Salem Township (part 1 of 3)

Salem Township

Section 8. - Bought in ]836 by Daniel S. 'Wilcler, B. B. Kerchevol. Section 9. - Bought in 1836 by Francis Dvright, B. B. Keroheval. Section 10. - Bought in 1836 by Francis Dwight, A. A. Wells, B. B.

Jeane Brimaker, James Laraway. Section 13. - Bought in 1854 nnd 1865 by John DeardofF, Jacob Bredingam, Frank Goldbery, John Hendges and Jacob Bredigan, J.

Bowman, R. Weiss, Jacob Mooney, Isaiah Mannes. Section 17. - Bought from 1852 to 1854 by Ira H. Smith, Thomas Gibson, William Goodman, A. A. Goodman, Amos Showelter, Christopher Striokfaden, Frederick Miller. Section 18.- Bought from 1836 to 1854 by Nelson Sage, Charles Butler, Elisha Smith, William Goodman, Jacob Moyer, Adam

Perkins, William Gates, Stockbridge and Johnson. Section 25. - Bought from 1835 to 1863 by C. E. Stewart, C. C. Trowbridge, V. Bicker, M. Alften, J. J. and P. Allten, Peter Maas,

Ja>mes Kennedy. Section 26. - Bought in 1836 and 1856 by J. R. Kellogg, Samuel Pettlbone, C. C. Trowbridge, R. E. Ward. Section 27. - Boughtin 1835 andl836by James Anderson, G. Y. Warner, J. R. Kellogg, C. C. Trowbridge, Daniel Prindle. Section 28. - Bought in 1835 and 1836 by G. Y. Warner, Samuel Brown,

James Anderson, Milo Winslow, Daniel Winslow. Section 30. - Bought in 1835 and 1836 by Charles Butler. Section 31. - Bought from 1834 to 1864 by P. J. Desmyer, N. Silsbee,

Resequier, D. 0. Burton, Abner Hunt, R. B. Wood. Section 35. - Bought from 1835 to 1866 by Fetterman and Abbott, Talcott Howard, Sweeter and Boltwood, A. A. Wells, R. E. Wood. Section 36. - Bought in 1835 by Charles E. Stewart, Samuel Hubbard.

Eaely Settlements

EAELY SETTLEMENTS. The axe of the pioneer was first heard to re-echo through the forests of Salem in 1851. Michael Straher, after prospecting in various portions of the county, finally selected an ""eligible site on section 34, where he located upon 160 acres. He evidently bought of a previous purchaser, as his name does not appear among the ofiScial entries of land.

Mr. Straher built a log house and a shanty and began to clear off his land, but soon became weary of the life of monotony and hardship which opened before him. He accordingly sold his land to Henry "Wilson, who after a brief ownership in turn disposed of it to its present occupant, John Teed.

Mr. Straher's advent was followed by that of William Goodman and Charles Strickfaden, who found him on his land when they were looking for a location in 1852, and again when they became permanent settlers in 1853. Charles Strickfaden, from Hancock Co., Ohio, located upon 80 acres on section 17, and occupied Michael Straher's shanty while erecting a log house of his own, to which his family removed on its completion. He still resides on the same farm. Two sons likewise have farms in the township.

William Goodman, who left the cultivated fields of Ohio for a home in the forests of Michigan, chose 80 acres on section 17, and, like Mr. Strickfaden, accepted the hospitality of Mr. Straher, who assisted him in the raising of his log dwelling. Many neighbors from the adjoining township of Monterey also volunteered their services on this occasion. Not a tree had, at this date, been cut, on the north of the Rabbit River, and the obscure trail of the few remaining Indians who occasionally traversed their old hunting-ground was the only guide to the traveler. Deer were abundant, and afibrded a constant supply of meat for the table. Wolves were regular nocturnal visitors, while occasionally a bear was discovered invading the cornfield ; yet this, it will be remembered, was but little more than twentyfive years ago.

Mr. Goodman has continued since his settlement a resident of the farm he first purchased. He is now in his eighty-fourth year, and has recently taken up his abode with his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Slagel. Two sons also reside in the township.

Albert Kraus, a former resident of Dorr, was attracted to Salem in 1853 by the good prospects of that new district. He located in the fall of 1853 upon 240 acres on section 12, which was at that time wholly unimproved. He resided upon it until his death, in 1868.

Matthias Castor had also been a resident of Dorr before coming to Salem, where he chose a home in 1854. He purchased 120 acres of unimproved land on sections 1 and 12, where he erected a temporary shelter of poles and similar material, his family remaining in Dorr until it was made ready for occupation. There was no window, and the door was composed of two or three basswood slabs ; earth was the only floor, of this primitive structure. Here Mr. Castor and his three sons led an isolated life. On section 11 there was a village of Chippewa Indians, who still found opportunity to indulge their love of hunting and -fishing. But from this time the savages rapidly diminished, and in 1858 the CMppewas departed forever.

Mr. Castor and his son Jacob still occupy the old homestead. His son Peter has a farm of 160 acres on sections 12 and 14, while Theodore Castor, the present supervisor, is actively engaged in buisiness at Burnip's Corners. John Hendges and John Biermaker soon followed Mr. Castor, and located in the northeast portion of the township,

Histoky Of Alleqan And Bakey Counties, Michigan

Jacob Hoffman and Fred Miller also arrived from Ohio, which furnished most of the pioneer stock in Salem, in the spring of 1854, the former purchasing land on section 8 and the latter on section 17. Mr. Hoffman did not long survive his advent, and left his farm to his widow, who now resides upon it. Mr. Miller is still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. Henry Bear, another Ohio settler, arrived in 1854, and found a home on section 16, where he had 40 acres. He built a log house, and had ' made some progress in the improvement of his land, when he entered the army, and died soon after his discharge from the service.

Jacob Raab came from Ohio to Salem in 1854, and purchased 60 acres on section 8, which he at once began to clear, but made little progress the first year. He found a home, while building a log house, with his father-in-law, John Oesterley, Sr., who had preceded him by a few months, and who had purchased 60 acres on section 8. Mr. Oesterley's death occurred in 1864. Mr. Kaab had but $17 when he arrived in Salem, and owed for nearly all his land. He recalls with satisfaction the obstacles he has overcome, but is not desirous to repeat his experience as a Michigan pioneer. It was not unusual for him to carry on his back for family use fifty pounds of corn-meal and a bag of potatoes a distance of nine miles. There were no cows, and butter was not easily procurable. Two pounds was all the family was able to obtain during a period of two years. The proceeds from the sale of half a pig enabled Mr. Raab to purchase seed wherewith to sow his first field of wheat. He now has 240 acres of excellent land and a substantial house, built in 1867.

The brother of Mrs. Raab, John Oesterley, Jr., died on his father's farm in 1856, and was buried at Burnip Centre. His death was the earliest in the township. Adam Raab, also an Ohioan, was a pioneer of 1855, and settled in the spring of that year upon 60 acres on section 8. He still occupies the same tract.

In 1855 came L. P. Brown, who located upon section 3. His neighbor, Mr. Castor, did not know of his arrival until the sound of his axe was heard in the forest. Mr. Brown was active in the cultivation of his land, but also participated largely in affairs connected with the welfare of the township.

Peter Rusch, who came in 1856, purchased 40 acres on section 23. He followed the vocation of a teacher, and ultimately removed from the township. John Fix located upon a farm on section 12, containing 80 acres. After making some improvements he sold it to John Weust, who occupies it and an adjacent piece, and now has 120 acres, together with 40 acres in Dorr.

Among the early settlers on section 1 were J. Metzen and M. Ulman, both of whom owned fractional quarters on it. Mr. Ulman died some years ago ; his widow still occupies the farm.

Quiren Weber came from Prussia in 1856, and purchased 40 acres on section 24, to which he removed two years later. After a residence of ten years upon it he removed to his present location, on section 13.

Among other settlers we would also mention Christian Sutter, Casper Raab, R. Pettingall, J. and W. Slagel, J. N. York, Isaiah Mannes, Nicholas Kreiser, Amos True, H. G. Bliss, and Wm. Linden.

Diligent inquiry has failed to discover the youth or damsel ambitious of the honor of having been the first to see the light of day in Salem. Undoubtedly there was an individual thus favored, but he or she was apparently " born ' to blush unseen." The earliest marriage festivities are enveloped in like obscurity.

The first road through the township of Salem was known as the State road, from Allegan to Grand Rapids, and was surveyed by F. J. Littlejohn in 1837. It entered the township at the middle of its southern boundary, and ran due north on the section-line to the middle of the west line of section 1 0. There it diverged to the west, and passed out of the township near the northeast corner of section 3.

The earliest road recorded in the town book was laid out by the highway commissioners April 26, 1856, and is described as a road running on the line between sections 11 and 12. A contract for cutting out this highway and piling the logs was made the same date, at the rate of $9.75 per acre. The next recorded road was surveyed, by direction of the highway commissioners, in September of the same year, and is described as " commencing at the quarter-stake on the west side of section 16, and running east one mile through the section."

" Beginning at a stake where the Allegan road intersects the line between the counties of Allegan and Ottawa, and following an easterly course on the countj-line to the corners of sections 2, 3, 34, and 35; thence running east again on the same line to the quarter-section corners between sections 2 and 35, and continuing on the same line to the corners of sections 1, 2, 35, and 36 ; thence on the same line to the corners of sections 1 and 36."

Many private roads w-ere cut for the convenience of individuals, running as convenience dictated ; but no official survey of them was made, and as the farms were successively fenced up, these roads were necessarily abandoned.

The earliest school building in the township was located on section 3, which is now embraced in district No. 4. The residents of the vicinity, feeling the necessity of obtaining educational advantages for their children, erected in 1857 a shanty building and employed a Miss Brown as teacher. The families of L. P. Brown, James Burnham, Jacob Sch wander, Sr., and Robert Pettingall were represented at this school. A log school-house was afterwards substituted in this district, the location of which was on section 10. A substantial framed building has since taken its place.

Salem is now divided into six whole districts and one fractional one, with a board consisting of the following directors : William H. Goodman, Ira Stokes, Jacob Schwan- der, Aaron Hearley, Allen Twining, John Hendges, and Luewin Weber. The number of children receiving instruction is 363. The teachers receive in salaries an aggregate sum of 11161.

Buenip'S Corners

This is the most important hamlet in Salem, being located on the line between sections 15 and 16, and extending south to the geographical centre of the township. The latter point was for a while known as Salem Centre, but has now no identity distinct from the Corners. The land on which the village was begun was first purchased by Timothy Bliss, who in 1858 entered the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter and southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16. He sold it to F. P. Brown, who in turn disposed of it to Philip Ferguson. The latter disposed of the property to K. E. Beard, and shortly afterwards 20 acres came into the possession of James Burnip. That gentleman in a short time sold a lot for building purposes to George Broughton. Adjacent lands, owned by Thomas Hinton and other parties, were then purchased, and a demand for property in this immediate locality created, which resulted in the growth of the hamlet.

Dr. See had already built a store and transacted a limited business, which he subsequently abandoned. In 1856, James Burnip opened a store, furnished with a suitable stock of goods, which he managed for three years, and then sold to J. S. Warner. The latter conducted it until 1879, and then sold it to Messrs. Wells & Dibble. As the business of the Corners increased another store was opened by Messrs. Briggs & Martiny, of which firm James Briggs became the successor.

In 1866 a saw-mill was built, which was carried on until 1875, when it was destroyed by fire. This was not the earliest, however, one having been built on section 34, by John Doge, in 1859. In 1867 another was erected by George and William Heck and Charles Fisher, and the next year a grist-mill was built on the Little Rabbit River.

The place at the present time has one drug-store, kept by Dr. C. C. Lindsley ; three dry-goods and grocery-stores, kept respectively by Theodore Castor & Co., Messrs. Wells & Dibble, and Mr. James Briggs ; one blacksmith- and wagon-shop, of which J. F. Gardner is the proprietor; one harness-shop, owned by W. H. Lear ; a .shoe-shop, belonging to Joshua Myers ; a hardware-store, kept by W. H. Goodwin; the millinery establishment of Miss Van Zee; a cabinet-shop, in which Peter Martiny exercises his skill ; and a printing-office, owned by Frank Sturges. The Corners also boasts two hotels, over which 0. J. Hardy and 0. Titsworth preside as landlords.

A grist-mill, owned by William Heck, is located on the Little Rabbit River, and does an extensive custom business, to which it is exclusively devoted, and the saw-mill of George Heck has for many years been actively employed in the production of lumber. A steam saw- and grist-mill is about being erected by Ebmeyer & Castor, which will probably add largely to the business of the place.

New Salem

This hamlet owed its beginning to the enterprise of Theodore Castor in 1865. His brother, Peter Castor, owned 120 acres of land at this point, 5 of which was purchased by Theodore Castor, who erected a store upon it. In this a stock of goods was placed, for which a ready sale was found. Mr. Castor carried on the business five years, and then disposed of his property to John Hendges, who still remains the proprietor, and is also the postmaster. Frank Heibel came in 1867, and built a house, in which he soon after opened a shoe-shop. He also owns a farm in the township. John Schweigert also provided the townspeople with a market in this locality.

In 1870, William Hofi"man established the first blacksmith-shop, which he is still carrying on. Adam Storm came in 1871, and went to work as the second shoemaker in the place.

There are now two schools in the little village, one belonging to the district, the other a private enterprise where instruction in the German language is given. Adam Endries has also a store containing a general stock half a mile from New Salem.

Religious St. Maey'S Roman Catholic Church

This society had its beginning as early as the year 1856, under the fostering care of Father Marco, of Grand Rapids, who removed to the township to minister to the little flock. A log building for worship was erected during the first year of his presence, each contributing towards the expenses of building and adorning it. The trustees at this date were Anton Weber, A. Kraus, and M. Castor. Father Marco was succeeded by Father AUgyer, who was in turn followed by Father Beeshorst. Father Herwick next became pastor, after whom Father Kluck ministered to the flock. Father Tohma succeeded, and after him came Father Sclosick, who was followed by Father Tillig, and he by Father Seybold. Next in succession came Father Rohr, and later Father Lietner. The present pastor is Father Buechman. The substantial framed church edifice on section 1 was erected in 1865, and improved and enlarged in 1876. The church at present contains 110 members.

Church Of The United Brethren

The Society of the United Brethren organized in Salem in 1856, and the earliest meetings were held in one of the school-houses built prior to that time. It was at first poorly sustained, but an increasing interest was manifested in the enterprise, and under the ministrations of Elder Stephen Fersjuson a house of worship was erected in 1869, upon ground secured on section 9. The present pastor is Rev. S. B. Irving, who holds services each Sabbath. The society numbers 55 members and embraces a flourishing Sabbathschool with 77 scholars upon its roll, of which Allen Twining is superintendent. The present trustees are Isaac Bear, William Fleetwood, and Allen Twining.

German Lutheran Church History Of Allegan And Barry Counties, Michigan

date which may be fixed at 1860, and possibly prior to that time. The society were content to find the hospitable doors of a school-house open to them until their numbers warranted the erection of a building on section 9 in 1872. Rev. John Bowman was at that time pastor. The present officiating clergyman is Rev. August Schernberg. A Sunday-school, which is well attended; holds its sessions in the summer. The trustees of the society are John Schmidt, Williatn Brainard, and T. Slagel.

German Methodist Episcopal Church

Early meetings held at the house of Casper Raab formed the nucleus for the later organization of the German Methodist Episcopal Church in Salem. Afterwards the hospitable doors of Jacob and Adam Raab were opened to the small circle of worshipers. But four individuals comprised the early membership, those being embraced in the families of Jacob and Adam Raab. In 18ty8 a very attractive church edifice of brick was erected on section 8, in which services are regularly held. The earliest pastor was Rev. Mr. Kreibel, and the present officiating clergyman is Rev. C. A. Militzer, of Allegan. The trustees are Adam Raab, Fred'k Low, Jacob Milheim.

Church Of God

This church was first organized by D. W. Lincoln and wife, with a membership of twelve persons, in 1868, the early meetings having been held in the school-house at Burnip's Corners. The first officers elected were Charles Fisher, Ruling Elder ; William Heck and Wesley Moored, Deacons.

A. J. Hull (the present pastor), and C. C. Lindsley, associate pastor. Elders J. Omens, H. Oliver, and J. M. B. Gillespie have also officiated in the same capacity.

A house of worship was erected at Burnip's Corners, and dedicated in October, 1873, by Elder A. X. Shoemaker. The trustees of the society are William Heck, Isaac Sturges, and Wesley Moored.

Secret Societies

SECRET SOCIETIES. ENCAMPMENT No. 84, I. 0. 0. F. This organization received its charter Feb. 11, 1876, its charter officers having been George Heck, Chief Patriarch ; C. A. Ball, High Priest ; J. F. Gardiner, Senior Warden ; William Heck, Junior Warden ; Theodore Castor, Scribe ; C. Sutter, Treas. Its present officers are Charles C. Lindsley, Chief Patriarch ; John W. Sprau, High Priest ; Francis Goodman, Jr., Senior Warden ; C. A. Ball, Junior Warden ; J. Myres, Scribe ; C. Sutter, Treas. Its meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Its present membership is 16. The organization is in a flourishing condition.

the erection of a hall, for which subscriptions to the amount of 81500 had been secured. On the occasion of its completion it was dedicated on the 24th of August, 1874, with imposing ceremonies, conducted by G. W. Griggs, Grand Master of the State. The prayer was by the Rev. C. C. Lindsley, and addresses were delivered by Hon. E. P. D. Holden and Rev. A. M. Buck.

The present officers are W. H. Goodman, N. 6. ; George Ball, V. G. ; Elijah Gordon, Rec. Sec; George Heck, Perm. Sec. ; H. A. Ball, Treas. ; C. C. Lindsley, M.D., Chaplain. The lodge now numbers 26 members, and its convocations are held on Saturday evenings of each week.

Oeganization And Ofmcbrs

Township No. 4, in range 13, was at first embraced in Allegan and afterwards in Monterey ; but by an act of the Legislature approved on the 10th day of October, 1855, it became a separate civil township by the name of Salem.

The first township-meeting was held at the house of James Burnip on the 7th day of April, 1856. L. P. Brown was chosen moderator, Henry Wilson inspector of election, and Henry Bear clerk. The ballot resulted as follows : For Supervisor, L. P. Brown ; Clerk of the Towniship, Henry Bear ; Treasurer, James Burnip ; Justices of the Peace, Henry Wilson, John Schwagert; Highway Commissioners, A. A. Goodman, Robert Pettitigall, Aaron Bassett; School Inspectors, A. A. Goodman, Isaiah Mannes ; Director of the Poor, Thomas Henton ; Constables, Florida Henton, A. A. Goodman, Abner Hunt, Jacob Brandegara. The remaining township officers until the present time are

George Heck

For enterprise and business capacity none of the residents of Salem take higher rank than do the brothers Heck, who were natives of Ohio, having both been born in Hancock County, in that State. The birth of George, the younger, occurred Feb. 22, 1850, the seventh in a family of ten children. He assisted his father upon the home-farm and in milling pursuits until seventeen years of age, when the land was sold for county purposes, the father having been appointed keeper of the property. At the age of eighteen George determined to migrate to Michigan, his brother William having previously purchased the mill-site at Salem, Allegan Co. The brothers became partners in the enterprise, and continued their business relations until 1872, when a dissolution of the partnership occurred.

George then assumed control of the saw-, shingle-, and planing-mill, introducing a circular saw and making other substantial improvements. He also purchased an extensive tract of pine timber, located adjacent to the mills. Mr. Heck was married Sept. 20, 1869, to Miss Helen McDonald, formerly of Sturges, Mich., and later of Allegan County. Three children brighten their hearth, Ernest J., Lulu J., and a babe. Mr. Heck has occasionally filled township offices, but prefers the quiet of his own home circle to the cares and excitements of public life.

William Heck

The father of the enterprising citizen of Salem, Mr. William Heck, was a native of Cumberland Co., Pa., and removed to Hancock Co., Ohio, in 1844, where he conducted an extensive farming and milling enterprise. He has since retired from active commercial life, and is enjoying a competency as the result of his industry, having chosen Firidley, Ohio, as his residence. William, the fifth in order of the children, was born in Hancock Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1845. He became at the age of eighteen a partner with his father in milling pursuits, and two years later purchased the entire interest, which he conducted for three years. A brother-in-law then became the owner, and Mr. Heck in 1868, with his brother George, removed to Salem, Allegan Co., having the fall previously purchased the millsite of Edward Lutts where now stand the Little Rabbit Mills. They began at once the arduous labor of clearing, erecting a dam, and constructing a saw-mill which was in successful operation the year following.

The succeeding year the flouring-mills were built, a delay having been inevitable as the result of serious injury to the dam which occurred a short time previously. In March, 1872, the copartnership between the brothers was dissolved and a harmonious division of the property took place, William having retained the flouring-mill. He has since that erected a comfortable and commodious dwelling, which is illustrated in this work.

Mr. Heck has during his leisure hours developed considerable power of invention, and succeeded in perfecting a self-feeding furnace which enables him to use corn-cobs as a substitute for other fuel. It is the first successful invention of this character, and letters patent have been granted to the projector.

Mr. Heck was married Dec. 31, 1866, to Miss Elmira Twining, a former resident of Hancock Co., Ohio. Ida G., Hattie II., and Dellie D. are the only surviving children of their pleasant family circle, two daughters and an only son, Cartia, having died early. Mr. Heck is devoted to his business projects, and gives but little attention to public life.

This township, which was the earliest one settled in Allegan County, was surveyed as township 3 north, range 16 west. It is bounded on the north by Laketown, south by Ganges, east by Manlius, and west by the waters of Lake Michigan.

It contains two incorporated villages, Saugatuck and Douglas, situated on either side of Kalamazoo Lake, three miles by the course of the stream from the mouth of the river of that name, but less than a mile from the lake-shore. These villages are important shipping-points for lumber and fruit, and, although without immediate railway facilities, have easy water 'communication with all important lake points by steamers and sailing-vessels throughout the season of navigation. A regular line of steamers, owned and managed by Captain E.. C. Brittain, plies between the two villages mentioned and Chicago. The lumber business, which has been very important, is now declining, but the loss on that account has been made good by the rapid development of fruit-culture. The peach-producing qualities of Western Allegan are remarkably conspicuous, even in so celebrated a fruit- bearing State as Michigan, and that section is likely to improve materially in value for an indefinite time to come. Although general farming is carried on to some extent, the cultivation of fruit - especially peaches - is the great feature in rural industry throughout the township of Saugatuck.

The Kalamazoo River is navigable for large craft to the two villages named, where it expands into a lake, and is also navigable to Richmond for light-draught steamers, although latterly not much used for that purpose. The township sought, in 1869, by an offered donation of $40,000, to bring the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad within its borders, but other influences prevailed, and close railway communication is still a much-desired privilege.

Settlement

William G. Butler, of Hartford, Conn., came to the site of Saugatuck village as the first white settler, in the spring of 1830.f Mr. Butler had pre-empted the tract now occupied by the village, and brought his wife and two children with him by way of the lakes, a vessel landing him with his family and household effects at the mouth of the river. He speedily erected a log cabin on a spot now in the middle of the street in front of the Saugatuck House, and began at once the business of trading with the Indians, who swarmed in great numbers in that region, and were always ready to barter game, furs, and sugar for the white man's goods. Butler had brought but few goods with him, but had some whisky, which latter suited the red man better than anything else, and the demand for it was unfailing.

We may designate Mr. Butler as the first permanent resident of the county. There were already some French traders with the Indians within the county limits, but these did not locate with a view to permanent residence, and are therefore not counted as settlers. Mr. Butler, on the other hand, although for Several years he did nothing but trade with the Indians, had purchased land with the intention of remaining after the Indians had gone - as he did. It was doubtless the presence of a natural harbor that led Mr. Butler to locate where he did, for it appears that he counted from the first upon founding a village there. It is also likely that the abundance of hemlock bark and ship timber near at hand strengthened his hopes touching the ultimate importance of the place. However that may have been, it is certain that the capitalists who came a few years later were attracted by the opportunities for lumbering and tanning which existed in the vicinity, and which were promptly improved, those occupations having for nearly fifty years been important factors in promoting the prosperity of the Saugatuck country.

Mr. Butler's business with the Indians frequently took him away from home, and sometimes he was obliged to be absent several days, his wife meanwhile remaining alone with her children in their log cabin, a voluntary exile from her race, her only neighbors Indians, and her only surroundings the forest. For three years the Butlers lived by the side of the river, the only white inhabitants in the western part of the county, and during that time Mrs. Butler saw no woman's face save the dusky countenances of Indian squaws, who visited her frequently, and with whom, as well as with the braves, she was on the most kindly terms of friendship.

Although Mr. Butler succeeded well enough in his trade with the Indians and experienced no extraordinary hardships, he was always greatly troubled when brought face to face with the stern necessity of going to mill. During the first part of his sojourn at Saugatuck he was obliged to go to Elkhart, Ind., seventy-five miles distant, for that pur. pose, and the long, tedious, and difiicult journey was always looked forward to with great dislike.

Until the year 1 834 the Butler family continued to be the only white inhabitants of this section, but early in that year there came Edward Johonnett and R. R. Crosby, who built in company a tannery on the river, near where Williams & Grifiin's saw-mill now stands. Daniel Plummer, a carpenter, also came about the same time, and put up a framed house on Hoffman Street, the same building being now oc- cupied as a residence by Henry Holt. Mr. Plummer remained in town until 1849, when he took the California fever and migrated to the far West. Mr. Johonnett lived in a framed house on the spot now occupied by the Odd- Fellows' building, and Crosby (who was a bachelor) lived with him.

In July, 1834, Stephen D. Nichols, who had for a year been living in St. Joseph, Mich., came down the lake-shore with H. F. Comstock, landed at the mouth of the Kalamazoo, and made a prospecting tour up the river. They found on the site of Saugatuck Johonnett & Crosby's tannery, and the houses of the Butlers, Plummers, and Johonnetts. Nichols concluded to take up 160 acres on section 17, and agreed with Comstock that the latter should put up a warehouse for the former at the mouth of the river ; this course being suggested by the fact that settlers bound for the up-river country had begun to arrive, and there seemed a decided necessity for a warehouse and pier, since there were no conveniences for the landing of goods at the mouth of the river, and captains of vessels did not at that time like to venture into the stream. Having determined upon a plan of action, Nichols and Comstock engaged an Indian to take them up the lake in a canoe to St. Joseph, whence Nichols proceeded with all speed to the East. Nichols returned in September of the same year with his family, and located permanently at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, on the north side. There he began straightway to erect a warehouse and dock. There was no saw-mill in the vicinity, and for Nichols' warehouse, as well as for the framed houses previously built by Plummer and Johonnett, the lumber was brought down the river from Pine Creek, one mile below Otsego.

The warehouse was at first used principally for the storing of the household effects of settlers moving by way of the lakes to the up-river country, but ere long there sprang up a driving business in connection with the reshipment of flour coming down the river to be forwarded around the lakes. William Gr. Butler sought to share the business controlled by Nichols, and early in 1835 built a warehouse on the river-bank, two miles from the mouth, but the location was a poor one, and the enterprise was substantially a failure. Meanwhile, Nichols opened a store near his warehouse, and affairs in that vicinity took on such a lively aspect that there was strong talk of starting a town there, but the project never resulted in anything more definite in shape than a plat on paper.

About 1842, Butler built a warehouse on the south side of the river, opposite that of Nichols, and until 1846 both concerns carried on a profitable business in shipping and receiving freight. In that year the completion of the Michigan Central Railroad to Kalamazoo greatly injured the river traffic, and in 1848, when that road was finished to Niles, the forwarding business at the mouth of the river came to an end, unless indeed we include the forwarding of rafts.

One of Saugatuck's pioneers, Benjamin Plummer, now living in Ganges, relates how he came to the village with his wife in the fall of 1834, and found residing there and at the mouth of the river the families of William G. Butler, Stephen D. Nichols, Johonnett & Crosby, the tanners, Daniel Plummer, and Palmer and Mayo, the latter being two fishermen and Indian-traders living at the river's mouth. Benjamin Plummer, like his brother Daniel, was a carpenter, and after working at his trade two years started a saw-mill northeast of the village, where he remained until 1846. He then abandoned the mill and removed to his present home. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer, who have shared the vicissitudes of pioneer life forty-six years, have been man and wife no less than fifty-three years.

In 1844, A. S. Wells and 0. R. Johnson built a tannery near Plummer's saw-mill and carried it on until 1854, when it passed into the possession of C. C. Wallin & Sons, the present proprietors.

The Village Laid Out

Previous to the coming of Nichols and the creation of the warehouse traffic, Butler had, in 1833, platted a village upon his pre-empted property, and called it Kalamazoo. Soon afterwards Henry Hoffman, of Niles, Jasper Mason, of Sf. Joseph, and John Griffith, of New York, purchased an interest in the village property, of which, however, Butler still retained a share.* A post-office was established at the village in 1835, upon application of R. R. Crosby, who was commissioned postmaster Aug. 4, 1835, the original commission being now in possession of S. A. Morrison, Esq. At his suggestion the office was called Saugatuck, an Indian word meaning " mouth of river." The village retained the name of Kalamazoo until the incorporation of the village now bearing that name. Being then deprived of it by the greater celebrity of the latter place, it was called Newark, after the township in which it was located. This appellation was retained until 1863, when the name of both township and village was changed to Saugatuck. William G. Butler, the founder of the town, continued to be one of its prominent citizens until his death, in 1857, when he was killed while engaged in log-rolling.

In the month of May, 1837, Stephen A. Morrisou came from Vermont to Saugatuck for the purpose of starting a tannery, having learned that the country thereabout was famous for hemlock-bark. Upon reaching that place he found Johonnett & Crosby already engaged in tanning, and so, instead of starting a fresh enterprise, he bought out that firm. He carried on the business on the old site about five years, when he removed the business to his present location, where he has ever since been employed in the same occupation. Saugatuck village improved slowly at first, and when Singapore reared its prosperous front the former place was completely overshadowed, and could scarcely be called more than a lumber-camp. In 1837 about the only business it boasted was that of getting out ship-timber, and, although Stephen D. Nichols had a small store at the mouth of the river and sold a few goods from his house on Hoffman Street in the village, the inhabitants usually traded at Singapore, for at the latter place only was there a mercantile establishment of even moderate pretensions.

,»The plat was recorded on the 17th of July, 1SS4, in the register's office of Kalamazoo County, to which Allegan County was then attached. The village is described on the record as laid out by J. Wittenmeier, surveyor, for William G. Butler, but it is evident that Mason and Griffith had secured an interest, as two of the streets bore their

History Of Allegan And Barry Counties, Michigan

In 1836, Benjamin Plummer built a saw-mill on the site of Wallin's tannery, on section 3, and in 1837 he and Edward Johonnett operated it. During the next summer the business of rafting lumber and square timber down the river to the lake set in in earnest, and for some years continued to be an important industry.

Ship-Building

Ship-timber being abundant near Saugatuck, ship-builders came hither early, led by James McLaughlin, who built at Saugatuck a lumber-vessel which he called the " Crook." Carter & Co., the successors of the Wilders at Singapore, built at that point a lake-vessel for carrying lumber, and named it the " Ootavia." About that time other vessels were built at Saugatuck and Singapore, and in 1842 Porter & Co. built at Singapore a flat-bottom steamboat, named the " C. C. Trowbridge," and intended for the trade between Saugatuck and Allegan. That attempt at steam navigation on the river was, however, a failure, and after a few trips demonstrated it to be so the " Trowbridge" was transferred to other scenes.

A second attempt in the same direction, made with the " Adelaide," built at Allegan, met with better results, and from that time forward until 1869 steamboats plied with more or less regularity between Saugatuck and Allegan each season. First and last, a large number of sailing-vessels and steamers have been built at Saugatuck. Generally the steamers have been tugs, although several lake-propellers and lumber-barges have been constructed there, and several grain-carrying vessels of the larger class have figured in the list. The year 1879 was an especially busy one in ship building at Saugatuck.

On the 17th of November, 1842, while the three-master " Milwaukie" was taking on a cargo off Saugatuck Harbor, a sudden squall of wind drove it ashore, when the vessel was wrecked, and the captain and eight of his men lost their lives. The victims were buried in the old Indian burying-ground, then 'occupying the site now covered by the town-hall of Saugatuck. Other casualties have occurred off the mouth of the river from time to time, but none have reached the tragic importance that attended the loss of the " Milwaukie."

Saugatuck Harboe

SAUGATUCK HARBOE. As already noted, the natural harbor at Saugatuck early invited attention. The general government was called upon to assist in the improvement of the harbor and river, and down to January, 1880, had expended over $100,000 for that purpose. The people of the locality have also expended upwards of $30,000 upon the river and harbor, but all the necessary works are not yet erected. Althouo-h vessels of moderate draft may now enter the harbor, there is need of an extension of the south pier at least four hundred feet to adfflit craft of a larger class, and to this end Congress is now being appealed to for further help. The volume of water discharged by the Kalamazoo River is claimed to be greater than that of any other stream emptying into Lake Michigan on the eastern coast, except, perhaps. Grand River. Kalamazoo Lake, three miles from the river's mouth, is half a mile wide by three-fourths of a mile long, being large enough to contain at one time all the vessels sailing on the lake, and having an ample depth of water to accommodate the largest of them.

The Pioneer Villagers

In 1837 Saugatuck contained, besides numerous Indians, the families of W. G. Butler, Daniel and Benjamin Plummer, Johonnett & Crosby, Stephen A. Morrison, a Mrs. Jones, and Jas. McLaughlin (a ship-carpenter), besides a floating population of lumbermen and other laborers, without families.

In 1846 the village, showing but slight improvement, still boasted the presence of some Indian families, and of those of Morrison, M. B. Spencer, Butler, Nichols, Mc- Laughlin, and Saml. Underwood (a shoemaker). The place made exceedingly slow progress, and at one period not long after 1837 was abandoned by almost all its inhabitants except Mr. Morrison's family.

A River Calamity

On the 25th of July, 1841, John Billings, with his wife and six children, the wife of McLaughlin the ship-builder, with her child, R. A. McDonald, and an Irishman (name unknown) were passing up the river in a small boat, when the craft accidentally capsized, and five of the twelve persons on board were drowned, viz. : Mrs. Billings, three of her children, and Mrs. McLaughlin.

Newark Tax-Paters In 1840 And 1843

The Newark assessment-rolls previous to 1840 are either unobtainable or illegible, and as the best that can be done the names of the tax-payers living in the township in 1840 and 1843 are here given:

1840. - Levi Loomis, S. A. and S. Morrison, James McLaughlin, J. B. Bailey, agent for Green Mitchell k Co., J. C. Hale, Benjamin Plummer, L. Jones, James Haines, Mr. Wood, A. Webber, Josiah Martin, S. D. Nichols, Crosby & Co., J. V. Ham, agent for Wilder & Co., Moses Nichols, " tavern-keeper and vender of ardent spirits," A. Morrison, " tavern-keeper, and sells no ardent liquor." The assessed acres aggregated 73,816, and the total town valuation was $174,709. The assessors were J. C. Hale, B. B. Wilder, and Benjamin Plummer.

The Light-House

THE LIGHT-HOUSE. In 1838 the government erected at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River a stone light-house, the site of which is now covered by a portion of the south pier, the channel being now twenty rods north of where it was in 1838. Stephen D. Nichols was appointed the first keeper, and retained the place about six years. In 1859 the tower began to show signs of decay, and was replaced by a brick structure. The latter wore out in turn, and was succeeded in 1875 by the wooden tower now adorning the extremity of the south pier.

The Progeess Of Trade

Until 1851, when S. D. Nichols built and opened a store in the village, Saugatuck boasted no such establishment of any pretensions whatever, and until that year the villagers generally did their trading at the mouth of the river or at Singapore. In 1854, Wells & Johnson, the mill-proprietors at Saugatuck, opened a general store at that place, much to the gratification of the townspeople. After that the village began to grow and stores to multiply.

When Wayne Coates came in 1849, and opened a drugstore in a house built by Daniel Plummer, there was no store nearer than Nichols', at the mouth of the river, or Artemas Carter's, at Singapore. The town was a forest, and included only the families of William G. Butler, S. A. Morrison, Samuel Underwood, Ellas M. Dibble, M. B. Spencer, and perhaps one or two others. In 1865 there were the stores of John Burns, S. A. Morrison, B. W. Phillips, R, P. Kleeman, and H. D. Moore ; Dunning & Hopkins and H. D. Moore's saw-mills ; Ebmeyer & Kuffin and Blanchard's shingle-mills ; a pail-stave manufactory ; and two hotels. Main Street from Nichols' to Morrison's had but two or three buildings, and beyond Dunning's sawmill the land was covered with growing timber. The village now contains a dozen mercantile establishments of all kinds, which carry on a business of no insignificant proportions.

Grist-Mill Saugatuck Post-Office

A post-oflBce was established at Saugatuck, as already mentioned, in August, 1835, and R. 11. Crosby appointed postmaster. The mail-bag was in those days seldom very well filled, and, in fact, for a considerable period came down the river from Allegan upon rafts at such uncertain and irregular times as were most convenient.

In 1840, Samuel Morrison was appointed mail-carrier, and rode at regularly appointed dates on horseback between Saugatuck and Allegan. William G. Butler succeeded Crosby, and then followed S. A. Morrison, who gave place occupant of the office, being followed successively by B. W. Phillips, S. A. Morrison (second term), Hiram Ellis, Samuel Johnson (second term), William V. Johnson, and George T. Arnold, the present incumbent.

Poet Of Entry

POET OF ENTRY. In 1870, Saugatuck was made a port of entry, and in that year H. R. Ellis was appointed collector of customs. The present collector is George T. Arnold.

FIRST BIRTH, MARRIAGE, Etc The first white child born in the" township was a daughter of William G. Butler. Her birth occurred in the fall of 1834, and her death early in 1835, she being also the first white person to die in the township. The second birth was that of Andrew, son of Benjamin Plummer, on the 1st day of January, 1835. He is now a resident of the township

The first marriage was that of John C. Wooster, a lumberman, and Ruth Johonnett, in June, 1837. The second was that of S. A. Morrison and Elizabeth Peckham. They were married in the public hall at Singapore, by Rev. Mr. West, of Otsego., Mr. West was a Universalist preacher, and used to come over from Otsego now and then to hold services in the hall at Singapore, which was also qccasionally occupied by the Methodists for the same purpose.

The school-house near Singapore was the first one built in the town. Previous to its erection Jane Powers taught the children of some of the settlers, as did Elizabeth Peckham, who came from Allegan in response to a request from Benjamin Plummer, and taught in the house of the latter, near his saw-mill.

A Methodist Episcopal society, now extinct, was organized in Saugatuck village about 1865, and endured until 1875. Revs. Loomis, Benson, Hoyt, Cawthorne, Thurston, Cowen, and Pengally were among the earlier pastors. Rev. Mr. Cawthorne came hither, vid the lake, from Muskegon, with his family and household effects, on board a tug. While entering the river the tug capsized, and Mr. Cawthorne's two children were drowned.

Village Physicians

Dr. Chauncey B. Goodrich, who came to Saugatuck in 1843 and entered upon the practice of medicine, was the first physician of the village. He soon removed to Ganges, but remained for many years the only physician in the western part of the county. He died in Ganges in 1879. His successor in village practice was Dr. Flowers, who made his appearance at Saugatuck in 1857, and practiced there until his death, in 1859. Dr. S. L. Morris followed him, and remained until 1865. Dr. H. H. Stimson, who began to practice in the county in 1853, went to Saugatuck from the eastern part of Allegan in 1860, and since that time has been steadily in practice there.

Dr. J. B. Cook, who is still a Saugatuck physician, entered upon his professional service in that village in 1862. After him came Dr. David McLean, who made but a brief stay, and then passed over to Douglas, where he tarried until 1879. Dr. Alex. McRca,who came to Saugatuck in 1865, remained until 1871. Dr. R. Pengally, and his son-in-law. Dr. Charles Chamberlain, began practice in 1871, and moved away in 1873. Dr. Charles F. Stinson practiced from 1872 to 1879, when he died. Dr. B. B. Wright, who died in Saugatuck in 1879, had practiced in the village eleven years. The village practice is at present confined chiefly to Drs. H. H. Stimson and J. B. Cook, the only resident

Village Lawyers

Saugatuck's first resident lawyer was a Mr. Pratt, who opened an office in 1868, went shortly afterwards to Holland village, and lives now in Grand Haven. His successor, J. S. Maury, came in 1871, and remained two years. He now lives in Nebraska! The third lawyer was R. L. Newnham, who came in 1876, and is yet in practice. The only other resident lawyer is D. A. Winslow, who removed to the village from St. Joseph, Mich., in February, 1880.

Village Taveens

In 1840, Moses Nichols kept a tavern at the mouth of the river, and in the same year S. A. Morrison's residence at Saugatuck was commonly regarded as a house of entertainment where travelers could find lodging and refreshment, but no spirituous liquors. Mr. Morrison kept open house in that fashion until 1852, when by the donation of a village lot he induced R. S. Smith, of Battle Creek, to come over and build the Saugatuck House. Mr. Smith was accidentally drowned in the Kalamazoo River.

Village Organization

Saugatuck village was incorporated by the board of supervisors of Allegan County in 1868, and on the first Tuesday in March of that year the first election was held. H. B. Moore was chosen President ; Hiram R. Ellis, Clerk ; Diodet Rogers, Treasurer; R. B. Newnham, Marshal; and George E. Dunn, James Hibbodine, Solomon Stanton, Warren Cook, S. A. Morrison, and Samuel Johnson, Trustees. In 1869, H. B. Moore was President ; Hiram R. Ellis, Clerk ; and J. M. Pond, Marshal. In the winter of 1869-70 the village was reincorporated by an act of the Legislature. The records having been destroyed by fire, a complete list of the village ofiScials cannot be obtained. The following gentlemen have served as presidents, clerks, and treasurers during the years mentioned ;

The Fike Record

Saugatuck has been frequently visited with serious conflagrations, including (aside from those which have merely destroyed dwellings) the burning of H. D. Moore's store in 1866; that of 0. R. Johnson & Co. 's large store and the Empire Billiard-Room, with a large public hall, in 1876 ; that of the Ebmeyer shingle-mill, Kleeman's store, and Miller's saloon in the same year ; that of S. H. Morrison's store in 1879 ; and that of Heath's grist-mill, also in 1879.

Eirst Congregational Church

In accordance with previous notice, a meeting was held at the Saugatuck school-house on the 11th of January, 1860, to consider the propriety of organizing a Congregational Church. Rev. Thomas Jones was appointed moderator, and Rev. D. Werts scribe. The church council included Rev. N. Grover and Deacon D. McDonald, of South Haven; Rev. D. Wert and Deacon 0. D. Goodrich, of Allegan ; Rev. L. H. Jones and Deacon A. Norton, of Cooper; Rev. D. S. Morse, of Otsego; Rev. Thomas Jones, of Galesburg ; and Rev. E. Taylor, of Kalamazoo. The church was organized without delay, and included the following members : Rev. C. H. Eaton, F. B. Wallin, Moses Philbrook, Alanson Gardner, Mrs. M. P. Eaton, Mrs. Orcetia Wallin, Mrs. Mary Philbrook, Mrs. Marila Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Elnathan Judson, John Harris, Mrs. Hannah Cook, Andrew Alexander, Miss Sarah Jane Cowles.

The first pastor was Rev. C. H. Eaton, and the first deacons Alanson Gardner and F. B. Wallin. Rev. J. C. Myers succeeded Mr. Eaton in May, 1862, and remained in charge until 1868. Rev. J. F. Taylor then entered upon the pastorate, and continued in it until 1878. Rev. W. C. Allen followed for a brief season, and then came Rev. W. B. Sutherland, the present pastor.

During the summer after its organization the society built a church edifice, which was the first house of worship erected in the town. In it also was held Saugatuck's first " war-meeting'' upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861. The deacons of the church are F. B. Wallin, H. L. House, and George E. Dunn. The trustees are George E. Dunn, F. B. Wallin, H. L. House, H. D. Moore, George H. Thomas, and M. B. Williams. The membership numbers about 80.

The First Dutch Reformed Church

This church was organized in Morrison Hall, June 21, 1868, with the following members: A. C. Zwemer and wife, H. Van Spyker and wife, G. Jonkhofl" and wife, M. De Boe and wife, I. Zwemer and wife, I. G. Neimeizer and wife, J. J. Koke, J. Neis, M. Van Leuwen, Arent Zwaavink, Mrs. P. Kallewoord, Mrs. G. Sluiter. The first elders were J. J. Koke and A. C. Zwemer ; the first deacons, G. Jonkhofl" and M. De Boe. But two pastors have served the church, - Rev. D. Broeck, from May 1, 1870, to March 25, 1875, and H. E. Neis, from Nov. 5, 1876, to Deo. 30, 1879, the pastorate being now vacant. The present membership numbers 55, and the officers are as follows : Elders J. Ensing, H. Van Spyker, and M. De Vries ; deacons, A. C. Zwemer, M. Van Leuwen, and J. Raman. The Sundayschool superintendent is J. Ensing, and the school membership about 40. The house of worship now in use was erected in October, 1868, and enlarged in October, 1874.

ALL SAINTS' (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH. This organization was formed in September, 1868, by J. R. Taylor, who was chosen as the first rector, and who continued in charge until 1878, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. W. Flower, the present rector. The members of the church at the organization were 0. R. Johnson and wife, F. B. Stockbridge and wife, R. B. Newnham and wife, H. H. Stimpson and wife, J. F. Geer, A. B. Taylor, William Dunning and wife, Mrs. Breuckman, Mrs. Merrill, Thomas Donald and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Nash, Pierce Abbey, Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Moreland, David White and wife, Isaac Wilson and wife. The village school-house was used as a house of worship until January, 1873, when the edifice now in use was first occupied. Its cost was about $4000. The first wardens were Robert G. Anncsley and Pierce Abbey.

The vestrymen were F. B. Stockbridge and H. H. Stimson. There are now 40 members of the church, and 50 of the Sunday-school. The school is in charge of A. B. Taylor, superintendent, assisted by six teachers. The rector, residing at Holland, holds services in Saugatuck once every fortnight.

The Saugatuck Fire Department

THE SAUGATUCK FIRE DEPARTMENT. In January, 1871, the village purchased a hook-and-ladder apparatus and placed it in charge of the marshal, the villagers at large being the working force whenever the machine was called into service. Shortly afterwards 200 pails were bought at public expense, and distributed in convenient places for use in case of fire. In 1873 a Babcock extinguisher was purchased, and a fire department organized with 30 members, of which James M. Pond was chief engineer, and A. H. Gardner first assistant. The extinguisher, which cost $2000, proved a failure, and was replaced with a hand-engine and hose-cart, which now do efficient service. The engine company has p2 members, A. H. Gardner being the foreman. J. P. Hancock is the foreman of the hose company, which is also provided with a hook-and-ladder apparatus. It has 8 members. The chief engineer of the department is John Wilson.

SOCIETIES. SAUGATUCK LODGE, No. 196, I. 0. 0. F. This association was instituted Oct. 17, 1872, with 5 members, viz. : Amos B. Titus, E. 0. Cole, Henry Ebmeyer, David White, and Joseph Fischer. The first officers were Henry Ebmeyer, N. G. ; David White, V. G. ; B. 0. Cole, Sec. The Noble Grands since Mr. Ebmeyer's term have been David White, Isaac Wilson, John Wilson, John Priest, James A. Houtcamp, Edmond Skinner, James M. Pond, P. H. Hancock, Samuel Clipson, J. G. Williams, William F. Metzger, C. M. Cook, K. G. Annesley. In 1878 the lodge erected a fine building, in the third story of which the Todge-room is located. The second story is used as a public hall. The active members in January, 1880, numbered 83. The officers at that time were K. G. Annesley, N. G. ; A. B. Taylor, V. G. ; J. M. Pond, Sec. ; S. D. Nichols, P. Sec. ; W. B. Smalley, Treas.

SAUGATUCK ENCAMPMENT, No. 60, I. 0. 0. P. Saugatuck Encampment was instituted Aug. 7, 1873, with William Corner, Samuel Clipson, Isaac Wilson, J. A. Houtcamp, John Wilson, H. Ebmeyer, John Priest, A. B. Titus, and Charles H. Chamberlain as the first members. The first officers were H. Ebmeyer, C. P. ; Isaac Wilson, H. P. ; John Wilson, S. W. ; John Priest, J. W. ; Samuel Clipson, Treas. The membership is now 24, and the officers as follows : Karl Ebmeyer, C. P. ; J. B. Cook, H. P. ; A. B. Titus, S. W. ; J. G. W^iUiams, J. W. ; J. M. Pond, Scribe ; John Priest, Treas.

This lodge was demitted from Dutcher Lodge, of Douglas, and instituted Jan. 26, 1876, with James G. Williams, W. M. ; Reuben I. Rogers, S. W. ; and L. W. Grant, J. W.; the total membership being 16. The Masters since Mr. Williams have been William P. Hanson and W. B.

Griffin. The present membership is 34, and the officers are as follows : J. G. Williams, W. M. ; Amos H. Gardner, S. W. ; John Martelle, J. W. ; E. J. Tedmon, Sec. ; Henry Bird, Jr., Treas. ; Jacob Metzger, L. D. ; Joseph Elliott, J. D. ; Lorenzo W. Grant, Tyler. Regular sessions are held in Masonic Hall, Griffin's Block.

The Saugatuck Red Ribbon Club

THE SAUGATUCK RED RIBBON CLUB. This organization was formed in April, 1879, by Dr. Reynolds, a noted temperance working advocate; Morrison's Hall, the scene of the first meeting, being crowded with an enthusiastic assembly. About 80 persons enrolled themselves as members of the club, and chose Capt. Reuben T. Rogers president and C. B. Scott secretary. The club has continued to flourish to the present time, and through the medium of weekly public assemblies, at which literary and musical entertainment is offered, promotes the cause of temperance in a very satisfactory manner.

The Women'S Christian Temperance Union

This association of the ladies of Saugatuck was organized March 19, 1879, and the hearty encouragement it has received is shown by the fact that it now contains 90 working members. Weekly business sessions are held, and every Sunday a gospel-meeting invites the attendance of the general public. The officers are Mrs. H. D. Moore, President; Mrs. George E. Dunn, Mrs. C. E. Wells, and Mrs. Edmond Skinner, Vice-Presidents ; Mrs. F. B. Wallin, Sec. ; Mrs. Z. B. Wasson, Treas.

The Juvenile Temperance Society, organized in June, 1879, has now a membership of 78. Van Wallin is President ; Winnie Moore, Sec. ; Ellsworth Houtcamp, Treas. ; and Hattie Wallin, Organist.

Statistics

As long ago as 1835, or perhaps before, William G. Butler stoutly maintained that the country in the neighborhood of Saugatuck was well adapted to the growth of peaches, and he predicted, moreover, that the region round about would one day be famous and wealthy as a fruitproducing district. That Mr. Butler was right in his conclusions time has abundantly proven.

Peaches were cultivated to a moderate degree for home consumption in 1840, and were thus grown in a small way every year thereafter, but it was not until about 1869 that the culture of the peach was made an important commercial industry, and thus it has expanded annually to the present time into an enterprise which engages the attention of thousands of people, lays under tribute a vast area of country, and yields yeariy the return of thousands of

The fruit-belt under consideration includes those portions of Allegan and Van Buren Counties bordering Lake Michigan, and, according to reports gathered at the close of the season of 1879, included 600,000 peach-trees, yielding an estimated product of 3,000,000 baskets of fruit yeariy. Reports made to the Saugatuck and Ganges Pomological Society, November, 1879, set forth that in Saugatuck 1200 acres were set to peach-trees, and that over 400 acres were in full bearing. Estimating 100 trees per acre, and

5 baskets per tree, the 1200 acres would give au annual yield of GOO, 000 baskets. From siruilar reports it is learned that in Western Allegan during 1879 there were shipments of peaches as follows :

Among the prominent peach-growers of Saugatuck township may be mentioned Williams & Son, R. M. IMoore, P. Purdy, Sophia Schulfz, Thomas Gray, J. Grouse, Robert Reid and F. C. Kile, William Corner, William Cummings, Joshua Weed, Dressier & Patcher. Williams & Son and R. M. IMoore, having respectively about 10,000 trees, are ranked the largest producers.

Lumbering

As has been seen, this was, during the pioneer period, the most important business, not only of Saugatuck, but of all Western Allegan, and it continued so for many years. Saugatuck was, until a few years ago, a place of many sawmills, but the gradual exhaustion of the timber cau,sed the decline of the business, until now there are in Saugatuck and Douglas but three mills, and for two of these the supply is becoming very scanty. The first steam saw-mill built in Saugatuck village or vicinity was erected in 1846, by M. B. Spencer, upon the site now occupied by the mill of Williams, Griffin & Co. Mr. Spencer had also a lumberyard at the mouth of the river. He carried on the mill until 1850, when he sold it to Wells & Johnson.

Williams, Griffin & Johnson carry on at Saugatuck the saw-mill put up in 1852 by Dunning & Hopkins. Here 40 men are employed in turning out lumber, shingles, lath, and siding. The capacity of the mill is about 52,000 feet of lumber daily. This firm is likely to continue in the business at Saugatuck for some years, as it has an assured and ample stock of logs.

Ebmeyer & Neis now control the Douglas mill-property, owned in 1879 by Gray & Crou.se. From 30 to 40 men were employed during the busy periods of 1879, and about 50.000 feet of lumber were out daily. In connection with the saw-mill, there are also large lath- and shingle-mills. H. B. Moore likewise has at Douglas a saw-mill and shinsilemill, employing an average of 25 men.

The basket-factory and planing-mill started at Douglas by Weed & King is now carried on by William Weed. He manufactured in 1879 about 30,000 fruit-baskets.

Other Manufactures

Hutchinson Bros. & Co. have at Douglas a fine gristmill containing five run of stone, and devoted to merchantas well as custom-work. The site was previously occupied by Crawford McDonald with a grist-mill, of which the present firm became the owners in 1877, and which they have materially enlarged.

Saugatuck and Douglas. At the former place they have an extensive tannery, which employs about 20 men, its business reaching as high as 30,000 hides yearly. At Douglas they employ 1 0 men in a tannery confined to the production of sole leather, which uses about 15,000 hides annually. Among other manufacturing interests in Saugatuck, now extinct, two important ones were H. D. Moore's extensive saw-mill and the shingle-mill of Ebmeyer & Palzer, both early enterprises.

On the map of Saugatuck township there appears in the northwestern corner the village of Singapore, once a thriving, bustling place, now abandoned by everybody save a few fishermen, who abide there temporarily during the fishing seasons. In 1837, Oshea Wilder and sons, of New York, purchased of the Barnes family (the patentees) considerable tracts of land in Saugatuck township, and proceeded to lay out a village which they called Singapore. They arranged to build a large saw-mill at that point, succeeded in disposing of a good many village lots, and induced quite a number of settlers to locate there. The mill was built as promised, tenements were erected for the mill hands, a store was opened by the mill company, and Singapore started upon its career amid a great flourish of trumpets and a promise of much prosperity. The mill tympany, known as the New York and Michigan Lumber Company, flourished so well that in 1839 they started the Singapore Bank, of which Daniel Wilder was chosen president, and Robert Hill cashier. A good deal of money was issued by the bank in the shape of handsome-looking notes, which were paid out for mill labor and taken in again at the company's store, but which belonged, nevertheless, to the kind of currency known as " wildcat," although that particular species of wildcat is said to have been a trifle better than the average. Stephen D. Nichols, who invested in two 80- aore lots of wild land in support of the bank, says that the money was good enough at home, but " bless you, you couldn't travel on it any farther than you could on a piece of sandstone.''

Of course the bank came to grief, as did Wilder & Co., together with all their enterprises, but James G. Carter & Co., who soon purchased the various interests, still kept Singapore alive. Its struggle for existence was, however, a hard one, and, although it was not utterly abandoned until 1875, it suffered a serious decline long before that period. The last mill-owners were Stockbridge & Johnson, who continued business at Singapore until the year last named. The stock of desirable timber being then pretty well exhausted, they removed their mill machinery to Mackinaw, and with their departure Singapore breathed its last.

The Indians

THE INDIANS. The vicinity of the mouth of Kalamazoo was, from a period long anterior to the first settlement of the whites down to 1840 or later, a great gathering-place for the Ottawa and some Pottawattamie Indians, who came thither from Mackinaw every autumn, scattered through the country to the eastward to hunt during the winter, and returned to the mouth of the river in the spring. A full account of these migrations, of the habits of the Indians, and of the trading-posts which formerly existed along the Kalamazoo, will be found in Chapters VII. and IX. of the general history. As late as 1842 there existed near Saugatuck several Indian mounds, but the plowshares of the settlers soon obliterated these relics of primeval days. On the hills opposite Saugatuck there were visible until recently traces of Indian graves, and among them that of a chief called Wamnus, but there is now no sign to show where they were.

The Mania Pok Villages

THE MANIA POK VILLAGES. In illustration of the Western fever for paper villages from 1835 to 1838, it may be noted that in addition to Singapore (which did really become a village) there were the paper town of Kalamazoo Harbor, laid out at the mouth of the river, the town of Naples, on the river near Singapore, laid out by parties now forgotten, and the city of Breese, also on the river, a mile or so above Saugatuck, the site being owned by a Mrs. Breese. These towns were handsomely depicted upon paper, and were represented to new-comers and people living at a distance as being very promising commercial localities, but, unfortunately for their projectors, they failed to delude anybody, and never rose above the condition of paper villages.

Settlements In The South Douglas Village

The first settlers upon the site of Douglas village, and indeed the first settlers in Saugatuck township on that side the lake, were R. A. McDonald and William Scovill, who, in 1847, settled upon land in section 16, located for them the year before by M. B. Spencer. That was, however, long before the village of Douglas was even thought of. Mr" Scovill is dead, but Mr. McDonald still lives on section 22. The first effort towards creating a village at that point was made by Jonathan Wade, in 1851. He bought lot 3 on section 16, built a house thereon, interested Wells and Johnson in the project, and set about building a saw-mill on the site now occupied by Ebmeyer & Neis' mill. He then laid out a village on the south half of his lot, and called it Dudleyville, in honor of his brother, Dudley Wade, of Canada. Presently, William F. Dutcher bought the north half of Wade's lot, including the mill, and on that tract laid out a village, which he named Douglas at the suggestion of F. H. May, who wished thus to commemorate the town of Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man. Thus it appears there were two villages, known as Douglas and Dudleyville, separated only by the width of a single street. By these names they were known until the incorporation of the entire tract as Douglas, in which were included, besides the two village plats, Spencer's and other additions.

William Bush, who was interested with Dutcher in the saw-mill, opened a store near the mill, the first one in the village. Shortly after 1861, Wade built the tavern called the Douglas House, the mill business began to expand, Daniel Gerber started the tannery now owned by Wallin & Sons, and the locality soon began to assume a villagelike appearance, although in 1861 the families were still but few in number. The building, by H. F. Marsh, of the saw-mill now owned by H. B. Moore, materially aided the advancement of the village, but it was not until the region round about began to develop as a rich fruit-country that Douglas attained decided prominence. Since that time the village has been an important shipping-point for fruit as well as lumber, and, although the latter interest is declining, the former is destined to remain permanently valuable. The village now has two stores, kept respectively by Thomas Gray and D. C. Putnam. Mr. Putnam was appointed the postmaster at Douglas when a post-office was established there, in 1868, and has held the position from that time until this. The town contains a fine Masonic hall, a union school, two churches, two large saw-mills, a tannery, a basket-factory, a grist-mill, and the ordinary minor village industries.

Lawyers And Doctoks

David McLean, the first physician of Douglas, opened his office in 1864, and practiced until 1879, being the only doctor in the village. Upon Dr. McLean's retirement. Dr. A. H. Parks, the present resident physician, took possession of the field.

Village Incokpoeation

During August and September, 1870, the citizens of Douglas met several times to consider the matter of incorporating the village, and appointed C. A. Ensign, D. W. Wiley, and David Porter, Sr., an executive committee on the subject. Upon the prayer of the citizens the village was incorporated by the supervisors, on the 14th of October, 1870, and C. A. Ensign, D. C. Putnam, and D. Gerber were appointed inspectors of election. At the first election, held Dec. 5, 1870, at D. Gerber's office, the total number of votes cast was 41. The names of those chosen annually to serve as president, trustees, clerk, and treasurer are as follows :

The Methodist Episcopal Church Of Douglas

This religious body had its origin in what was known as the Newark Class, formed in 1862, which had a membership of ten persons, and was attached to the Newark Circuit. Among the first members were Mr. and Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Carmon, Mrs. Butcher, Marshal Dye, Mrs. Deitrich, Nelson Wade and wife, and Geo. Dunn. Geo. Dunn was the first class-leader, and the Rev. Mr. Bliss the first pastor; The village school-house, which was at first used for services, was replaced, in 1870, by the present church edifice, - the only one in Douglas.

Latterly membership of the church has become quite small, although the numerous revival meetings held during the past winter have reinvigorated it to a considerable degree. Divine services and sessions of the Sabbathsehool are held every Sunday. The present pastor is Rev. N. M. Steele, and the class-leader is Robert Elliott.

The Seventh-Day Adventists

During the year 1874, Elder Kenyon, of Monterey, visited Douglas and organized an Advent Church of 16 members at the house of David McCulIom. At that time William Burnet was appointed leader, and has served in that capacity to the present time. Robert Reid, who was chosen the first deacon, sfill occupies that office. Public worship has been observed regularly every Saturday since the organization. Until 1879 various temporary places were occupied for this purpose, but during that year a building in the village was purchased and transformed into a convenient church edifice. The membership is now about 40. The Sabbath-school, in charge of Robert Reid, as superintendent, was organized in 1878, and has an average attendance of 2&.

DUTCHEB LODGE, No. 193, ¥. AND A. M. This body was organized under dispensation, April 9, 1866, and chartered Jan. 10, 1867. The first officers were Thos. B. Dutcher, W. M. ; H. H. Stimpson, S. W. ; and James G. Williams, J. W. The membership has been as high as 80, but stands now at 64, Saugatuck Lodge having been demitted in 1876. In 1875 the lodge built the Masonic hall in Douglas at a cost of $1400, in which it now has commodious and handsome quarters. The present officers are W. S. Gill, W. M. ; F. C. Kile, S. W. ; S. C. Reid, J. W. ; T. C. Gray, Sec. ; M. B. Spencer, Treas.; Anthony Slack, S. D. ; W. T. Hoy, J. D. ; L. Ewald, Tyler.

The Douglas Red Eibbon Club

THE DOUGLAS RED EIBBON CLUB. The Red Ribbon Club was organizedin 1876 with about 100 active members, who chose Dr. McLean president. Regular meetings are held weekly, when interesting exercises are offered as a public entertainment. The active membership is now reduced to 20, although the rolls carry the names of five times that number. The officers are A. W. Woodworth, President; Sarah Gill, Secretary; and Henry Bird, Treasurer.

Under an act of the Legislature in 1836, organizing townships, the township of Newark was created, and then included the territory now occupied by Laketown, Saugatuck, Ganges, Casco, Fillmore, Manlius, Clyde, and Lee, or the whole of ranges 15 and 16 west, and the fractional range 17 west.* The first supervisor of Newark appears to have been Daniel A. Plummer. The township records antedating 1847 were destroyed by fire, and what has been gleaned from them refers of course to events subsequent to that year. In 1847 the votes cast aggregated but 29 ; in 1853 they rose to 38 ; in 1854 to 97 ; in 1856 to 157 ; and in 1858 to 186. In 1863 there was a still further increase to 201, but in 1864 the number declined to 98. In 1865 it leaped up to 213 ; in 1867 it reached 266 ; and in 1870, 313.

Justices Of The Peace

* For the date of the establishment of the various townships formed from Newark, now Saugatuck, see Chapter XII. in the general history, t Township name changed to Saugatuck in 1863.

The first school of which there appears to be any present recollection was taught on section 4, upon the east bank of the river, and not far from Singapore ; but who was the teacher cannot now be learned. There was, after that, a private school in Saugatuck, taught by Miss Jane Powers, but touching that as well as other early schools in the township but little can be said, since the early school records were burned many years ago.

At present the township is generally well supplied with excellent schools, Douglas and Saugatuck each having a fine graded school with a combined accommodation for about 500 pupils. The following statistics in regard to the public schools are given in an official report for the year 1879 :

Biographical Sketches Horace D. Moore

The life of Horace D. Moore is the record of a successful business man whose conquests were the result not so much of favorable circumstances as of sagacity combined with untiring energy. He is the grandson of Rev. Robert M. Moore, who was educated for the ministry in Edinburgh, Scotland, and whose diploma reveals the year 1610 as the date of his graduation. He came to the United States, and for many years filled the Presbyterian pulpit at Pembroke, N. H. Horace D. was born at Ryegate, Caledonia Co., Vt., June 14, 1821, his parents having been Nathaniel and Dorothy Moore, and his father's occupation that of a lumberman and farmer. His mother was descended from the family of Banfords, of English extraction, who were among the early settlers in Sanbornton, N. H., and closely identified with its primitive history and the Indian warfare of early days. The estate is still in the possession of the family. It is thus determined that the name of Moore is one which bears with it the record of a distinguished ancestry.

Horace D., whose life, though in a measure uneventful, was still one of conspicuous success, began his career as a tanner, but soon relinquished the pursuit as not congenial to his tastes. At the age of eighteen, with his worldly effects wrapped in a small bundle, he crossed one of the Green Mountain ridges and engaged at labor in a saw- and shingle-mill. In 1841 he changed his location, though following the same pursuit. His duties became more arduous, and admitted of little leisure. Breakfast was eaten at half-past three o'clock, dinner at one, and supper at nine o'clock. Mr. Moore, with untiring perseverance and fortitude, endured this trying ordeal for four years, after which he removed to Monroe, N. H. In 1846 he managed a milling interest at Springfield, Mass., and in 1847, in connection with Gen. Roswell M. Richardson, embarked in an extensive lumbering business, the firm having been Richardson & Moore. In closing this successful enterprise in 1854, their ledger revealed a profit to the partners of fifty thousand dollars, and six thousand four hundred acres of pine-land paid for. Mr. Moore then engaged in speculations in produce, which were not successful. In 1855 he was an extensive purchaser of hemlock bark, which enabled him to restore the losses suffered from former transactions, and secure in addition a handsome profit.

The year 1855 found him a traveler in the West, still actively engaged in business pursuits. The former lumbering enterprise having proved successful, Mr. Moore was in 1856 induced to invest capital in Allegan County, and the following year began in Saugatuck an extensive lumber and manufacturing interest. This he continued until the spring of 1875, having cut more than two hundred million feet of timber and employed many tugs and vessels as an accompaniment of the business. Upon abandoning the latter enterprise, Mr. Moore devoted his time to farming pursuits, having three improved farms to oversee, besides a large quantity of land in Wisconsin and Illinois, and property of various kinds elsewhere.

Mr. Moore is not less remarkable for his business capacity than for his integrity. He has never been known to fail in the payment of all his indebtedness, believing that honest debts should be liquidated upon the basis of one hundred cents to the dollar. Neither at any time has a note of his been known to go to protest. He is not an enthusiastic politician, though a strong Republican, as he has been since the organization of the party. He is a man of temperate habits, and advocates temperance in all things, being in no sense an extremist.

Mr. Moore was married June 16, 1864, to Miss Tamer W. Phillips, of Clyde, Allegan Co., Mich., who is a native of Cass County. Her parents were former residents of New York State, and pioneers to Allegan when their daughter was but eleven years of age, having first located in Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had four daughters, one of whom was a victim to scarlet fever at an early age. This concise sketch illustrates in a remarkable degree the success which is possible as the result of integrity coupled with energy. Having began his career with these as his only capital, Mr. Moore is now the most considerable taxpayer in Allegan County.

Stephen A. Morrison

Amonc the venerable pioneers of Saugatuck the name of Morrison is conspicuous. Stephen A., the subject of this biography, was a settler as early as 1837, and became im- mediately after his advent closely identified with the interests of the township. He was the oldest son of Stephen Morrison, who still survives and is, in his ninety-third year, yet vigorous and active. Stephen A. was born in Danvers, Mass., May 18, 1815, and spent most of his early life in labor, though at disconnected intervals opportunities for study occurred.

At the age of eighteen he acquired the trade of a tanner, having served a weary apprenticeship of four years, after which his steps were turned towards Michigan. On his arrival in Saugatuck but four families inhabited the township, which- was destitute alike of highways and other marks of civilization. The following year, in company with Samuel Morrison, his brother, a tannery was started, which was ultimately controlled by Stephen A., and has, to the present day, been profitably and successfully conducted

He was married in 1844 to Mary E., daughter of Samuel and Sophia Peckham, whose birthplace was Vermont, and the date of her birth Aug. 31, 1816. Of their five children, but two daughters are living, - Mrs. Leland, who resides with her parents, and Mrs. Francis, who is a resident of the village. The original home has long since been replaced by a more spacious and convenient one, a view of which is seen upon an adjoining page. Mr. Morrison has held successively the offices of county treasurer and supervisor, and has been for twenty years postmaster of his village. His constituents have also tendered him on more than one occasion the nomination for senator and representative in the State Legislature.

Mr. Corner was the only child of Hugh and Sarah Corner, subjects of the British Crown, and was born in the county of Devon, England, Dec. 14, 1819. William, until he reached the age of manhood, remained at home, after which he married Miss Mary Ann Goodeve, the date of their union having been Feb. 10, 1841. Two children were theirs, - Eliza J., born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1842 ; and Khoda R., whose birth occurred Feb. 26, 1845, and her death in September of the following year. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Corner sailed for America, and on their arrival located at once in Genesee Co., N. Y., where he followed the trade of a cooper. After later changes in location he determined to become a pioneer, and chose Michigan as a residence, having removed to the State in 1852. He purchased one hundred acres in the township of Saugatuck, upon which he still resides. Having in 1862 been afflicted by the death of his wife, after a h'ngering illness, Mr. Corner married, in 1864, Miss Lorain Bathrick, who was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y. in 1834. He has devoted much labor to the cultivation of fruit, and made peaches a specialty. Six thousand bearing trees now adorn his farm, which is one of the most attractive in the township.

Mr. Corner is not an active political partisan. He votes the Republican ticket, and has held minor offices, but is not ambitious for distinctions of an official character. He is a man of strong religious instincts, is active as a church member, superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and directs the church music, for which his musical abilities admirably fit him.

Jacob Geovee

was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1808. His earlylife was spent on the farm assisting his father. In 1834 he came to Comstock, Kalamazoo Co., Mich. In the early settlement of the State much sickness prevailed. Mr. Grover did not escape this. After one year's stay here, finding his health in a precarious condition, he returned to his native State. In 1836 he had improved so much that he returned to Michigan, locating in Allegan, where he engaged in millwrighting. After putting up some buildings at Plainwell, he, in company with others, went to Black Lake, put up buildings of various kinds, intending to lay out a village; but before the end of the year the party found the project a failure, tore down the buildings, and shipped the lumber and machinery to Chicago. Mr. Grover then went to the mouth of the Kalamazoo Kiver, and assisted in erecting the first light-house ever built there. He has spent the greater part of his time in mechanical work, such as constructing houses, mills, and ships, and has worked at this employment in Michigan, Illinois, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Minnesota. In Michigan he was engaged erecting saw-mills and farm buildings of various kinds, being employed by a Now York and Michigan firm. In Mississippi he stopped at Grand Gulf, being first employed by Hugh M. Cofl'ee ; from there he went to what was known as the Concord plantation, owned by Judge Perkins; here he built negro cabins. His -next work was on the plantation of Stephen A. Douglas, building a large gin-house. Going thence to Illinois he was detained by a severe spell of typhoid fever, but was enabled to go to work again in the fall. Keturning to Louisiana, he was employed on the plantation of- J. A. Douglas (brother of Stephen A:). In 1842 left the South, going through Illinois, where he remained two years, and landed in Michigan in 1844, engaging for the two coming years in business with Mr. Porter. At the end of that time he sold out to Porter, and bought forty acres of land on section 8, Trowbridge township. The following spring he purchased iorty acres more on the same section, buying this land of a Boston Company at four dollars per acre. Not willing yet to give up his trade he worked in Allegan, Breedsville, Plummerville, and in Kalamazoo County. In 1849 he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land, improving it by clearing, and building a small house. In 1853 he sold this to John Clifford, and engaged again in mechanical pursuits during a part of the years of 1853 and 1854. He now decided to revisit his native State. After a stay of a few weeks he returned West, traveling through Iowa and several other Western States, looking the country over before making another purchase. He finally decided upon coming again to Michigan, where, in the latter part of 1854, he purchased three hundred and sixty-one acres in Trowbridge township. In 1855 he purchased one hundred and eighteen acres known as the Benn place, but sold this the same year to Benjamin T. Benn. Mr. Grover has made Trowbridge his home since 1856. Mr. Grover considers a large mill in Minnesota, erected in 1856, the best piece of work ever put up by him. Since 1858 his entire time has been spent in the improvement of his farm. No man, perhaps, has done more towards the improvement of the county than Mr. Grover. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of the party. He has been honored by the people with offices of trust and responsibility, and proved himself a competent officer. In an early day he was elected sheriff of his county.

Mr. Jacob Grover's father and mother, Andrew and Mary Grover, never came West. They were both born in Sussex Co., N. J., and both died in New York. Their family consisted of nine children, - six boys and three girls, - three brothers and one sister living in Michigan, the others in New York. Mr. Grover has never been married, and now at the age of seventy-oile years he can quietly enjoy the fruits of his industrious, honest, faithful, and temperate life. What a'- pleasure it must be to he who, in the afternoon of life, can review one so well spent and feel that the world is better because he has lived in it I

Natural Features And Agricultural

Trowbridge is known on the United States survey as township No. 1 north, of range 13 west, and is bounded on the north by Allegan, south by Van Buren County, east by Otsego, and west by Cheshire. It contains many picturesque lakes, and is well watered by numerous small streams, besides which the storied Kalamazoo makes its entrance on the east line of section 12 and flows westward, turns suddenly to the north, and then again to the west, finally leaving the township on the north line of section 5.

This attractive stream, the beauties of which have been so graphically described by the facile pen of Fenimore Cooper, loses none of its charms as it flows to the northward. Its border-lands are fertile, and its banks attract the eye of the traveler by their weird and romantic beauty as they did in the days when the Indian plied his canoe, unconscious of the changes which civilization was to bring. The largest of the lakes of Trowbridge, which vary greatly in size and shape, is that lying farthest south, and known as Base Line Lake, a part of which is on sections 32 and 33 in this township, while the reinainder is in Van Buren County. Northwest of it is Emerson Lake, a picturesque sheet of water, lying principally on sections 29 and 30. Besides these, the principal bodies of water are Minckler Lake, on section 28; Lake No. 16, called after the section on which it lies, and remarkable for the luxuriance of the foliage along its shore; Osgood Lake, on section 16, with a small point invading the section south of it; and Hodge Lake, in the southeast corner of the township. Pish of various size abound in these lakes, and many pleasure-boats float upon their smooth and transparent waters.

The surface of Trowbridge is quite varied, many slopes and ridges being seen, although the inequalities are not generally so abrupt as to offer serious impediments to the labor of the husbandman. Some swampy land is found in its territory, though less than in many other parts of the county, while through the central, eastern, and western portions is a tract of level land, arable, highly cultivated, and extending nearly across the township.

The soil is of almost every variety and quality, including clay-loam, sand, swamp-muck, and a mixture of clay and gravel. The average is quite equal to that of the best townships of the county, most of it rewarding with excellent crops the labors of the husbandman. A large portion of the land is well adapted to the raising of wheat, and has produced crops of that grain, which, bo.th as to quantity and quality, place Trowbridge in a high rank among wheatgrowing townships. Corn also attains a luxuriant growth, and grass is a staple product. In 1873 there were 1397 acres sown with wheat and 1200 acres planted with corn, which produced 16,555 bushels of the former grain, and 30,150 of the latter. Of other grains there were 13,439 bushels. In the following year the area sown with wheat was increased to 1842 acres.

The timber of Trowbridge includes all the varieties usually found in Michigan. Beech and maple prevail, while along the shores of the Kalamazoo and on the western border of the township are found considerable pine and a small quantity of hemlock, though in much less quantities than formerly. In the swamps flourish the tamarack and other similar species of trees.

The citizens of the township have not engaged extensively in fruit-culture, though the soil, climate, and location would warrant a larger investment of capital in that direction. The residences of the farmers are comfortable and substantial, Without any attempt at display or luxury. Trowbridge has no village within its limits, but the close proximity of its citizens to Allegan and Otsego and to the railroads which pass through these villages affords them ample facilities for marketing their products and obtaining what they may need from the outer world.

Purchases Prom Government

Section 3. - Bought from 1832 to 1851 by A. L. Cotton, Irad Harris, Samuel Hubbard, Charles C. Baker, Beers and Sherwood, A. A. Williams, J. D. Batchelor, Daniel Prindle, John R. Kellogg.

Section i. - Bought in 1834 and 1835 by A. H. Edwards, Samuel Hubbard, Cyrus Lowell, Alexander L. Ely, Daniel Bracelin, James Braoelin, L. H. Moore.

Section 5. - Bought from 1834 to 1836 by Seneca Peake, Sidney Smith, Edward Smith, L. L. Prouty, Churchill and Haokley, A. S. Weeks, L. H. Moore.

Section 6. - Bought from 1835 to 1868 by L. H. Moore, Gil Bias Wilcox, M. Showier, Eli Showier, Samuel Harvey, Ely and Ely, George Blanchard, Henry Kingsbury, John Everitt, E. G. Hackley, J. S. Dunokle, Mrs. M. Pritchard.

SeclioH 7. - Bought from 1836 to 1859 by Hill and Cobb, L. W. Watkins, J. G. Colburn, George Blanchard, Pliny Billings, George Stone, E. and G. Hurt, A. Jones.

Section 8. - Bought in 1835 and 1836 by Corydon Weeks, Samuel Hubbard, L. S. Prouty, Kichard lalcott and Milo Winslow, Nelson Sage, Hubbard and Parker.

Barnes, Redfield and Short, Samuel Hubbard, Oka Town. Section 13. - Bought from 1832 to 1836 by Isaac Barnes, Redfield and Short, Samuel Hubbard, Orin Hill, D. Holden, H. Sherwood, Cyrus Smith. Section 14. - Bought in 1832 by H. H. Comstock, Samuel Hubbard, J.

Turner, W. W. Carter. Section 16. - Bought from 1839 to 1865 by G. M. Southworth, William Porter, D. Foster, Jacob Grover, Allen Odell, H. A. Wiltrie, Peter Smith, William A. Upson. Section 17. - Bought from 1835 to 1861 by Samuel Hubbard, John

Askins, Milo Winslow, D. E. Hawkins, John Cummins. Section 18. - Bought from 1836 to 1858 by J. H. Swezy, Ralph Emerson, John Spaulding, T. Wheeler. Section 19.- Bought from 1836 to 1854 by Trowbridge and Parks,

Ralph Emerson, T. M. Russell. Section 20. - Bought in 1836 and 1837 by J. Crittenden, Nelson Sage, E. H. and E. Taylor, Gilbert Wilkinson, J. and H. Weaver, J. H. Cruse. Section 21. - Bought in 1836 by J. Crittenden, Silas Boardman, Hubbard and Parker. Section 22. - Bought in 1836 by Artemus Hunston, Silas Boardman>

Milo Winslow, E. E. Clark, Joseph Bush. Section 24. - Bought from 1835 to 1837 by John Orr, Hazadiah Ross, Nelson Sage, Gould Richardson, George Morton, Milo Winslow. Section 25. - Bought from 1835 to 1837 by Martin Hicks, Nelson

Brown, Hiram Dodge, Daniel Prindle. Section 29. - Bought from 1836 to 1851 by Hubbard and Parker, J. and H. Weare, Henry Wear, James Wilson, Alvin Niece, L. K. Pratt, John Markle, A. M. Nichols. Section 30. - Bought in 1837 by Joshua Weeks, James Dawson, Lawrence Keeley, D. MoHenry, Daniel Emerson, J. W. Grover. Section 31. - Bought from 1837 to 1854 by Bildad Brooks, John Ferns,

James L. Goshorn, G. W. Rockwell, E. S. Hicks. Section 32. - Bought from 1836 to 1853 by George Turner, Nelson Sage, Benjamin Pratt, R. Rockwell, B. S. Kellogg (assignee), Jacob Grover. Section 33. - Bought from 1 836 to 1839 by George Turner, Silas Boardman, James R. Cary, Hubbard and Parker, Deforest Maurice. Section 34. - Bought in 1836 by Hubbard and Parker, Gilbert Wilkinson. Section 35. - Bought in 1836 and 1837 by Hoyt and Porter, Sarah Ann

Castle, Hubbard and Parker, S. M. Parke, Enoch Ward. Section 36. - Bought from 1835 to 1853 by Martin Hicks, Spencer Clark, Hubbard and Parker, Gilbert Wilkinson, Rebecca Chapman.