Wayland Township

Wayland Township

This is an incorporated village of some 700 inhabitants, situated in the northwest corner of the township of Wayland. It is a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, distant twenty-seven miles north of Kalamazoo, twenty-one miles south from Grand Rapids, twenty miles northeast of Allegan, the county-seat, one hundred and seventy-two miles from pics and one hundred and sixtyeight from Chicago.

The first settler on its site was 'Nelson Chambers, who came here in the winter of 1838-39, and began an improvement on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 5. "His earliest work seems to have been that of a shingle-maker, and the products of his labors were hauled with ox-team to the distant markets of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. About the year 1840, Apollos-P. Brownson settled north of him, on section 5, Joseph Heydenberk to the southwest, on section 7, and John Parsons on the west, in the extreme northeast corner of "the present township of Hopkins.

These were the first families to settle in the neighborhood for many years known as " Chambers' Corners." In 1844 a school was established here, but nothing indicated this point as the site of a village until the projection of the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Plank-Koad in 1852. This road was completed in 1854. ;

Nelson Chambers then opened the Wayland House. The Wayland 'post-office was removed from Barnes' Mill to the Corners, and Norton Briggs became postmaster, and tollgate-keeper. In 1857 and 58, li F. Clark, Isaac N. Hoyt, William V. Hoyt; and Edwin: BH. Hoyt settled here. Oliver Edwards sold the first goods in 1860, and was followed in the mercantile business by Theo. D. Van Valkenburg, William E. White, J. M. Berry, and Clark & Henika.

In 1861, Israel Kellogg, who owned an extensive tract of pine in this immediate vicinity, also saw-mills and a tannery one-half mile north of the Corners, placed on record a village plat* known as " Lomax City."

In 1865 the business of the village was conducted chiefly by William Seaver, hotel-keeper ; Nelson Chambers, William EK. White & Sons, and J. M. Berry, general merchants } T. D. Van Valkenburg, drugs and groceries; George Henika, furniture-store; William E. White & Co., pailfactory and planing-mill; Jonathan Sessions, shoemaker; H. T. Stringham and David Stockdale, blacksmiths; Dan.

Hoiw 'Gnviavm'Nnnd '9'9 40 39N3G1S9Y

Slade, restaurant and grocer. The physicians were Drs. Graves, Palmer, Clark, and Ball; C. E. Davison, surgeondentist ; and the total population numbered about 175 inhabitants.

After the close of the war, and during the excitement produced by the building of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, many families settled, and in 1869, at the time the village was incorporated, there were quite as many here as the village can boast to-day.

The Lake-Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad was first completed, and, as its road-bed at Hilliard's Station was but four miles distant west from Wayland, there were many here who did not believe the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company would run their line through that village. Consequently, an exodus (though a small one) took place. The latter road, however, was completed in the summer of 1870, since which time not many important changes have occurred, except: at the station where are situated William E. White's grist-mill, a saw-mill, and a large unoccupied building erected for the purpose of manufacturing chairs. In the village proper the most recent acquisition is a commodious brick school building, which was completed in 1879 at a cost of $4500, including site, etc.

Wayland Post-Office

Theo. D. Van Valkenburg succeeded Norton Briggs as postmaster, under Lincoln's administration, and was in turn succeeded by John Chapple, the present incumbent, who was appointed by President Johnson.

Village Corporate History

At the fall meeting of the Allegan County board of supervisors, held in the year 1868, the village of Wayland was duly incorporated, and section 6 and the west half of section 5 designated as its limits. By this act inspectors of election were appointed, and the electors directed to assemble on the first Monday in December, 1868, for holding their first charter election.

In accordance with the power vested in them, the electors of the territory so incorporated assembled at White's Hall, on Monday, Dec. 7, 1868, for the purpose of choosing their first board of village officers. As directed in the act, William E. White, Edward M. Fitch, and Henry C. Garrett performed the duties of election inspectors. One hundred and twenty-one votes were polled for candidates for the office of president, of which number Edward M. Fitch received one hundred and four. Other officers elected were William E. White, Alfred H. Bostwick, George W. Pease, Isaac Buskirk, James F. Halbert, Robert B. Deuel, Trustees ; Norton Briggs, Treasurer; Henry C. Garrett, Clerk; Edwin E. Hoyt, Marshal; Dan. G. Slade, Poundmaster.

The first meeting of the village council was held Dee. 8, 1868, there being present the president and full board of trustees. This meeting and other early ones were held in William E. White's office, for which he received fifty cents per night. On the 26th of December, 1868, a petition signed by twenty-six citizens was presented to the common council, praying that gaming-tables " may not be suppressed." This enlightened sentiment did not prevail, however.

enlarged so as to include the following-described territory : The west one-half of section 5, the whole of section 6, the north one-half of north one-half of section 7, the north one-half of northwest quarter-section 8, in Wayland, and the south one-half of section 31, and the southwest quarter of section 32, in Leighton.

May 13, 1869, Joseph W. Hicks, county surveyor, established a point between sections 5 and 6, 160 rods north of the south line of said sections, as the place from which to predicate and describe the commencement of village streets.

In February, 1873, Nelson Chambers and others petitioned the State Legislature, praying that the village incorporation be vacated. They did not succeed, as counterremonstrants claimed that taxation was not more burdensome here than to people outside of the village, and that corporation property to the amount of $2500 would revert to the county of Allegan in case of vacation. During the same year, however, that portion of the village territory belonging to Leighton was excluded from the corporate limits.

Another ineffectual effort was made in May, 1874, to annul and vacate incorporation. This petition was signed by Nelson Chambers and forty-six others.

The elective officers of the village are a president, six trustees, a recorder, a treasurer, an assessor, and a marshal, all of whom are elected annually, except trustees, who serve two years, three of their number only being elected annually. Street commissioners, fire-wardens, and poundmasters are

Village Officers

1871, - William Seaver, President; David Stockdale, Recorder; Norton Briggs, Treasurer; Paul H. Schuh, William F. Olds, Isaac N. Hoyt, Trustees for one year; George W. Pease, Henry C. Garrett, Alonzo Dunham, Trustees for two years; Daniel T. Hersey, Assessor; Alonzo B. Blanot, Marshal. Total number of votes polled, 124,

Barry Counties, Michigan Fire Department And Water-Supply

At a regular meeting of the village common council,. held Jan. 30, 1869, the first action was taken for the protection of property against fire, and by a majority vote hooks, ladders, fire-buckets, etc., were ordered to be. procured and placed under the orders of Fire-Warden William H. White. Ladders and pike-poles were,supplied in April, 1869, and 100 buckets in November of the same year. It was voted at the charter election in March, 1873, by a vote of 52 to 39, to obtain a supply of water by hydraulic. power. But this scheme went no farther than making a preliminary survey, submitting reports, ete.

During the year 1875 the hooks and ladders were mounted on a truck. A cistern, costing $130, was completed, and Fire Engine No. 119, of the city of Grand Rapids, together with 200 feet of hose, couplings, etc., was purchased at a cost of $400.

On the 23d of March, 1876, the following persons were accepted by the council as firemen of the village: BE. KE. Hoyt, T. B. Garrett, Frank Henika, J. H. D. Snell, N. H. Sherwood, W. H. White, H. C. Garrett, A. H. Garrett, William L. Heazlit, Frank Carr, M. Kellogg, and A. B. Blanott for the engine company, and Frank Hoyt, Fred. Quinlan, W. H. Schuh, Frank Sooy, L. D. Chapple, Carl Snell, Gus Sooy, Jonathan Sessions, Otto Gleason, W. Olds, Chauncey Halbert, and Myron Carpenter for the hose company. Two hundred feet of additional hose was purchased in 1877. The fire apparatus of the present consists of the engine, hose-cart, book-and-ladder truck, ete., already mentioned.

Professional Men

PROFESSIONAL MEN. Physicians. - The first physician to practice in the village was Dr. Remington. The country was sparsely settled, his patients few in number, and when not professionally employed he worked in Hoyt's shingle-mill. Dr. Mack, an eclectic, succeeded him. Neither of these remained here long.

Dr. John Graves, a graduate of the Cleveland (Ohio) Homeopathic College, came to Wayland from' Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in April, 1862, and is still here. u

Dr. James Ball was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., and graduated at the Fairfield Medical College, Herkimer Co., N.Y. He practiced his profession in Cortland Co., N. Y., until 1842, when he -removed to Homer, Calhoun Co., Mich. Ten years later he became a resident of the State of Iowa, and remained there eleven years, all this time continuing the practice of medicine. During the years 1864-65, as surgeon, he served with Gen. Sully's command against the Indians in the Northwest. .He.was mustered out of the United States service at Sioux City, Iowa, and arrived in Wayland in December, 1865, where he still continues his practice. The physicians here at the time of his arrival were Drs. Graves, Palmer, and Clark.

Among other physicians who' have practiced at various periods since, but are not here now, have been Drs. Pease, Powter, Way,andStone. The village physicians of the present are' Drs. John Graves, Horace J. Turner, Andrews, and Ryno. | :

Dr. C. E. Davison, surgeon-dentist, formerly of Northampton, Mass., removed to the village of Wayland in May, 1865, and opened an office for the practice of his profession. He has been very successful. Drs. Piper, of Allegan, and Coats, of Otsego, were then the only practicing dentists in the county. Both have since died, leaving Dr. Davison the pioneer dentist of Allegan County. He has also always taken an active part-in the advancement of the religious and educational interésts of the village of Wayland.

Attorneys. - Hiram Averill, who settled here in 1866, was the first resident expounder of Blackstoné in the village. He is now a citizen of Dorr township.

Col. Edward M. Fitch, who served during the Mexican war as lieutenant-colonel of the Third Ohio Cavalry, also settled in the village at about this time. He became the first president of the village in 1869, and has since filled most worthily many other positions,

The present attorneys of the village are Ndward M. Fitch and David Stockdale, the latter the supervisor of the township since the spring of 1876..

Secret Benevolent Associations

This lodge was instituted Feb. 24, 1869, by Grand Master J. 8. Curtis, of East Saginaw. The officers first installed were Edward M. Fitch, N. G.; Titus Doan, V. G.; John Graham, Sec.; Norton Briggs, Treas. The remaining charter members were J. Simkins, B. L. Lee, E. W. Powers, P. H. Schuh, William Seaver, and James Armstrong. Five new members were initiated the same evening, viz.. W. W. Briggs, William V. Hoyt, C. H. Daugherty, O. D. Rowe, and G. L. Doan: The first meetings were held in White's Hall, and continued there until November, 1873, when the lodge occupied its present rooms over John Chapple's store. About $300 have been expended for furnishing the hall, ete.

The presiding officers of the lodge since the first installation have been as follows: For the last half of 1869, Titus Doan; 1870, James Armstrong, John Graham; 1871, Charles H. Daugherty, Paul H. Schuh; 1872, William V. Hoyt, William Seaver; 1873, Josiah Simkins, William W. Briggs; 1874, Norton Briggs, Josiah Simkins; 1875, John Chapple, Edward M. Fitch; 1876, Ephraim S. Allen, William V. Hoyt; 1877, Horace J. Turner, Edwin C. Saunders ; 1878, Charles H. Smith, Charles H. Daugherty; 1879, Henry Carner, Miner C. Hayward; 1880 (first half) William W. Briggs. Other officers of the present are Frank S. Sigler, V.G.; Edward M. Fitch, Sec.; Paul H. Schuh, Per. Sec. ; John Chapple, Treas.

Including charter members, initiations, and admissions on card, the lodge has had a total membership of 180. There are now 82 dormant, and 53 active members. Regular meetings are held Tuesday evening of each week.

Religious

This church is by several years the oldest religious organization in the township. For about ten years previous to 1856 a class had been formed, and religious services held in the "old red school-house'"' by preachers from the Gun Plain and Otsego Circuits. Joseph Heydenberk,t Elizabeth Heydenberk,t H. Lester and wife,t Abram Buskirk and wife,{ William Buskirk, David M. Griswold,t Mrs. Eldred,} Mathew Van Duzen, Lydia Van Duzen, Stephen S. Germond,# Mary Germond, Darius Starr, Mary Starr, Abijah{ and Elizabetht Brown were among the first members of this class. .

The pastoral labors of Rev. Amos Wakefield, in the fall of 1856, resulted in a large addition of members, and in response to a petition from this class the session of the Michigan Annual Conference held at Coldwater, Mich., in October, 1856, established the Wayland Circuit, also appointing Rev. Porter Williams to its pastorate.

At the first Quarterly Conference, held in Wayland, Dec. 6, 1856, the following was ordered placed on record: " Be it remembered that the Wayland Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Bishop S. A. Morris at the annual session of the Michigan Conference, held at Coldwater Oct. 1, 1856." "From the minutes of this Quarterly Conference it also appears that the estimating committee recommended the paying to Brother Williams a salary of $100 per year. The people, however, were more liberal than the committee, and paid him $180.86, for which increase Brother Williams was undoubtedly grateful.

During the pastorate of Mr. Blowers, in 1862, measures were entered into for the erection of a church edifice. Before completing the work, however, he entered the army as chaplain, where he died.

In 1864, during the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. Fisher, a neat and commodious building, with a seating capacity for 200 persons, was erected at a cost of $2750, on the corner of Church and Maple Streets; but it was not completed and dedicated until the following year, - August 10th, - when Rev. George B. Joslyn, late president of Albion College, conducted the dedicatory services. The Wayland '" Boys in Blue" ornamented the pulpit with a magnificent Bible, while the trustees adorned the building with a $600 mortgage. The latter was finally removed in 1870, through the exertions of Rev. James H. White.

Previous to October, 1866, a union Sabbath-school had been condueted jointly by the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal Churches; but, this union school having outgrown the seating capacity of either church edifice, the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-school was organized with H. 8. Warren 'as its first superintendent, and $100 was raised for a new Sunday-school library.

In 1869, Rev. James H., White (by subscriptions from the citizens generally) procured and caused to be placed in the church tower one of the finest-toned bells in Western Michigan. During 1873 there was purchased for parsonage purposes a house on Maple Street, fronting the public square. The present members of this church are 60 in number. A flourishing Sabbath-school, of which C. HK. Davison is superintendent, numbers 80.

Church Of Christ

This society was organized April 2, 1877, the original members being H. T. Stringham, I. B. Smith, P. Smith, M. Blowers, E. Blowers, H. D. Spaulding, E. Spaulding, E. S. Linsley, T. Ide, J. Gleason, RE. Woodard, L. Me- Kean, L. Judson, S. Nelson, and D. Allen,

Their first pastor was Rev. D. N. Severance. He has been succeeded by Revs. M. B. Rawson and H. ©. Faunce. A handsome church edifice, costing $2000, was dedicated

Other Wayland Churches

A Congregational society was organized in January, 1860, and a church edifice erected the same year. The original members were 17 in number, - Rev. A. McKay their first pastor. Official members of this church were requested to furnish data concerning the history of their organization, but failed to do so, owing doubtless to the animosity shown his enterprise by their present preacher.

At the village of Bradley is a Methodist Episcopal society of some 75 members. Their meetings are held in a hall. They propose, however, to erect a commodious church edifice at a time not far distant.