwell and Middleville, and has a mail twice a week. Until 1853 the residents in the township had to go to either Prairieville or Yankee Springs for their mail.

Dr. H. C. Turner has been practicing in the village without interruption since 1855. He then came from IIlinois to visit his sister, Mrs. J. C, Snook, in Orangeville, and, being pleased with the place, determined to become a resident. to 1855, Dr. Horace B. Herrick from 1858 to 1863, and in 1870, Dr. Turner's son Jerome was associated with his father in practice. The foregoing brief résumé includes the complete history of the medical profession in the village of Orangeville. Larlier than any of the foregoing, however, was Dr. Fordyce Rhodes, whv settled in the Brown neighborhood, on section 32, in 1840, and practiced his profession until his departure, in 1842.

The first interments at the village cemetery were those of two young men named Truman Clark and George Sweet, who lost their lives in 1858 while crossing Gun Lake on the ice, which, proving weaker than they expected, let them down to death. About 1860 one Merrill hung himself in his barn while laboring under an attack of mental despondency; Henry Castle was killed by a runaway team in 1875, and in 1878 Stephen Wicks, living on section 29, hung himself toa tree. In 1868, David Witherell, a school-teacher living in Prairieville, went into Blue Lake for a bath, and, getting beyond his depth, was drowned.

Early Religious Efforts

"Father" Daubney, a local Methodist Episcopal preacher of Gull Prairie, was one of the most energetic of pioneer ministers, and from one end of Barry County to the other he was vigilant in the work of seeking new settlements, and introducing therein the public worship of God. As he was in many other towns, so was he also in Orangeville, the first to offer the settlers the privilege of 'a sermon in the sanctuary." His visit resulted immediately from the efforts of Aaron Ellis, a settler on section 29, who had in the East long been leader of a Methodist Episcopal class. Father Daubney preached at the school-house in the Brown neighborhood in 1840, and, in 1841, when Rev. Mr. Bush came upon the Hastings Circuit, he organized a class in Orangeville. It was under the leadership of Aaron Ellis, and included the families of the Peases, Bensons, Pattons, ete. Rev. Mr. Worthington, who succeeded Mr. Bush on the circuit, lived in Orangeville, and kept the membership of the class up to a good number during his ministrations. After a while, however, there arose a period of religious inactivity, and, although the class met with more or less regularity till 1870, its existence was not a flourishing one. Since 1870 it has had no meetings.

About 1843 a Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Blaine, in the house of Donald. McCallum, with eight members, - John Stewart and wife, Alexander Stewart and wife, Donald McCallum and wife, James Stewart and wife. The church was called the Yankee Springs Presbyterian Church, although located in Orangeville, the reason therefor being that the people in the northern portion of Orangeville, being socially and otherwise allied with Yankee Springs, adopted the name of Yankee Springs for that locality, quite as much perhaps to give vent to their sympathetic friendship as anything else. Church services were held nearly all the time from 1843 to 1875, once in two.weeks, by ministers from Grand Rapids, but in the latter year they were permanently discontinued, the church membership having been seriously weakened by deaths and removals. .

First Baptist Church Of Orangeville

Dec. 4, 1852, a meeting was held at the school-house near Henry Brown's "to consider the prospects of the Baptist denomination in this vicinity." Elder Samuel Lamb presided, and it was resolved to invite a council to meet December 29th. On that day representatives from the churches of Yorkville, Otsego, Castleton, and Hope met in council and elected G. W. Johnson moderator, and CO. W. Calkins clerk. The names of those presented for church fellowship were Archibald 8. Allen and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvenus Clark, J. H. Calkins and wife, J. N. Hathorn and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Osborn, James and Mary Campbell, Nancy Betts, Lucy Rude, Martha Williams, Mrs. Lent, and Mrs. Isaac Fish. The church was named the Pine Lake Baptist Church ; Elder Samuel Lamb was chosen pastor, and Sylvenus Clark and James H. Calkins deacons. Of the members above mentioned Mrs. Fish was the first one baptized into the church.

After Elder Lamb ended his service James Campbell, a licentiate, preached a while, and then came Revs. F. Donaldson, J. Harris, T. Z. R. Jones, Elder Spooner, and (after a vacancy in the pulpit of a few years) Klders Tripp, Carroll, and Fay.

In 1860 the place of worship was changed to the village of Orangeville, and the name of the organization to the Orangeville Baptist Church. In the year named the erection of a church edifice was begun, but progressed slowly in the face of financial difficulties. During its construction Elder Jones was the pastor, and when he reecived $70 as the result of a donation party he gave the entire sum to aid in the building of the church. Although begun in 1860, the edifice was not fully completed until five years later.

With the close of Elder Fay's labors in 1875 the church ceased its active functions as an organization, by reason of the decline in membership, and since that time only occasional and irregular services have been held in the church building. A flourishing Sunday-school of forty or more scholars, in charge of Mrs. Sarah Wing, holds regular Sabbath sessions in it, and is generously supported.

The Orangeville Methodist Episcopal Class

was organized June 2, 1858, as a point in the Prairieville Circuit, then in charge of Rev. S. A. Osborn. The class remained in that circuit until 1876, when it was transferred to the Martin Circuit. The organizing members of the class were Aaron L. Ellis, Leader; Phabe Ellis, Cecelia Ellis, Edward Pratt and wife, Emeline Sweet. Up to the year 1879 preaching was enjoyed pretty regularly, but after that the numbers of the class were so diminished that meetings were discontinued, and thus far have not been resumed.

ORANGEVILLE LODGE, No. 181, F. AND A. M., was organized Nov. 4, 1865, in the hall of the village tavern, and Jan. 11, 1866, a charter was issued. The first officers chosen were Eli Nichols, W. M.; W. T. Dodge, S. W.; A.S. Pierson, J. W.; I. Willison, Treas.; M. H. Wing, Sec.; W. E. Bramble, S. D.; J. 8. Terry, J. D.; B. D.-Wing, Tyler. From 1865 to 1879 Eli Nichols served as W. M. each year, except in 1869, when W. T. Dodge occupied the office. The officers in 1880 were Eugene D. Youngs, W. M.; J. W. Briggs, 8. W.; Archibald Murdock, J. W.; George H. Ford, Treas.; J. A. Turner, Sec.; Eli Nichols, S. D.; Thomas B. Ellsworth, J. D.; C. H. Thurston, Tyler.

The fine hall now occupied and owned by the lodge was built in 1870. There is, moreover, upwards of $150 in . the treasury, the organization is clear of debt, and this, too, after having freely.and frequently contributed towards the support of needy members of the order, and especially towards the relief of yellow-fever sufferers in the South. Such a-record is an exceptional one for a country lodge, and it is naturally a subject of local pride.

was organized May 4, 1874, with 40 members. Henry Hewitt was chosen Master, and John Camergn, Overseer. Following Mr. Hewitt the succession of Masters has been K. C. Phetteplace, L. A. Nichols, and C. F. Woodman. Although the membership is now but 35, the grange is a prosperous organization. night in the grange hall at the village, built in 1878. The present official list is C. F. Woodman, M.; R. C. Norton, Sec.; Henry Hewitt, O.; L. A. Nichols, L.; Lavern Thompson, Treas. ; George Clark, Steward ; Edwin Bright, Assistant Steward; C. A. Snook, Chaplain; John Valenline, G. K.; Mary Clark, Stewardess.

Orangeville Village

In the fall of 1850, HE. G. Salisbury and his brother-inlaw, one Barney, bought of Parmenio Wolcott a mill-site and water-power on section 17, and began the erection of a saw-mill, which they completed in the summer of 1851. They carried on the saw-mill in company until 1853, when Barney sold his interest to K. G. McGown, after which the firm, until 1856, was Salisbury & McGown. Meanwhile the erection of a grist-mill was begun late in 1855, and completed late in the ensuing year. At that time the entire business passed under the control of McGown, who retained it until his death, in 1861. The mill-race which now conveys the motive-power to the mills was dug by Salisbury & McGown, and may be mentioned as an expensive undertaking. It is about one hundred rods in length, and is supplied by Tish Lake, a very handsome shect of water. Salisbury & McGown made a plat on their land purchase, near the mill, in 1854, of a village, and called it

Orangeville, which then included, however, only that portion of the village now east of the business quarter. In 1856, John G. Nichols platted an addition, in which the

The first trader at the village of Orangeville was James Campbell, who came hither about 1853 and opened a small store in one of the rooms of his residence. He closed his business in 1855, upon the arrival of George Clark, who carried on trade until 1857. In the fall of 1854, Eli Nichols entered the arena'as an Orangeville merchant, and after an experience of seven years sold out to C. C. Brown, whose place was taken in 1863 by George Sherwood and B. D. Wing. Eli Nichols resumed business in 1865, and since then has been the leading merchant in the village. Besides his store, there is also the establishment of M. P. Arbour. dic)

The first carpenter to come to the village was Edward Terry, and closely following him, in 1853, came Stephen Nichols, also a carpenter, who is still a resident in the village. George Beattie, the village blacksmith, came hither in 1854, and upon the spot he then set up his forge he has labored steadily to this day. 5

A village tavern was built and opened in 1855 by Winchester T. Dodge, who was the landlord thereof for some years thereafter. _ It was the 4th of July, 1855, that was fixed upon as an appropriate day for celebrating in a formal way the opening of Dodge's tavern, and, several of the most spirited citizens of the town taking hold of the matter, it was determined to hayve-a " bang-up blow-out." To that end they went over to ~Hastings on the 3d of July to borrow a cannon known to belong to certain citizens of that town. The cannon was at. that time, however, found to be.in the possession of landlord Emory at Middleville. 'Armed with an order for its delivery, the Orangeville people went over there, but, the cannon being intended by Emory to take part in Middleville's own Independence Day demonstration, he declined most emphatically to give it up.

Repulsed, but not beaten, the Orangeville party drew off, and sent post-haste for reinforcements to their township. These arriving some time after midnight, a hurried and mysterious moye was made upon Emory's, but Emory, on the alert, met them with a bold front. 'They heeded not his warnings or threats eyen of sharp violence, and proceeded to push him briskly aside, while they laid hold of the cannon. Despite, too, the appearance upon the scene of Mrs. Emory, and her skillful flank movement, backed by a broomstick attack that was meant to work destructive damage, the attacking forces got safely away with their prize, and by daylight landed it in Orangeville in ample time for a glorious hurrah, made perhaps additionally glorious by the remarkable triumph at Middleville. Emory subsequently sought to avenge himself by causing the arrest of the invaders, but they turned the tables by prosecuting him for selling liquor in opposition to law, and in the end he was glad to compromise the matter by withdrawing his complaint.

Wm. Young Gilkey

PRAIRIEVILLE is described on the United States survey as township 1 north, range 10 west. Until the year 1841 it was a part of Barry township. In that year Barry was divided, and the western half, comprising townships 1 and 2, range 10, received the name of Spaulding. That name was changed in 1843 to Prairieville. In 1847 Prairieville township was divided, the northern half receiving the name of Orangeville. To prevent confusion, the name Prairicville will be applied in this sketch only to the territory of township, 1 north, in range 10 west.

The surface is diversified. A range of hills extending from the southwest to the east and north renders the central and western portions broken and hilly. - A continuation of Gull or Garden Prairie occupied a part of the southern region at the time of settlement, terminating in the hills around Crooked Lake, and the more abrupt ridges bordering on Gull and Long Lakes. The level tracts in the east consisted mainly of small circular belts of prairie and oakopenings. The only peculiar formation in the township is a bed of siliceous rock in the north part of Long Lake. Under the microscope it appears to be composed of the shells of minute living animals, - probably diatoms.

The township forms part of the divide between the Kalamazoo and Thornapple Rivers. The streams, therefore, are small and unimportant. There are many beautiful lakes, Pine, Gull, and Crooked being the largest. Gull Lake indents the southeastern border. The water-level of many of them is gradually changing, the water becoming more shallow from year to year. The most remarkable example is that of Crooked Lake. It is estimated that its depth has decreased at least seven feet since the first settlement of the township. Thus several of the more shallow arms of the lake, covering some hundreds of acres, have been converted into marshy tracts of land. They cannot long continue in this state. very year the plow cuts off a few furrows more, and the next generation, at least, will be able to sow and reap where their ancestors passed the time with boat and fishing-tackle.

Although the hills are in many places stony, they are, with few exceptions, very productive, being especially adapted to wheat. The fertility of the openings and prairic-belts is unsurpassed.

Curious Remains

In many of these localities the first settlers found mounds and garden-beds, supposed by some to have been cultivated by some very ancient race. The mounds were evidently burial-places. The cultivated tracts were laid out in beds from twelve to fifteen feet wide and from fifty to sixty feet The paths were from ten to fifteen inches deep. They differed very much in various localities, except that they were all laid out due north and south. In some places, especially north of Pine Lake, on the farm settled by Hli Waite, they were covered with a growth of heavy timber.

Upon one of these belts of prairie Amasa S. Parker, a native of Connecticut, settled in the spring of 1831, having reached Richland, Kalamazoo Co., the year previous. He built him a log house, it is said, without any assistance whatever. In June, 1831, he entered his land, which was the west half of the southwest quarter of section 35, and soon after began to build a barn, which he completed during the summer. He was the first settler in Prairieville township, and also the first in Barry County.

The next year, 1834, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Celestia C. Barnes, whose father built the Yorkville Mills. Late in the fall of 1834 a party of surveyors came to the house of Mr. Parker and desired to have some provisions taken to the Thornapple River. Mr. Parker accordingly fastened boards to an axle, and with a load, consisting of corn-meal and salt pork, drawn by a yoke of oxen, proceeded to follow an Indian trail through the wilderness. It was probably the first team driven to the Thornapple through Prairieville and the adjoining townships.

The party reached the place of destination without accident, having camped one night on the way in the locality afterwards named Yankee Springs.

The next day Mr. Parker set out alone to return. The snow had fallen to a considerable depth, rendcring it almost impossible to follow the trail. The snow continued to fall at intervals during the day. Towards evening he lost his way, but fortunately struck the trail near the place where they had camped the night previous. There were still a few live coals, and with them he finally succeeded in lighting a fire. The wolves gathered, and through the whole night filled the woods with their dismal howlings. Mr. Parker was compelled to remain on guard and exercise the closest attention to prevent their attacking his cattle, which were chained toa tree. He reached home the next day nearly exhausted.

In the fall of 1834, C. W. Spaulding, a native of Vermont, who had reached Climax Prairie several years previous, came to Prairieville and located on section 23. He built a house, and in the spring of 1835 brought his family.

In 1835, Asahel C. and Hiram Tillotson located on section 23, between Mr. Otis and Mr. Spaulding, both being then unmarried. Ambrose Mills selected a home-on the east line of section 24. Nicholas and William Campbell with their families and an unmarried brother located on section 25, south of Mr. Otis. Norman Deming, a bachelor, settled on section 10; he was subsequently married to Catherine Doolittle. Isaac Otis, from Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., emigrated with his wife and four children to this township in 1835, and purchased the farm of Linus Ellison, on the southeast quarter of section 24, where he resided until his death. Mr. Otis was the first supervisor of Barry township when it included the whole county, and held other responsible local offices.

The settlement of Prairieville had thus far been confined chiefly to the prairie and the more thinly wooded districts. The succeeding year (1836) several entries were made in the western and northern parts. Youngs Gilkey, then unmarried, purchased a part of section 28, and built a house. Eli Waite was the first settler in the northwestern part of the township. He reached section 6 in the early spring of 1836, having previously traveled over the township on horseback. About six weeks after her arrival Mrs. Waite died, this being the first death in the township. She was buried on the east end of the farm, and Mr. Waite was.laid beside her many years later. The next settler was William Shelp.

Wells Byington and wife, a newly-married couple from New York, reached Prairieville in the spring of 1837. They occupied the house built by Youngs Gilkey. As an illustration of the small troubles which, as well as the great ones, so frequently annoyed the pioneer, we may mention that one morning, finding he had no fire and having no means of lighting one, Mr. Byington was obliged to take a shovel and go two miles and a half to the house of C. W. Spaulding for a few coals of fire. Mr. Byington subsequently moved to Barry township, where he still lives.

Hiram Lewis came from New York to Yankee Springs in 1837, where his brother William was keeping a hotel. He purchased a farm in that township and remained there a year or two. He sold his farm in 1840, however, and purchased, in the spring of 1841, 80 acres on the southeast quarter of section 2, where the village of Prairieville now stands, and subsequently purchased the north half of that section. The same year he was elected the first supervisor of the township of Spauldingy During that season he built a hotel on the spot where the present one stands. It was burned a few years later, and rebuilt. He filled many offices in the township during his residence there, but about 1867 he removed to Kalamazoo County, where he died.

John Bowne emigrated from Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1836, to Prairieville, and lived during the summer 6n the farm of Asahel Tillotson. In the fall of 1837 he purchased land in the present township of Barry, but subsequently traded farms with Hiram Tillotson, in Prairieville. In 1850 he was a member of the State Senate. His son, Andrew Bowne, is a well-known banker in the city of Hastings.

David Hamburg. a bachelor, came to the township before 1840, and purchased the farm now owned by Jacob Bronstetter. He boarded at Thomas Storms', on the west side. of Crooked Lake, and used to cross that lake to work his farm. One evening in winter while crossing on the ice to Mr. Storms' he broke through and was drowned. As he did not return, his friends went to seek him, and saw his hat upon the ice, where he doubtless had thrown it. He had struggled earnestly against his fate, for the ice was broken a considerable distance around the place. where he fell through. His body was recovered the next day.

Erastus Cressy, a native of Roe, Franklin Co., Mass., emigrated to Michigan, with his wife, three sons, and three daughters, in 1842. He arrived at Gull Prairie on the 17th of October of that year, and the next day moved into what is now Prairieville, halting on section 28, where he

29, and during the simmer of 1843 built a plank house upon it, and also plowed 12 acres of Jand. The prairie was about three miles south from him, and the land where he located was known as oak-openings. In the winter of 1842 and 1843, Mr. Cressy sold the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29 to Lorin Bingham for a horse, saddle, and bridle.

William Marshall came from Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1839, and settled where he now lives. He rowed a boat across Crooked Lake, and helped break the first land on the farm now owned by Jacob Bronstetter. This place was then owned by David Hamburg, who was afterwards drowned in Crooked Lake. Mr. Bronstetter came to the township in 1854. 3

Albert Warner, with his mother, brother, and sisters, came to Prairieville from Sandy Creek, N. Y.,'and located where he now lives, in 1845. The farm was first settled by Elisha Weed.

In the winter of 1836-37 the Rev. Leonard Slater brought a band of Indians, numbering 300, from Grand Rapids to Prairieville. They were located on the northern part of section 35 and the adjoining parts of sections 26 and 27. Mr. Slater erected a church for them in 1840, which was also usedeas a school-room. tt was on the north part of section 35. Mr. Slater taught there a while, and later his daughter Emily. Previous to this time a log house was used. It stood on the knoll opposite the site of William Shean's house. The Indians remained in Prairieville until 1852, when they were removed. During their stay many died. They were buried in the field, now an orchard, at the termination of the road running east from Cressy's Corners, and in the fields on either side of that road, near the end. They were also buried near Indian Lake. Their chief, Noonday, who is said to have led the Indians who accompanied the British at the attack on Buffalo, N. Y., in December, 1813, and to have set fire to that village, died in Prairieville. A stone was raised to mark his grave, but relic-seekers have long since carried away the last fragment. After the removal of the Indians the church was moved to Kalamazoo. The bell was transferred to the school-house at the village of Prairieville.

Down to 1837 no roads were located. There were several Indian trails crossing the township in different directions. One running east and west struck the Kalamazoo River in the vicinity of Otsego; two others crossed the township north and south ; one of these passed along the west side of Crooked Lake, leading to the Thornapple River ; the other ran north from Cressy's Corners, passing between Pine and Shelp Lakes. These trails were serviceable in the summer, but in the winter, when the ground was covered with snow, it was difficult (for white men at least) to follow them. This was remedied by "blazing" the trees at intervals on either side.. The trees along the trail last described were blazed by George Brown about the year 1835.

The year 1837 was an eventful one for Prairieville township. Hverywhere improvements were pushed forward. The first school-house in the township was built. Roads were located in every direction. The axe, the precursor of civilization, was constantly at work, log cabins were arising here and there through the forest, and around them the clearings were rapidly extending their area. The settlement of the townships,to the north had already commenced, and the trails leading northward had become the usual lines of travel.

The road from Gull Prairie to the Thornapple River was - the first in Barry County. At the second town-meeting held in the county a committee of five was appointed to assist the commissioners in locating this road, and if they should locate it across Crooked Lake, $500 was voted for _ bridging the same. This road was established across Crooked Lake on the 18th of April, 1837, but was subsequently vacated, and the road from the base-line through section 35, along the west side of Crooked Lake, was established the next winter.

The next road is described as beginning at a " black-oak tree at the head of the Beaver Dam, so called" (which was situated on section 7, in the present township of Barry), leading southwest, as at present, until it reached the southwest corner of section 12, in Prairieville, and running thence south between Barry and Prairieville until it met the Cook road, which was established the same day. The Cook road extended from the base-line, in the vicinity of Jones' Mill, situated on the outlet of Long Lake, northeast around Gull Lake, and thence east through sections 31 and 32, in Barry township. This road has never been much changed.

The Pine Lake road began on the western line of section 6. It extended north and east into Orangeville, and was intended, no doubt, to give the settlers in that township communication with Otsego. The next road began at the corner on the west line of sections 18 and 19, running east, with many crooks and angles, until it finally reached the Town-Line road, between Barry and Prairieville. The Brown road, running northward from Cressy's Corners, between Pine and Shelp Lakes, and the Town-Line road, between Orangeville and Prairieville, were established about the same time. They were all located in 1837 or the early part of 1838.

1843. The records do not show who were the original members of the class. The meeting-house was built in 1871, while the Rev. J. White was pastor. The society at present is under the care of Rev. S. W. Calkins.

The Methodist society at South Pine Lake was first organized in 1858, under Elder Gage. Until 1869 the society met in the district school-house. At that time a church edifice was built, at an expense of about $3000. °It was dedicated by Dr. George B. Josslyn, of Albion College.

The Sabbath-schools of the whole township are combined in a union association. [It is a regular and permanent society, having been organized in 1861, and having continued in active operation ever since.

The Village Of Prairieville

The village of Prairieville, situated in the northern part of the township, has a population of about 200. The first store was built by a Mr. Keeler. He was followed by Benjamin & Searles. There are at present two general stores, owned respectively by Brown & Goss and George M. Evers. The hotel originally built by Hiram Lewis occupied the same site as the one now standing.

Mr. L. H. Shedd, the present proprietor, came to Prairieville from New York in 1868. There are several smaller business places, a post-office, two blacksmith- and wagonshops, two harness-shops, a planing-mill now building, ete.

The physicians who first located in the township were Drs. Alverson and Sheldon. The former built the house now owned by Dr. J. W. Sackett, and carried on a store. They both departed about 1850. Dr. Parkhurst succeeded them, and remained till 1853. Dr. J. W. Sackett studied medicine in Massachusetts and practiced in Pembroke, Genesee Co., N.Y. In October, 1853, he came West, and, after looking over the country, decided to settle at Prairieville. Accordingly, on the 4th of June, 1854, he located with his wife at that village, where he has been in constant practice from that time. The nearest physician upon his arrival and for several years after was at Gull Prairie, ten miles distant. Dr. Sackett is the only permanent physician in the township.

The first division of the old township of Barry (then comprising the whole county) into school districts will be found in the history of that township. In this division. Prairieville, or rather township 1, range 10, was set off as district 13, and in this district the first school-house was built, on section 24. Miss Theoda Spaulding, afterwards Mrs. Knappen, taught the first school in the county, in an unfurnished room in her father's house. She is still living, in Richland, Kalamazoo Co.

On the 7th of November, 18438, sections 1, 2, and 3 of Prairieville were united with 34, 35, and 36 of Orangeville, and formed district No. 3. In 1845, upon the petition of Robert King, school district No. 4 was formed from sections 7, 8,17, 18,19, and 20. The school-house was built in 1846. Miss Martha Warner was the first teacher in that district. At the same meeting, in compliance with the petition of Erastus Cressy, the immediate neighborhood of Cressy's Corners was set off as a school district. The house was built in 1846. Miss Lydia Benson had previously taught a private school in the house of Hrastus Cressy. The next term was taught by her sister, Miss Chloe E. Benson, afterwards Mrs. Albert Warner.

The school-house in the village of Prairieville was built in 1845. It was subsequently destroyed by fire, when the one now standing was erected. The bell is the one used by Leonard Slater on the Indian reservation.

The amount of money paid by the township for teachers during the first years varied from $1 to $1.50. per month. They received, however, $4 to $6 per month, the difference being made up by fees from scholars. Accordingly, in 1842, the township voted $15, and in 1845 $20, for the benefit of those children whose parents were unable to pay for their tuition.

In 1842 reports were made from but two schools. The number of scholars was 58. The report of 1847, at the time Orangeville was set off from Prairieville, shows 7 schools to have been taught during the year, with an attendance of 155 scholars.

The districts have been subdivided and rearranged from time to time. In 1879 there were 10 school districts, whole and fractional, while the number of scholars is not far from 300.

We append the names of early teachers in Prairieville and vicinity: Miss Theoda Spaulding, Miss Sallie M. Woodard, Miss Sarah Elizabeth Peck, Miss Rachel Brown, Miss Caroline Tillotson, Miss Sarah Calkins, Miss Martha Warner, Miss P. Warner, Miss Eunice M. Nevins, L. Polly, Miss Allen, Mrs. Abigail Hill, Dr. White, O. Chamberlin, Miss Samantha Woodard, Miss Julia Woodard.

Political History

In the spring of 1838 Barry County was divided into four townships. Prairieville was set off as a part of Barry township. Party-lines had not yet been strongly drawn. In local matters the best men, without much regard to polities, were usually elected.

In regard to national politics the Democratic party was generally in the ascendency until 1854. Local offices were gradually drawn into the political vortex, and in 1853 the

Democracy was in possession of every office in the township. In 1854 the result was a division of the offices. In 1855 the Republican party was organized, and in the spring of that year the entire Republican 'ticket, with C.

Then the Greenback party, led locally by George H. Thomas, entered the field. Mr. Thomas had been a popular leader in the Republican ranks since 1857, having twice been elected to the Senate and once to the Legislature of the State. The Greenback ticket was elected in 1877 and 1878, but in 1879 the Republican party succeeded by from one to three majority. In 1880 the Republican majority varied from twelve to twenty. The following is the list of officers of the oe a its organization, in 1841, to 1880:

Francis Holden

Among the successful farmers and early settlers of Barry County the name of Francis Holden will long be remembered. He was a man of more than ordinary sagacity and perception and of remarkable energy and determination, and had he received a liberal education would have made an enviable reputation in any calling. He was born in Vermont, June 9,1812; his father was a' farmer and emigrated to Cortland County, N. Y., in an early day, but little is known of his history further than that he was an industrious, hard-working man, but lacked that faculty of accumulating property which was a marked feature in the character of his son. Francis was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and for several years was employed in some capacity on the Hrie Canal. In the autumn of 1836 he came to Michigan. A brother-in-law had _preceded him, and had settled near Albion, Calhoun Co., with whom Mr. Holden spent the winter. The following spring he went to Richland, Kalamazoo Co., and hired to Foster Gilkey, one of the pioneers of that town ; with him he remained several years; his wages were carefully husbanded, and his first investment was in eighty acres of government land in the town of Prairieville, Barry Co. This was in 1837, and from that time until his death, in 1877, a period of forty years, his career was remarkable from the fact that upon his arrival in Calhoun County he had but three dol- lars and died the wealthiest man in the county. He dealt in farm property extensively, and at one time was one of the largest real-estate owners in the county. He seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of values, and his judgment in business matters was almost infallible. In 1841 he married Miss Kairaiaziek, daughter of Frederick Davis, one of the early settlers of Kalamazoo Co. Mrs. Holden possesses many of the distinguishing characteristics of her husband, and his success is, perhaps, attributable in a large measure to her thrift and industry. She was born in Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1822. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are living: John, the only son, resides upon the old farm; Ann, now Mrs. Doty, lives in Nebraska; Mary is the wife of Mr. Nor- ton, of Hastings. The life of Mr. Holden is one worthy of emulation in many respects, and his history shows the result of a life of economy and industry. In political matters Mr. Holden manifested a lively interest. He was a staunch Republican, and did much to advance the interests of that party. He was a man of marked social qualities ; he loved a good joke, aud enjoyed the society of his family and friends.. His early life was one of toil and privation, and his early associations were such as invariably depress, although they probably developed many strong points in his character that might otherwise have remained dormant ; but starting in life as he did, with only a good constitution and a strong pair of hands as his capital, he is worthy of a conspicuous position. amovg the self-made men of the county.

Albert Warner

Among the early settlers of Prairieville township we find the name of Albert Warner, who, with his mother, brother, and three sisters, came from Oswego Co., N. Y., in the month of October, 1845, and located on sections 7 and 18. Albert was born in Sandy Creek township, Oswego Co., Sept. 26, 1820. His father was an early settler in that town, where he had bought forty acres of land and had cleared and improved it, and the writer of this believes there never was worse land to clear. On the home-farm the boyhood days of Albert were passed, going two miles to school through the winter months, with the snow at times four feet deep. When he was fifteen years old his father and brother went away from home to work at the carpenter's trade, leaving him in charge of the farm. Two years later the death of the father left the brothers to care for the family. This was faithfully done, Burton working out by the month, while Albert managed the farm. In the spring of 1845 the farm was sold, and Albert soon after took a trip through the States of Michigan, Illinois, and Wiscousin, looking fora home. After hearing his report the family decided to settle in Barry County. Burton came with his family by public conveyance; the rest of the family by team. The new farm consisted of one hundred and two acres, nearly all new, with only a log house, and that of the most primitive style. 'The roof was covered with slabs, boards, and shakes, with one door and no windows, the only light they had coming down the oldfashioned stick chimney, which served the double purpose of chimney and skylight. In this house both families, consisting of seven persons, lived a year. It was finally improved, and served as a comfortable home for many years, until in 1859 it was replaced with the large and commodious house now occupied by Albert and his family, and which was then the finest in the town. In the spring of 1847 the brothers divided their land, Albert taking the fifty-six acres on section 18 as his share, and which was all the land he owned for several years.

Mr. Warner has never speculated, but has given his entire attention to farming, and has prospered beyond his expectation. The farm of fifty-six acres has been enlarged to one of three hundred acres, with other tracts making two hundred and twenty acres more, also a farm in Kansas of three hundred and twenty acres, all the result of industry, economy, and good management. In politics Mr. Warner was in early life a Democrat, but joined the Republican party at its organization, and has since been an ardent supporter of its principles, though he has never desired or sought political advancement. In church matters he has for years been very active, and has done much to advance the cause of religion in his county, having helped build several churches - the South Pine Lake Methodist Episcopal church especially, towards which he and his family subscribed nearly one-third of its orjginal cost. He has been one of its trustees from the time it was organized until the present time, and a class-leader since he was admitted to full membership, save a year when absent. He has also been connected for many years with the Sabbathschools of his town, serving most of the time as superintendent, and being one of the original organizers of the Prairieville Sabbath-school Association. In October, 1879, Mr, Warner and his wife asked for letters and withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in March following joined the Wesleyans in organizing a church in Gun Plain township, Allegan Co., of which society he is a steward and class-leader. He is strongly opposed to all secret societies, and is a strong anti-Mason. On the 2d day of May, 1848, Mr. Warner was married to Miss Chloe Benson, who was born June 30, 1825, in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., from whence her father and mother, "Duty" and Phebe Benson, emigrated to Michigan in 1835, settling in Jackson County, and moving to what is now Orangeville in 1836, where they were among the first settlers. Mrs. Warner taught some of the first schools in Barry County, which occupation she pursued eight years, some of the time receiving one dollar per week for her services, and perfectly satisfied with that sum. As pioneers in many good works Mr. and Mrs. Warner stand second to none, and now in the even-time of life they can look back upon many deeds well done, and a record without a stain or blemish. There have been born to them five children, viz.: J. L., born Nov. 1, 1849; Leroy B., Aug. 14, 1852; ura, Nov. 14, 1854 (died March 29, 1855); Lester, Feb. 22, 1858; and Frankie, May 23, 1863 (died Aug. 8, 1864).

John J. Perkins

In the month of March, 1818, John Perkins, then a lad nineteen years old, bought fifty acres of land in the then almost unbroken wilderness of Franklin township, Portage Co., Ohio. This was but one year after the celebrated leap of Brady, the Indian-fighter, who, in escaping from the Indians, jumped across the Cuyahoga River, a distance of twenty-seven feet. Mr. Perkins was poor in purse, but rich in strength of purpose, industry, and

Aug. 17, 1799, and left his home at the age of sixteen years to seek his fortune. After buying his land he drove a team between Franklin and Pittsburg, Pa., hauling flour to Pittsburg, a distance of one hundred and fifteen miles, and returning loaded with dry goods. This occupation he pursued five years, then went on to his farm and commenced to clear and improve it. To his farm he added from time to time, until he owned two hundred and forty acres of wellimproved land, part of which he still owns. He married

Polly Ruggles, who died Oct. 16, 1863. There were born to them eight children, of whom John J. Perkins was the fourth. Hewas born in Franklin township Dee. 14, 1827, and grew to manhood on the farm of his father. Like the farmers' boys of that day he was early taught to work, receiving only such education as could be obtained by a few months' attendance at the district school during the winter months and a three months' term at the Kent Academy. Noy. 13, 1840, Mr. Perkins was joined in- marriage to Miss Maria L. Mars, daughter of Rev. Adolphus Mars and Harriet (Keyes) Mars. She was born July 10, 1825, and died April 11, 1878. After his marrjage his father - gave him an acre of land, on which he built a house and barn, and where he resided until 1857, working his father's farm, and by that means getting a start in life. He then traded his place for eighty acres of land on section 3, in Prairieville, paying a difference of two hundred dollars. The land was entirely new, but has been cleared and im- 'proved by Mr. Perkins. The farm now comprises one hundred and six acres of land, well improved, with good buildings, fences, ete., the result of hard work and rigid economy, In politics Mr. Perkins has always been a radical Republican, as has his father. Since his residence in the township he has most of the time held some one of the town offices. For seventeen years he has been highway commissioner, three terms supervisor, three years township treasurer, and many times a delegate to the county conventions, filling the offices-with credit to himself aad those who elected him. For many years he has been a member of the order of Odd-Fellows, and has-held every office in the lodge of which he is a member. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Perkins three children, viz.: Ellen, Jan. 24, 1848, died March 19, 1864; Alice, March 17, 1849 (married to Wm. H. Scudder, who is now register of deeds of Barry County, and resides at Hastings); and Zylpha O., Dee. 5, 1850, married to Chas. H. Ruggles, who served in the Union army nearly five years; came home quartermaster of the 13th Michigan Infantry ; now residing near Prairieville.

William Young Gilkey

Of the early settlers of Prairieville there were none who did more towards clearing up, improving, and advancing its agricultural interests than the pioneer named above. He was born in Chester township, Windsor Co., Vt., June

10, 1805. When nineteen years old, his health having failed, he went to Boston, hoping that the sea air might be beneficial. He remained in Boston eight years, and entirely recovered his health. During that time he worked at whatever he could get to do, part of the time being a night-watchman. In 1832, Mr. Gilkey started for Michigan with a horse and cutter, making the trip with that conveyance. Prior to his arrival his brother Foster had settled on Gull Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., where Young joined him, and they at once entered into partnership, remaining so until the death of Young, which occurred Jan. 13, 1868. The brothers became owners of large tracts of land in Kalamazoo, Allegan, and ~Barry Counties, ind became widely known as enterprising, successful business men. In 1845, Mr. Gilkey went on toa farm in Gun Plain township, where he remained three years, then went into Prairieville, Barry Co., where the brothers owned thirteen hundred acres of wild land. This became, under his management and industry, a large and well-improved farm, with large and commodious buildings, a sketch of which appears on another page. As a farmer Mr. Gilkey was progressive ; in all business matters honorable and just ; and was considered to be among the most successful agriculturists of the county. He acquired a large fortune, the inevitable result of a long life of industry, frugality, and honorable dealing. In politics Mr. Gilkey was a Republican, in religion a Baptist, of which church he was for many years a member, and for the support of which he was a liberal subscriber. Mrs. Lydia W. Gilkey (now Woodhams) was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 11, 1820, and was married to Mr. Gilkey, Dee: AWE 1845. Her parents, Deacon Curtis Brigham and wife, emigrated to Richland, Kalamazoo Co., in December, 1833, from whence he moved into Gun Plain township, where he was among the first settlers. He was a licensed preacher in the Baptist Church before leaving Massachusetts, and soon opened meetings in his new home. In May, 1835, he organized the first Sabbath-school in Allegan County, having in March previous organized a meeting in the log school-house, where he delivered the first sermon preached in Gun Plain township. Mr. Brigham and Father Daubney for many years took charge of the funerals far and near.

RUTLAND comprises survey-township 3 north, range 9 west, and is bounded on the north by Irving, on the south by Hope, on the east by Hastings, and on the west by Yankee Springs. It is traversed on the northeast by the Thornapple River and the Grand Rapids division of the Michigan Central Railroad, and, as an example of the tortuous course pursued by the river in the township, it may be observed that within a distance of a trifle more than a mile the railway crosses the stream five times. Rutland voted Dec. 16, 1865, to raise $5000 in aid of the proposed Chicago and Michigan Grand Trunk Railroad, to run from Ridgway, on the Grand Trunk Railroad, by way of Lansing, to the village of St. Joseph, and so on to the Indiana State line, but the project failed.

Rutland has neither village, post-office, church-building, nor business enterprise of any kind (save agriculture) within its limits. Potter & Newton carried on a cheesefactory in the township in 1879, but in the fall of that year it was consumed by fire. The loss was the removal of a widely appreciated benefit, but there is at present a strong probability that the factory will be re-established. Incidental to agriculture, there is considerable business among the farmers in the way of bee-keeping. The largest number of swarms is in the collection of Huron Healy, who has in the town, in 1857. There are several farmers who average twenty swarms, and many who have a smaller number, so that, altogether, bee-keeping in Rutland is something of an industrial feature.

The Pioneer Army

Rutland's advance-guard of pioneers was led by Lorenzo Cooley and one De Groat, who, happening to meet in Hastings in the summer of 1836, while looking for a land location in Michigan, agreed to settle in the township now called Rutland, provided they could secure places to suit them. De Groat went out into the township to pick out a couple of farms, and soon returned, reporting that he had selected for himself 160 acres on section 14, and for Cooley 80 acres on section 1, northeast of the river, bordering the eastern shore of Long Lake. When Cooley came to look at his purchase he was not suited, and induced De Groat to let him have in exchange one of the 80-acre lots on section 14. Thereupon Cooley and De Groat rolled up a shanty on the former's land, and De Groat, lodging with Cooley's family temporarily, began the task of girdling a few acres of his own land preparatory to putting in a crop. While engaged iv the work he fell sick, and died within a few weeks after beginning his pioneer life. His death took place in Cooley's house, and in the newly Jaid out grave-yard at Hastings he was the first person to be buried. Shortly after that occurrence Cooley so seriously injured himself in lifting heavy timber that, before the Hastings cemetery had received another occupant, he was laid therein beside De Groat, with whom he had bravely penetrated the Western wilds, and with whom he put aside the burdens of a pioneer existence before that existence had fairly begun.

Meanwhile, Estes Rich, who had entered land on section 9 as early as March, 1836, came into the township and After Cooley's death his widow continued to reside on the place, and in 1838 married Mr. Rich. Their first child - Loren, now living in Wisconsin - was born in 1839, and was, beyond a doubt, the first white child born in the town. Mrs. Rich died in 1845, and was buried on the Rich farm upon the land subsequently platted for a cemetery, and still in use. When the burialground was laid out, it was found that Mrs. Rich's grave would necessarily occupy a place in one of the walks, and there it was allowed to remain. He who wishes, therefore, to find the earliest grave in the cemetery need only to look in the southeast corner for one that lies in the footpath.

Rich sold his place, some time after the death of his wife, to one Toppen, and went northward on a prospectingtour. Toppen was, however, unable to meet his pledged payments, and the land therefore reverted to Rich, who returned to Rutland, took possession, and remained until 1871, when he moved to Kansas, his present home.

The first house built in Rutland was Cooley's, the second was Rich's, and the third Maj. Mott's. The latter settled in 1838 upon land lying in both Rutland and Yankee Springs, his dwelling being, however, in the former township upon section 18, close to the line. Mott was conspicuous as a singing-master, but as a pioneer did not make an enduring mark, since he stopped only two years, and then returned to Battle Creek, whence he had come.

The oldest settler now resident in Rutland came into the township for a permanent location next after Maj. Mott. His name is Ira Shipman, and the land he now occupies, on section 20, he entered in 1836 and settled in 1838. Migrating from New York State in 1836, he located, at the land-office in Kalamazoo, 160 acres of land in township No. 3, on section 20. He walked from Kalamazoo to his purchase, looked the place over, and concluded that as there was nobody in the township he would defer his settlement. He accordingly returned to Marshall, where he remained until the next spring. Setting out again for his land to learn whether the country had begun to settle, he found Lorenzo Cooley on section 14, in Rutland, anda Mr. Henyon, on Bull's place, in Irving, near the Rut- land line. He was not ambitious enough to begin the pioneer business with only one settler in the township, and that one not even a neighbor, so he once more retraced his steps to Marshall, determined to wait there another twelvemonth before making the third venture.

Rich on section 9 and Maj. Mott on the west town-line, he concluded to stay and bear them company. For the next six weeks his habitation was a shelter of elm-bark just commodious enough to let him crawl under it when night came on. At the close of each Saturday he used to go over to Calvin G. Hill's house, in Yankee' Springs, and remain . until Monday morning, when, packing up provisions sufficient to last during the week, he would set out for his farm, and there until the ensuing Saturday night would chop away alone, for he had at that time no family, and, as to hard pioneer work, he became noted as a very extraordinary. character, preferring to labor unaided, although sorely taxed in his energies at times.

After living six weeks under 'the insufficient shelter of elm-bark Shipman put up a rough shanty, and for two years, or thereabout, continued his accustomed mode of existence, during which he accomplished wonders in the business of land-clearing.

Marsac And The Potatoes

One Monday morning Shipman, coming as. usual from Hill's to begin his week's work, was somewhat surprised to observe upon approaching his shanty that through the chimney hole in the roof there came a volley of flying potatoes, and, divining at once that there must be a thieving Indian at the bottom of the business, he hid behind a tree and awaited developments. Presently the discharge of potatoes ceased, and following them through the aperture appeared the form of one Marsac, an Indian, who, springing to the ground and peering anxiously about as if to be assured the owner of the shanty was not about, made ready to.gather his plunder preparatory to bearing it away. At this juncture Shipman from his concealed position discharged his rifle, for the purpose, however, of simply frightening the red-skin, and that the project was eminently successful may be unhesitatingly accepted as the truth. While Marsace still trembled and grew pale with the sudden terror that had come upon him, Shipman came to view and with angry threats demanded to know how he dared come there on a thieving expedition. Marsac begged piteously for mercy, saying that his squaw and pappoose were buckatah (hungry), and, not having anything for them to eat, he grew desperate and resolved to steal from Shipman's shanty. He found, he said, the door fastened, and so crawled down the chimney-hole.

"That excuse makes no difference," replied Shipman; "you mustn't come here to steal, and. I ought really to shoot you, but I'll let you off this time, promising that if I ever catch you at it again, I'll make an end of you." Compelling the Indian to pick up the potatoes and carry them into the shanty, he renewed his admonishment and warned him to clear out, whereupon Marsac, glad to get off so easily, took to his heels. It was rare,.indeed, that Indians were thieves in that vicinity, and in this case it is fair to suppose that the squaw and pappoose must have been so very buckatah that Marsac concluded he had rather steal than see them starve. ;

Wolf-Music

About Shipman's ears as he lay beneath his bark shelter the wolves used to make night hideous with their howls. To drive the creatures off he aimed to, keep a blazing fire all night' long, but sometimes the fire went out, and then the wolves, emboldened, would gather in as if to make a raid upon the sleeping pioneer. At such times the woodman would awake with a sudden start, and, blazing away with his rifle, would put the cowardly pack to flight. Often he has stood, he says, at the door of his shanty and shot down deer, which were not only plentiful, but so tame that they scarcely appeared to mind the presence of human beings. :

In 1840, Mr. Shipman went back to. New York on a visit, leaving his place in charge of Peter Cale, a Canadian. He stayed in New York until 1842, and, having married, brought his wife to Michigan. Reaching his place in Rutland, he.found that Cale had sold off all the movables and sloped for Canada. Shipman made a fresh start, went to housekeeping, and on that. spot has continued to live to this day.

Two days before Shipman came to Rutland with his wife, in 1842, his brother-in-law, Clauncey H. Brewer, moved in and took possession of the place previously settled by Maj. Mott, and sold by him to George B. Manchester, then a farm-hand in the township; and now a resident of Thornapple.- Brewer moved to Indiana; after a somewhat ex-

Bull'S Prairie

A. E, Bull located land in Irving and Rutland as early as 1836, and began work upon it in 1837 ; but as he lived, or put up a.cabin,.on the Irving portion of the land, he seems to have been considered a pioneer in that township rather than Rutland. All of his land (and he had seyeral hundred acres) except 40 acres was, however, in Rutland, and it is reasonably clear that he was a Rutland pioneer, although he himself did not do much pioneer work in person. He engaged people to work on his place, - Mr. John Henyon among the first, - and, having mercantile ventures at Schoolcraft, Diamond Lake, and White Pigeon, moved here and there as occasion demanded. He gave, however, close personal attention to the progress of his affairs in Rutland and Irving, and, being moreover busily engaged as a surveyor in laying out roads in each town, he was at his Irving house a good deal of the time.

It was not, however, until his marriage, in 1816, that he settled permanently upon his farm. He lived on the 40 acres in Irving until 1858, when he erected a commodious mansion on the Rutland portion of his estate, where his widow still resides. In 1865 he paid a visit to his early Eastern home in Massachusetts, and while there sickened and died.

On the bank of the river near Bull's place in Rutland, Indians used to gather in considerable force and remain some time, - long enough at least to give their encampments