Plainwell City

Plainwell City

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

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

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

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

{Sibley purchased the northeast fractional quarter of section 30, 35,80, acres, Jure 15, 1831, thus - according to the land-offico records, - hbecoming the first private owner of lands in the county of Allegan.

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

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

The plank-road was completed in 1854, and immediately became a thronged thoroughfare for the hauling of freight, lumber, and farm produce; besides, it was a favorite route for stage travel.

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

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

After Wellever sold his hotel property he purchased the opposite corner, - now owned by George H. Anderson, - erected a small frame building, and within it exposed for sale a meagre stock of groceries, He soon after, however, sold to Alfred 8. and Albert Pierson, who continued the business, while Mr. Wellever removed to the city of Flint, Mich.

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

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

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

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

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

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