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HISTORY
OF
BARRY COUNTY
BY


HON. W.'W. POTTER
ILLUSTRATED


With Biographical Sketches of
Prominent Men


BY


FORD HICKS and EDWARD BUTLER
Engraved and Printed by
THE REED-TANDLER COMPANY
Grand Rapids, Michigan


*&<




I




PREFACE
IT is not claimed that the following is a complete
history of Barry County. It is only intended to
sketch the most prominent points of county history as
distinguished from the history of the several townships
and individual biography. The biographical sketches
of prominent men which follow, fill out and amplify
the outline of county history which is here presented,
and when these are considered in connection with the
brief history which follows, they give a fairly accurate
account of Barry county.
WILLIAM    W. POTTER.
Dated November 1st, 1912.








History of Barry County
Introduction
It is difficult to segregate local events from those of wider
influence. The history of Barry County, though replete with
happenings of special interest to her people, is intimately interwoven with that of the state and nation.
Michigan, in common with all the region of the lakes, has
been the scene of events of mighty significance in the fate of
nations. It was here that the current of English colonization,
flowing from Jamestown and Plymouth Rock, met that of France
starting from Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa. The region of the
lakes was at once the Keystone in the arch of French influence
radiating from Louisiana and Quebec, and the link sought to be
forged to connect the chain of British posts along the Atlantic
seaboard, with those of the Hudson's Bay Company. For a hundred years through Indian feuds and colonial wars the struggle
for control continued; but it was not until after Montcalm surrendered to Wolfe that the British exercised a dominant influence
on the affairs of the two peninsulas.
Geology
The surface of Barry County is covered with glacial drift of
varying depth, so that while many fossils are found but few of
them are where they were formed. As the icy masses of the
glacial period moved southward the moraines left their traces behind in the lines of granite boulders. It is due, perhaps, to the
fact that these great masses were breaking up when they reached
this region that the surface of the county is so broken. Post
glacial evidences of great antiquity are abundant in the bogs and
marshes, and in the beds of peat and marl may be read the open
book of later geological periods. Here roamed the elk, the moose,
the mastodon, and with them primeval man with rude implements
of stone struggled for the mastery.
Cut from east to west by the Thornapple river, which drains
perhaps more than one-half the county, the southern portion be



6


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


longs to the valley of the Kalamazoo. Its undulating surface of
hills and dales is dotted by more than a hundred small lakes of
varying sizes. The southern portion was originally covered with
oak openings, for centuries kept clear of underbrush by the forest
fires of the natives; the northern, central and eastern portions were
covered with beech and maple, plentifully besprinkled with ash
and basswood and giant elms, while here and there a lonely pine
raised its head above the surrounding forest.  Swamps and
marshes abounded, and from their stagnant waters arose swarms
of mosquitoes now unknown. No other portion of Michigan of
like size is more diversified in soil. Alexander Winchell called
the height of land between the Kalamazoo and the Thornapple,
"Barry Summit." It reaches an elevation of more than two hundred and fifty feet above Lake Michigan. Its highest elevation is
said to be just south of Pine lake in Hope township, at a point
designated on the early maps as "Mt. Hope."
The First White Men
When the region now known as Barry County was first visited by white men is not certainly known. No sooner was New
France settled than the fur trade excited the cupidity of the sons
of sunny France, and hundreds of young men, tired of the tales of
undiscovered Eldorados, which still lured on Spanish chivalry,
embarked in the fur trade. Through their influence the savages
were first prevailed upon to bring their furs to market on the
St. Lawrence. Competition, born of greed, drove them on relentlessly. Soon they were not content to wait the action of the
shiftless savages. They plunged into the wilderness and visited
the Indian in his native haunts. Every river in the whole northwest echoed with the wild chansons of these runners of the woods,
as bending with each glittering paddle stroke, they drove forward
their frail crafts, upon the water highways of the north. They
learned the Indian language, courted the dusky maidens beneath
the forest's shade, formed with their family, ties which bound the
tribes to them, and shared the rude life and reckless abandon of
the savages, but plied industriously their avocation with their
friends. The French fur trader left no records. It is probable
that the streams and Indian villages of Barry County were familiar to fur traders nearly, if not quite, a century before the American revolution.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


7


Soon after the fleur de lis of France was supplanted by the
Cross of St. George we find authentic records showing a familiar
knowledge with the interior of Michigan. In 1772 the Indian department of the British at Detroit made a record of the estimated
distance to various places in the Indian country toward the Mississippi, and in it is given the distance "to one of the branches of
the Grand River or Washtanong that falls into Lake Michigan,"
the distance "to Reccanamazoo river," and the distance "to the
Prairie Ronde," showing a familiarity with the location of the
Thornapple.
In 1778 Louis Chabollier, one of the proprietors of the general store at Mackinac, was granted a license to trade with two
canoes on the Grand river. Barthe, Lefevre and Bouropa are
also named as traders on the Grand.
In 1779 Charles Langlade, who is frequently mentioned in
Henry's travels, was sent by Major DePeyster, then in command
at Mackinac, as an emissary to incite the Grand River Indians to
assist Capt. Hamilton in his expedition against Vincennes. After
this place had been recaptured by Col. Clark in the spring of
1779, in a manner so graphically depicted by Maurice Thompson
in "Alice of Old Vincennes," DePeyster speaks of the Virginians
having sent belts to the Ottawas and Chippeways of the Grand
River inviting them to stay at home, and of the Grand River
traders being on their way to Mackinac. Lieutenant Bennett,
sent from Mackinac to St. Joseph to intercept an expedition from
Colonel Clark's army, expected to pass that way, on its route to
Detroit, was at the mouth of the Kekalamazoo river fifteen leagues
north of St. Joseph.
In 1795, when General Wayne was in command of the forces
of the United States sent against the Indians of the Northwest,
Alexander McKenzie, employed by the Indian department of the
British at Detroit, reported that starting from Detroit to St.'Joseph on February fifth, 1795, he arrived on the ninth at the house
of "a trader named Pepan on the Kekalamazoo river who is furnished goods by George McDougall, merch't of Detroit," and
February eleventh, of arriving at Kekalamazoo and going to the
house of Mr. Burrill, where he ascertained that persons whom he
met there were on their way to Muskegon to invite the Indians
there to a council to be held at Fort Wayne the following spring.




8


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


During the War of 1812, Messrs. Joseph Bailey, E. Lamorandie, McBurnett, Bourasse and Coursalle were all traders on the
Grand and vicinity. In March, 1815, Joseph Cadotte, probably
a relative of the family of the same name mentioned by Henry
and made by Mrs. Catherwood to play an important part in "The
White Islander," was sent to the Grand River to bring in from
eighty to one hundred Indian warriors to be used in the defense
of Fort Mackinac. The Grand River Indians, under the leadership of the British, played an important part in the War of 1812.
Trading Posts
Competition in the fur trade, after the organization of the
American Fur Company, of which John Jacob Astor was the
moving spirit and financial head, grew more keen. That institution sought to stifle individual initiative in the fur trade, to bring
under the control of its posts all of the fur business not only of
Michigan but of what is now the neighboring states, to stretch
its line of influence even to the Pacific, to establish and perpetuate
a great monopoly, in what was then the source of the forests'
greatest wealth, much as the Hudson's Bay Company did for two
hundred years in Canada. To that end trading posts were established on all of the important streams which flowed from the interior of the state, at such points as would be most sure to intercept
trade with the Indians in that vicinity.
In 1796 one LaFramboise established a post at the junction
of the Grand and the Thornapple rivers. He was killed by the
Indians in 1809, and from his death until 1821 the post was continued under the control of Madame LaFramboise, his widow.
In 1821 Rix Robinson assumed control of this important post
together with those of the American Fur Company on the Kalamazoo.
The United States acquired title to the territory of which
Michigan forms a part by the treaty of Paris in 1783, but the
British did not surrender the military posts in Michigan until after
the Western Indians beaten by "Mad Anthony" Wayne concluded
the treaty of Greenville in 1795 and the British had ratified Jay's
treaty in 1796. When these were surrendered, the British surrendered little else, for they still controlled to a great extent the
savage denizens of the wilds.
The Chippeways transferred their title to the southeastern




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


9


portion of Barry County to the United States by the treaty of
Saginaw in 1819, and the combined tribes of the Chippeways,
Pottawatamies and Ottawas gave up their claims to the north

Mrs. Willard Hayes, One of the First White Women to Come to Hastings.
She Arrived There in October, 1837
western part of the county by the treaty of Chicago in 1821. As
soon as the Indian title was extinguished active preparations were
made to open it to settlement. Barry County was surveyed in




10


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


1826 and 1827, and it was not long before the tide of emigration
reached its confines.
In 1827 James Moreau established, and for nearly a decade
maintained, a trading post on the Thornapple, near what was
later known as Bull's Prairie. Close at hand were the wigwams
of the savages, and not far away the burying-ground where the
deceased members of the tribe were buried. Near this place the
first government surveyors designated upon their plats "Indian
Cornfields."  Another enterprising trader, tradition points to
Chabollier, at a time believed to have been considerable earlier
than that at which Moreau's post was established, erected a block
house on Scales Prairie in Thornapple township. This post was
near "to one of the branches of the Grand river" mentioned in
the British Narrative of 1772, where "there is another village of
Pottawatamies of eight large cabins," and this village was the
middle village, the Pottawatamie village midway between that on
the Kekalamazoo and that upon the Washtanong or Grand.
When Grand Rapids was first settled the fruit trees, then in bearing, from Scales Prairie were removed to the banks of the Grand.
We may ask who built this block house, and seek the date which
saw it raised. The only answer from the forest's gloom of long
ago is, we do not know.
Barry Ideal Indian Ground
Barry County was ideal Indian ground. Here the red man
held sway in barbarous majesty, or crouched cold and shivering
in his rude bark wigwam drenched with rain and sleet. Here he
danced the weird dance, recounted his valorous deeds in war
and performed that sacred rite of sacrifice, the burning of a snow
white dog to appease the Manitou. The dense timber sheltered
his wigwam, generally put up near some bubbling spring, from
the severity of nature's storms. Wild grapes, plums, berries and
pawpaws in season were abundant. The walnut, the hickory and
the beech furnished nuts in profusion. Maize and potatoes were
native on this continent. Harriet Martineau after a visit to
Michigan declared her belief that Milton must have been familiar
with this region before lie penned the garden scenes of Paradise
Lost. The broad sheets of bark from the massive elm seemed
designed for wigwam  covering; the whitewood, tall, soft and
light, seemed to grow especially to be fashioned into pirogues,




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


11


adapted to navigate the rocky rapids of the inland streams. The
myriad small lakes, scintillating like diamonds against a background of forest green, teemed with all varieties of fresh water
fish, and even now at the call of "back to nature" these self same
lakes are peopled in the summer time by cottagers wlo on their
verdant shores seek respite from the heated city's throng. Deer
were plentiful, and here also lived the black bear, the plague of
settlers' pig pens, and an object of totemism among the Ottawas.
When the early white settlers came to occupy with homes the
lands of Barry County, the beaver had already disappeared before
the fierce onslaughts of the fur traders, who for more than a century had plied their trade assiduously in all the forest wilds of
Michigan. Tile otter, mink, raccoon, and fox, have either disappeared like the wild pigeons which once darkened the skies, or
their number have been decimated by tile keen rapacity of modern industrialism. Wild turkeys roamed the timbered lands and
oak openings, and ducks and geese sought homes in all the lakes
and streams. In a region possessing such a wealth of resources it
was but natural tlat tle Indian should live in great numbers.
In 1835 wlen Joselph S. Blaisdell, tile first settler of Assyria,
located there, lie found Indian villages on both sections twentyfour and twenty-five of tlat township, tlhe one of about thirty
lodges and the other of twenty or slightly fewer. Rude fences of
brush protected their patches of corn from the nightly visits of
the deer. Close by was the graveyard and a part of tie Indian
council house was still standing, until 1850 Capt. C. I). Morris
built his residence upon its site.
During the winter season many of these villagers left the
Wainondaga and encamped near the head waters of the Basquon.
On the shores of Bristol lake there was a village of about twenty
wigwams presided over by a chief whose very name has been
forgotten.
There were many red men near Thornapple lake, the home
of fish and fur, and not far from what is now known as InJian
Landing were Indian cornfields, and at an early day there was
erected near the bubbling spring, a short distance from the lake,
a lodge, used as a school house and church by the Indians, many
of whom when the Federal government ordered the removal of the




12


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Pottawatamies west of the Mississippi in 1840 took title to small
parcels of land in the vicinity.
The late Mrs. Willard Hayes, who with her father, Daniel
McLellan, came to Hastings township in 1837, speaks of there
being about a hundred Indian families encamped along the north
side of the river near the Michigan avenue bridge in Hastings, and
tells of an Indian medicine dance near their home, probably at
the village near Indian Landing, at which two thousand Indians
were present. As late as 1855 school district number five of
Hastings township was organized on the petition of seven Indians
who held lands on section twenty-five in that township.
Gun lake was near the border line between the Pottawatamies, the Chippeways and the Ottawas, all however branches of
the Algonquin family. Under the provisional treaty of Washington in 1836, it was agreed that at a council to be held for that
purpose, the chiefs of the tribes should designate tliree classes of
half breeds, or persons of partial Indian origin, who should be
entitled to share in the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars
set apart by the treaty, "as a fund for said half breeds."  The
classes of persons entitled to share in this fund were determined
by their relative influence in the tribe. Classes one and two were
made up of chiefs; class three was not made up of chiefs, but included in class three is Penasee or Gun Lake. Perhaps the most
prominent and most important band of Indians in Barry County
was the mixed band of Ottawas, Chippeways and Pottawatamies,
who in 1838 numbered about one hundred fifty souls, and who
then lived upon the peninsula jutting far into Gun Lake from
the eastern shore and now occupied by the Hastings Gun Lake
Association, and who also lived and raised their corn near the
land now platted as the "Wigwams."   Sagimaw, said by the
early historians to have been a man of strict integrity, noble bearing, of great good sense and a distinguished gentleman, was the
acknowledged chieftain. This band was removed by Rev. James
Selkirk in 1838 to Wayland township, Allegan county. Many of
their descendants now live near Bradley. Sagimaw was killed,
distinguished gentleman though lie may have been, in 1845 by
his son-in-law, in a drunken brawl. Penasee, Gun Lake, or the
"Bird," the half breed mentioned in connection with the treaty
of 1836, followed him as chief, and upon his death he was succeeded by She-pe-quonk, or Big Thunder, more commonly known




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


13


among the whites as Moses Foster. One McKnight, who in 1836
or 1837 lived upon section nine in Orangeville township, and
Joseph Coffin, who prior to 1840 lived upon section three of the
same township, kept up a brisk trade with the Gun Lake Indians
in furs and "fire water." The Indians of the Middle village on
Scales Prairie, as long as they lived in Michigan, returned each
year. In the summer of 1840 more than one hundred families of
Indians encamped about this, the home of their fathers. There
were many families among the oak openings on the south bank of
the Coldwater; and in the northeastern part of the county, in the
vicinity of Jordan and Sobby lakes dwelt many tribesmen under
the leadership of Clief Sawba, who was regarded by the early
pioneers as a bad Indian and who had the disagreeable habit of
going to the shanties of the early settlers, intimidating the women
and children, ransacking the cupboards and carrying off whatever
pleased his fancy.
Slater's Mission and Noonday
Rev. Leonard Slater, who in 1826 had founded a mission at
the rapids of the Grand, fearful that the degrading influences of
civilization would counteract his efforts to Christianize these worslhiplers of Pagan deities, resolved in 1836 to remove his mission
to Prairieville, and in 1836 and 1837 he brought to sections
twenty-six and twenty-seven of that township perhaps three hundred Indians. Here lie erected a church and a school house and
here the Indians dwelt until 1852, when they were removed beyond the "Father of Waters."  Easily the most distinguished of
the Slater Indians were Chief Noonday, a man over six feet in
height, broad shouldered and well proportioned; a man of wonderful muscular power, he easily maintained his leadership among
the savage tribes of the Grand River valley, whose legions he had
led against the Americans during the War of 1812. It is claimed
tlhat lie was present at the burning of Buffalo, took part in the
battle of tle Tllhames, and personally witnessed the death of
Tecumsehi, then a brigadier general in the British army. He became attached to Rev. Slater and when the mission was removed
from Grand Rapids to Prairieville, Noonday came to this county,
where he died and is buried. The late Henry Little of Richland
thus describes Mrs. Noonday:
"Her ladyship, Mrs. Noonday, was a short, dumpy, unassum



14


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


ing lady of the old school. Nature had not seen fit to make her
very attractive by the bewitching fascinating charms of personal
beauty, but what little there might have been of feminine comeliness in her features had been sadly marred by an ugly scar on
the left side of her face."
Whatever may be said of the treatment of the settlers elsewhere by the Indians, there was never any serious cause for complaint here. Tie two races intermarried to some extent and in


Cornelius Mason on the Site of Noonday's Cabin Near Cressey


many families there runs the blood of the native Americans who
once could call this country their native land.
The Indians throughout the west were invited to join the
uprising of Black-lawk. A grand council of the savages was held
at Gull Lake to determine whether the savages of this locality
would join the insurrection or not. This council is thus described
by Mr. Frank Little in the Michigan Pioneer and Historical
Society collections:
"A few days after this I attended a grand council of the
Indian chiefs held in a mammoth wigwam near the shore of West




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


15


Gull Lake. This was to ascertain the temper of the Indians of
the locality in reference to the Black-Hawk insurrection. The
chiefs in full dress were seated in a great circle upon valuable
robes, mats and skins of animals spread upon the ground. A
more grave, imposing body of men I never saw. The calumet
or pipe of peace, of elaborate workmanship, was slowly passed
around the circle and each took a whiff in silence. Then speeches
began in regular order of age and rank. It was found that the
young men were for war but the older, experienced sachems
counselled peace."
In any event the Michigan Indians remained neutral.
Indian Traits and Habits
The Indian seldom had a permanent residence. He generally lived where he could live the easiest, prompted but slightly
by a desire to provide for the future. I)uring the spring he went
where tie fishing was best; during the summer he raised his
tee-pee near some swamp or berry patch. In the later winter and
early spring many of them went to the timbered lands to make
maple sugar. After making an incision in the tree they fixed
under it a wooden spile along which the sap flowed to drop in a
birch bark bucket, constructed by binding together the four corners of a piece of birch bark. The sap thus collected at the time
the early settlers came to this country was boiled down in brass
kettles, procured by the savages from Mackinac traders. When
the sugar season was over the sugar was packed in mococks or
birch bark lampers for convenience in carrying, and the birch
bark buckets were unlaced and stretched out and dried and then
piled one on top of the other; after being well dried the buckets
and kettles were cached until the following spring, when they
were dug up again and used for sugar making.
Formation of Barry County
Barry County was formed by act of the Territorial legislature of April 29, 1829, along with a number of other counties in
the state, taking their names from men prominent in national
affairs at the time,-Jackson, Berrien, Cass, Calhoun, Van Buren,
Barry, Eaton, Ingham and Livingston. Barry County taking its
name from William T. Barry, Postmaster General of the United
States under President Jackson.




16


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


By act of November 4, 1829, the counties of Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Branch, Barry and Eaton, and much of the country north
of the base line and west of the principal meridian south of the
county of Michillmackinac, was attached to and formed a part of
St. Joseph County. The next day, November 5, 1829, an act was
passed which provided that the counties of Kalamazoo and Barry
and all of the country lying north of the same which was attached
to and formed a part of St. Joseph County by the previous act,
should form the township of Brady, and that the first township
meeting was to be held at the house of Abram J. Shaver in said
township. This house was on the west side of Prairie Ronde.
When Kalamazoo County was organized, July 30th, 1830, Calhoun, Barry and Eaton counties were attached to it for judicial
purposes. The first court was held at the house of Abraham J.
Shaver on Prairie Ronde. Over this court presided as one of the
county Associate Judges, Bazil Harrison, said to have been the
hero of Cooper's "Bee Hunter."
Early Settlers
Barry County was not on the direct line of travel toward the
west, but in 1831 Amasa S. Parker, a native of Connecticut, and
the first white settler who took title to land in Barry County,
built a house in Prairieville township. Orville Barnes, in 1833,
settled in the same township. In 1834 Rev. Moses Lawrence, a
local Methodist preacher, came into what is known as Barry
township and located lands on sections twenty-seven and twentyeight. His nearest neighbor was Amasa S. Parker, mentioned
above. The same year Charles W. Spaulding located lands on
section twenty-three in Prairieville township. Calvin G. Hill settled in Thornapple township in 1834, and the next year Henry
Leonard came to the same township. Joseph Blaisdell came to
Assyria in 1836, and the same year Samuel Wickham settled in
Carlton township; Slocum H. Bunker in Hastings township;
George Brown in Orangeville; Lorenzo Cooley and Estes Rich
in Rutland; Calvin Lewis in Yankee Springs; Albert E. Bull in
Irving, and Harlow Merrill and William P. Bristol in Johnstown.
The Township of Barry
It was provided by the Ordinance of 1787 that as soon as any
of the states to be formed out of the Northwest Territory should




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


17


have a population of sixty thousand free inhabitants, it should be
admitted by its delegates into the Congress of the United States.
In 1832 the people of Michigan voted in favor of statehood, but
the Black Hawk war and the ravages of the cholera compelled
postponement of action. According to a census of the state taken
in 1834 the state had a population of eighty-seven thousand two
hundred seventy-eight. A constitutional convention was convened, the constitution of 1835 prepared, submitted to the people,
and ratified by them at an election held for its adoption or rejection. A general election was held and a governor and state legislature chosen, and a complete state government organized,
although the state was not recognized by Congress as being admitted into the Union until 1837. In the meantime the state
Legislature was busy. March 23, 1836, it passed an act providing
for the organization of the township of Barry, with boundaries
co-extensive with tle County of Barry, and the first township
meeting of the township so organized was to be held at the house
of Nicholas Campbell in said township (in what is now Prairieville township) on April 4, 1836.
At this, the first township meeting in the new township of
Barry, it was necessary to organize the voters before holding a
township meeting, and Charles W. Spaulding was chosen Moderator and Orville Barnes was chosen Clerk of the meeting. After
the organization of the township meeting the voters proceeded to
an election of township officers. At tlis, the first township election, there seems to have been plenty of offices in Barry township. Calvin G. Hill, who then lived in what is now Thornapple,
was chosen Supervisor; Orville Barnes, who had come from Gull
Prairie to wlat is now the township of Prairieville, was chosen
Township Clerk; Benjamin Hoff, who resided in the township of
Barry and who died of cholera in 1838; Henry Leonard, who resided in what is now the township of Thornapple, and Charles
W. Spaulding, were elected Assessors. Amasa S. Parker, the
first settler in Barry County; Nicholas Campbell, at whose house
the first township meeting was held, and Calvin G. Hill, were
elected Commissioners of Highways. Orville Barnes, Charles W.
Spaulding, Benjamin Hoff and Calvin Hill were elected Justices
of the Peace. William Campbell, a brother of Nicholas Campbell, was elected Collector; Charles W. Spaulding, Benjamin Hoff,




18


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


and Luther Hill, a brother of Calvin G. Hill, were elected School
Commissioners. Linus Ellison, who was one of the first settlers
in what is now Prairieville township and who sold his farm to
Isaac Otis and removed to what is now Barry township, and
Moses Lawrence, the pioneer preacher of Barry township, were
elected Commissioners of the Poor. Lewis Moreau and William
Campbell were elected Constables. It seems that Calvin G. Hill
must have discovered that he had too many offices, because he
resigned the office of Supervisor, and at a special township meeting held later, Isaac Otis was elected Supervisor to fill the vacancy.
At this time Barry County was attached for governmental purposes to Kalamazoo County, and the Supervisors of the township
of Barry were members of the Board of Supervisors of Kalamazoo County. The tide of emigration toward the west was now in
full swing and during the years 1836 and 1837 the population of
Barry County rapidly increased. It reached 512 in 1837. Internal improvements, wildcat banks and paper cities everywhere
sprang up during this period of reckless speculation; then came
the financial panic of 1837; the collapse of these inflated schemes,
and most of those who came west to find homes in Barry County
were too poor to get away, even had they been so inclined.
At the second annual township meeting of the township of
Barry held at the house of Charles A;. Spaulding in 1837, Isaac
Otis was elected Supervisor of the township of Barry and Ambrose Mills was chosen as County Clerk; Duty Benson, who lived
in what is now Thornapple township; Thomas Bunker, who lived
in what is now tile city of Hastings, and Charles W. Spaulding,
were chosen Assessors; Ephraim Block, Eli Waite, and William
Lewis, afterward famous as the proprietor of the Mansion House
of Yankee Springs and prominent in the early political history
of this county, were chosen as Commissioners of Highways.
George Brown, who then lived in wllat is now the township of
Orangeville, near Pine Lake; Henry Leonard, and Isaac Otis
were elected as Justices of the Peace. Ambrose Mills, who died
of cholera in 1838, was elected Collector, and Benjamin S. Dibble,
who kept the first postoffice at Middleville near wliat is now Gates
Corners, was elected School Commissioner; and Timothy G.
Johnson, Isaac Messer and Ambrose G. Mills were chosen as
Constables.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


19


Early Settlements
In tile Michigan Gazetteer, published under date of 1837,
speaking of Barry County it is said:   "Tlhe county is new and
not yet extensively settled, though it is said to be rapidly increasing in population.  The principal settlements are Middle Village,
Bulls Prairie, Hastings upon the Thornapple, Yankee Springs
upon tile road leading from Grand Rapids in Kent to Gull Prairie
in Kalamazoo."
In 1838 Barry County was divided by an act of the Legislature into four townslips; tile northeast quarter of tile county
was called Hastings township; tle northwest quarter of tile
county was called Thornapple; tlle soutlleast quarter of the county
was called Johnstown and the southwest quarter of the county
was called Barry.  The first township meeting in Hastings townsnip as then organized, was Iield at thle liouse of Slocum  H.
Bunker; tlhe first meeting in tile townshipl of Thornapple was
held at tile hlouse of Benjamin E. I)ibble; thle first townshipl meeting in tile townsllip of Johnstown was lield at tile llouse of William
P. Bristol, and tile first township meeting after this division in the
townsllip of Barry, was lleld at tlhe liouse of Johln Mills. After
these townships in Barry County were organized it continued to
be for all government p)lurposes a part of Kalamazoo County until
after tile passage of tlhe act of MIarcl 15, 1839.
Barry Still Attached to Kalamazoo
At tlle first townsllip meeting of tlhe townsllip of Barry, after
tlhe division of tlhe county into four townslips, held in the spring
of 1838, Ambrose Mills was closen Supervisor and Peter Falk
was chosen Townsllip Clerk. At tile first townslip meeting in
the townslip of Thornapple, Calvin G. Hill was chosen Supervisor and Henry Leonard, Clerk. At tile first township meeting
lleld in the township of Hastings, after tile township of Barry was
subdivided into four townslips, Thomas H. Bunker was cliosen
as Supervisor; Willard Hayes, Clerk, and Slocum    H. Bunker,
Commissioner of Higlhways.
At tile first township meeting hIeld in the township of Johnstown, S. V. R. Rork was chosen Supervisor; Harlow      Merrill,
Clerk, and Cleveland Ellis, who lived in what is now the township of Assyria, was chosen as Treasurer.
The several townships in Barry County were still attached to




20


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Kalamazoo County for all governmental purposes and the several
Supervisors above named were members of the Board of Supervisors of Kalamazoo County until the provision was made for the
organization of Barry County in 1839.
The "Sickly Season"
Among the early settlers of Barry County the "sickly season"
of 1838 was long referred to as the distinct epoch from which they
marked time, just as in later years they marked it from the "cold
New Year's" and the "smoky fall." Physicians disagree as to
what the disease then prevalent was. It is doubtful whether it
was cholera or not. At any event the epidemic swept over the
northern states, and it was particularly fatal in this county, where
notwithstanding the sparse population during the summer of 1838,
in the township of Barry alone more tllan twenty people died.
Among them were Ambrose Mills, then the Supervisor of the
township) of Barry, and Benjamin Hoff, one of the early pioneers,
who Ihad been prominent in local affairs. The visitation of the
disease was looked upon by the superstitious as the curse of God,
but with the coming of the cold weather the disease subsided, but
not until many families had been wiped out.
Organization of Barry County
After the passage of the act of March 15, 1839, entitled "An
act to organize the County of Barry," and on the first Monday
in April, 1839, a general election was held in Barry County to
elect all the several county officers to which by law the county
was entitled.
The following were the first county officers of Barry County
after its organization in April, 1839: Probate Judge, Stephen V.
R. Rork; Associate Judges, Nathan Barlow and Isaac Otis;
Sheriff, Willard Hayes; County Clerk, Thomas B. Bunker;
Register of Deeds, Abner C. Parmelee; Treasurer, Charles W.
Spaulding, and the three County Commissioners hereinafter
named.
On April 13, 1839, the County Commissioners of Barry
County, three in number, in whom was then vested powers substantially similar to those vested in the Board of Supervisors at
the present time, met in the village of Hastings and organized.
Calvin G. Hill of Thornapple, John Bowne of Barry (afterward




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


21


Prairieville), and Nelson Barnum of Hastings, were tile three
Commissioners.     Calvin   G. Hill was closen      Chairman     of the
Board. At this meeting John J. Nichols of Barry, John W.
Bradley of Yankee Springs and William         P. Bristol of Johnstown
were chosen Superintendents of the Poor, and after authorizing
the payment of a few bounties for wolves the board adjourned.
In the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners for July 17,
1839, tlere is an abstract of the first assessment rolls of the various townships in Barry County then organized, as follows:
Value        Value
Township               Acres    Real Estate   Per. Prop.     Total
Hastings................................ 69,451  $241,246  $ 2,398  $243,644
Johnstown......................... (3,092  189,829   2,097       191,926
Barry.....................................  50,581  151,743  9,768  161,511
Yankee Springs.................... 31,813  )6,888    4,826      101,714
Thornapplle.......................... 2S,2S1  88,884  2,395      87,239
Total...........................   243,318.$768,55()  $21,484  $786,034
The total taxes spread according to the report of the County
Commissioners at their meeting        of October 15, 1839, was as
follows:
State    County Townshil) Highway      Poor
Township)      Tax      Tax       Tax       Tax      Tax     Total
Yankee Springs...$ 203.43  $ 152.57 $ 212.21   $ 55t.09.......... $1,12(.30
Barry.....................  323.03  242.27  392.24............  $15.00  972.54
Thornapple.........  174.48  130.46   170.38   6(i.679..........  1,142.51
Johnstown -..........  383.86  287.89  272.72   1,347.6........  2,292.33
Hastings...........  487.29  3(5.46   203.49   1,842.64.........  2,898.88
Total............$1,572.09 $1,179.05 $1,251.04 $4,415.38  $15.00 $8,432.56
The south half of Tlhornapple township, as originally organized, now forming thle townships of Rutland and Yankee Springs
was, by act of tle Legislature of March 22, 1839, set off from      the
townsllip of Thiornapple and organized as tle township of Yankee Springs; tlle first townshipi meeting was Ield at the "Mansion
House" of "Yankee Bill" Lewis.        Rutland did not long remain a
part of Yankee Springs, for on April 17, 1839, the east half of
the townslip of Tliornapple, as originally organized, including
what is now the townsliips of ltutland and Irving, was by an act
of the Legislature, set off and organized into the township of
Irving; the first townslip meeting in the new township so created
was held at the lIouse of Albert E. Bull.       In 1841 tlle township




22


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


of Barry was divided and the two west townships, which are now
Prairieville and Orangeville, were organized as the township of
Spaulding, and the place for the first township meeting of the
new township was the house of Hiram Lewis, and the place of
meeting of the next annual township meeting of the township was
fixed at the "white school house" in district number thirteen of
the present township of Barry, at Hickory Corners.


"Yankee" Lewis, from a Daguerreotype Taken in Detroit in 1846, When he
Represented Barry and Allegan Counties in the State Legislature
Townships Organized
In 1842 Hastings township, as originally organized, was
divided by act of the Legislature into the present townships of
Carlton, Castleton, Woodland and Hastings. The first township
meeting in Woodland was held at the house of Alonzo Barnum,
the first township meeting in the township of Castleton was held
at the house of William A. Ware, and the first township meeting
in the township of Carlton was held at the house of William McCauley. The name of the township of Yankee Springs was un



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


23


doubtedly changed to Gates, but when this was done we have
been unable to find; but, in any event, in 1848 the Legislature
passed an act changing the name of the township again from Gates
to Yankee Springs, and by that name the township is still known.
In 1843 the name of the township of Spaulding was changed to
that of Prairieville. By act of the Legislature of February 29,
1844, the two eastern townships of Johnstown, as originally
organized, were set off and organized as the township of Assyria,
and the first township meeting in that township was held at the
house of Cleveland Ellis. In 1846 the township of IMaple Grove
was set off from Assyria and the first township meeting was held
at the house of Henry Deens. In 1847 the township of Rutland
was set off from Irving and the first township meeting was held
at the house of David Rork. The present township of Baltimore
was set off from Jolnstown, as originally organized, by act of the
Legislature of March 15, 1849, and the first township meeting was
held at the hlouse of Bardsley S. Blanchard in said township.
And finally in 1850 the township of Hope was set off from Barry
and the first township meeting was held in the house of Alvah
Mott.
With the admission of the state into the Union the Legislature under the constitutional power to encourage internal improvements, began laying out and establisling state roads.
Early Road Making
Long before Michigan became a state it was apparent that
better roads were necessary to accommodate the incoming settlers
seeking homes in Michigan. Prairie Ronde in Kalamazoo County
was settled in 1828; Gull Prairie in 1830. Many of the settlers
from both of these places afterward came over the line into Barry
County. In 1833 the Territorial Legislature established a road
beginning at the Middlevillage (so-called) in Barry County and
running through Gun river plain to the territorial road near the
forks of the Pawpaw (so-called). William Iuncan of Prairie
Ronde, Cornelius Northrup and Carlos Barnes, better known as
Captain Barnes of Black Hawk war fame, from the same place,
were named as commissioners to lay out this road. The same
year another highway, leading from Marshall to the rapids of
the Grand River, was established. Lewis Campbell, Jr., Joseph
W. Brown, founder of the village of Tecumseh, and Brigadier




24


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


General in the Toledo War, and 0. Wilder, one of the founders of
the village of Allegan, were appointed as commissioners to lay
out this road.
After the admission of the state into the Union, and with the
rapid settlement of this section of the state, roads were still more
essential. In 1837 the state road was established from Kalamazoo to the county seat of Barry Couny, and Lloyd Jones, Sherman
Cummings of Comstock, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and
Mumford Eldred, who was one of the original settlers of Gull
Prairie, were named as commissioners. During the same session
of the Legislature another state road was established to run from
Marshall via. Verona, now absorbed as a part of the city of Battle
Creek, and Gun Plains to Allegan, and Charles W. Spaulding,
Silas F. Littlejohn, who located in Allegan in 1836, and Cephas
A. Smith, the first Prosecuting Attorney of Calhoun County,
elected in 1833, were named as commissioners.
Another road was established, leading from Bellevue to
Hastings, and Andrew L. Hayes, who came to Calhoun County
in 1831; Reuben Fitzgerald, who had come to Bellevue in 1833,
and was one of its influential business men, and Ievi P. Woodbury, were chosen as commissioners to lay out this road.
Another state highway was to be laid out from Allegan to
Howell. Guy C. Lee and Flavius J. B. Crane, who the same
year was elected Representative in the State Legislature from
Oakland County, were appointed commissioners for that purpose.
In 1838 a state road was established to run from Battle Creek
via. Hutchinson's Mills to Hastings, and Stephen V. R. Rork of
Johnstown, Rustin Angel of Battle Creek and John Meachem of
Bedford were named as commissioners for that purpose.
Another state road was established from Battle Creek via.
Gull Prairie to Grand Rapids, and Isaac Barnes; George Torrey,
afterward editor of the Kalamazoo Telegraph, and Roswell
Britain, were named as commissioners. Another road was established from  Kalamazoo to Hastings. Mumford Eldred, Isaac
Otis and John Mills were named as commissioners to lay it out.
Another was established from Galesburg to Hastings and Nathaniel Cathern, Hugh Shafter, father of the late General Wm.
Shafter, prominent in the Spanish War, and Reuben H. Sutton
were chosen as commissioners.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


25


In 1840 a state road was established from Vermontville to
Grand Rapids, and William Stoddard, one of the first settlers of
Charlotte; Levi Wheaton, of Chester, Eaton County, at whose
home it is claimed the first county convention in Eaton County
was held; Wait J. Squire, of Eaton County; Abner C. Parmelee,
who was the first Register of Deeds in Barry County, and afterward County Treasurer, and William G. Henry, who formerly
operated a store in Grand Rapids on the present site of the Morton
House, were named as commissioners.
Another road was established from Hastings to Grand Rapids, and Wait J. Squire, William G. Henry and Abner C. Parmelee were named as commissioners; another from Battle Creek to
Grand Rapids, of which George Torrey, Isaac Barnes and Roswell
Britian were commissioners.
In 1841 new commissioners were appointed to establish the
highway from the county seat of Eaton County, through Vermontville to Hastings, and from Hastings to continue said road
to Grand Rapids. In 1841 William B. Thorne, Calvin Hill of
Yankee Springs township and Henry H. Broth of the township of
Allegan were appointed commissioners to lay out a road commencing on the Thornapple river road in Yankee Springs, thence
via. Long Lake to Allegan.
In 1844 Aaron Ellis of Hastings, Isaac Barnes of Gull Prairie,
and James Pelton, one of the pioneers of the Grand River Valley,
and for many years Supervisor of the township of Gaines in Kent
County, were named as commissioners to lay out and establish
a road from where the road from Gull Prairie, via. Yankee
Springs to Grand Rapids crosses the base line, thence in the most
eligible route near the foot of Gun Lake and Lake Alone to the
county line in Kent County.
In 1845 John Ball, who was prominent in the early history
of Grand Rapids; Albert E. Bull, first settler in Irving, and Calvin
G. Hill, were appointed as commissioners to lay out the highway
from tie village of Middleville to Grand Rapids.
In 1848, Willard Davis of Eaton County, Nathan Barlow, Jr.,
of Barry County, and Ezra Southworth of Grand Rapids, were
appointed as commissioners to establish and lay out a highway
commencing at the township of Michigan in Ingliam County,




26


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


thence through the counties of Eaton and Barry to the village of
Allegan.
In 1849, Nicholas Campbell, Hiram Tillotson and Seth Demic
were appointed as commissioners to lay out and establish a state
road from Richland, in Kalamazoo County, to the village of
Hastings.
In 1850 a state road was established from Hastings to Ionia,
and J. W. T. Orr, who was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850 from Barry County; John B. Welch of Ionia
County and George Richmond of the same county, were appointed
as commissioners to lay out and open it.
And as late as 1859 Cyprian L. Hooper and N. G. Chase of
Ionia County, and John W. Stebbins of Hastings were appointed
as commissioners to lay out and establish a road commencing on
section 34, township 9 north, range 8 west, and running thence by
way of Cook's Corners, Smyrna, Fallasburg and Lowell, to the
village of Hastings, in Barry County.
All of these roads which were actually laid out and opened
were made passable when conditions were favorable. Bridges
were crude log affairs and frequently washed out during freshets. The roads were generally ungraded and tile yielding soil
in rainy seasons and in tle spring became a quagmire through
which the settlers were compelled to wallow with their ox teams
and old linch pin wagons. The marshes and swampy places were
covered with corduroy and this was fully exposed on top, being
for the most part free from dirt. These roads followed the line
of easiest travel, veering around lakes, hills and marshes, so as
to reach their destination with the least resistance. Many of them
have been relaid on section lines; some have been discontinued
altogether, but many of them are still in actual use as thoroughfares.
Early Agriculture
In the early settlement of the county the pioneers in the selection of land for settlement took that which was easiest available.
They first picked that which would yield most quickly and abundantly with the least labor. There were various small prairies
in the county. In Assyria, where Cleveland Ellis in 1837 selected
one as the nucleus of his extensive farming operations; Bull's
Prairie in Irving, where A. E. Bull settled in 1836; Scales Prairie




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


27


in Thornapple, the location of what was probably the first white
occupation of the county. Next to these bits of prairie land,
wholly or partially cleared, the oak openings of tlhe western and
soutlern part of the county where the timber was without underbrush, and the soil a sandy and gravelly loam, easily broken up
and subdued and capable of producing all varieties of cereal crops,
attracted tile incoming settlers, and we find that Prairieville,
Barry, Orangeville and Yankee Springs were, in the early liistory
of the county, mucll more rapidly settled and developed than the
more heavily timbered lands of Woodland, Maple Grove and
Baltimore, wlere tle dense underbrush in many places kept the
soil damp and cold during nearly tle entire season. Tlese timbered lands were very mucll more difficult to subdue, more difficult
to clear.
As the settlers came into the oak openings they at once proceeded to break tlhe soil and put in crops witliout stopping to clear
the lands of timber, and then tlrough tile fall and winter months
they put in tlie spare time girdling tlhe forest giants, to destroy the
foliage, and frequently tliese girdlings were not removed from the
land for years, tlough in tile meantime tile soil was cultivated and
produced bountiful crops witli little labor. This system of farming could not be carried on in tlle timbered lands, wllere the settler liad to fell tlie timber before lie could successfully break up
tlhe soil. Tile )rairies and oak openings developed much more
early and were settled more extensively tlhan tlhe timbered lands.
In 1840, when tile county contained nearly twelve hundred
inlabitants, tile towsnshlip of Yankee Springs contained more inhabitants than Hastings, Baltimore. Hope, Rutland and Irving
combined. Gradually tlhe settlers grew to realize that although it
required increased labor to subdue, the timbered lands were rich
and productive, and during the thirty years from  1840 to 1870
the timber of this county which was practically worthless as a
merchantable commodity was windrowed and burned in order that
the settlers might get it out of the way and clear the land for cultivation. During all this time in the slashings the high brush piles,
log heaps and giant bull thistles were matters of course, and
through the autumn months the light of the fire in the burnings
reflected in every direction from the sky. Many times the smoke
was so thick it was difficult to see the highway fence, and the set



28


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


tiers were frequently called to protect their buildings and fences
from forest fires.
Homes of the Pioneers
The settlers' houses for the most part were log cabins, one
story high, with two doors set opposite each other, with a shake
roof, with either a puncleon floor, or one made of sawed lumber,
which was regarded as an advance and a mark of aristocracy.
The furniture was of the crudest sort, generally hand made, and
the bed-steads rough wooden bunks with split pole bottoms and
marsh hay ticks. Corded bed-steads were regarded as a great advance over this earlier furniture, and a first step toward modern
luxury. Tables and chairs were hand made; oil lamps were yet
undiscovered; gasoline an unheard of product, and their cabins
were lighted by the blazing embers of the open fire-place. Later
some of the more prosperous and progressive settlers essayed the
luxury of the tallow candle. Cook stoves were not yet in use.
There never was a practical one until the old fashioned elevated
oven stoves came on the market. Cooking was done over the
open fire-place in kettles swinging on a crane, and the family
baking was taken care of in a bake kettle which seemed to produce as satisfactory results as a modern electric oven. Sanitary
precautions were laughed at and were generally unnecessary on
account of the absence of many people, and the fact that many of
them lived out of doors. Sleeping accommodations were meagre
and generally in the loft beneath the rafters, from which was hung
the season's seed corn and a variety of medicinal herbs for winter
use. This was generally reached by hand made ladders or a crude
wooden stairway; doors were hand made and in the winter time
the settlers as they sat before the fire frequently complained that
they toasted their shins while they froze their backs.
The First School
The pioneers brought to the new county the ideas of their
former home, and among those most quickly acted upon was that
of a primary school. Probably the first school taught in Barry
County was taught by Sarah Paul, at Middleville in 1835.
A school was kept by Theoda Spaulding in a room in her
father's house in what was afterward the township of Prairieville,
in 1836. It was, however, prior to 1837, for in that year the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


29


"white school house," the first frame building in Hickory Corners,
mentioned in the statute as the place of the first township meeting
in Barry township after Spaulding was set off and organized, was
erected;and Theoda Spaulding was the first school teacher in it
and in the township of Barry, as now organized. There was a
mission school at the Slater mission in Prairieville in 1836. In
1837 Mrs. Isaac Messer taught the first school in the Brown neighborhood in the township of Orangeville, at her house on section
thirty-two, and during the same year Harriet Hoyt held school in
Prairieville township. In 1839 Elizabetl Carpenter opened a
school in George Fuller's house in Carlton, and in 1840 Emma and
Marie Mott opened a private school at their home in the township
of Maple Grove. Mary, a daughter of Judge Nathan Barlow,
taught the first school in the township of Yankee Springs, in a
house built for a dwelling near the "Mansion House" of William
Lewis at Yankee Springs. Prior to that time Sarah Curtis had
kept school in the township of Johnstown in the house of W. P.
Bristol, receiving tlierefor the sum of one dollar and fifty cents a
week, and in that year the first school house in the township was
erected. Hattie Bidwell of Battle Creek was the first "wielder of
the birch" in the township of Woodland, having taught there in
1841. There was a school taught in Hastings at the house of
Slocum EH. Bunker by Miss McArthur in 1839, at which there were
four pupils. In 1841 the first school house in Hastings was made
ready and Sophia Spaulding, a daughter of C. W. Spaulding of
Prairieville, was the first teacher. A school was taught in Castleton in the Mudge district in 1842, but before that time Mrs. Olive
Racey had taught school at her house on section thirteen. In 1843
Lydia Warren of Verona taught the first school in Assyria township, at the house of Cleveland Ellis, and there was also a school
held in the township of Rutland by Chloe Benson in 1844, at Bull's
Prairie. The Mott school in Hope township was first opened in
1848 and Julia Woodward was the first teacher. The pioneer
school teacher of Baltimore was Sarah Blanchard, daughter of the
pioneer, Bardsley S. Blanchard. She afterward married George
Sheffield, whom she outlived, and she is now the last of the pioneer
school teachers of the townships of Barry County.
Free Schools
With the increase in population the townships were rapidly




30


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


broken up into small school district organizations. From the first
the state seemed destined to have free schools. Tle constitution
of 1850 provided for them. Free schools were not established
until 1869. Prior to that time they were maintained by a rate
bill and unless the parents or guardian paid the child could not
attend school.  Compulsory attendance was unknown; highschools had not yet been thought of. Academies, embryo colleges, and seminaries, generally private institutions, but some of
them endowed by religious denominations; rural primary schools,
and the branches of the University of Michigan, and different
select schools, that is, private schools maintained by individual
teachers, satisfied as best they could the craving of the youthful
mind for broader learning. Tile primitive primary school houses
with their hand made benches; small blackboards; floors, of
course, of unplaned lumber; open fire-places, or high box stoves
generally set upon a brick foundation, and tle pupil was lucky if
he had a piece of slate and a pencil, instead of a tablet and pencil,
as a part of his equipment. Thirty years ago the child in the
rural schools wlio had during the entire winter half a dozen sheets
of paper for the practice of penmanship was looked upon as getting much more than he was entitled to by the other pupils. Goose
quill pens were the principal implements for l)enmanslip and
these had to be slharpened each day by the teacller or the bigger
boys. Examinations and grades were then unknown. A pupil
wlo possessed push, quick perception and energy was not cast into
a system of grades and his pace measured by that of the slower
pupils, but lie could go forward as rapidly as his ability warranted,
but on the other hand those who were duller in many cases under
the primitive school system in force in Michigan, obtained no education worthy of consideration. Under the rate bill system the
opportunities of the children of poor men were not equal to those
of the better class and many children grew disgusted with the
schools and quit tlem early for tle more immediate productive
fields of agricultural development. Music was no part of the
school curriculum. I)iscipline was severe and physical strength
was fully as important as educational qualifications to the teacher.
Singing schools, spelling schools and writing schools were frequently held in the various district school houses, evenings, but
these were quite generally considered as much places of amuse



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


31


ment and as affording a place of sparking rather than as a part of
the educational system. They were patronized and tolerated not
as educational institutions, but as social meeting places.
Ague or Malarial Fever
Among the early settlers malarial fever or ague was a common complaint, and prior to 1870 very few of the inhabitants
escaped its ravages, especially during the summer months. Ague
cures were favorite quack nostrums, but with the clearing up of
the country, the drainage of stagnant pools and cat-holes and the
disappearance of the swamps, both ague and the omnipresent
mosquito of pioneer days have to a great extent disappeared.
Plank Road Companies
There was then as now a demand for better transportation
facilities, and through a heavily wooded country, where standing
timber was valueless, plank roads seemed the best temporary solution of the highway problem, and we find not only in Barry
County, but throughout the state many plank road companies
organized for the construction of plank toll roads. In 1848 fortysix companies were chartered. In 1849 thirty-nine companies
were chartered and in 1850 more than sixty plank road companies
were chartered, so that the period from 18-45 to 1855 may well be
called the plank road era in the state of Michigan.
In 184,9 the Legislature incorporated the Battle Creek &
Hastings Plank Road Company with an authorized capital of
forty thousand dollars, to build a plank road from Battle Creek to
Hastings. Alonzo Noble, Jonathan Hart, Reuben Pew and E. K.
Ward of Battle Creek and Henry A. Goodyear, Nathan Barlow,
Jr., Alvin W. Bailey, Salmon C. Hall and William P. Bristol of
Barry County, were named as the directors. A part of this road
was constructed and for many years it was the main thoroughfare
between Battle Creek and Hastings.
In 1850 the Legislature chartered the Hastings & Yankee
Springs Plank Road Company to construct a plank road from
Hastings, through the township of Yankee Springs, with the privilege of connecting with the plank road of any other plank road
company. Philip Leonard, who had come to Thornapple in 1836;
David Rork, at whose house the first township meeting in the
township of Rutland was held; Heman I. Knappen, prominent in




32


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


the early history not only of Gull Prairie, but of Hastings, were
the directors. This road had an authorized capital of thirty thousand dollars, but I cannot find that the plank were ever laid upon
any part of it. The same year the charter of the Battle Creek &
Hastings Plank Road Company was amended so as to authorize
that company to continue their road from Hastings to the mouth
of the Thornapple river and thence to the village of Grand Rapids, and the authorized capital was increased from forty thousand
dollars to sixty thousand dollars.
The Grand River Valley Railroad
In the meantime progressive men were looking forward to the
development of railroad facilities in this state, and the Grand
River Valley Railroad Company was incorporated as early as
1846 to build a railroad from Jackson to Grand Rapids, although
construction was not commenced until after the Civil War.
Court House and Jail
The first Circuit Court ever held in Barry County was said
to have been held in a building which then stood where the Hastings City Bank now stands, May 6, 1840. The first jail is said to
have been back of where Isaac Hendershott's residence now is,
and this jail has been described as a square log house, set in a hole
in the ground, without windows and doors, the logs being hewn
smooth on the inside; the prisoners were lowered into this jail
from the top by ladder and then the ladder was withdrawn and
there was no way that the prisoner could get out. This jail was
used but a short time and most of the prisoners who were incarcerated therein were let out each day by the Sheriff on their
"parole of honor." The grand jury room which was the first used
in the city of Hastings is said to have been in the log tavern of
Levi Chase, situated just west of the south end of the Michigan
Avenue bridge. At a meeting of the County Commissioners, who
then exercised the duties now performed by the Board of Supervisors, on January 13, 1842, the building of a jail was considered.
Drafts and estimates seem to have been already furnished to the
Board of Commissioners and these were taken up for action. The
first action of the Board of Commissioners was the passage of a
resolution declaring that it was expedient for the county to erect a
jail together with a room suitable for holding courts, and there



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


33


upon it was further resolved that the Board of Commissioners
adopt a plan as soon as may be and receive proposals and let the
job for erecting the building to the lowest bidder. At a meeting
of the Commissioners held on July 4, 1842, they allowed Hiram J.
Kenfield of Hastings two hundred dollars toward compensating
him for building the courthouse and jail. This courthouse was
built upon substantially the same site that the present one occupies. These were strenuous times on the Board of Supervisors,
which about this time succeeded the Board of Commissioners. On
October 14, 1844, we find tile Board of Supervisors adjourning to
meet at five o'clock the following morning, and there are many
adjournments of record in the Supervisors' proceedings during tile
period from  18.40 to 1850, to six o'clock in tile morning. Thlis
courtlouse and jail which was erected by Hiram J. Kenfield was
undoubtedly completed by 18-}4, because at the October session
of 18.44 Frederick Ingram  was appointed as the agent of tile
county to procure stoves for the courtllouse. This, tle first courtllouse in Barry County, was burned in 1846. Abner C. Parmelee,
wlo llad been tile Treasurer of tlle county from 1839 to 18845, undoubtedly did not account satisfactorily for tlle county funds, because in 1841 lie together with the sureties upon1 his bond were
requested to confess judgment in the Circuit Court for the County
of Barry for tile amount of his alleged defalcation as Treasurer,
and in 1845 the county procured a judgment against botll Parmelee and tile sureties upon his bond as Treasurer. At the October session of tlle Board of Supervisors of 1846 the issuance of an
execution against Parmelee and tlhe sureties on his bond was
postponed pending negotiations to rebuild the courthouse tlen recently burned, for the reason that the Board of Supervisors of the
county contemplated swapping the judgment which they obtained
against Parmelee and the sureties upon his bond toward tlhe contract price of rebuilding tile courtlouse.
The County Well
Tlhe county well was a source of much annoyance to the early
residents of Hastings. When Hiram J. Kenfield built the first
court house and jail it was claimed that he was to put down a
county well and tllat lie failed to do so. At the September meeting of the Board of Supervisors in 1845 the Prosecuting Attorney
of tile county was directed to proceed against Mr. Kenfield for his




34


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


failure to dig the county well at the court house. We do not find
any record that proceedings were actually commenced. We tlink
that Kenfield dug the well, but just how deep lie sunk it is conjectural; in any event, at the October session of tle Board in 1845
we find that Mr. Hayes was authorized to employ Peter Cobb to
take up and sink the county well of sufficient deptlh so that three
feet or over of water could be obtained, and tile proceedings show
that Cobb later received his pay for so doing.
Rebuilding the Court House
At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors on January 6, 1847,
it was resolved to let the job of rebuilding the court louse, and
the plans of John Lewis prepared for the same, were accepted and
the contract for its erection awarded to Alvin W. Bailey of Hastings, who was to receive therefor as the first payment of fifteen
hundred dollars upon the contract price of the court house, the
judgment which had been rendered in favor of the county against
Abner C. Parmelee and tie sureties upon his bond, Cleveland
Ellis of Assyria, George Brown of Orangeville, and Calvin G.
Hill of Thornapple. Bailey was undoubtedly slow in fulfilling
his contract, for on March 16, 1848, he was asked by tle Board
of Supervisors to show cause why lie had not carried out and fulfilled his contract for the erection of the building. He undoubtedly came before the Board and explained the situation to tleir
satisfaction, for on the next day a new contract was made with
him for the completion of the job and lie then went on and finished the building. On October 9tlh, 1848, the proceedings of the
Board of Supervisors showed that it was resolved that E. I). Alden
of Hastings be employed to furnish seven sets of Windsor chairs
for the Court House, said chairs to be made of two inch stuff in
bottoms and proportioned accordingly, otherwise well painted,
and lettered on the back with the word "County," and that lie
receive twenty-four dollars in county orders tlierefor.
A New Jail
After the first jail and court house was burned in 18 46 nothing was done for several years toward the erection of a new jail;
the prisoners of Barry County being in tile meantime confined in
the county jail at Kalamazoo. At the October session of the
Board in 1853 Cleveland Ellis, John Miles and E. I. Carpenter
were appointed by the Board as a committee to investigate the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


35


practicability of erecting a new jail, and they reported that the
county should build a jail of the dimensions of the upright build

Dr. Charles S. Burton, Pioneer Physician of Hastings, Whose Biography
Appears in the Biographical Section of This Book
ing of the Calloun County jail at Marshall, and recommended
that a committee of three be appointed to make an estimate of the
probable cost and report at the next session of the Board of Super



36


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


visors. They also recommended that the county purchase lots 583
and 584 of the city of Hastings as a site. The report made by the
committee to the Board of Supervisors was adopted and it was
voted to raise one thousand dollars for the construction of a new
jail. Nathan Barlow, Jr., George K. Beamer and E. R. Carpenter were appointed as a committee to take over the title to the land
and provide for the construction of the jail. This committee was
discharged at the January session of 1854 and Natlan Barlow, Jr.,
Cleveland Ellis and George K. Beamer were appointed as a committee to purchase the site and to supervise the erection of the
building. This jail was built by Ferris & Edgcomb, contractors,
and was on the site now occupied by the residence of Philo A.
Sheldon.
The Present Court House and Jail
The county buildings erected in 1847 were repaired from time
to time, but after forty years of use they were somewhat antiquated. There was considerable agitation in Barry County in
favor of the erection of more modern county buildings. At the
January, 1889, session of the Board of Supervisors a committee,
consisting of Albert G. Kent, Supervisor of Assyria; Edward F.
Nye, Supervisor of the township of Johnstown, and Charles A.
Brown, Supervisor of Rutland, was appointed, to visit the court
house at Charlotte with a view of gaining information in order to
submit to the qualified voters of Barry County the question of
building a new court house. They reported at the same session
and a resolution was passed submitting tie question of raising the
sum of sixty thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a new
court house to the voters of the county at the April, 1889, township meeting. This proposal was opposed somewllat strongly by
many of the Supervisors who believed that the county should get
along with the old court house and erect some sort of a safety
vault for the protection of the county records, and the proposition
was decisively defeated at the polls. Things went along for a
number of years. The county needed a jail. On January 20,
1891, Circuit Judge Frank A. Hooker sent a communication to
the Board of Supervisors of Barry County in which lie stated that
after a personal examination lie had found that the jail was not a
secure one, that the Sheriff's duties were rendered exceedingly
hazardous by reason of the construction of the jail; that its sani



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


37


tary condition rendered it unfit for habitation; that it was a fire
trap; that should a fire occur the prisoners therein would almost
certainly perish; that it was unsafe for the detention of prisoners
and that it was an outrage upon justice to confine prisoners
therein, and directed that the Board of Supervisors designate
some other place for the detention of prisoners. At the same session the Board of Supervisors made arrangements to detain prisoners thereafter in the jail of Eaton County. At the January,
1892, session of the Board of Supervisors the question of submitting to the qualified voters of the county at the spring election of
1892 the question of raising fifty-four thousand dollars for building a court house was passed and the Clerk authorized to give
notice of the submission of the question. At the spring election
of 1892 the proposition to build a new court house and jail was
carried by a vote of 2,772 for and 1,667 against the proposition.
At the April, 1892, session of the Board of Supervisors a building
committee was appointed to have charge of the erection of the
county buildings, consisting of John G. Nagler, Supervisor of
Irving; Orson Swift, Supervisor of Maple Grove, and Oscar Matthews, the Supervisor of Hastings. A committee was also appointed to investigate the plans adopted by different counties for
their court houses and this committee consisted of Orson Swift,
James H. McKevitt, Supervisor of Thornapple; John G. Nagler
and Thomas S. Brice, the County Clerk. This committee after
visiting and examining the court houses in Allegan, Muskegon,
Mecosta, Isabella, Livingston, Brancl and Ionia counties, reported
that they were unanimous in the opinion tlat the court house at
Howell, in Livingston county, was the best, considering the cost
of construction, of any that they had visited, and they recommended that the building committee adopt a plan for a court house
in the city of Hastings substantially similar to that of the court
house in Livingston county. This was done and the present buildings were erected and completed ready for occupancy on the first
of January, 189-1.
The Court Yard
The Court House square in Hastings is regarded as one of the
most beautiful in the state of Michigan. After the first court
house was burned in 1846 and before the second court house was
erected the Board of Supervisors let Nathan Barlow, Jr., occupy




38


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


the court house square during the spring and summer of 1847 for
the purpose of sowing said ground to oats and seeding it down
with clover seed, and the resolution of the Board of Supervisors
provided that Barlow was to have the avails of said crop in consideration of his sowing and seeding the same in a good and workmanlike manner, and as late as October 10, 1849, the Board of
Supervisors voted that Nathan Barlow, Jr., be allowed to go on
agreeable to the old contract and grub the stumps out of the court
house yard; and on January 4, 1855, the Sheriff of the county was
instructed to keep the fence around the court house square in repair and to keep the gate locked except when court was in session,
so as to exclude therefrom all cattle, hogs and other domestic animals which in those days roamed not only over the county but
the city as well.
County Agricultural Society
The Barry County Agricultural Society was organized December 29th, 1851. The second annual fair of the society was
held at the Court House in the city of Hastings, the Court House
square being used for the purpose of exhibiting stock, the lower
part of tile court house being used as a place for exhibiting different products, the upper part of the court house being used for
speaking. The county fair was held for two years at Prairieville.
In 1859 it was decided to hold the fair on Market Square, the
same being now a part of the fair ground claimed by the Barry
County Agricultural Society, and the fair has been held on substantially the same site continuously since. At this, the second
annual meeting of the society, Hiram Lewis of Prairieville was
elected President, and James W. Bradley of Yankee Springs was
elected Secretary. An executive committee was appointed consisting of seven members of the society. At the election of the
society on July 12, 1858, it was decided that in addition to the
president, secretary and treasurer, there should be a vice-president
elected from each township, and the following were the first vicepresidents of the Barry County Agricultural Society under this
arrangement:
Cleveland Ellis, Assyria.
Gilbert Striker, Baltimore.
Irvin Hewitt, Barry.
Isaac Messer, Carlton.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


39


Lorenzo Mudge, Castleton.
Nathan Barlow, Hastings.
J. E. Hall, Hope.
C. Hannali, Irving.
William P. Bristol, Jolinstown.
Leander Lapham, Maple Grove.
Henry Brown, Orangeville.
Hiram Iewis, Prairieville.
Asa D. Rork, Rutland.
Alonzo Barnum, Woodland.
Timothy Jollnson, Yankee Springs.
Since that time substantially the same sort of an organization has been maintained and fairs have been held each year at
the Market Square, which now constitutes a part of the fair
ground of the Agricultural Society and which has been enlarged
from time to time by tle purclhase of additional grounds.
The County Farm
Superintendents of the Poor were elected by the County Commissioners at the first meeting in 1839. Tile poor had generally
been supported by contract. There were no insane asylums in the
state and during the early forties insane patients of this county
were cared for at the insane asylum in Chicago, 111., until after the
opening of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Kalamazoo,
Michigan. In I)ecember, 1849, the Board of Supervisors resolved
that the Superintendents of the Poor should be instructed to solicit
terms of purchase and gatler information preparatory to purchasing a county farm and building a building for the care of the
poor, and this committee so appointed seems to have made a report. In 1853 the Superintendents of the Poor earnestly recommended to the Board of Supervisors that steps be taken for the
purcllase of a proper poor farm and the erection of county poor
buildings, and W. W. Ralpll was appointed by the Board of Supervisors as agent to open correspondence and elicit information in
regard to the cost and advisability of so doing. At the October
session of the Board of Supervisors in 1854 a tax of eight hundred
dollars was directed to be levied upon the taxable property of the
county and this sum when raised was to be applied toward the
purchase of a poor farm and erection of county buildings. R. W.




40


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Hanna of Irving, D. G. Robinson of Hastings, and Hiram Lewis
were appointed as a committee to select a proper location for the
poor farm. On January 22, 1855, this committee reported to the
Board of Supervisors. Much opposition to the purchase of the
present poor farm was apparent, and the Board of Supervisors
voted not to purchase the farm recommended by the committee.
On the next day, however, they rescinded that resolution and appointed a committee consisting of John Miles, O. B. Sheldon and
Silas Bowker, who were to purchase a poor farm as soon as practicable and who were to use their own judgment as they might
think proper in the situation in its purchase, and to draw
the money from the county treasury for the payment of the
same. Shortly afterward this committee purchased for thirtyfive hundred dollars the west half of the southeast quarter and the
east twenty acres of the southwest quarter of section 27 in the
township of Hastings, now constituing the Poor Farm. Tliere
were already buildings upon this farm, but a frame building near
the site of the present county poor house was erected for the care
of the poor, and this was repaired from time to time until 1877,
when a committee of the Board of Supervisors reported that the
county poor house was entirely unfit for the comfortable keeping
of the inmates and recommended that the county build a new brick
poor house containing at least one room for the care of insane
patients. David G. Robinson, Samuel J. Bidelman of Hastings,
and Lewis Durkee of Castleton were named as a building committee to look after the erection of the same, and the present poor
house was constructed and turned over by the committee to the
Superintendents of the Poor as completed in January, 1879. In
1898 a brick hospital building was erected by the Superintendents
of the Poor and later a building for the care of tubercular patients
was established.
Barry in the War
No other county in the state of Michigan contributed more
liberally to the Civil War than did Barry County. During the
Civil War the population of Barry County was at all times less
than fifteen thousand inhabitants, yet tile county furnished 1,632
men for the Union army, an average of 102 from each township in
the county. More than forty of these became commissioned




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


41


officers; eleven per cent of the entire population of the county was
enrolled as soldiers in the Union army. Not only did the county
contribute liberally in men but it contributed liberally in money.
At no time during the Civil War did the assessed valuation of
Barry County reach two million dollars, yet from 1861 to 1867
Barry County raised and paid out for the support of the families
of volunteers who were at the front in the Civil War $86,598.00,
and the expenses to the several townships occasioned by the war
aggregated $186,641.00, a total expense to the people of the county
of $267,239.00, or more than fifteen per cent of the total assessed
valuation of all of the real and personal property in the county
when the war broke out.
Early Churches
Joseph S. Blaisdell, who came to what is now the township
of Assyria as the first pioneer in 1836, was a Freewill Baptist minister and it is said that lie held public worship in that township
shortly after he came there. Whether he did so or not it is certain that he organized a Freewill Baptist church in the township
of Assyria, which after his death in 1848 was dissolved. Perhaps
the mission church, established by the Rev. Leonard Slater in the
township of Prairieville, was the first church in Barry County.
It is claimed that religious services were held at the "Mansion
House" of William Lewis in Yankee Springs by Rev. Calvin Clark
in 1837. Rev. William Daubney, who seems to have been familiarly known to the early pioneers as "Father Daubney," in 1839
held religious services in the house of Charles W. Bassett in the
township of Yankee Springs. In 1839 or early in 1840, a Methodist class was organized at North Pine Lake in the townships of
Prairieville and Orangeville. Father Daubney was an itinerant
minister and he travelled horseback, visiting all of the settlers. As
early as 1840, it is said lie held services in Woodland. In Hastings undoubtedly the first religious service of any kind was at the
funeral of Mr. DeGroat, one of the pioneers in Rutland who died
in 1836, and he was the first person buried in the newly laid out
cemetery in Hastings then immediately south of the public school
buildings in the Fourth ward. Rev. Calvin Clark preached this
funeral sermon. In 1839 Father Daubney held services at the
house of Slocum H. Bunker, located near where the Hotel Barry




42


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


is situated at the present time. It is said in 1840 Isaac Messer
came to Hastings, and stopping at the tavern of Levi Chase, situated immediately west of the south end of the 5Michigan Avenue
bridge, across the river, held religious services there. In the fall
of 1840 or in the spring of 1841 Rev. John Ercanbrach, who was
then the Presiding Elder of the Kalamazoo district, held a quarterly meeting in Hastings. As early as 1838 Elder Emory Cherry
and Elder York held services in the township of Johnstown. Tile
Congregational disciples of Thorn)apple, now maintaining a church




Leonard Slater, Founder of the Famous Slater Mission


at Middleville, claimed to have held services as early as 1835. In
any event, Calvin G. Hill and Henry Leonard, who came to that
township from Monroe, New York, in 1835, belonged to the Congregational denomination. In 1843 the Congregational church of
Middleville was organized; in 1840 the Carlton Methodist class
was organized, and the same year the Rev. Daniel Bush came to
Hastings as a missionary, and was the first resident preacher who
had regular charge of any church in Barry County.
From this time the churches grew apace. The institutions
above named, and many others that have since come into exist



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


43


ence, were Protestant. There was in the community about Yankee Springs a large number of Catholics and about 1850 they
bought the Lewis McCloud house in the township and converted
it into a church or place of public worship, and for a considerable
period after tllat time tlhey liad occasional religious services tlhere.
A cemetery was laid out by tlis denomination in the township of Yankee Springs, and this cemetery still remains. With
the removal of tile families from the neighborhood tile organization fell apart and Catlholic services have long since been discontinued at that place, though tlere are prosperous churches of this
denomination in both Hastings and Nashville.
Barry County Newspapers
Tlle Barry County Pioneer, a weekly Democratic paper, was
tlhe first newspaper printed or published in Barry County. It was
first issued January 2-1, 1851, Mr. G. A. Smith being the editor
and proprietor. In the fall of 1851 lie sold this paper to A. A.
Knappen, who for some time continued to publisl the same weekly
except when circumstances were such that lie was unable to get
the print paper in time for publication. In 1853 Mr. Smith again
embarked in the newspaper business in Hastings, publishing the
Barry County Review. In June, 1854, Smith bought out the Pioneer of Mr. Knappen and consolidated tile two papers under the
name of tile Barry County Pioneer; Henry A. Goodyear of the
city of Hastings became associate editor of the same. The Republican Banner was tlhe first publislied in 1856 by a syndicate of men
interested in Barry County politics, Norman E. Bailey being tie
first editor. In the fall of 1856 George WV. Mills became the editor
of tile Republican Banner and remained so until the paper was
sold to James M. Nevins in July, 1857. About this time tile Barry
County Pioneer suspended publication, but during tle political
campaign of 1860 the Pioneer was resurrected and it strongly supported the election of Steplen A. Douglas as President of the
United States and opposed tile election of Lincoln. Throughout
tlhe Civil War it was most bitter in its attacks upon the administration. It supported McClellan for President in 1864, and the
issue of tlhe Pioneer thlat announced tile assassination of President
Lincoln also gave notice of the suspension of the publication of the
Barry County Pioneer. In the spring of 1867 W. Roscoe Young




44


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


took over the material in the printing office of the Pioneer and
started the Independent. In 1868 Young's printing office burned
and a subscription was circulated and a fund raised for the establishment of a newspaper, of which Mr. Young was the editor.
This paper was called the Democrat, a name which was afterward
changed to the Hastings Home Journal and later to the Journal.
This paper after a publication of about forty years was consolidated in 1911 with the Hastings Herald under the name of the
Journal-Herald. Since the establislhment of these papers there
have been many newspapers published in the county; at the present time there being weekly papers published in Nashville, Freeport, Woodland, Prairieville, Middleville and I)elton, in addition
to those published in Hastings.
Postoffices and the Mails
When Amasa S. Parker first came to wlhat is now the township of Prairieville in 1831 there had already been established a
postoffice at Gull Prairie. The postoffice at Bronson or Kalamazoo was not established until 1832. For some time the postoffice
at Kalamazoo and the one at Gull Prairie were tile places from
which most of the pioneer residents of Barry County received their
mail. There was no postoffice within the county until 1837, when
the first postoffice was established at Yankee Springs, and William
Lewis, the proprietor of the Mansion House, was the first postmaster. Prior to 1839 the residents of Hastings received their
mail at Yankee Springs, Gull Prairie, or Kalamazoo, but in that
year a postoffice was established in Hastings on a mail route running from Coldwater to Grand Rapids, and Willard Hayes was
appointed the first Postmaster. The same year another postoffice
was opened called Middleville, on the stage route running from
Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, and Benjamin S. Dibble was appointed the first Postmaster. This postoffice was erected at what
is now known as Gates Corners, about two and one-half or three
miles from the present village of Middleville. In 1841 or 1842 a
postoffice was established in the township of Assyria at the house
of Cleveland Ellis, who was the first Postmaster. The postoffice
at Carlton was establisled in 1844 and J. S. Rogers was appointed
as the first Postmaster. A postoffice was established at Irving, on
the stage route from Battle Creek via. Hastings to Grand Rapids,
in 1846. Albert E. Bull, from whom Bull's Prairie was named,




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


45


was the first Postmaster. No postoffice was established in Woodland until in 1849, when Nehemiah Lovewell was named as Postmaster. With the steady increase in population in the county the
postoffices increased in great number, and twenty years ago, and
immediately before the establishment of rural free delivery, there
was in the county probably three times as many postoffices as exist
today. This system of rural free delivery has dispensed with the
necessity of these local offices and a great number of minor offices
have been discontinued.
The early mail carriers wlo came to Hastings generally travelled on horseback, carrying the mails in saddlebags. There was
only rarely publislhed in this country a magazine in those days;
newspapers were few and the correspondence of tile early settlers
was not very extensive.
Travelling in Early Days
Prior to 1869 there was no railroad in operation that reached
the city of Hastings; there was a stage line established in 1846
running from Battle Creek via Hastings to Grand Rapids and
whlich afforded fairly rapid transit, making the trip in one day
either way. Another stage line was operated from Hastings via
Yankee Springs to Kalamazoo. Another stage line left the Rathbone House in Grand Rapids and ran via Yankee Springs, Hastings, Charlotte and Eaton Rapids to Jackson. There was also
another stage line running from Kalamazoo via Yankee Springs
to Grand Rapids. Tlese stage lines were the only means for
passenger travel outside of private conveyances, until the opening
of the Grand River Vallev Railroad in 1869.
Freight to all of the interior of the county was handled by
tote teams. Tile main line of tile Michigan Central had been in
operation for many years and freiglit was hauled into the interior
from Grand Rapids, to wliicli point it was slipped by boat; and from
Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Jackson and Marshall on the Michigan
Central Railroad. Marketing was an important item in farming.
It meant to all of the people living in the county a trip covering
one day and most of two nights. Many of the roads were unsafe
and ungraded. Frequently the pioneers had to unload in order to
get their wagons out of the mud. Halfway houses, local stopping
places on the stage roads for the accommodation of passengers and
tlose hauling freight to the interior, were common. It is now




46       HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY
X.. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.
00
-Activatio..4.,
03.0
0




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


47


difficult to conceive tllat until 1869 all of tile merchandise distributed at Hastings came overland from Battle Creek, Kalamazoo
and Jackson, or from Grand Rapids, and that a large number of
men were engaged in tile freiglit business alone. Stages and
freighters were steady patrons of tllese early taverns and they
flourishd at Assyria, wliere tile Tamarack was celebrated; at
Bristol's in Jollnstown, and at Yankee Springs. wlere the Mansion House of William Lewis was probably the best known of any
hlotel west of Detroit.  With tlhe coming of tile railroads, the discontinuatnce of tile stage lines and freigliters, these early taverns
graduallyl disappea.red.
Grand River Valley Road Completed
After the original organization of tlle Grand River Valley
Railroad tlere wais considerable agitation periodically for many
years for tile est:ablishlment of a railroad running through Hastings. 'I'liese various projects received considerable check during
tile Civil War, but immediatelv after tile Civil War the Battle
Creek & Gr:and Rapids Railroad Company was organized, Henry
Willis of Battle Creek being its p)rincilpal promotor; Henry A.
Goodyear of tlle city of Itastings was one of its directors. During
tlle agitation for tile building of tiis road frequent meetings were
llield by tlle l)romoters in various parts of the state, and the townsilil) of Hastings at one time voted bonds for tlle aid of the construction of sucll railroad. In 1866 agitation was taken up for the
construction of tlle G;rand River Valley Railroad.  Meetings were
leld in Hastiings:and:tt otlher places along tlle line and funds were
solicited from various individuals and the several townships in
lBarry C'ounty. as well as in tile adjoining counties, were asked to
vote funds under tlle Railway Aid Acts. This road was surveyed
in 1866 and construction work was commenced in 1867. The road
was coml)eted from Jackson to Nashville so that regular service
vwas established Jlanuarv 26, 1869.  Regular railway service was
established from Jlackson to Hastings on February 22 of the same
year. and in 1870 tlle road was completed to Grand Rapids.
After-ward tlle (ran;d River Valley Railroad Company leased the
same on a long term lease to the Michigan Central Railroad Complany, wlo completed its equipment and who have since operated
it.  Tlle Cincinnllti, Jackson &  Mackinaw  Railroad was built
from  l)undee to Allegan, crossing the southwestern part of the




48


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


county, and opened November 29, 1883. The Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Railroad was built from Kalamazoo to Hastings
in 1888, and the Grand Rapids, Lansing & Northern, afterward
the Detroit, Lansing & Northern, and later consolidated with the
Pere Marquette, which runs across the northern part of the county,
was open for use between Grand Ledge and Grand Rapids in
August, 1881.
History of Local Option
The people of Barry County have quite generally been opposed to the liquor traffic. In 1853, when the vote was first taken
upon the old local option law, 642 votes were cast in favor of the
law and 348 against it. In 1887, when the amendment to the constitution of the state prohibiting the liquor traffic was submitted
to the people for approval, the vote in Barry County stood 3,099
for the amendment and 1,933 against it. In 1908, when the
present local option law was submitted to the people for a vote it
resulted in 3,498 for the prohibitory law and 2,093 against it, and
in 1910, when it was resubmitted the vote stood 3,280 for continuing the law in force and 2,316 against it.
Barry and the Constitution
In the Constitutional Convention of 1835 Barry County, not
then being separately organized, had no representative but was
represented by the delegate from Kalamazoo County. In 1850,
when the question was submitted as to whether or not we should
have a general revision of the constitution of the state, the vote in
Barry County was unanimous for a revision, standing 745 yeas
and no nays.
J. W. T. Orr, who for some time was Supervisor of Irving
township, was elected the delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, and this constitution when submitted to tle people
was ratified and approved and continued in force until 1909, although in 1867 tle people voted for a constitutional revision and a
Constitutional Convention was held, Harvey Wright of Middleville and Adam Elliott of Hickory Corners being delegates, but
upon the constitution of 1867 being submitted to the people for
approval it was rejected, and therefore the constitution of 1850
continued in force.
In 1908 the people again voted for a general revision of the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


49


constitution and Charles H. Thomas represented Barry County in
the convention, and this constitution was adopted by a majority
wlen it was submitted and is now in force.
Census Figures
Tile population of Barry County, which was 512 in 1837, had
more than doubled by 1840; according to the Federal census it
was 1,078. In the next ten years it increased from 1,078 to 5,072,
and in the ten years from 1850 to 1860 it increased from 5,072 in
1850 to 13,858 in 1860. Notwithstanding the enormous drain
upon the county in men during the Civil War tie population from
1860 to 1864 increased from 13,858 to 14,441. By 1870 the population had reached 22,199, and 25,317 in 1880, since which time
the population has varied somewhat from 22,000 upward, but has
never reached at any Federal census so high a point in numbers
as in 1880.
Sketch of City of Hastings
The land occupied by the original plat of the city of Hastings
was sold by Eurotas P. Hastings to a syndicate of men in Marshall
on July 26, 1836, and the purchasers immediately began the
organization of the Hastings Village Company and the surveying
and platting of the land. Tie original founders of Hastings saw
at once that it would be necessary to erect a saw mill in order to
furnish lumber for the proposed town on what was called the
"County Seat Purchased" of Barry County. Slocum H. Bunker
came to Hastings probably not as the first white person who came
here, but as the first to build a home in the future city. This
family did not come here with the intention of permanently residing in Hastings, but only for the purpose of boarding the hands
who were sent forward by the Hastings Company to erect their
saw mill on Fall Creek. Tile Hastings Company started out pretentiously and platted the entire of the original village, but with
the financial stringency of 1837 and the years immediately succeeding it went upon the rocks; was in the hands of a receiver
and its affairs were wound up by the Clancellor of Michigan
through the Court of Chancery at Ann Arbor. Practically all of
the deeds in the city of Hastings trace title back to the trustee of
the Hastings Company, appointed by the Michigan Chancery
Court for the purpose of winding up its affairs and disposing of
its assets.




50


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


In 1840 Henry A. Goodyear came to Hastings as its pioneer
merclant and at once engaged in business. In 184 1 Alvin  V.
Bailey opened a store here and the next year William Upjohn
engaged il tlie mercantile business in Hastings, and in 1843 Will

Gen. Eurotas P. Hastings, After Whom the City of Hastings Was Named
iam S. Goodyear came here; and in 18,1 Vespasian Young located
in Hastings and engaged in business and thlenceforward merclants
have come and gone substantially in the same manner as they
11ave in the otler cities and villages of similar size in tllis state.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


51


Tlhe first hotel was occupied by Levi Chase, south of Thornapple
river and west of the Michigan Avenue bridge. Chase died in
service during the Mexican War. Nathan Barlow, Jr., who had
come to Hastings from Yankee Springs as County Clerk of tile
county in 1843, built a hotel on the present site of tile Hastings
House.
I)avid M. Dake, who located liere in 1838, was the first resident physician. Ir. Upjohn came in 1841 and Dr. John Roberts
in 18-45, and they were followed in 1851 by Ir. Clarles S. Burton
and A. P. Drake. Probably tile first lawyer to take up his residence in Hastings was Marsh Giddings, wllo came here from
Kalamazoo in 18-2. He was afterward elected Representative in
the State Legislature, was Judge of Probate of Kalamazoo County,
member of tlhe Constitutional Convention in 1867 and at the time
of his deatll tlhe governor of tile Territory of New Mexico. In
1843 Isaac A. Holbrook located lere and for nearly half a century
he was prominently identified with tlle progress of the city.
Hastings was incorporated as a village by act of the legislature February 13, 1855. Alvin W. Bailey was elected as its first
President. On March 11, 1871, it was incorporated as a city;
Henry A. Goodyear being the first Mayor.
Hastings is tile county seat of Barry County; its population is
in the neigblllorlood of five thousand.
Other Municipalities
Second to Hastings in size and importance is Nashville,
located on tile eastern border of the county, on the Thornlapple
river and tle Grand River Valley Railroad. It lies partly in
Maple Grove township, but mostly in Castleton. it was platted
by Robert Gregg in 1865 and was incorporated March 26, 1869,
Lemuel Smith being the first President.
Calvin G. Hill was tlle first white proprietor of tile land on
which tile present village of Middleville stands. It was probably
surveyed and platted before 1850, but the work was so imperfectly
done tlhat it is impossible to tell its date. The plat was not recorded
until 1859. The name Middleville was transferred to the village
after it was platted, it being a survival of tile Indian village
known as the Middle village which was located on Scales Prairie,
and tlhe name given to the first postoffice established at Gates
Corners and named by Lucius Lyon, tlen a member of Congress,




52


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


as Middleville. The name Middleville in reality was first attached
to the old French block house on the prairie used as a hotel and
stopping place on the Battle Creek and Grand Rapids road.
Isaac N. Keeler was the pioneer merchant of Middleville.
This village was incorporated in 1867. Isaac N. Keeler was the
first President and William L. Cobb, still a resident of Middleville, was the first village Clerk.
The first location near the present village of Woodland was
in 1847 by John McArthur. In 1849 one Snyder set up a blacksmith shop there; Jacob Strauss opened a store at Woodland Center in 1853. In 1861 J. S. Goodyear started to open a store at
Woodland, but he thought the prospects there were too poor and
hauled the goods back to Hastings without unloading them.
Lawrence Hilbert engaged in trade here and about 1865 lots began
to be set off and sold. Tile place was known as Woodland Center
until 1892, when it was incorporated under tle name of the village
of Woodland under the general village law by the Board of Supervisors of Barry County.
Elated at the prospects of securing a railroad at an early date
at Freeport, Samuel Roush in 1874 platted the village. Eventually it secured railroad facilities, being on one of the branches of
the Pere Marquette Railroad. It was incorporated by a special
act of the Legislature in 1907.




Special Articles
WHEN THE CIRCUS CAME TO YANKEE SPRINGS
By Chas. A. Weissert
The man who lias lived longest in Hastings is Oscar Young, a
well-known citizen. He hlas lived liere 70 years. Born in Battle
Creek on July 1, 1840, lie was brought to Hastings by his father,
Vespasian Young, wlio conducted a store lhere until he died in
1848. While Mr. Young resided in Battle Creek lie bought furs
which lie sold to the firm of Godfrey & Campau, of I)etroit. In
Hastings his place of business was in a building which stood wliere
Joln Robert's news room now is. Henry Goodyear had a store
on the corner occupied by the National Bank building. There
was a Iiotel kept by Nathan Barlow and another kept by George
Fuller. Hastings was accessible by roads leading from  Battle
Creek, and Yankee Springs. Mr. Young's father bought furs, and
sold blankets, bars of lead for bullets and other necessities which
the Indians required. He also made buckskin gloves and mittens.
He spent his spare time in studying law. Tllere was a number of
pettifoggers in Hastings at that time. When Mr. Fuller had an
Indian arrested for not returning a kettle which he had borrowed,
Dr. Upjohn pettifogged the case for the Indian and won it. At
anotller time James Iarling, a Mexican War veteran, was bitten
by a dog owned by 0. N. Henry. Trouble ensued, and Hemen I.
Knappen, who drove tlle stage between Hastings and Battle
Creek, appeared as attorney for Henry. These trials and cases
were lield in a little office in a building which stood on the corner
now occupied by Loppenthien's store. Indian trails and the river
made the settlement accessible to Indians. Mr. Young, though
only a boy, recalls the visits to his father's store of Chief Sobby,
a heavy-set red man, wllo combined with his Indian costume of
skins a unique head-piece, which was nothing but a plug hat with
a tin band about it. Chiapultepec was another well-known Indian.
Sundago, anotlher Indian wlose name is familiar to many today,
adopted the wlite man's habits so far that lie wore a small beard.
Askasaw was the last Indian cllief in tils vicinity. When lie died,




54


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


says Mr. Young, the Pioneer Society, then headed by Daniel
Striker, took up a subscription and purchased a head stone for the
chief's grave in Barryville cemetery. This is the only existing
memorial to any of tlle red men who used to live here.
Probably the most noted man wlo penetrated to the remote
settlement called Hastings was Lewis Cass, candidate for President. In the presence of a great crowd of Iemocrats lie spoke in
the grove on the east side of tle old court house. Tlere was a
great deal of political spirit in tlose days, and the Democrats here
wanted to lionor the distinguished visitor in every way they could.
Tley placed a cannon on Grant's hIill, and whenever Cass said
something whicl delighted his audience, William Goodyear standing in the court yard, waved a signal flag to tile men at the cannon
and it was at once fired. This delighted tile audience more than
it did Cass, for lie stopped speaking long enough to inform his
guests that he wished they would stop firing that pop gun as it
annoyed liim. Cass is described by Mr. Young as a stern looking
man with a very large head, and a wart on his chin. Cass came
and went by stage.
Tlhere was considerable excitement here at thle outbreak of
the 5Mexican War, and John VanArman opened a recruiting office
liere. Among tlhose wlio enlisted were Ievi Chase, proprietor of
Chase's tavern, and his brother Clarles; Wlilliam Boorum, wlio
died in the Soldiers' Home several months ago; William Seavey,
wlio died a year ago, and a man named Tabor. Tabor and the
Chases died eitlier of spotted fever at Ietroit or in the service.
Tabor's clotlies were sent back packed in a bee llive. In addition
to tllese men was Harvey Horton. Whlen tile load of recruits
passed Fuller's hotel on tlieir way to Battle Creek, a man came out
of the hotel witl a decanter of whiskey and treated tliem to a
farewell drink.
Shortly after they left Mr. Horton regretted enlisting, and
returned, and thlere was excitement in town soon after. The men
here were thoroughly in symp)athy with his decision not to go to
Mexico. Whlen an officer arrested and took liim away, a number
of Hastings men made tlieir way tlrough the woods, and hIeaded
tliem off. They seized Mr. Horton and brought him back. Later
when anotller officer came for liim Mr. Horton happened to be in
a room in Barlow's llotel. Word of the officer's arrival spread




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


55


rapidly, and again Mr. Horton's friends came to his assistance.
They crowded into tlle room and about the officer, until Mr. Horton was able to escape into tile woods. After these two experiences in trying to take him into custody tlle officers gave up trying
to get him.
Amusements during tile early days were few and far between.
Occasionally some enterprising manlager would bring to tile settlement a puppet show, and dancing images, Punch and Judy, and
Babes in tlie Woods.  Tlie residents were fond of dancing and tile
shows would be followed with diances in Barlow's Iiotel. In this
hotel tliere was an excellent floor for dancing. It was called a
"swinging floor" and tile joinlts rested oi tamarack poles.
One particularly well kinowni entertainelr wlio came to Hastings was named Ca'rev. Inl those d.ays they were boosting tile
western country just as thley are doiiig tod;y. (Carey lad a show
here, and one of tile songs witll \wlicl lie made a hit rali tlus:
Co(lm all voi that are not faint lle(artcd and( are hound for thle west
In searc'll of tle count ry that you wouldl( like!hst.
Conic and go )long witlh me after those tlhat have agne
And we'll settle on tlhe hanks of tle pleiasant ()rego1n.
A big event happened in I astilngs in 1850 land many of tlle
folks were looking for-ward to it witil great )leasure, and so were
tlhe boys wlio could afford to go-.-N Van Amberg's Circus and Menagerie was coming to Yankee Springs. then tlhe principal settlement in tlie county. F1'lamiing posters in Hastings aniounced the
wonders tliat were to be seen. (scar Young was tlen ten \years
old, and lie gazed in wonder at tile p1osters but liad no idea tliat lie
could go. But there was one kind-hearted man in tlle settlement
wlho knew tile lougings in a boy's lheart.  Early on show  day
Henry Hoyt saw Oscar and William Hitchcock and his brotler
standing near his store. Mr. Hoyt, who was afterward County
Clerk and afterward well-known resident of Kalamazoo, married
tlie daughter of William Lewwis, proprietor of tile Yankee Springs
Iiotel.  Mrs. Hoyt is still living in Kalamazoo. Mr. Hoyt and his
brother were engaged in dry goods business in part of Barlow's
hIotel.
"\ell, Oscar," said Mr. Hoyt, "aren't you going to the show?"
"No. I haven't anything to go with," replied Oscar.
"Well, run home and have mother put on your shoes and wash




56


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


your face and comb your hair. Come back and then we'll see
what we can do for you."
Manning Doud, still a resident of Hastings, was preparing to
take a load to the show for 25 cents per head for the round trip.
Into this wagon Mr. Hoyt placed Oscar. With the kind heart of
a man who knows what a boy needs when lie starts out for a good
time, Mr. Hoyt said, "You'll want something to eat. Hold on! a
boy never goes to a circus without a glass of lemonade. You'll
need money for that."
Provided with funds by Mr. Hoyt, Oscar took his place in the
wagon, and eagerly waited until the big tent west of tle Yankee
Springs tavern came into sight. He immediately jumped out of
the wagon and joined the crowd. About the first thing he heard
was a barker presiding over a lemonade stand. He was at once
attracted to the "barker" in charge of the stand. What lie said
Mr. Young has always vividly remembered, and he says that lie
has never since heard a man in this business repeat a lingo anything like it. This is what he heard:
"Right this way for your cool ice lemonade. Cool as the ice
from a frozen ocean. Made by the light of a diamond 75 feet
under the ground and sweetened by the kisses of Jenny Lind."
Oscar could not withstand such an appeal and lie at once invested in his first glass of lemonade. He had never before imagined anything which tasted as good. After drinking his lemonade
he strolled about the hotel with its "seven stories all on the
ground." Here he saw "Yankee Bill," the famous landlord, whom
he remembers as a red-faced, portly man. Here were gathered a
great crowd of people gathered from all directions. Some came
with horse and ox teams, and others came on horses. As often
happens, there was a brawl between some of the persons present
and the show men. When the fight took place, Constable Edgecomb attempted to arrest one of tle show men. The men connected with the circus rallied to the support of their companion.
They seized the constable, lifted up a rail fence, placed him under
it, and let the fence down upon him. While lie was engaged in the
difficult task of extricating himself, the man whom he attempted
to arrest galloped away over the hill on a white horse en route to
Grand Rapids. After a fine dinner on gingerbread sold on the
grounds, Oscar was ready for the sights.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


57


He enjoyed the circus, its acrobats and animals. Many of the
young ladies present had the privilege of riding on an elephant.
A ladder was provided, and they took turns in climbing upon the
back of the animal and taking a turn about the ring. If the name
of one of these ladies, now a well-known resident of this city, were
published there would be a great deal of amusement. He returned
late in the evening to Hastings, very happy over his day of pleasure, and during the life of Mr. Hoyt he never forgot the kindly
feeling for the man to whom he was indebted for one of the most
pleasant experiences of his boyhood days.


One of the Springs that gave Yankee Springs its Name. Two Great
Grandsons of "Yankee" Lewis in the Foreground


YANKEE SPRINGS
(An article on this famous half-way house, written by Mrs. Mary
Hoyt of Kalamazoo, in 1894.)
On the afternoon of a summer's day, August 26, 1836, nearly
fifty-eight years ago, there might have been seen a covered wagon
containing a stalwart man of tlirty-five years and five children,
between the ages of eleven and two years, driving through the
then unbroken wilderness of Barry County, in the Territory of
Michigan.




58


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Accompanying this wagon was a woman on horseback, carefully guiding her gray saddle-horse over the rough roads of the
new country. She had in this way performed nearly tile whole of
the journey, we having started from  Weathersfield, Wyoming
County, New York, three weeks before, taking in Canada on our
route, and expecting to settle in South Bend, Indiana, where my
father had bought a tract of land of 160 acres.
This party consisted of my fatler, William Lewis, and Mary
Goodwin, his wife, three daughters and a son, also an adopted
daughter, Flavia Stone. We were at this time about to spend the
night with an older brother, Calvin Lewis, who came to Michigan
a few weeks in advance of us, and settled at Yankee Springs, but
the result was that we settled tiere also. I was a child of four
years at the time, so the words of my mother will best describe
our coming into Michigan:
"After leaving Detroit the road was mostly through dense
woods, Marshall, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo being marked by
little clusters of houses surrounded by forests. After leaving Battle Creek we passed through Gull Prairie, now Richland, and there
met Leonard Slater, located on the Indian Reservation as a missionary to the Pottawatamie tribe of Indians. Leaving this place
we plunged into the wilderness and, the road having disappeared,
we followed an Indian trail marked by blazed trees and journeyed
eighteen miles farther through the woods without seeing a single
habitation. Tired and travel-worn, weary and hungry, we halted
at nightfall in a lovely valley in the wilderness, where a log house
was in process of erection. Living springs of clear cold water
were gushing from a bank, and on a nearby poplar tree someone
had fastened a shingle marked Yankee Springs.
"In 1835 a young man by the name of Chas. Paul, in company
witli the family of Henry Leonard, were eating their luncheon
under the trees beside one of the springs. A stranger joined them
and it came out in conversation that they were all from New England States, and one of the party said, 'We are all Yankees.' At
this suggestion Charles Paul hewed the bark off the side of an oak
tree and cut the words 'Yankee Springs' on it. The name clung
to the place and was finally adopted by the township."
A welcome was given us by our relatives, and the log cabin
of two rooms was shared together. A quilt was hung over the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


59


door space and the windows were boarded. A supper was served
and we settled down for the night. Dismal tales have come to me
of those first nights in the forest; that the barking of wolves broke
the stillness of the hours and that the glittering eye-balls of the
panther looked down upon us with no friendly gaze.
My father located 1,000 acres of land there and it soon grew
to be an attractive place. We endured in common with all the
early settlers tie trials and privations of pioneer and frontier life,
and lived to see the wilderness subdued, and surrounded by all
that pertains to a later civilization. Here in this thick forest, the
land entirely unclaimed, we settled. Tle woods were filled with
Indians, and our nearest white neighbor, Calvin G. Hill, was eight
miles distant from us. From Middleville to Ada, the direct route
to Grand Rapids, was a dense forest, an unbroken wilderness
without an inhabitant. We were on the direct line of the great
Indian trail running from Detroit to Grand Rapids, which passed
directly through Barry County. But we were not long alone.
The fur trader and the speculator were abroad in the land, and to
fill the increasing demands of the weary traveler, our little cottage
of two rooms was extended, building after building, until we occupied "nine stories on the ground," seven distinct buildings in a
row in the front and two additional in the back. They presented
neither an imposing nor a graceful appearance. but were the hurried creation of backwoods life, when there was no time to waste
on architecture, symmetry or beauty.
The fame of the place spread throughout the country and so
brisk was business at the old "Mansion House," as it was called,
that it was no uncommon thing for one hundred people to tarry
there for a night, while sixty teams were often stabled there
between sunset and sunrise.
The extreme ends of the old house were named. The one
fartllest north was "Grand Rapids," and the extreme south was
"Kalamazoo."   The Kalamazoo was considered the "best room"
and was furnished rather better than the others and the better class
of people occupied it generally, bridal parties, etc. All the other
buildings have tumbled to ruin. This building alone stands out
all by itself. It is close to the road down in the hollow, seemingly
proud of the fact that it has survived all of the changes of the last
century and inviting admiration and respect because of it. If the




60


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


old building could speak what stories it could tell, what historical
information it could impart that would be of interest and benefit
to future generations.
Together this husband and wife labored and toiled, their chief
desire seeming to be to give happiness to those about them. With
a hospitality that was proverbial and a generosity that can not be
measured by ordinary methods, they greeted all who came. The
man without money was treated as well as the man whose pocket
bulged with the currency of that day. Ministers of all denominations, irrespective of creed, were entertained free of charge, but
were expected to hold an evening service in our large dining room,
and men were sent out to notify the neighbors to that effect. The
first Episcopal service I ever heard was rendered there by Ir.
Francis Cuming, who was journeying to Grand Rapids to settle
over St. Mark's church in that city.
We were in very close touch with the people at Grand Rapids
in the early days and visited often in their families. Much of our
trading was done there and, although thirty-eight miles distant
from us, we made frequent journeys there. I remember seeing
Louis Campau and Rix Robinson-those grand pioneers-the
earliest. Tleir names should never be forgotten by us. They
were here in the early 20's and none who came after exceeded
them in powers of endurance, or the cheerfulness with which they
bore the hardships and toil of that period. Tie name of Louis
Campau is reverenced by older Grand Rapids people, for lie came
there first. He once owned the wllole village of Grand Rapids.
In the old days all knew of his tender heart-all who met him
received some kindness at his hands. We used to hear how, when
his bank failed, lie brought home armfuls of wildcat money and
papered his cupola with it, saying,"If you won't circulate, you
shall stay still."  I recall the Withey family, the M\oreaus, the
Godfreys, Morrisons, Richmonds, Whites, Henry R. Williams, the
Almys, P. R. L. Pierce, Canton Smitl, an early hotel keeper of
that city; the Rathbones, early settlers tliere, wlio built a large
hotel and opened it with a big dance. I was there and danced all
night. Mrs. T. B. Church, that noble pioneer woman, who played
the organ of St. Mark's church for fifty years and is still living in
that city, her gifted son, Frederick Church, then a babe whom I
often carried in my arms, now celebrated world-wide as an artist



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


61


all these and many more were household names with us and went
to make up a part of our family life in a time when there were few
social barriers and man felt and needed the sympathy and encouragement of his brother man.
Lewis Cass was twice our guest. Ex-Governor Felch, exGovernor Ransom, United States Senator Zach Chandler, Senator
Chas. E. Stuart, Judge Pratt-and, indeed, all men of note who
traveled in those days were at some time or other entertained there
in the primitive style of the day. Royalty was once entertained


Mrs. Mary Lewis, Wife of "Yankee" Lewis
at tlhe Mansion House, and this occasion was memorable as being
the first time tlhat the table was set with napkins for each guest,
word having been sent in advance of his coming. Almost the
first guest I can remember was Iouglas Houghton, then a young
man. He was first appointed State Surveyor and later, as we all
know, filled the office of State Geologist for many years.
Thefts and robberies were unknown, although large quantities of money were carried by travelers and it would have been
an easy matter for it to clange hands had there been the desire
for it by designing persons. For example, every year large quan



62


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


tities of money were carried through from Detroit to Grand Rapids
to pay the Indians at their annual payments. This money,
$15,000, was conveyed through in an extra stage by a man named
Lee, accompanied by an Indian interpreter named Provonsol.
The money was all in specie and was carried in boxes about a foot
square, very heavy, as I remember llearing. These boxes were all
set in the room at the south end of the old house. There was an
outside door with an old lock and key to it. Two old guns they
had were set up in one corner of the room and those men probably
slept without a care or tlought of being robbed and went safely
through from   Detroit to Grand Rapids in this simple and
easy way.
My father was a man of indomitable courage and perseverance-never discouraged —always happy and witl a fund of
humor, wit and story-telling rarely excelled. He was just the one
to lead in settling and establishing a new country. He planned
largely and liberally, arnd was able with his perseverance and
strong healtlh to carry out his plans, and by his personal mag
netism encouraged others to work and persevere also. He was the
first to contract for carrying the United States mail tlrough that
portion of the country. In the first contract lie was assisted by
General Withey, of (;rand Rapids. This route was from Battle
Creek to Grand Rapids. Later a contract was taken to carry the
mail from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. Lines of stages were put
on and several coacles a day were started from tllese points, all
meeting at Yankee Springs-the "half way house"-for refreshment of passengers and change of horses. For many years this
was the only route through the woods from Battle Creek and
Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, and until other roads were opened
up it made very lively times at the old house. The Yankee
Springs postoffice for a long time supplied the adjacent country.
Letters were luxuries in those days, rare and costly. Envelopes
and postage stamps were unknown. We wrote on three pages of
the paper, folding it so the name could be written in the middle
of the fourtl, and sealing with a wafer, directed it and then paid
our 25 cents postage on it or left it to be collected by the person
to whom it was addressed, just as we chose. Sometimes it was
difficult for the old settler to produce the 25 cents to pay postage
and he had to earn it before lie could claim his letter.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


63


My father and Rix Robinson built the first bridge across the
Tlhornapple River in 1838. The road then ran on the old Indian
trail, across Scales Prairie. In 1838 my father also built the first
bridge across the Coldwater Stream on Section 35, in Caledonia.
Split logs were used for flooring, pinned down by wooden pins.
He, il company with some others, started in 1849 to build a plank
road that was to run from CGalesburg to Grand Rapids. A good
deal of time, energy and capital was expended on this scheme, but
it was finally abandoned.
There was a period when the Yankee Springs property was
considered very -valuable, and the Ratllbones, in Grand Rapids.
wished to exchlange tleir hotel property for our own, we to retain
the farm lands. Thlis Grand Rapids property is now wortlh several hundred tliousand dollars, and is the present location of the
Widdicomb building, corner of Monroe and Market streets. The
other, deserted and forsaken, requires a stretcli of the imagination
to believe that it was ever of great importance.
Whleat and potatoes at this early date brought fabulous prices,
but the table was always well supplied with the essentials and with
many delicacies. Great care and attention were given to the large
garden of several acres that lay across the road from the old house.
No vegetable or flower tlen heard of but was grown there. The
light soil, highly enriched by muck taken from the marsh, was
calculated to bring them forward to speedy perfection. The most
luscious fruits, melons and vegetables were grown in abundance,
all luxuriating in the new, warm soil of the valley. Arbors were
filled with choice grapes, peaclies ripened in the sun, and flowers,
the good old-fashioned flowers of that day, grew in abundance.
Celery-the first grown in Barry County and perhaps in the
State-was raised there. Tomatoes were raised. They were first
called "love apples," and we grew them for their beauty, but soon
learned to eat them. Men were constantly employed in caring for
the ground. Water was supplied for use by wells dug on the
grounds. My father was a skillful caterer. Each guest who came
was made to feel at home under that hospitable roof. The first
Thanksgiving celebrated at Yankee Springs tavern was in the
fall of 1838. My father sent out invitations to all the new settlers
for miles around and later sent men and teams to gather them in.
My mother meanwhile was superintending the first Thanksgiving




64


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


dinner in the new country, which consisted of wild turkeys brought
by the Indians from Gun Lake woods, two immense spare ribs
cooked to a turn before the great open fireplace, as were also the
turkeys. Mince pies such as only my mother could make, also
pumpkin pies and puddings, were baked in the large brick oven by
the side of the kitchen fireplace. Cook stoves there were none.
The turkeys and ribs were suspended by stout tow strings and
slowly turned before the open fire and some one had to burn their
face while continually basting the meats with their rich gravies,
brought out by the heat of the fire. Cranberries were brought by
the Indians and was about the only fall berry. Not a fruit tree or
berry bush had yet been planted.
Tile tables were spread and the guests came from their homes
in the woods to enjoy this banquet prepared for them in so hospitable a manner and, while all must have remembered the parents
and homes so recently left by them, it was not their way to mourn
for what they had not, but to enjoy fully what they had, wlich
they did in a way tliat would astonish the dyspeptic of today.
It began to snow, the first of the season, but the harder it
snowed the livelier grew the party. An old violin was pulled out
of some corner and all began dancing and kept it up until morning, when breakfast was p)repared for them, after wliicl they were
conveyed back to tleir llomes, and so passed our first Thanksgiving in the old Mansion House at Yankee Springs.
The political campaign of 1840 made a hot time in the old
house, as I well remember. Pole and flag raising and stump
speaking were the order of the day, but the doings on the Fourth
of July, 1846, beat everything on record before or since, so far as
I can remember. A tamarack pole was spliced until it was of the
desired length and a flag was flung from it to the breeze with much
hurrahing from the crowd that had collected from everywhere and
filled the road-front before the old house from hill to iill. Twentysix girls, all in white, representing the states-then twenty-six in
number-and a Goddess of Liberty in red, white and blue were
loaded into a monster wagon drawn by twenty-six yoke of oxen.
A girl for each state and a yoke of oxen for eacli girl! We went
above the hill to form the procession and came down into the
crowd in fine style.
We were ten years in advance of tile Micligan Central Rail



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


65


way. We heard rumors of its approach, but so slow was it in
coming that the old stage coach kept right along its undisputed
way for many years. The road started from Detroit in 1836,
when Michigan was a territory. It reached Kalamazoo February
21, 1846, and six years later, May, 1852, the road reached Chicago.
It has been said "there is no good Indian but a dead Indian,"
but in our experience we did not find in them the treachery and
deceit they are usually credited with. They had great respect for
my father and we lived in peace and harmony. The woods were
full of them, but we did not fear them and I believe they were our
friends. They were strict in their deals and if they made a promise they kept it. Tley brought us berries of all kinds from the
woods and constantly supplied us witl fresh venison, never bringing any part of the carcass but the hams, which were always
twenty-five cents, no more nor less. They brought us fresh fish
from the lakes, and the muskallonge from Gun Lake were enormous. They made a great deal of maple sugar. In 1840 these
Pottawlatamies were removed by the United States Government
beyond tile Mississippi, and very reluctantly tley left their homes
among the lakes and oak openings and the silver streams of Michigan. Noonday, the chief of the Pottawatamies, greatly impressed
me by his dignified bearing. Six feet tall and well proportioned,
lie was at tliat time nearly 100 years old. His face was painted
and a great circlet of eagle feathers was around his head. He
looked kind and lie laid his hand on my llead. He died soon after
and was buried in Richland cemetery by the side of his wife. He,
Noonday, assisted in the War of 1812 and witnessed the burning
of the city of Buffalo.
Ye say they all have passed away,
'hllat noble race an(l brave;
Thlat their light canoes have vanished
From off the crystal wave;
That in the grand old forests
There rings no hunter's shout,
But their name is on your waters
And ye may not wash them out.
Tlhere were poets in those days and frequently the old place
was sounded in story and song, and occasionally one was found
whose "feelings" overflowed to the extent that he published his
production. Such an one was George Torrey, Sr., who, coming




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


from Boston at an early day, settled in Kalamazoo County and
was associated with the Kalamazoo Telegraph at its birth in 1844.
He traveled through Barry County at that date and a poem published in the Telegraph soon after reached us in this form. He
had not the world-wide fame of a Kipling, but this poem has
survived perhaps longer than some of Kipling's will, which, having
been carefully preserved for sixty years, I have the pleasure of
presenting to you:
Did you ever go out to Grand River
From Detroit to Kalamazoo,
In a wagon without any kiver,
Through a country that looks very new?
If you are hungry and wish for a dinner,
Breakfast, supper and lodging to boot,
If you're a Turk, a Christian or sinner
Yankee Springs is the place that will suit.
The landlord's a prince of his orderYankee Lewis-whose fame and renown
Far and near throughout Michigan's border
Are noised about country and town.
It finished by enumerating the bill of fare, which seemed to
afford him great satisfaction.
Personally, I knew little of the hardships of pioneer life, for
I was protected and sheltered by my parents. There was so much
of life and activity about us that it was akin to life in a city, and
we had no time for loneliness. Being the almost constant companion of my father and visiting with him all the towns within a
large radius, I saw life in all its forms in the new country, traveling in stage coach, wagon or on horseback. There was no underbrush in those days, the annual fires consumed it, leaving the
forests free from obstruction, and one could walk, ride or drive
anywhere as freely as in a beautiful park. Nature was liberal in
the diffusion of fruits, nuts and flowers, and from the little violet
in the early spring there was a successive gradation of flowers of
all kinds and colors until the frost came in the fall. We lived only
two and one-half miles from Gun Lake-that inland gem of Barry
County. My first view of it will never be forgotten. Scouring
through the woods one day on my little pony-born of the gray
mare ridden by my mother when we came into the country-we
came suddenly out on the shore of this lake and I gazed in silent
wonder on that broad sheet of water, flashing and dimpling in the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


67


sunlight where no white man's boat had ever been, and only the
Indian's canoe had disturbed the calm serenity of its waters. Not
a tree had been disturbed and the dark forest clear around was
reflected on the glistening surface of the water. As I silently
gazed a feeling of awe stole over me. The solemn stillness of lake
and forest frightened me. I turned my pony and fled and never
drew rein until my home was reached.
In the new country you sometimes looked around for your
neighbors and they were not there, and so it was that some of the
birds we had known-the robin, the wren and the swallow-were
not there, but blue-jays and whip-poor-wills were not lacking.
The crows had not come, neither the flies, but fleas and mosquitoes
were plenty. We heard of a neighbor who opened her Bible one
day and found a fly pressed between its leaves. "Now, children,"
she said, "don't you touch that fly, let it remain right here in this
book, just as it is, because that fly once lived in our old home in
York State."  Tlere were no rats or mice, neither were there any
house cats. The country had no need for the latter, but I had,
and so pleaded that one day a box came from Grand Rapids, upon
opening wliicli out jumped two lovely maltese kittens. The prettiest, irrespective of sex, was immediately christened Tommy and
nursed and petted to a great extent. One day Tommy was missing, and there was a great outcry. Finally, when found, he was
nursing a lot of little kittens of his own. From this small beginning many came and, no doubt, the descendants of this same cat
are racing around on the sand hills of Barry County today.
My father represented the counties of Allegan and Barry in
the State Iegislature in Detroit in 1846. He came home for a
short time during the winter and when lie returned was accompanied by his two youngest daughters, who took their first ride
on the new railroad and indulged in the gayeties of the Capital
City for two weeks.
I have been asked to give my girlhood recollections of this
trip to the then Capital City.
The ride to Battle Creek was duly performed by stage coach
and four horses and from there we took our first and never-to-beforgotten ride on that new railroad we had heard so much about.
We were nearly frightened to death with the almost constant
scream of the engine whistle and the clanking of the cars over the




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


rough road, which was about equal to that of cattle cars at the
present time. We wished ourselves back in the old stage coach
many times before the journey ended.
The Wales Hotel, on Jefferson avenue, East, just thrown open
to the public January 1, 1846, we thought very fine. It was kept
by Austin Wales and his two sons. It was very crowded, as many
members of the Legislature and their wives were staying there.
The dining room was large and nearly square and was frequently
used for entertainments in the evening, balls, fancy-dress parties
and concerts, all of which we attended. About January 24 a
Scottish ball was given. Perhaps it was a Burns' reunion and
seemed to us a grand affair. There was fine music, with bag-pipes
included (the first I ever heard), the gay costumes with kilted
skirts, plaid hose and scarfs and jaunty caps quite charmed us, and
the Scottish dances and hornpipes altogether made it a veritable
fairyland entertainment, the impression of which I have never
forgotten.
We visited a daguerrean gallery and had our pictures taken.
This room had just been opened in Detroit and the art was considered something wonderful and had but recently come into practice on this side of the water. We thought it very tiresome, as
we had to sit still five minutes to get a picture. My father had a
number taken and presented one to each of his seven brothers then
living.
That was the last winter the Legislature convened in Detroit.
Some feared that the frivolities of the gay city might affect the
manners and morals of the members of that day, and so voted that
Lansing, forty miles from any railroad, in the heart of the forest
of Ingham County, should henceforth witness the assembling together of that august body. My father lived for six years after
this event, dying in September, 1853, at the age of fifty-one. His
last request was that he might be buried on the hill overlooking
the old place. I have twice removed his remains-once, after the
old place passed from our hands, to the nearby cemetery, and
again to lay them by the side of my mother in Kent County. She
outlived him by thirty-five years, dying March 1, 1888, at Alaska,
Kent County, at the age of eighty-three years. My mother descended from old Revolutionary stock, on the Norton-Goodwin
side, and will ever be remembered as a faithful friend and worthy




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


69


type of womanhood. In the afflictions of life, from which she was
far from being exempt, she displayed that true Christian fortitude
which commends her example to us.
The solid forests have vanished and we sometimes feel that
the solid man has vanished, too. The type of character they represented may not be needed now, but they are worth remembering
for their courage in opening up this country and reclaiming it from
brush and bramble trees and stone, and placing Michigan in the
front rank she holds today among the states of the Union.
The men have done much to make this a grand and noble
State, but the women have not been idle. If "the hand that rocks
the cradle rules the world" ours have certainly been kept busy.
In all ways pioneer women gladly did their share in bearing the
heavy burdens of that period, and today can pride themselves
upon being "the first ladies of the land," and by right, because we
got here first!
Mrs. Mary Hoyt, the author of the above sketch and the
daughter of "Yankee Bill" Lewis, was born at Weathersfield,
Wyoming County, New York, October 1, 1832. Sle came to the
then Territory of Michigan in August, 1836, and is now living in
Kalamazoo. Sle is greatly interested in Barry County and is
thoroughly in sympathy with every movement to advance the
cause of preserving the records of pioneer days.




4




BIOGRAPHIES




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


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NATHAN BARLOW
In presenting the biography of Hon. Nathan Barlow we feel
that we can do no better than to give in full the following paper
read before a meeting of the Barry County Pioneer Society by
Hon. Chas. Mack:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:  I have been called
upon to give a sketch of the life and character of one of the early
pioneers, one, who in his lifetime, was well and personally known
to every person in Barry County. I refer to the Hon. Nathan
Barlow. He was, indeed, one of the early pioneers. Coming to
this county with his parents from the state of New York, in the
year 1840, the family settled on a new farm in the township of
Yankee Springs. In the year 1842 he was elected County Clerk
of this county. The whole number of votes cast in the county
that year was 315. There are today more legal voters in any
one township in Barry County, than there were in the entire
county at that time. The population of this city at that time was
about 100. In the year 1844, Mr. Barlow was elected to the office
of County Treasurer.
After finishing his duties as a county official he launched into
business for himself, by renting and operating the old flouring
mill owned by Messrs. Dibble and Hayes.
He built his first residence on the ground where now stands
the Parker Hotel. He soon opened this residence as a hotel and
operated it as such for several years.
Later on he associated himself with the late Wm. S. Goodyear. The firm Barlow & Goodyear proved to be one of the
strongest and most reliable that ever did business in this county.
The firm was engaged in the mercantile business; they were also
the owners and operators of the large flouring mill that was located on South Hanover street, which in its time was a great boon
to the farmers of this county. They also operated the old woolen
mill located on Fall Creek, which will be remembered by the surviving pioneers of this county.
Mr. Barlow's push, enterprise, and business sagacity were
perhaps best shown in his connection with the building of the
Grand River Valley railroad. The project lay dormant for more
than twenty years after the act had been passed by the Legislature
authorizing the construction of this road. Mr. Barlow was a




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


member of the Board of Directors of this company, and with that
spirit of enterprise that marked his whole career, resolved to put
an end to the hauling of all merchandise used by more than onehalf of the population of this county. This hauling was done
over the long and tedious wagon road from Battle Creek to this
city. There are some here today, who well remember the sand
hills and the mud holes they had to contend with, while teaming
over this road. As I said before, Mir. Barlow resolved to put an
end to this hauling of goods by wagon, and in the fall of 1863, and
during the dark days of the War of the Rebellion, when it was no
easy task to arouse men, and raise money for a project of this
kind, he was instrumental in getting the directors together in the
city of Jackson, and at that meeting it was resolved to build the
Grand River Valley railroad, or perish in the effort. The labors
performed, and the trials endured by this Board of Directors
during the construction of this road, will never be fully known
by us. Reward finally came to them, and in April, 1869, the cars
rolled into Hastings for the first time; and in March of the following year the road was completed to the city of Grand Rapids.
In politics, Mr. Barlow was a lifelong Democrat and took an
active part in political affairs.
That he was held in high esteem by the people of this city
and county is shown by the honors showered upon him by calling
him to fill so many positions of public trust, having filled with
marked ability the offices of County Clerk, County Treasurer,
Representative in the State Legislature, Postmaster at this place,
and member of the Board of Education of this city. He was a
member of the School Board in 1872, when our present high
school building was erected. This building stands today as a
monument to the enterprise and good judgment of the members
of the board at that time.
The agricultural interests of the county were near and dear
to him, and perhaps no class of people could say more kind things
of him today than the pioneer farmers of Barry County. They
remember him as their friend, and their benefactor in their early
struggles, when the county was new, and when money and favors
were hard to get. In truth, and in conclusion I will say that Mr.
Barlow was one of those men who do things, and say little about




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


75


lokwill,


9 ow


NATHAN BARLOW




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


77


it. He belonged to that noble stock of pioneers who are fast
passing away, and whose good works live after them.
In addition to the above excellent and well written sketch
by Judge Mack, it might be well to recite something of the home
life of Mr. Barlow. On February 2, 1843, he married Melissa
B. Tyler. To them were born four children-Chas. E., Fred H.,
Henry H. and Saral L., of whom two, Sarah L. and Henry H.,
are still living, Sarah L. being Mrs. Chas. Huffman of Hastings.
Mrs. Barlow died March 28, 1869, and on May 31, 1870, Mr. Barlow married Hannah M. McNair, who survives him, as does also
their son, Royce E. Barlow of Chicago.
Another subject which perhaps should be commented upon
more fully is the connection of Mr. Barlow with the organization
of the Grand River Valley railroad and in dealing with his efforts
in this direction we believe an account written by Edward W.
Barber of Jackson will be read with interest. The sketch is as
follows:
In the fall of 1863 it was determined by the directors of the
Grand River Valley Railroad Company to organize for the purpose of building the road from Jackson to Grand Rapids. Prior
to that time the idea had been to construct the road by way of
Lansing, but this was given up on account of the proposed construction of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw. Pursuant to the
plan to build by way of Eaton Rapids, Charlotte, Vermontville
and Hastings to Grand Rapids, a meeting of the stockholders of
the Grand River Valley Company was held in Jackson on the
20th day of October, 1863. Before the meeting was held the
question of who should be chosen was fully talked over, and the
result of the election was that all of the shares represented, were
cast for the following persons, namely: Nathan Barlow, Edward
W. Barber, Henry A. Shaw, Amos Root, Joseph E. Beebe, William  H. Withington and Moses A. McNaughton. This is the
order in which the names are given in the official minutes of the
meeting. Of the persons then elected Mr. Barber is the only one
now living.
As soon as notified of the action of the stockholders, Mr. Barlow filed the oath of office required by law with the Secretary of
the company, which bears the date of November 21st, 1863, and
on that day a meeting of the new board was held in Jackson, and
the purpose to proceed at once to build the road was evidenced by




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


its action in adopting a resolution that Director Barlow of Barry
County, Director Shaw of Eaton County and Director Root of
Jackson County, be authorized and directed to procure on behalf
of the company the right of way through their respective counties
for the track of the road.
At every subsequent annual meeting of the stockholders of
the company until the year of his death, Mr. Barlow was chosen
a director, and from the outset took an active part in the construction of the road, and as to every detail with reference to building
the line in Barry County he was consulted and his advice accepted.
Matters with reference to the road in Barry County were
placed formally in his hands. At a meeting of the directors, held
in Jackson, August 3, 1865, at which Mr. Barlow was present and
the contract was let for its construction, the board authorized him
to make such arrangements with Mr. Hiram J. Kenfield, or some
other person, as he should deem for the best interest of the company, to procure subscriptions to the stock and rights of way in
Barry County. Later in the same year, at a meeting held November 9th, Mr. Barlow was authorized to negotiate for rights of way
in the County of Barry.
At a meeting of the directors held in the village of Hastings
on the 24th day of June, 1868, the matter of locating depot
grounds was considered, and it was determined, after remarks by
Messrs. Mills, Holbrook and others, that plats of tle lands which
would be needed either east or west of the village, should be made
and sent to Hastings to be viewed by the public, and that written
propositions sent to the President and Secretary of the company
would be considered by the board. Mr. Barlow was specially
anxious for an open and square deal in this matter.
This subject came up again at a meeting of the Board of
Directors held in Jackson, October 7, 1868, when the proposition
of Mr. Barlow and H. J. Kenfield to donate ten acres of land east
of the village of Hastings for depot purposes was formally accepted. This action was unanimous on the part of the board.
During all the years that Mr. Barlow was a member of the
board there was entire harmony, and in regard to every important action the determination was unanimous. In attending meetings the members paid their own expenses. Building the road
was a hard financial struggle. About four years after his first




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


79


JOHN BESSMER








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


81


election as a director, in the fall of 1867, the road was completed
and cars commenced running to Onondaga in Ingliam County; in
July, 1868, to Eaton Rapids, and in October, 1868, to Charlotte;
in April, 1869, to Hastings, and in March, 1870, to Grand Rapids.
With all the details of the work during its slow progress Mr. Barlow was familiar and his advice and counsel in regard to the work
in Barry County were regarded by the other members of the
board as of great value. He seldom, if ever, seemed to be in
doubt as to the best policy to pursue.
JOHN BESSMER
In the death of John Bessmer, February 5, 1912, Hastings
lost a substantial citizen and an active business man. A resident
of that city for forty-eight years, he built up a splendid reputation
for integrity and rectitude and made a large circle of friends.
Every one who knew John Bessmer, knew him for a man who
merited the respect and admiration of all.
Mr. Bessmer was the last of the prominent German residents
of Hastings. He came to this country a poor lad, but equipped
with an excellent education. He mastered the language, worked
industriously, and made good in every sense of the word. He was
interested in movements for the advancement of education and
culture in this community. His influence as a member of the
board of education was strongly felt, for he always wanted the
youth of this city to have the advantages of excellent schools.
He was a charter member of the German Arbeiter Verein, a
society organized by the German residents of Hastings, years ago.
Mr. Bessmer had a strong sense of humor, and to listen to his
recollections of amusing incidents in the early days in this city
was a pleasure.
Mr. Bessmer was survived by the following children:  Mrs.
Anna McOmber, Miss Olga, Louis V., of Hastings; Mrs. E. A.
Clarke, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. J. C. Rock, of Goldfield,
Nevada. He also left his sister, Mrs. Eckardt, brother Gottlieb of
Hastings, and a sister in Germany. Mrs. Bessmer died in December, 1903.
Mr. Bessmer was a resident of Hastings since 1864. When
he came to Hastings, then a settlement of 800 persons, he started
the first good barber shop, and made a success of the venture.




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


When lie rented from Mrs. Knappen a building for fifty cents
weekly it was predicted by many that he would be unable to
make enough money to pay his rent. A Mr. Bessmer arrived here
via stage from Battle Creek in February. 1864. Tie only barber
shop in the settlement was conducted by the late James Hewes,
who did carpenter and cabinet work in the same building. When
any one wanted a shave or a hair cut, Mr. Hewes laid aside the
plane and draw shave and took up razor or scissors. Mr. Bessmer
bought Mr. Hewes' tonsorial outfit, paying $25 for the good will.
Mr. Bessmer's shop became very popular, much to the wonderment of those who had told him lie was crazy for starting a barber
slop in the village. Two and a half years later lie erected the
building in which W. L. Hogue's store now is, and continued his
business until March, 1876, when lie moved into his present store
building, which lie had purchased the previous November. He
lad concluded to retire from the barber business when lie became
fifty years old. In 1883, at the age of 49 years, lie sold his barbering outfit and purchased a stock of jewelry, the foundation of
his present business.
Mr. Bessmer was born on August 27, 183-4, in the village of
Nabern, kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany. He went to school
until he was fourteen years old, when lie was apprenticed to a
ladies' tailor for whom he worked three years without any pay.
When lie had mastered his trade he went on a walking tour in
search of work, as was required of every young man in Germany
at that time. This was known as the "Handwerksbuscll", and Mr.
Bessmer spent two months in wandering through the soutlern part
of Germany and in Switzerland. He returned to Wurtemberg and
obtained a position in the town of Bachnang, where lie worked
one year. Hearing of the fortunes to be made in America, lie
determined to take his chances with many of his countrymen who
were emigrating to this country at that time. Together with his
sister, Mrs. Fred Eckardt, of Woodland, lie embarked from the
port of Havre in a sailing vessel for New York in April, 1853,
landing in New York thirty-four days later. He went to Philadelphia and from there to Reading, where lie expected to meet a
German friend. Then he faced the darkest time of his life. At
the railway station, a German baggage master told him that the
friend for whom he was looking had gone to Philadelphia. Alone,




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


83


unable to speak a word of English, with nine cents in his pocket,
Mr. Bessmer stood on the platform to think things over. He
decided to walk to tie home of his friend's relatives a few miles
distant. They kept him for some time, during which he did truck
gardening long enough to earn enough money to pay his fare to
Philadelphia, where lie finally joined his friend. These people
who helped him were named Blessing, which Mr. Bessmer considered a very appropriate name. After working in Philadelphia
for two months, Mr. Bessmer went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where
he worked a year at his trade for a ladies' tailor. The firm failed
and Mr. Bessmer returned to Philadelphia, where lie learned the
barber's trade in Camden.
Three years later his health began to fail and he went to
Waslltenaw County, Michigan, to see his sister, Mrs. Eckardt. In
1857 lie returned to Philadelphia and purchased the shop in which
he had previously worked. Two months later lie was united in
marriage with Miss Caroline Brauch.
Mr. Bessmer left several brothers in Germany. In 1857 lie
sent a passage ticket to John M. Bessmer, who died some time ago,
who arrived in June and went to Waukegan and the following
March to Woodland, where Mr. and Mrs. Eckardt had taken up
land. He got there in time to finish the log house which they
were building. After doing this lie went to Hastings to work
for Mr. Stebbins.
His work in Phlliladelphia being successful, Mr. Bessmer
decided to go back to Nabern and see his mother, and to Switzerland to see his brothers. He made the journey in 1863.
A year later lie and Mrs. Bessmer came to Hastings to make
their permanent home. Tley saw the city grow from a back
woods village to a city. Mr. Bessmer was well thought of by
the residents from the start. He was elected treasurer of Hastings
Township in 1869 and 1870. In 1871 Hastings became incorporated as a city. The late Henry Goodyear was the first mayor,
Mr. Bessmer the first treasurer. Later on Mr. Bessmer served as
a member of the Board of Education nine years and during that
time lie had the enviable record of missing only one meeting, and
this when lie was out of the city. He was for many years a
member of the Riverside Cemetery Association, and through his




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


efforts the place, in the course of years, evolved from a wilderness
into one of the finest cemeteries in the state.
He was one of the city's substantial business men. When he
bought his jewelry business, he mortgaged the building in order
to go into business on a cash basis, which he maintained ever since.
DR. CHARLES S. BURTON
In the death of Dr. Charles S. Burton, December 5, 1902,
Barry County lost a real pioneer and a man who in the course of
his long life of seventy-eight years had experienced much and
accomplished much.
Charles Seymour Burton was born at Waterloo, New York,
on September 13, 1824, his ancestors on his father's side coming
from near Manchester, England.
Charles Burton received his primary education in the Village
of Waterloo and was assisted by his father in the higher studies
at home. In order to pursue his studies at night, for lie was a
great student, he was compelled to read by the light furnished by
pine knots burning in the fireplace of the little home. The family
was large and money scarce, but by diligent work Charles managed to accumulate a little money with which he pursued his
studies in the City of Albany after he arrived at the age of 21.
Leaving Albany, he again went to work to accumulate more
money and with this he went to New York City to study medicine, devoting his time as much as possible to Bellevue hospital.
He did not graduate from any medical institution, but after
studying in this hospital for some time he started out to practice
as an allopath, at that time there being no homeopath school of
medicine in the United States. He placticed allopatliy but a
short time when he concluded that homeopathy was the proper
process to combat disease and started out under that school. Like
all new theories, this practice did not take readily with the people
and it was hard work to obtain sufficient practice to maintain himself. But he was always equal to. the emergency and when he
failed in one direction to accomplish his object he turned in
another way toward the same end. In the winter of 1847-8 he
taught school in Romulus, New York, and among his pupils was
a Miss Anna Eliza Monroe, the daughter of Ward Barnabas Monroe and his wife, Emmeline Janes Monroe.
The relationship of student and teacher soon changed to that




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


85


of lovers and Miss Monroe became the wife of Mr. Burton on the
13th day of February, 1848. They still continued to live in
Romulus until after the birth of their first son, Charles F., in
November, 1849.
It was at this time that the California gold fever sprung up
and swept over our country, and Dr. Burton concluded that he
could make a ready fortune by going to California. With this
end in view, he went to New York City and tried to engage
passage either across the isthmus or around the Horn to the new
Eldorado. He was much disappointed at finding that every available space on all of the boats that were leaving New York which
could carry passengers for this new country, was engaged for
more than six months in advance, and that he would certainly be
compelled to wait at least that length of time before he could
make a start, and even then, after waiting so long, he could not
be absolutely certain that he would obtain passage.
In consequence of this state of affairs he returned to Romulus
and from that place, taking his wife and young son, he came to
Michigan. During the latter part of this journey lie was accompanied by two homeopathic physicians who entered the state with
him, and the three were the first homeopathic physicians in
Michigan.
He looked around the City of Detroit but concluded it was
not a good place for him to locate in, so he again went westward
on the Michigan Central railroad to Battle Creek, which was as
far as this railroad extended at that time. Here he took up his
residence in 1850.
His practice as a physician not occupying his entire time, he
formed a partnership with a man named Gant and purchased the
type and press and started the Battle Creek Journal, Mr. Gant,
Dr. Burton and his wife setting all the type and doing all the
work connected with the paper. His medical practice was now
quite lucrative and he managed to lay by a considerable sum of
money.
He had not been fully cured of the gold fever and during the
winter of 1852-3 lie made arrangements with some other people
similarly afflicted to start for California in the early spring of
1853. All of his accumulations were invested in material necessary for this journey. Early in 1853 they started westward on a




86


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


journey, the difficulties of which cannot be fully expressed to the
people of today by comparison with any hardships that we know.
It was a journey of six months' duration, through the wilderness
and across trackless prairies where the footsteps of the white man
had never passed, where only at long intervals was a human
being to be seen, and where the wild beasts and the wilder Indians
put the traveler constantly on his guard for the preservation of
his life and of his property. They were six months in reaching
their final destination in the gold region near Father River,
sixty-five miles northeast of Maryville in a little settlement called
Whiskey Diggings.
Here commenced his miner's life and here on the 18tlh of
November, 1853, their second son, Clarence M., was born. While
he was quite successful in his mining operations, he did not make
the fortune anticipated, and in the year 1854 he went with his
family to San Francisco and engaged passage to New York City
across the isthmus, taking the steamer Yankee Blade, which
belonged to the Vanderbilt line, as far as the isthmus.
They set out on this vessel in October and had proceeded
southward along the coast only about two hundred miles when the
vessel, which had on board a goodly supply of gold, was taken in
charge by a gang of ruffians who were called stowaway pirates.
These men attempted to run the vessel ashore for the purpose of
plundering it, but unfortunately ran the vessel upon a rock
which split it asunder and she soon went down. Many of the
passengers were drowned, but the larger portion succeeded in
reaching the main land, some two miles distant, where they lived
upon such food as was washed up from the vessel and such as
they could obtain from the salt water, for about ten days, when
they were taken off; part of them south to the Isthmus and the
remainder back to San Francisco.
Dr. Burton and his family were all saved and all returned to
San Francisco. They went back to their old mining camp and
remained one year until the following October, when they undertook the same trip they had set out upon before. This time,
after the usual delays of travel in that early age, they reached
New York City safely.
From here they went to Seneca Falls, New York, where Mrs.
Burton's parents were residing. Leaving Mrs. Burton here, her




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


87


husband proceeded to the State of Micligan and settled in Hastings in 1855. He had been in Hastings but a short time when his
wife and children came to make tleir home witll him, which
was from this time on their future home and where were born
three more children, William, Ellen and Edward.
Ir. Burton took an active part in the campaign of John C.
Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the presidency, and
stumped the county for him.
After the defeat of Fremont and for tile purpose of commencing then the work of the new presidential campaign, which
resulted four years later in tle election of Lincoln, I)r. Burton
and some others purchased type, presses and paper and started
the Hastings Banner. Tlhe doctor was an incessant worker and in
addition to his political work lie carried on the work of the newspaper, his work as a physician, wlich was constantly growing,
and cleared and cultivated the farm wllich lie had purchased wlhen
he first visited tile village and wliere lie resided so many years.
His medical practice grew so large that he was obliged to
give up his paper, so lie sold it out, but lie never lost interest
politically in the Republican party and always had time to
spare to convert to his way of thinking any person who had been
misled into any other belief.  His accumulations brought him
other property, both real and personal, the attending to which
occupied all his time.
During the War of the Rebellion, lie was one of the foremost
in the accumulating of sufficient funds to fill the quota of the
Township of Hastings, and it is well known that Hastings was
one of the few places in which there was no draft. Those who
lived in Hastings during these exciting times will remember the
congregation that assembled every day in Dr. Burton's store to
hear him read to the crowd the latest news from the battle ground
and from the capital.
He carried his love for hard work through life and devoted
as many hours to hard labor the last year as lie did when he was
young. His idea of thrift was carried to an extreme, but those
who would impute this to him as a wrong would not do so if they
could pass through all the walks of life that he passed through
and see the absolute need of economy in order to have the necessaries of life and the positive good that comes from affluence. He




88


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


was an enthusiastic adovcate of popular education and the maintenance of schools. His own children were put to school at an
early age and kept there until they had passed through the
highest branches which the state afforded.
He constantly used his efforts to persuade young men and
women to obtain an education in order to better their situation in
life and maintained that money thus spent was a better investment than any other.
CHARLES F. COCK
Charles F. Cock was born at Charleston, Kalamazoo County,
about a mile and a half east of Augusta, March 11, 1839. He
comes from one of the oldest families in this country, certain of
his ancestors having come to this continent in the seventeenth
century by way of the Bermudas, settling first in Virginia and
then on Long Island.
Charles Cock's father was Andrew Cock and his mother was
Maria Reeves Cock. In 1836 they left their home in Wayne
County, New York, and came to the then territory of Michigan.
Arriving at Buffalo, they came down Lake Erie to Detroit and
then made the journey to Charleston, which they made their destination, by trian. The country in which they found themselves
was perfectly new territory and the land had to be cleared before
it could be tilled at all. The two pioneers wrested a farm for
themselves from the all-encompassing wilderness and lived on
the same until their death, the mother dying in 1869 and the
father in the next year.
Charles Cock had three brothers and one sister, and of this
family of five, three are still living. Charles was the next to the
oldest, the oldest brother being James Edward, who was killed at
the battle of Shiloh. He had enlisted in the First Nebraska
Regiment and was the first Nebraska man to be killed.
Young Charles' education was received first in the rural
schools of Kalamazoo County and then in Olivet Institute, now
Olivet College, which he attended in 1857 and 1858. At that time
Olivet had about 250 students and was a co-educational institution,
being peculiar because of this feature, women students not being
generally admitted to higher educational advantages as they are
today. Persident Bartlett was the head of the institute and on




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


89


CHAS. COCK








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


91


the faculty was Prof. Ormel Hosford. He was one of the strong
pillars of the school and a man of great influence among the
students. Later he became one of the state's first Superintendents
of Public Instruction.
After studying at Olivet, Mr. Cock returned to Kalamazoo
and went to farming, which has been his vocation all his life. It
was not long, however, before the war of the rebellion broke out,
and in September, 1861, Charles Cock enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Volunteers, Company F. This company was largely recruited
from  Hastings, although a few like Mr. Cock came up from
Kalamazoo County and joined the regiment at Hastings. In the
battle of James Island, June 16, 1862, Mr. Cock was wounded and
was discharged because of his wounds. It might be well to note
here that his regiment was styled the "Wandering Eighth", being
said to have travelled more miles than any other in the service.
In August, 1870, Mr. Cock, at Ashtabula, Ohio, married Miss
Ella King of Erie, Pennsylvania, and soon after came to Barry
County, locating in Hope township on the same farm where he
now lives.
In Hope Mr. Cock has prospered and has made many friends,
while his absolute rectitude of character has led his neighbors and
friends to place him in many offices of trust in the township. As
a matter of fact he has held almost every office in the township,
having been Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer, HIighway
Commissioner, School Commissioner, School Inspector and Supervisor. This latter office he has held for nine terms, his first term
being in 1879. An interesting fact is that at this time George
Abbey, Charles Mack, Charles Polley and Edward Nye were also
all new men and broke into service as supervisors at the same
session.
In 1906 Mr. Cock was elected County Treasurer and in 1908
he was again returned to the same office. As a county official Mr.
Cock was painstaking and scrupulously careful and made a most
enviable record. In politics he has always been a Republican,
casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
Mr. Cock has one son, Maurice, who lives on his father's farm
in Hope, and one daughter, Jessie, who is Mrs. Alonzo McCarthy
of Shultz.
Charles Cock is known as a man of integrity and absolute




92


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


rectitude. He is square in all his dealings and merits and possesses the confidence of all who know him. He is a progressive
citizen of whom his community may well be proud.
GEORGE E. COLEMAN
There is no county in the State of Michigan where more young
men have made good than in Barry County, and among Barry
County's successful young men we are glad to record the name
of George E. Coleman as a young man who, by hustling and
honest progressive methods, has earned the respect of all.
George E. Coleman is the son of Hiram and Julia Coleman,
early pioneers of Barry County, they having come to Johnstown
township in 1852 from Orange County, New York. They made
this trip through Michigan as far west as Battle Creek by rail, but
there they had to adopt other methods and proceed by stage, their
drivers on tle stage trip being the well known stage drivers,
Hiram Merrill and William Burroughs.
Arriving in Johnstown, the pioneer couple located on the farm
still owned by George E. Coleman. All was wilderness at that
time and the land had all to be cleared before cultivation was
possible. Those were days when men met nature with naked
hands and wrested from her the stern necessities of life, and the
then young Coleman was always sturdy and strong in the hard
fight.
An interesting story of these pioneer days is that of the first
election in Johnstown township. In this first election Hiram
Coleman cast the very first ballot, walking six miles through the
woods to register his vote. Twelve ballots were cast altogether
at this first election, the polling place being at the home of William P. Bristol.
It was on this farm in Johnstown township that George E.
Coleman was born, May 24, 1868, he being the next to youngest
of six children, three girls and three boys.
Mr. Coleman's youth and young manhood were all spent on
the farm and his start in life was secured through the hard work
necessary to farm life.
At the age of 23 Mr. Coleman married Carrie C. Fry,
daughter of Henry and Anna Fry of Johnstown township, and
from this marriage two children have been born, Annawave and




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY  93


\


GEO. E. COLEMAN








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


95


Earle H., the former being a graduate and the latter a student of
the Hastings High School.
Mr. Coleman has been entrusted frequently with public office
and by careful attention to his duties has always justified the confidence of his fellow citizens. For nine years he was clerk of
Jolnstown township and for four years he was county treasurer.
After completing his two terms as treasurer, Mr. Coleman
entered the City Bank of Hastings as assistant to cashier and then,
after three years of banking work, lie became treasurer of the
Michigan Mutual Insurance Company, which insures against loss
by wind and tornado. Mr. Coleman also conducts a fire insurance
agency, having a strong and reliable list of companies.
Mr. Coleman has always been interested in the things which
make for the advancement of his county and city and has been
secretary of the Barry County Agricultural Society, giving the
county excellent service in this respect. He is also treasurer of the
Barry County Chautauqua Association. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and is treasurer of Hastings Lodge, F. and
A. M. He is also a member of the Woodmen and is a staunch
Presbyterian.
MIr. Coleman has a firm and unyielding belief that allegiance
to one's word and perfectly square dealing with every one alike
are bound/ to succeed in business and he has squared his actions to
these ideas with the most excellent results.
George E. Coleman is known in Barry County as a man of
absolute integrity who can be trusted fully in any capacity in
which his services may be required. He is still a young man, but
he has achieved enough to make his record an enviable one. Still
Mr. Coleman is not content to rest on the past, but is ever on the
lookout for other opportunities of service.
PHILIP T. COLGROVE
Mr. Colgrove is a native of the State of Indiana, having been
born at Winchester in that state, April 17, 1858. His first American ancestry is traced in the person of Francis Colgrove, born in
1667, who settled in Warwick, Rhode Island.   Philip T. Colgrove's father was Charles H., who came from Steuben county,
New York, and his mother was Catherine Van Zile, a sister of
Judge Philip T. Van Zile of Detroit.




96


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Good educational advantages in his early youth, at Olivet
College, coupled with a commendable energy and application,
placed him some years in advance of the average student. He
read law concurrently with his literary studies and was admitted
to the bar before the Supreme Court of Michigan, on his twentyfirst birthday, one of three out of a class of fourteen.
Mr. Colgrove's first practice was at Reed City, but in 1880
he removed to Hastings and formed a law     partnership with
Clement Smith, now Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The
partnership was terminated upon the appointment of Mr. Smith
to the judgeship in 1893 and Mr. Colgrove is now the senior
member of the firm of Colgrove & Potter.
In 1882 Mr. Colgrove was elected prosecuting attorney of
Barry County and was re-elected for two additional terms, in
1884 and 1886. In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate, and
although nominated for re-election in 1890, declined the honor.
During his term in tle senate Mr. Colgrove was a member of the
Judiciary committee and chairman of the Committee on Insurance.
He has also been city attorney at Hastings for several years.
He is a Republican in politics and during many campaigns las
been an eloquent and effective speaker in the behalf of his party's
principles and candidates, not only in Micligan, but in the nation
at large.
Of recent years Mlr. Colgrove has been actively interested in
the cause of good roads. As president of the Michigan Good
Roads Association he has done much to increase the efficiency of
Michigan's highways and much of the present widespread interest
in better thoroughfares must be directly attributed to the entliusiasm and organized effort which Mr. Colgrove las given to the
duties of his office as executive of the State association. l)uring
Mr. Colgrove's administration the membership of the association
has grown almost unbelievably and lie is always ready to preach
the cause of good roads at public gatherings everywhere. Mr.
Colgrove is without doubt the great apostle of good roads in
Michigan.
Mr. Colgrove's business interests are many and varied. He
is director and stockholder in numerous enterprises and is also
the owner of a considerable number of successful farms. In the
management of these farms he has shown conclusively that modern




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


99


business methods pay well when applied to agriculture.
Mr. Colgrove is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of
the Hastings lodge of the Knights of Pythias. In this latter
fraternity Mr. Colgrove has been especially prominent. In 1886
he was a member of the Grand Lodge and was elected Grand
Master-at-Arms of that body. In 1887 lie was elected Grand
Chancellor, and in 1889 and 1890 he was the representative of
the Grand Lodge to tle Supreme Grand Lodge. In 1894 hle was
elected Supreme Vice Chancellor. But the highest honors of the
order awaited him in 1896 when, at the session of tile Supreme
Grand Lodge held at Cleveland in August of that year, he was
elected Supreme Clancellor of the Supreme Lodge of Knights of
Pythias of the world.
Mr. Colgrove has two children, Mabel, who is Mrs. William
M. Stebbins of Hastings, and Lawrence, of Pontiac, Michigan.
Two years ago Lawrence Colgrove married Miss Grace Grant of
Hastings and to them has been born a son, Philip Grant Colgrove.
In church relations Mr. Colgrove is a vestryman of Emmanuel
Episcopal church and has always been ready to put his shoulder
to the wlheel and help the church through all difficulties.
Mr. Colgrove is a lawyer of ability and learning. He is a
convincing and eloquent pleader and speaker and an energetic
citizen wlio is always to be found on the side of progress.
DAVID R. COOK
Scarcely another name in Barry County has been better
known than tlat of David R. Cook. One of that group of hardy
pioneers who have now nearly all gone to their rest, he will ever
be remembered as one of the men who were foremost in the
making of Barry County.
David Randolph Cook was born of sturdy German stock (the
original name was Koch) in Mapletown, Steuben County, New
York, September 1, 1830, and died in Hastings February 6, 1907.
In the spring of 185- hle left his home in the Empire State and
started for Michigan, arriving in Prairieville, where his sister
already lived, May 24-. The next year he and his brother, Sylvanus Cook, bought a farm where the two brothers lived until
Sylvanus was elected register of deeds in 1860. October 13, 1857,
lie married Martha M. MIarshall of Prairieville.




100   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


November 17, 1863, lie moved witll his family to Hastings
and went into the office of his brother as deputy register of deeds,
holding the position until llis brotler's term  expired in 1868.
While the two brotlers were in this office they prepared tile
abstract of Barry County, which Philo A. Sheldon now owns.
Upon leaving tile register of deeds' office tlle brothers formed
a partnershli in thle abstract, real estate and loan )business, but
the following year this arrangement was broken by tile deatli of
Sylvanus. About a year later, or in 1870, Mr. Cook took into
partnership witli him  Philo A. Sheldon, and for nineteen years
the firm  of Cook & Sheldon continued in busiless. 'Tlen Mr.
Cook sold out to Mr. Sheldon and retired from active business,
witl the exception of being associated, at times, witll Mlajor G.
M. Anderson in soliciting for railroad projects.   After Major
Anderson's deatli, Mr. Cook entirely refrained from active business, sp)ending his later years pleasantly and quietiv ill hiis comfortable home on \West Green street. Tills llhome, whiichl lie built
in 1868, is inow the home of Kellar Stem.
Politically. Mr. Cook was in early life a Whlig. When tlle
Rel)ubllican party was formed lie joined it llld was nll active
member tlereof to tlle close of his life.  H e w-as treasurer of
Prairieville townshil} in 1858 and supervisor ill i (86  and 1862.
He was a trustee of thle village of Hastinlgs ill 186t8 and 1870 a:nd
sul)ervisor of Hastings township, includilg tlle vill;age. in 1871 and
1877. Hte was a member of thle school board ill Iastilngs from
1870 to 1872, and mayor of IHastinigs ill 1872. ilavill ' b)eell tlle
city's second mayor.
In 1876 Mr. Cook was elected to tlle St:te Sell:te, serving
tlrough tile twenty-nintll session of thle legislature. His llealtl
failing him at this time, lie retired from public life. iutt five -years
later lie was again elected to tile senate to fill the vacancy caused
by tlle deatll of Senator Iewis l)urkee. In 1880 lie was one of tlle
presidential electors on tile Republican ticket. After tlhe deatll of
the late Henry A. Goodyear, Mr. Cook became )residelit of tlle
county pioneer society ill wllose j)roceedings lie always took a
deep interest.
Such is the brief resume of an active, successful and honorable
life. Without the advantages of early schooling, lie became by
reading, observation and experience, an exceptionally intelligent




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


D. R. COOK








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


103


and well informed man. Possessed of strong will and intrinsic
good sense, he won his way to success in business life and earned
and deserved the confidence of his fellow citizens, the esteem of
his neighbors and the affection of his family and friends. He
was public spirited and generous, charitable and kindly of heart.
He fought the battle of life bravely and well, and lie came to its
end with the calmness and peace that follows a work well and
faithfully done.
Mr. Cook is survived by his widow and two sons, Marshall L.
and William R., proprietors of the Hastings Banner.
Mrs. D. R. Cook is the daughter of William and Ellen Marshall, who were among the earliest pioneers of Prairieville township. She was born in Ontario County, New York, June 29, 1839.
Her father moved to this county in 1842, his brother, John Marshall, having located the farm on which William settled in 1839.
Mrs. Cook, full of years, and with the gracious sweetness of a
happy and mellow old age, is living with her son, William R., in
Hastings.
OSCAR L. CROOK
A man who comes from pioneer stock and whose career it is
a pleasure to set forth in this volume is Oscar L. Crook. He
is known to his community as a man of irreproachable integrity,
of impeccable habits, and one who gives to his vocation the
utmost attention and care.
Mr. Crook was born in Monroe County, Michigan, July 8,
1854, and in the following year was brought to this county by
his parents, Elam and Catherine Crook, who located on a farm
just north of the present County Farm. The story of their first
years in Barry County is a vivid cliapter from real pioneer life.
It was in March when they first arrived and the family stayed
at the home of I). McDonald while the father cut logs for a house.
There was no bridge over the Thornapple and this stream had
to be crossed in order to permit the pioneer father to reach his
property from  Mr. McDonald's.   Accordingly, taking off his
boots, lie would wade through the icy waters to get to his place
of work. Snow was still on the ground and this had to be shovelled away to make it possible to build a house. Finally the
home was completed and when the family were finally ensconced




104   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


in their new log habitation Father Crook found that lie had just
lhalf a dollar in money.
Iuring tile summer he cleared some land for corn and
potatoes and thus supplied his family with tile necessaries of
life. Mr. Crook, senior, had his corn ground in Hastings, taking
it to mill down the river in a boat and in returning home he would
pusli the boat up thle stream.
At that time Indians were numerous in the vicinity of the
Crook farm and Oscar L. Crook remembers watching tle redskins
as they camped in the woods on tlhe banks of the Thornapple.
At tlis time tliere were all kinds of wild game and hunting was
widely indulged in. All these conditions Oscar Crook 11as seen
cllanged. From  a real wilderness lie lias seen come forth tlle
present cultivated and fertile fields.
For tlhe last thirty years lie llas been connected witl tile
railway mail service, receiving llis appointment under President
Artllur. In tllis connection lie lhas been a faithful and comletent
eml)loye. In lis earlier years Mr. (rook taughlt sichool for five
terms and a;mong his best friends todaly are some of Ills former
]pul)ils.
Mr. Crook was at one time tile owner of Indian Landing,
wllere the first corn in Ba:rrv County was raised.
Fraternally Mr. Crook is a Knigllt of Pytli;as alld a: member
of Hastings Iodge, F. & A. AM.
(ctober 13, 1875, Mr. Crook married Miss Annlla (Green,
wllo also llad taughlt il tlle rural scllools. Mr. and Mrs. Crook
are tlhe parents of tlree sons, Guy E., a real estate and insurallce
broker in Hastings; I)on E., wlio is engaged in tlle plumbing
business in Vicksburg; and Slhirley B., wllo is casliier of tlle
Thornapple Gas and Electric Company at Hastings.
LEN W. FEIGHNER
One of the hustling and progressive men of Barry County
is Len W. Feighner of Nashville, editor and owner of tile Nashville News and postmaster of that village.  He is a man who
is always to be found pushing any project whicl will be of advantage to the community and he is distinctly a citizen who is
worth while.
Len W. Feighner was born in Canton, Ohio, June 5, 1862.
His father was William F. Feighner and his mother Henrietta




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY  105


OSCAR CROOK








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


107


Stauffer Feighner, both being of German descent. The Feighners
came to Ohio from Pennsylvania and tle Stauffers from Maryland.
In September, 1862, wlen Len W. was only four months
old, his parents moved from Ohio to Castleton, whither tle
father's two brothers, Henry and John, had preceded him and
had become the owners of a saw mill. He had acquired an interest
in this mill while yet living in Ohio and on his arrival in Castleton
lie became actively engaged in the mill business.
In this same year, 1862, David and Elizabeth Stauffer, the
parents of Mrs. William Feighner, also moved with their family
from their llome in Ohio to Castleton and located on a farm in
tlhat townslip on which Mr. Stauffer lived until his death in 1878,
this being occasioned by a tree falling upon him while chopping
in tile woods.
Mr. and Mrs. William Feighner, on tleir arrival in Castleton,
at first located upon a farm, but soon afterwards moved to wlere
Nashville now is. Here Mr. Feighner, witl his brother-in-law,
the late S. E. Stauffer, started, in 1863, the first store in Nashville,
this store being located at the nortl end of what is now Main
street on the south bank of the Thornapple. A short time later
Mr. Stauffer bought Mr. Feighner's interest in the business and
the latter then started the second store in Nashville. This was
located opposite wlere the postoffice now is and lere Mr. Feighner
continued in business until his death, December 12, 1869. Mrs.
Feigllner, wllo survived him, is still living, being a resident of
Hastings.
Young Feighlner's first education was secured in a slab schoolhouse in Nashville, not only the building but also the seats being
made of slabs. Holes served for windows, glass not being obtainable. His first teacher was Miss Agnes Smith, now Mrs. C. M.
Putnam of Nashville.
On tlie deatl of his fatller, wlien lie was only seven years old,
Len W\. went to live with his uncle, L. E. Stauffer, the family
of four children being too great a burden for the widowed mother.
In the next year, 1870, Mr. Stauffer moved to Grand Rapids and
young Len attended scliool in that city. A slort time later Mr.
Stauffer moved to Hastings and here young Feighner completed
his formal education.




108


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


In December, 1878, lie engaged to learn tile printer's trade
in tile office of the Hastings Journal. In 1879 and 1880 lie worked
in Nashville for Arno Strong of tile News.    He then returned
to Hastings, wliere lhe worked on the Banner for George M.
I)ewey and later for Cook & Bowers. He left tle Banner in
1881 and for tliree years was a journeyman printer, being
employed in Muskegon, Indianapolis, Greencastle, Ind., and Cliicago. He remained in Chicago until 188.1, wllen he returned to
Nashville and became foreman and local editor of the News.
In 1885 IMr. Feighller married Stella IL. Wilson of Nashville,
daughter of Lyman J. and I,adosca Wilson. AIr. and Mrs. Feighner llave one daughter, Vada M., born March 1, 1895.
October 1, 1888, Mr. F eighner bouglht thle Naslville News
from  Arno Strong and lhas remained its pro)rietor and editor
since tllat time, now nearly a quarter of a century.  The News
llas tlle well founded rel)utation of being thle best paper in tlhe
best shop in any town of equal size in tile state.
In politics Mr. Feigliner is a Republican and lias always been
an entlusiastic worker for hlis party.  He lhas been postmaster
of Nashville since 1899, receiving liis first appointment from
President McKinley.
Besides his newspaper, Mr. Feigllner is interested in manlufacturing anid various otller business affairs, bothl in Naslhville alld
elsewhlere. He is plresideiit of thle Grand Rapids Textile MIachiinery Company and is active il advanllcin, tlle coml)lny's interests.
He is a member of tlle Knigllts of Pytl)ias, Masonis, Odd Fe llows, Maccabees and tlle Foresters.
One institution in wllich Mr. Feighner is particularly interested is tile Nasllville Club, wllose organization eigllt years ago
was due, to a great extent, to his efforts. He was its first president and has continued to hold tlis office ever since. The club
is a social organization and has splendid rooms in tlle Griffin
block, the second story of which is owned by and devoted almost
entirely to its uses.
Len W. Feighner is pre-eminently a progressive and forceful
citizen. He is a man wlo has made his own way to success and
one who has made his success of benefit to his fellow citizens. It is
most fitting that he should be a representative of Nashville in
this History.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


109


LEN FEIGHNER








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


111


CHARLES F. FIELD
Charles F. Field was born in Manchester, Michigan, September 23, 1851. His parents were John and Alcey J. Field, natives of
Wayne County, New York. His boyhood was spent in his native
town, where lie attended the village school, and when the new
High School building was finished in 1867 he became a member
of the first class, which graduated in 1871. In the fall of that
year he was one of four young men that entered the State University from  the Manchester High School, graduating from  the
literary department in 1875 with the degree of A. B.
For several years following graduation Mr. Field taught
sclool, one year in Clinton and four years in the Manchester
High School. He then purchased the Clinton News, which he
conducted until the spring of 1884, when lie moved his plant to
Tecumseh and founded the Tecumseli News. In 1896 lie sold
the News and shortly afterwards became an editorial writer on
the Detroit Free Press. After three years in this work lie was
elected to a position in the Detroit Central High School, where he
taught Iatin and Rlletoric for a year, when he again yielded to
lis journalistic proclivities, resigning his position in Detroit to
purchase tle Hastings Herald, which lie conducted until the fall
of 1911, when the Herald and Journal were merged into one
paper, called the Hastings Journal-Herald. He is one of the editors
of tis paper and vice president of the Hastings Printing Company, tile corporation which owns the aforesaid journal.
During all the years of his active life Mr. Field has been
connected at various times with the work of the public schools.
Wlhile living in Manchester he was township superintendent of
schools. I)uring his Clinton residence he was for a time a member of tile school board. In 1891 he was elected by the Lenawee
County Board of Supervisors, county commissioner of schools,
and in 1893 was re-elected by the people. Soon after locating in
Hastings lie was the candidate on the Democratic ticket for school
commissioner of Barry County, but was defeated. In December,
1901, lie was unanimously chosen by the Board of Education of the
City of Hastings, Superintendent of the City Schools, to fill the
vacancy caused by tile resignation of the superintendent.  He
entered upon tile duties of superintendent January 1st, 1902, and
held the position until June, 1904, when he retired from school




112   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


work to devote all his attention to his newspaper. In tile fall of
1892 he was the Iemocratic candidate for member of thle state
board of education, but, his party being in a hopeless minority,
lie of course was not elected. A similar honor was accorded
him in 1910, when lie was a candidate on thle Democratic ticket
for state senator.
On December 31, 1878, Mr. Field married Miss Kate Kies,
daughter of Joseph S. and Elizabeth Kies, of Clinton. They have
two children, Will J. Field, editor of Electric Traction, of Chicago, and Elizabeth Louise, wife of Adelbert M. Hall, a prominent merchant of Belding, Michigan.
In religion Mir. Field has been actively identified witli tlle
Episcopal church for most of his adult life, having been a member
of tile vestry wllile at Clinton, Tecumseh and Hastings. He is
also a member of tile Masonic fraternity, in whicl order lie hlas
held tile secretaryship of Tecumseh Iodge and Chapter, and for
the past eiglit years lie hlas been secretary of Hastings Chapter
No. 68, R. A. MI. He is at present Wortlly Patron of Hastings
Chapter No. 7, Order of tlhe Eastern Star.
HENRY A. GOODYEAR
There is no name in the county more closely associated
with its advancement than that of Hon. Henry A. G(oodyear.
He came to tle State of Miclligan at a time wlen it was nothing
but a still unsettled wilderness, inhabited princilpally by Indians
and widely scattered white settlers, and offering little in tile way
of opportunity to any one not possessed of tlat lhardy and indomitable spirit of conquest that actuated tlhe minds and bodies of
our early pioneers. He witnessed the evoluion of Barry County
and the City of Hastings from their rough inception to finishld
maturity. He saw comfortable homes and thriving interests supplant the log shacks and itinerant enterprises of tile '30's and
heard the whistles of the factories and locomotives wliere the axe
of the woodman had sounded before-all this in a lifetime of
industry and progress tlat has left its lasting impress on the
community in which he lived.
Mr. Goodyear was born in York, Pennsylvania, June 30,
1818. He secured an academic education at home, remaining
there until he was sixteen years of age, when lie embarked in




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


113


C. F. FIELD








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


115


his first business experience, entering tle employ of a druggist in
Philadelphia, working in the drug store and learning tile rudiments of pharlnacy.
Young Goodyear remained in Philadelphia two years and
then, in 1838, he came to Micligan, locating in Detroit. Here he
continued working at his profession until 1840, when he came
to Hastings, arriving tliere, for the first time, in tlhe month of
November.
Hastings, at tlhat time, was a cluster of rudely constructed
liouses, built in the woods, and Mr. Goodyear spent his first night
in the village at Cllase's Tavern, situated on tlhe bank of the
Thornapple, near the present Michigan Avenue bridge.        He
brouglt with him a stock of general merchandise and drugs and
subsequently opened tile first store in Barry County on the corner
of wllat is now Creek and Main streets.
It has been written that tile young store proprietor, wlen
standing in his own doorway, was unable to see tle nearest
house, a distance of 100 feet away. on account of tile density of
tile trees that intervened. At tllis time. Mr. Goodyear, who is
described as a man of ratler bashful and retiring disposition.
earned for himself tlhe sobriquet of "doctor", which title clung
to him  during many years and was bestowed, probably, as a
result of tlhe fact that lie kept a stock of drugs in his store.
No records slow that lie was ever educated in, or practiced the
profession of medicine.
Mr. Goodyear continued alone in his first mercantile adventure for several years, but eventually formed a partnership with
his brother, W. S. Goodyear. In 185-; lie sold his interest in tile
business to Nathan Barlow, but resumed it one year later, being
associated this time witl William   Barlow.  In 1859 lie again
disposed of his share in tile store, his brother, J. S. Goodyear,
being thle purchlaser. In tllis same year lie started in tile hardware business in a one-story wooden building whicl lie built on
tle present site of Pearson's grocery store.  This business has
continued to tlme present day and is now conducted by M\r. Goodyear's sons, John F. and I)avid S., under tlle firm name of Goodyear Brotlers.  At the time when lie established the liardware
business, Mr. Goodyear resided a slort distance east of his newly
built store., on tlle present location of tile National Bank. and in




116   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


a wing of his residence, which extended west and opened into
his store, lie conducted a private bank whicll later became the
Hastings National Bank.
Mr. Goodyear retired from business in 1882 after aIn active
mercantile career, covering a period of forty-two yars, during
which time lie worked tirelessly, furthering his business success
with a standard of honesty and square dealing from whicll lie
never deviated.
In 1843 lie married Miss MaIry Barlow, daughter of Nathan
Barlow of Hastings. From this union tliree clildren were lorn:
William H., George E., and Nathllan B. Mrs. Goodyear died in
1848 and in 1850 Mr. Goodyear married the sister of his first wife,
Miss Ermina Barlow. The clildren of his second marriage were:
Rosella, Anna, David S. and John F. Anna, now Mrs. Haff, resides
in Granld Rapl)ids. Miss Rose, David and Johll, all reside in
Hastings.  No clildren of tlle first marriage are now living.
In politics SMr. Goodyear was a firm believer in tlle princilles
of Democracy anld in 1845 lie was elected on the I)cmocratic ticket
as a member of tlhe state House of IRepresentatives, its sessions
being tlen hleld in I)etroit, as Lansing was still in tlle wilderness.
In 1854 lie was elected to tlhe state Senate and in 187.1 lie was
again elected to tile House, serving on tile Ways anid Meanls Committee.  In 1852 lie was a delegate to tile National I)emocratic
Convention tliat nominated Franklin Pierce for tile lpresidency.
Mr. Goodyear was closely affiliated witl thle (rand River
Valley railwaly project and witnessed its successful completion, for
several years acting as treasurer of that organization.  He was
financially back of tlie first newspaper ever p)iubislled in Hastings, "The Pioneer", and contributed to its columls throughout
its existence.  He was the first President, the first Mayor, the
first banker, and, as has been previously shown, tile first merchal:nt
of Hastings.
Mr. Goodyear's personal clharacter was a rare combinationl of
those traits that rendered him  a considerate and lovable fatler
and husband, a conscientious business man and a loyal and public
spirited citizen.  He was thoughtful and solicitous in his family,
honest and painstaking in his financial dealings, and was possessed
of a generous, but always conservative, spirit of philanthropy.
There are few schools, churches, or other public institutions in




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY  117


/
I i


i
I


i            I


H. A. GOODYEAR








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


119


Hastings and vicinity which have not in some measure been benefitted by the aid of this influential citizen.
During his life Mr. Goodyear was an active member of the
Episcopal church and was senior warden of the local parish for
many years.
His death, which occurred May 5, 1901, caused deep and sincere grief in his home city, the county and the state. The legislature of Michigan sent resolutions of sympathy to Mr. Goodyear's
immediate family and as an additional mark of respect, the flags
on the capitol at Lansing were placed at hlalf-mast on the day of
the funeral.
ROBERT J. GRANT
A man who stands out distinctly as one of the representative
pioneers of Hastings was Robert J. Grant. For almost half a
century lie was one of the foremost figures in all of ile city's commercial, political and religious activities and lhad an almost incalculable influence in making Hastings the thriving community
it has become.
Robert James Grant was born in Yates County, New York,
February 17, 1822, and died in Hastings, August 12, 189-. When
only fifteen years of age he moved from the Empire State with
his parents and settled in the then wilderness of Mliciligan, locating near Bellevue. Thougl young, lie knew what it was to
labor and upon settling in Michigan, his father and lie opened a
shoemaker's slop.
By industry and economy young Grant accumulated a little
means and in 1849, when lie was 27 years of age, lie moved to
Hastings and opened a general store. His ability and close application to business brought him success in his first venture and in
the various other enterprises in which lie later engaged, among
these being the milling and grain business. He was always ambitious and industrious, not for the accumulation of wealth but
that lie might be the means of helping the weak and less fortunate
ones of life. With the Indians, who were in the locality of Hastings in those days, Mr. Grant was very friendly and among them
was recognized as their friend so that in time of trouble they
always came to him for advice.
Several years before his death he retired from the dry goods




120   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


and clothing business in which he was then engaged and went into
the elevator business, his son, R. K. Grant, succeeding him in the
mercantile business. Mr. Grant conducted the elevator business
until the time of his death.
During his long life in Hastings Mr. Grant was entrusted
with many offices of importance. He was elected to the state
House of Representatives in 1868 and on the expiration of his
term of office in 1870, lie was chosen for another two-year term.
Three times lie was Mayor of Hastings, his first term being in
1878. He was re-elected the following year and then in 1882 was
again chosen for the same office. Because of his active interest in
educational work lie was made a member of the Board of Education and made a very efficient official. In all of his public offices
lie made a very clean and honorable record and was ever a vigilant
and trusted public servanit.
Mr. Grant was of a religious turn of mind and soon after
attaining his majority joined the Metlodist clurcl. He was made
a member of the official board of the M. E. churcl in 1850, the
year after lie arrived in Hastings, and continued to serve in this
capacity until his death. For 23 years lie was Superintendent of
the M. E. Sunday sclool, resigning in 1877. In connection with
Mr. Grant's relations with tile Hastings M. E. church the following extract from Daniel Striker's historical sketch of the church,
read by him on the occasion of the semi-centennial anniversary of
the churcl's foundation, will be of considerable interest: "I)ecember 2, 1852," says Mir. Striker, "R... Grant, with I). G. Robinson
and Lorenzo Mudge, for the Methodist society purchllased from the
village school district, lot No. 589. paying $150, witl the old
school house thereon, eacli paying the sum  of $50. Brothers
Grant and Robinson seated and arranged the inside of the building so it answered the purpose for holding religious services for
quite a while. The society afterwards paid back what they advanced for fixing the inside, but the purchase money was never
refunded."
In 1867 Mr. Grant, witl Daniel Striker, bou^,lit a tract of
160 acres, north of the State Road and east of Broadway, the
same being the southwest quarter of Section 8, Township of Hastings. Later Mr. Grant and Mr. Striker divided their interest in
the tract, Mr. Grant taking the land west of Michigan avenue
and Mr. Striker the portion east of the same avenue. In 1867




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


121


I A,
I~is~


R. J. GRANT








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


123


Mr. Grant formed what is known as Grant's first addition from the
land which lie had retained, and in 1870 he formed Grant's second
addition, lying north of the first addition and being also a part of
the tract which Mr. Grant had retained from the original purchase.
It was on a portion of the first addition that Mr. Grant built the
home which has always continued in the family and which is now
owned by his granddaughter, Mliss Mary Grant.
In 1844 Mr. Grant married Miss Lucelia Jordan, and to them
three children were born. Of the three, two died in childhood,
one son, R. K. Grant, alone surviving the father. Mrs. Grant
died in 1875. Tile blow was a severe one for Mr. Grant and lie
sorely felt the affliction, but in the hour of trial lie put his implicit
faith in God and received comfort.
R. J. Grant was a man wlo, first of all, was not selfish. He
delighted in doing kindly and charitable acts for his fellows and
was ever sympathetic in his relations witlh mankiind. The mere
acquisition of wealth had no cliarm for him, for although lie was
prospered in this world's goods lie always looked upon his property as a stewardslip for which lie must give a good accounting.
Hastings and Barry County are better because R. J. Grant dwelt
so long in tleir confines.
It is also most fitting to chronicle the life of R. K. Grant, the
only child of Robert J. Grant to survive liim. R. K. Grant was
born in Hastings October 8, 1861, and died in Battle Creek, following an operation, February 13, 1912, having been a resident
of Hastings all his life. He was educated in the Hastings schools
and also attended business college. On October 25, 1886, lie was
united in marriage to Miss Carrie Baitinger of Woodland. To
them were born two daughters, Miss Mary, who lives in the family
home in Hastings, and Miss Grace, who is Mrs. Lawrence Colgrove, of Pontiac. Mrs. Colgrove has one son, Philip Grant
Colgrove.
Mrs. Grant died in Rochester, Minn., where she had gone to
be operated upon, in 1907. On October 26, 1909, Mr. Grant
married Mrs. Anna Curtis of this city, who survives him.
Mr. Grant was of a retiring nature. He had many friends
and his many deeds of charity were never known unless those
who were benefitted by them told of his aid. He was for many




124


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


years engaged in tile clothing business which lie sold to G. F.
Chidester. He afterwards conducted the elevator business which
was establishled bv his father and which lie sold to Edmonds Bros.
Later he became associated witll (Gu  E. Crook in tlhe importation
and sale of foreign products.
Tlhougli engaged in business, lie found time to serve his city
as Mayor, member of tlhe City Council and Board of Education.
He was a member of tile Hastingis Pythian lodge and of tile three
Masonic bodies of Hastings.  He, like his fatler, was a member
of tile official board of thle MI. E. clurcll, of Hastings, and lie was
also a director of tlhe Riverside Cemetery Association. Kirk
Grant was one of tlhe most substantial citizens of Hastings and
his memory will always be clierislled( b)V  is friends.
CHARLES M. HENDERSHOTT
It is indeed witlh pleasure tlhat we here plresenlt a biographical
sketch of Charles M. Hendersllott, of Baltimore. better known as
"Mike" Hendcrsllott.   Mr. Helldersliott Ihas had an interesting
career as a pioneer. soldier, and plrosperous upright citizen.: land it
is most fitting tliat lie should rel)resent his townsrhip in tlis
history. It is such men as C. MI. Ienderslhott whom a younger
generation should he pleased to lionor.
Mr. Henderslott was born in Bradford Coulnty, Pennlsvlvania, May 7, 1839. His parents were Isaiali;ald Maria Johnson
Hendershott. tlhe father being of German and tlie mother of
Scotch-Irish descent.  In 1854 tile mother and father left tlle
Quaker State for Michigan, making thle entire journey bv team. It
was a long journey and nearly six weeks were required to make
it. Finally, however, tlhey re;ached tlheir destination, which was
tlhe still new village of Hastings, and tlhere met tlleir son Ciharles,
who liad come b) train witll his grandmother to Battle Creek
and then lhad walked to Hastings.
From Hastings tlhe family, which included besides Charles
two brothers and four sisters, went to Blivens' Corners and tlere
spent tlleir first winter in Michigan.  Early in tlhe spring tlle
father bought of Lorenzo Mudge tile farm on Section 8, Baltimore, at what is now Hendersliott Corners.    Here Charles MI.
Hendershott lives today, having greatly increaesd the acreage
of the original homestead.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


125.


CHAS. M. HENDERSHOTT








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


127


A small log house was the first habitation of the family and
before crops could be put in it was necessary to clear away the
trees which grew on all sides. The first crops put in on the new
farm were corn, potatoes, bagas and turnips, and all these products
came in very handily for the pioneer family. Hunting was good
in those days, so meat was not hard to find. Deer were thick,
as were also wild turkeys, and Charles M. Hendershott tells of
shooting sixteen squirrels in two hours.
The Hendershott boys, however, did not stay at home much
of the time. They had to work out by the month to help pay
for the farm. Clad in the costume which every one wore, blue
denim and leather boots, they went to work on neighboring farms
to help their father.
It was when Charles IM. Hendersliott was working near Galesburg in 1857 that he met young William Shafter, known always
to him as "Bill" Shafter. William Shafter, as is well known, later
gained fame as a general of the United States army in the Spanish
war, but in those days, too, he was considerable of a fighter.
Wrestling was his forte and Mr. Hendershott tells that Bill Shafter
could throw any man in Kalamazoo County twice out of three
times. Saturday at Galesbury was a big day. There was always
a fight, a horse race or a wrestling match. Wagers were placed
and when it came to wrestling, Bill Shafter always drew down the
money.
Mr. Hendershott worked at Galesburg until 1859, when lie
returned to Barry County. He continued, however, to work out
until the beginning of the Civil war. On April 23, 1861, lie
enlisted for three months in the Third Michigan Infantry, and
then on January 9, 1862, lie enlisted in Illinois Artillery, Waterhouse Battery E, being mustered out April 29, 1862, on account of
sickness. On August 25, 1864, he again enlisted, this time in the
Eighth Micligan Cavalry, Company L. With this regiment he
was in the fight at Henryville, Tenn.' also on the Lewisburg Pike
on Duck River in the same state. He also was in the fighting
at Nashville and Columbia. He was mustered out at Pulaski,
Tenn., June 10, 1865, and came back to the farm in Baltimore
on which lie now resides.
Politically, Mr. Hendershott is a Republican.  His first
presidential ballot was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has




128


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


voted for every Republican presidential candidate since.    He
takes a strong interest in civic affairs and is always on the side of
right. He is one of those most desirable of men, a good citizen.
During war time, on January 28, 1863, Mr. Hendershott
married Jane E. Garrison, who died August 23, 1894. To them
were born five children, four of whom grew to maturity.     Of
the four tliere was one son, Charles I., and three daughters,
Laura E., now   Mrs. Albert Williams; Adella M., now      Mrs.
Ernest Haynes. and Eola, who was Mrs. John Leclleitner but
is not now living. Cllarles I. lives witll his father on the old
homestead and lhas two children.   His wife was formerly Aliss
Altlia Hammond. Mr. Hendersllott's father died in 1875 and his
motler in 1885.
Since tlle war Mr. Hendersllott lhas worked llard and industriously. Prosperity llas attended his efforts and lie is now enjoying tile fruits of his labors. All tlroughl his life lie lhas been known
as a man of honestv and h1onor. His word l:as been as good as
his bonld and lie lihs always been fearless in tile expression of
his convictions. He is a man wlio is ever ready to extend llell) to
tlle needy and his lieart and symplatlhies are big and large.
HICKS
A family wllich llas been rel)reselited in Hastings since tile
early '70's is tlle Hicks family, tile living male members of
whllic  in Hastings are Charles I-., William 1F., Melanctlhon VW.
and Ford Hicks, son of tlhe latter and Mary Van Arman Hicks.
The Hicks family are of New FEngland stock and are
descended from Zebabiah Hicks, one of the first settlers of Cambridge, Mass., his wife being Elizabetl Sill. Tile Hicks family
had two representatives, at least, in tle revolution, Joln Hicks,
born in 1725, losing his life on tile first day of tlat struggle. On
April 19, 1775, lie invited his neighbor, Moses Richardson, of
Cambridge, to join him against the British. They both mounted
their horses and stationed themselves where they might shoot at
the enemy and were themselves both slot on the same day. They
were buried without shroud or ceremony in the harness of war
in the graveyard of old Cambridge.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


129


John Hicks, a son of thle above mentioned John Hicks, was a
captain of Dragoons in the revolution and quartermaster.
Judge Samuel Hicks, son of Captain John Hicks, and
descended in tlhe fiftl generation from Zebabiah Hicks, was born
in Cambridge, in 1771. He resided in Bennington, Vermont, in
early life, and after 1798 at Champlain, New York. Here lie kept
public house until 1810. After this date lie filled various public
offices, sucll as postmaster, justice of tlhe peace, judge, and custom
house officer. In tile war of 1812 lie was commissary and operated
so ardently against tile Britisl tllat they offered a reward for Ilis
head. He died July 26, 1825, at the age of 64.
Samuel Hicks, in 1786, married Charity Corbin, wlho died in
1802. I'or his second wife lie married Polly Woodard, by wllom
lie lhad six children:  George, Melancthon \W., Henry, James A.,
Edward.J., and a daugllter wlio died wllen young. Polly Hicks
died June 12, 1835.
Tlle second of tlie above named children, MIelanctllo n WV.
Hicks, was tlle fatler of Charles H., William  F. and \I. W.
Hicks, of this city, also of Emily Hicks Allen, of Bay City, and
of George Hicks, wlo died in California in tlle gold fever days.
Melanctllon W\. Hicks was born at Chlamplain, New York, July
14, 1805, and on MIarch 10, 1831, married Sarah Fox, whlo was
born January 24, 1809, and died in 1891.
Melanctllhon W. Hicks came to Michigan in 1844, settling in
Oakland County. Before coming to Michigan lie served for some
time as custom house officer at Whlitellll, New York. He was an
ardent D)emocrat and was elected in 1850 as a member of tlie
State House of Representatives for Oakland County on tle Democratic ticket, defeating tlhe father of ex-Governor Warner, who
waIs a candidate for the Whigs.
In Barry County tlhe Hicks family have been active in business and have also been interested in politics.  They are all
tllorough-going Democrats and at present William F. Hicks is a
member of tlhe 1)emocratic State Central Committee.
The Hicks family have been strongly marked as consisting of
temperate, long lived, energetic, brave, generous men, full of decision of character. Three of them have graduated at Harvard and
three at Yale.




130   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


CHRIS. A. HOUGH
Chris. A. Hough, of Nashville, was born in Ashland County,
Ohio, January 25, 1846. His father was Joseph Hough, who
was descended from German stock, his grandparents coming to
this country from Germany and settling in Pennsylvania in 1721.
The mother was Nancy A. Evans Hough and was of German and
French extraction. In 1671 ancestors of Nancy Evans came to the
United States and settled at Philadelphia.
At the age of 23, in 1867, Christopher Hough came to Michigan and for one year was a resident of Morenci. For another
year he lived at Ionia and then in 1869 he went to Woodland and
went into business as a carriage maker and merchant.
At Woodland Mr. Hough prospered and became a man whom
his fellow citizens were pleased to entrust with many public
offices. Repeatedly and for long periods lie was village clerk,
justice of the peace, and president of the school board. In fact,
he took a leading part not only in the business, political and
social life of Woodland, but also in its religious life, Mr. Hough
being a member of the M. E. church.
Mr. Hough has been a life long Republican and in 1886 lie
was elected to the office of county treasurer on the Republican
ticket. In order to fulfill the duties of this office Mr. Hough
moved to the county seat. In 1888 he was again elected treasurer,
but in 1889 he turned the active management of this office over
to his deputy, Charles Jordan, and went to Nashville as cashier
of the newly organized Farmers' and Merchants' Bank. He has
resided in Nashville ever since.
The new bank of which Mr. Hougl became cashier has been
a strong institution from tle very start and now stands the second
bank in the county in point of deposits. The last statement of the
bank shows total deposits of $534,537.30. This being a statement
covering the summer period, the deposits are shown wlhen they are
lower than at any other time in the year. The bank has liad
deposits of over $548,000 and this coming winter these figures will
probably be passed as there has always been a steady growth in
deposits, those of every year being greater than tlose of any preceding year.
At Nashville, as at Woodland, Mr. Hough has been a prominent and progressive citizen. He has been school trustee for six



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


131


CHRIS HOUGH








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


133


M. F. JORDAN








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


135


teen years and is now president of the school board. Four times he
has been president of the village, besides being a church trustee.
On July 3, 1871, at Woodland, Mr. Hough married Miss
Minerva J. Rowlader, M\iss Rowlader's father being one of the
early German settlers of Woodland, and her mother a native of
New York State. To Mr. and Mrs. Hough five children have
been born:   Claude F., now a successful banker at Mulvane,
Kansas; Maude M., who married Duvillo P. Holly and who died
at Paducah, Kentucky, in 1895; Elsie L., now Mrs. Glenn H.
Young of Pellston, Michigan; Marie M., who died in infancy, and
Madeline B., now Mrs. N. E. Trautman of Nashville.
Mr. Hough is a Mason of long standing, having been a member of that order forty-three years. For many years at Woodland
he was master of his lodge. Mr. Hough has also been a Knight
of Pythias for twenty-six years.
Mr. Hough is a member of the local G. A. R. post, having been
a private in Company C, 198th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was honorably discharged May 8, 1865.
Although Mr. Hough has held many offices lie has never been
an office seeker, but rather the people have been tle ones to ask
him to accept offices of trust and responsibility. These offices he
has always filled conscientiously and with scrupulous care for the
people's interest. Mr. Hough is a man whom any community
might be proud to own.
MILTON F. JORDAN
Milton Fillmore Jordan was born on the 13th day of November, 1850, on the south half of Section Nineteen, Irving Township,
Barry County, Micligan, in that portion of the frame house which
stood on the west side of the line between the southwest quarter
and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, of Section
Nineteen, the frame house being one and one-half stories high,
and some seven or eight feet of it extending over the east side of
the line.
He attended his first school when past seven years of age, in
the old brick school house at Middleville, Michigan, in the summer of 1858, his teachers being Adelia Stone and Francis Brannan.
In 1859 he attended the school on Powers Plains, Irving Township, taught by Hannah MIcNair now Mrs. Nathan Barlow, and




136   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


who is still living, afterwards attending school tliere and at Middleville and Irving Station till 1867. He later studied in tle
Grand Rapids High School, and afterwards at the Ann Arbor,
Michigan, High School. Then he entered the Law Department
of the University of Michigan, graduating witl tile degree of
Bachelor of Laws in the year 1876. A portion of the time, previous to his graduation, lie spent working his fatller's farm on
shares, running a threshing machine, and teaching school, to assist
in qualifying for his profession, spending many months of the
time each year in the law office of Wright & Ellis at Middleville,
Michigan, each member of this firm being among the ablest lawyers of Western Michigan, A. H. Ellis later becoming one of the
Associate Justices of tlie Supreme Court of Kansas. Mr. Jordan
also spent nearly one year in the law offices of Thompson, Reeves
& Pratt, Grand Rapids, Micl.
Mr. Jordan immediately after his graduation in 1876 purclhased with Will M. Watkins the "Middleville Republican," which
they published for two years. In 1878 he sold his interest in the
paper and accepted the nomination for County Clerk. Being defeated, he began the practice of law at Middleville, Miicligan,
where he has practiced since 1879. He has held the office of
Township Clerk of Irving Townsllip) one year, and Justice of tile
Peace of Tlornapple Township from 1880 to 1884.
In 1884 Mr. Jordan was appointed Postmaster at Middleville,
Michigan, by Cleveland's Postmaster General, and held the office
four years. He was nominated twice for Prosecuting Attorney of
Barry County, and each time defeated. He was nominated for
Representative in the State Iegislature in 1884 and defeated, but
was elected State Senator of the Fifteenth district in 189-4. He
was nominated for Lieutenant Governor on tlie ticket witl S. 0.
Fisher in 1896, but withdrew from the nomination and the l)emocratic party later and has since affiliated with the Republicans.
He has held the office of President of Middleville for two terms,
and was for fifteen years Village Attorney, and for nine years
member and Secretary of tlie Scllool Board at Middleville.
He has one daughter, Bertha MI., wife of Harry McQueen of
Detroit, Michigan, and one grandson, tlie infant son of said
daughter.
Mr. Jordan's parents were pioneers of Barry County. His




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


137


A. E. KENASTON








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


139


father, Jacob Jordan, was born April 23, 1808, at Cherry Valley,
Otsego County, N. Y., of Scotch-Irish paternity and Dutch maternity. He removed with his father, William Jordan, to Tyrone
Township, now Schuyler County, N. Y., near Dundee, about 1816.
On February 6th, 1834, lie was married to Mary Coldren, mother
of Milton F., at West Bloomfield, by Elder David Millard. There
were three other sons, Lewis H., Wellington H. and Myron N.
Mary Jordan, mother of Milton F., died in August, 1882, and the
father died in March, 1895. They are both buried in the South
Irving cemetery. They were of the pioneers. They came to the
farm in Irving in 1848, and no better or more honorable and
respected pioneers ever came to Michigan.
Mrs. Hannah Williams, wife of Daniel Williams, who first
settled upon Section 19, Irving Township, in 1837, and Mrs. Cornelia S. Hills, whose husband, Luther S. Hills, first settled and
established Irving Station, were sisters of Mary Coldren Jordan.
Milton F. Jordan is now, October Sth, 1912, practicing law
at Middleville, AIichigan.
ALONZO E. KENASTON
Alonzo E. Kenaston was born in East Calais, Vermont, in
1856. He had as his inheritance, not a goodly fortune, but something infinitely more valuable, kind, good, God-fearing parents,
who early began to instil into his mind that he must be trained,
disciplined and cultured if he were to do efficient work in the
world. It was a poor New England farm on the hillside of the
old Green Mountain State, that returned but a meager living for
the hard work required in its tilling, and Alonzo's father was a
frail man. Hence, very early in life, lie was compelled to take
upon his young shoulders heavy burdens. He and his brother
bravely and manfully performed their task of caring for the dear
ones of the home. But the difficulties of his boyhood did not prevent him from attending the country school and afterwards, with
persistent struggle, paying his way through Dartmouth College,
and at the same time helping his brother to support the family at
home. Likewise lie paid his own way through the law department
of the Unievrsity of Michigan, helping support the family and the
home while doing so.
Mr. Keinaston located in Hastings in 1882, where in various




140   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


useful capacities he lived an active professional and business
life, ever concerned in the development and advancement of
Hastings, and always instrumental in his quiet, unostentatious
way, in every movement for the betterment of its citizens. He
ield at various times tle offices of justice of tile peace, city attorney, circuit court commissioner and mayor. For many years he
devoted most of his attention to the real estate and building business. In the last named respect, MIr. Kenaston was remarkably
active, and lie has left as a concrete and beneficent result of this
activity over one hundred houses in tile city of Hastings.
He was married on May 18, 1887, to Miss Eva Nevins. Two
sons were born to them, Edwin Nevins, who died in infancy, and
Leland R., who is pursuing his studies in High School. Although
not formally a member of tle M. E. church, lie was a regular
attendant and a member of tle board of trustees. At heart lie
was a Christian, and a man of pure life and exemplary habits.
His gentle, cleerful ways, his consideration for tile poor, wliom lie
was ever ready to help and accommodate, his uniform courtesy
and good nature, his integrity as a business man, his interest in tlle
uplift of the community, all tllese qualities made him a lligllly
respected, influential and lovable man.
Mr. Kenaston was a member of the Kniglhts of Pytlias,
belonging to Barry I,odge No. 13 for twenty-seven years. He
was also a member of tlhe famous Hastings I)ivision No. 10,
Uniform  Rank, which won so mlany prizes and lheld a national
reputation for its wonderful proficiency in drilling.
His deatli occurred May 9, 1910. 1)uring tlle obsequies tlme
business places of tlie city were closed as a mark of respect to tlle
memory of a man who lhad interwoven his useful and upright life
so intimately into tllat of the city. The K. of P. and the Barry
County Bar Association attended in a body, the former organization conducting the services at tle grave.
This sketch cannot be more appropriately closed than by
quoting from the memorial resolutions adopted by thle Barry
County Bar Association:
"In the death of Alonzo E. Kenaston this bar has lost one of
its best and most respected members, wlio in life was an honor
to tile profession, and one who in all his relations to mankind,
as friend, husband, father, public official and citizen, exemplified




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


143


in his daily life and conduct the highest type of American manhood, the memory of whose life will serve as an example and
inspiration to us who are left to mourn his loss."
JOHN C. KETCHAM
John C. Ketcham was born in Toledo, Ohio, January 1, 1873.
His parents, John C. and Mary Ketcham, were of hardy EnglishAmerican descent, and both were former residents of the Buckeye
State.
Six months after the birth of John Ketcham, Jr., the family
moved to tile State of Michigan, settling on a farm in Maple
Grove Township. Here Mr. Ketcham spent his boyhood up to the
time that he was fifteen years of age, acquiring during this period
that spirit of self-reliance and physical and mental health, that
result from some of the vicissitudes and much of the hard work
that fall to the lot of the average country boy.
He secured an elementary education in the Branch school at
Maple Grove, entering the Hastings High School as a student in
the fall of 1888, but was able to attend for only seven months,
owing to the necessity of employing himself in a business way.
He resumed the completion of his education in the fall of 1889, at
which time lie entered tle Nashville High School, but was again
obliged to shorten the term of his studies.
In the spring of 1890, Mr. Ketcham passed the teacher's examination and taughlt school for one year in the Moore district at
Maple Grove. He also taught for the spring and fall terms in the
Mayo district school at Maple Grove, thus beginning his successful career as an educator while he, himself, was yet a student.
In November, 1891, lie re-entered the high school at Hastings,
graduating witli the class of 1892 and delivering the class oration.
Mr. Ketclham was elected Principal of the Naslville High
School in 1893, and served in this capacity until 1897. In this
same year, he married Miss Cora E. Rowlader of Wooland and
moved to Hastings, where he had been chosen to fill the position
of Instructor of Englisli in the Hastings High School. Since this
time, Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham have made Hastings their permanent home. Tley are the parents of three children, Mildred, John
C. III., and Ruth, all living.
In Hastings, Mr. Ketcham has served ably in many offices of




144   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


educational and government trust, to whicl lie lhas been elected
or appointed.  These include the office of County Commissioner
of Schools, to wlich lie was first elected in 1899, continuing in tlis
capacity for three consecutive terms. He lias served as Conductor and Instructor in State Teachers' Institutes for a period of
four years, and has acted as Secretary of tile Teachers' Reading
Circle Board.
In 1907 he was appointed Postmaster of Hastings and received the appointment for a second time in 1911.
As Postmaster of Hastings, Mr. Ketcllam has more than met
the requirements of his position, growing witl the added responsibilities of the task of handling an ever increasing volume of mail,
that llas necessitated tile late removal of tile City Postoffice to
larger and more adequate quarters.
Tlhat Mr. Ketclam is interested in tile work of religious and
fraternal orders, is indicated by tile fact that lie is a member of
the MI. E. church, tile Masons, and Knights of Pytlias.  He is also
a member of tile Executive Committee of tlle State Grange and
will probably be tile next Master.
Mr. Ketchlam   is pre-eminently a progressive and publicspirited citizen. He is always to be found back of any enterprise
wllicll lias for its purpose tile furtherance of riglit alnd opportullity.
His influence in tile community is widely felt.
LOYAL E. KNAPPEN
A Barry County man wlho lias gone out into other fields and
attained success, but wlio still cherishes a lively anld synmpathetic
interest in tile county of his nativity, is Ioyal E. Knapp)en. of
Grand Rapids, United States Circuit Judge for tile sixtli circuit.
Loyal E. Knalppen was born at Hastings. Jianuary 27, 1854.
His fatller, Edwin Knappen, was a merclhant at Hastirngs and a
member of tile mercantile firm of H. I. & E. Knappen. botlh members of wliicli firm died of tylphoid in the epidemic of 185 [, Edwin
Knappen dying only a few montlis after tlhe birth of hlis son.
Loyal. The mother was Sarah M. (Nevins) Knappen and is now
tlhe wife of Marcus W. Riker. Shle now lives at G(rand Rapids.
Bothl of Mr. Knappen's parents were born in Vermont, his paternal
grandfatlher having moved to tile Green Mountain state from
Connecticut.




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


147


Young Knappen attended tile Hastings public schools until
he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the University of
Michigan, graduating in 1873 with tle degree of B. A. and receiving his M. A. three years later.
After receiving his bachelor's degree, Mr. Knappen was assistant
principal of the Hastings High School for six months. He then
re-entered the law office of Hon. James A. Sweezey at Hastings
as a law student, having previously spent some time in this same
office. He was admitted to practice in 1875 and became at once
the law partner of Mr. Sweezey, continuing in this connection until
1878, when lie formed a partnership witl his brother, Charles MI.
Knappen.
In 1883 Mr. Knappen became associated in practice with
Christopher H. Van Arman.    Five years later he removed to
Grand Rapids, associating himself witli William J. Stuart, now
Judge of the Superior Court of that city. The firm of Stuart,
Knappen & Van Arman was thus formed witl offices at both
Grand Rapids and Hastings. Mr. Van Arman died in 1890 and
for about a year thereafter Charles M. Weaver was a member of
the firm  and had charge of the Hastings office.  Upon Mr.
Weaver's retirement from the firm in 1891, the office at Hastings
was closed and Mr. Knappen's direct connection with Barry
County affairs was, of course, materially lessened, although he has
always, as mentioned above, been greatly interested in his old
home.
While in Hastings, Mr. Knappen held a number of public
offices. From 1879 to 1883 lie was prosecuting attorney for Barry
County, and from 1880 to 1888 lie was United States Commissioner. He was also a member of the Hastings Board of Education
for three years, being president one year.
After the closing of the Hastings office, Mr. Knappen continued as a partner of Mr. Stuart until 1893, the firm name being
Stuart & Knappen. In 1893 Mr. Knappen became associated witl
Messrs. Taggart & I)ennison under the style of Taggart, Knappen
& I)ennison. This firm continued six years.
In 1899 Mr. Knappen entered into partnershli with George
P. WVanty and continued in this relation until his partner was
elevated to the federal bench. He then became associated with
Jacob Kleinhans in the firm of Knappen & Kleinlians. Iater Mr.




148   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Knappen's son, Stuart E., was taken into tle firm, whicl was then
styled Knappen, Kleinhans & Knappen. It was while Mr. Knappen was still a member of this firm tlhat tliere came to him, in
1906, an lionor for which he was universally lheld to be splendidly
equipped.  This was llis appointment as United States District
Judge for tile Western District of Michigan. That tlis appointment was a fitting one was well sllown wlien a little more than
three years later Mr. Knappen was made United States Circuit
Judge for the Sixtll Iistrict, wllicl position lie still llolds.
Besides his judicial offices Mr. Knappen was a member of the
Grand Rapids Board of Education for two years, 1898 to 1900.
For seven years, from  1904 to 1911, lie was regent of his alma
mater, tlle University of Michigan, and in 1905-6 lie was president of tlle Grand Rapids Bar Association.
Mr. Knappen is a Mason and a Knight of Pytlias.
In 1876 M\r. Knappen married Amelia I. Kenyon, of Hastings.
There are three children, all living in Grand Rapids, Stuart E..
Fred M., and Florence, who is Mrs. Artlur I). Perry.
ARCHIE McCOY
A man who has done much to lielp Hastings to become a real
city by his enthusiastic interest in progressive public movements
is Arclie McCoy, now established in business in Graind Rapids,
but always at heart a citizen of Hastings.
Arcliie McCoy was born at Brocklort, New Yorkl, July 11,
1853. He was thle son of George B. and Ellen Barke McCoy
and is of Scotcl-Irish extraction. In 1854, wllen only an infant,
young Archie was brougllt from llis birtlplace to Hastings by his
parents. They stopped for a wllile witli his grandfather, Jolin
Burke, who lived nortli of thle Gardner farm. 1)uring this time
his fatlher built a Iouse on the Cale Garwood farm. Mr. McCoy
remembers guarding cattle while his fatller felled trees for them
to browse upon.
At the age of 17 Mr. McCoy entered the employ of Harvey
Wrigllt of Middleville as clerk in that gentleman's general store.
Here lie received his first exlerience in the furniture business.
Two years later lie went to Hastings, wlere for a time lie engaged
in the draying business. Iater lie found employment as tool boy
on the Grand River Valley Railroad, now the M. C., and worked




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


149


I:i:::-a


ARCHIE McCOY




I




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


151


his way up until lie became conductor on a mixed train, but he had
other ambitions and gave up railroad work.
In 1875 he became interested in the furniture business with
John MI. Bessmer. The venture flourished and from an original
stock valued at $324, a large and thriving business resulted. In
1881 Mr. McCoy bought Mr. Bessmer's interest, although Mr.
Bessmer remained with Mr. McCoy for many years.
In 1908 Mr. McCoy sold his stock to Stebbins & Glasgow.
Mr. McCoy, however, did not go out of the furniture business by
any means after this sale, for he is now Assistant Manager of the
Furniture Exclhange in Grand Rapids, where he has a very pleasant and profitable vocation. The Furniture Exchange is one of
the large furniture show buildings in the Furniture City and in it
are displayed the lines of many large furniture manufacturing
concerns who desire in this way to get into connection with the
retail merchant.
Mr. McCoy is certainly a pioneer of Hastings. While on the
railroad Mr. MIcCoy was greatly impressed with the beauty of
other cities. With a genuine loyalty for Hastings, he looked forward to the day when it, too, should become as beautiful as other
cities. With the ambition to fulfill this wish he worked during
his entire business life in Hastings. Instead of being selfishly
wrapped up in his own pursuits he has always found time to
devote to public improvements.
In 1880 Hastings was a backwoods town. Cows ran its
streets at large and citizens were forced to put fences about their
property. Tle streets were lanes, there were no sidewalk grades,
no street parkings, no lawns, no water system. There was a mill
pond which extended along tle present course of Fall Creek from
State street dam to beyond Grand street. Its stagnant waters
filled with the refuse of years, was a dreadful menace to public
health. All these things Archie McCoy tried to remedy, and
that conditions were changed was greatly due to his efforts.
The matter of a water works system is something with which
Mr. McCoy was especially active. After the fire of 1885 progressive citizens were convinced that the city needed fire protection
if factories were to locate in it. This was aside from the element
of safety in a pure drinking supply. The people voted to have a
water works system, but the council refused to carry out the




152   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


wislies of tile citizens. At the next election citizens, irrespective
of politics, elected men as Aldermen wlom   they knew would
carry out tleir wisles. They elected Mr. McCoy, W. H. Stebbins,
Joln MI. Bessmer and E. Y. Hogle, who were the committee who
constructed the system, assisted by J. W. Bentley and W. C.
Kelley. Tile work covered a period of two years. Tleir results
are evident today.
Following this work Mr. McCoy was elected Mayor, serving
two years, being elected in 1890 and re-elected in 1891. He saw
the possibility of beautifying Riverside cemetery and in his
executive position succeeded in having a water main extended to
tlhe cemetery.
At tlis time Mr. McCoy was engaged in other public movements.  He used his influence in helping tile sale of stock for
tlhe construction of the C., K. & S. Ry. He also helped to organize
a Building and Ioan Association and also assisted in forming tlle
Hastings Electric Iight Company, of botll of whicl concerns lie
was treasurer.  Mr. McCoy was also largely instrumental in
having tile Soldiers' monument erected in its present location.
He llas also always liberally supported tlle churches of Hastings
and tllere is not a cllurch in the city wliicli lie lias not been glad
to aid financially in its construction.
Tliere was il tile early nineties a general movement among
the business men to build up tile town by inviting factories to
locate in it. This lhas resulted in doubling tile p)oplulation. 'lie
first factory to be organized was tile Hastings Furniture Comp)any.
of which Mr. McCoy was president and a large stockholder. This
factory is now tile Grand Rapids Bookcase Company. A little
i:'ter tlhe whip factory was organized and Mr. McCoy was one
of tlle principal stocklholders. Iater, tlle putting of thlis factory
building at tlle disposal of Emil Tyden brought tlhat gentleman
and his interests to Hastings. Tlie Hastings Chair Company, now
tlhe Table Factory, was next organized and Mr. McCoy's stock
in this company was also heavy.
Tlen, wllen Mr. McCoy was hlolding all of tllis stock, came
tlhe panic of '93, in which Mr. McCoy's factory stock became
worthless. In settlement for these stocks, whiclh had so depreciated
in value that lie was forced to sell six dollars wortll to pay one,
Mr. McCoy sacrificed llis entire business and property, including




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


153


i


JUDGE J. B. MILLS








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


155


his exemptions, mortgaging his home. He began his business
life anew and paid up all his debts.
In 1906, witl the beauty of the city still foremost in mind,
Mr. McCoy built the McCoy Block on Main street. This up-todate building is a fitting memorial to its builder.
In fraternal circles l\r. McCoy is a Knight of Pythias and a
Mason.   He was left guide of the famous Pythian drill corps
wliich won three times tle world's chamlpionship. Mr. McCoy had
a record in this connection of never missing a practice drill.
July 16, 1876, Mr. MIcCoy married Miss Myrtie I). Buckle,
wlho died MIarcl 16, 1891, at the age of 34 years. April 23, 1899,
lie married Miss Ida Fitzsimmons.   Mrs. McCoy is intensely
interested in music and is a leader in Hastings musical circles.
Slie studied five years at the Clicago College of Mlusic, graduating
in 1890. She also graduated from tlle New School of \Ietllods in
Chicago in 1898 and from the Thomas Normal Training Scllool
of IDetroit in 1903. Slhe now conducts a school of musical and
dramatic art in'Hastings. This school was organized il 1897 and
was tlien styled tlle Hastings M1usical Club. It was through Mrs.
IMcCCoy's efforts tlat music was first taught in tlle public schools of
Hastings. It took five years' good liard work to do tlis.
MIrs. McCoy was the daughter of Warren Fitzsimmons,:a
pioneer miller of Ionia.
JUDGE JAMES B. MILLS
A man wlhose death removed from Barry County a highly
respected and substantial citizen was Judge James Betty Mills,
and it is to do honor to his memory that tlis sketch is written
here.
James B. Mills was born in Washington County, Maryland,
February 8, 1836, and died in Hastings April 2-1, 1903. His
father was a clergyman of the Methodist Protestant church and
in tile discllarge of his duties moved witl his family to Monroe
County, Michigan, in 18416. After living in different parts of
the State for some time, in 1854, at the age of 18, young Mills
went to Kansas and took up a government claim. He lived in the
Sunflower State until the opening of 1859, when he returned to
Michigan, this time going to Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County,




156   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


where on October 2 of the same year lie was married to Miss
Louisa M. Smith, who died May 21, 1911.
Shortly after their marriage the young couple went to Kansas
and there lived until 1861, when, on account of Indian troubles
they were obliged to return to Michigan, locating at Pennfield,
near Battle Creek. It was about this time that the Civil war
broke out, and although a Southerner by birth, Mr. Mills hastened
to enlist to fight for the Union, but lie was twice rejected for
failure to pass the physical examination.
In 1868 Mr. and Mrs. Mills moved to Assyria, where they
resided until 1884. During most of this time Mr. Mills held the
office of Justice of the Peace and gained such a knowledge of law
that on February 5, 1883, he was admitted to the bar. Previous
to this he had studied law in tle office of Walter Webster, of
Naslville, whose practice he bought when that gentleman located
in Manistee in 1884. Later Mr. Webster returned to Nashville
and became associated with Mr. Mills in the firm of Webster &
Mills.
In 1896 Mr. Mills was elected Judge of Probate on the Republican ticket, and four years later, in recognition of his good,
clean administration, he was again elected to the same office,
which lie held at the time of his death.
Judge Mills was pre-eminently a man who loved his home.
He was a devoted husband and a loving father. He was a man
whose career was without spot or blemish and lie left behind him
a record for integrity and rectitude of which not only his family,
but the entire county, may well be proud.
Judge Mills was the father of five children, all of whom are
now living. They are Mrs. Helen L. Durham, of Lacey; Albert
E., of Naslville; John L., of Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Jennie M.
Warren, of Sunfield; and Mrs. Ella Eggleston, of Hastings.
EZRA MOREHOUSE
Ezra Morehouse is the son of Ianiel Morehiouse and Emma
Shepherd, both, originally, from Steuben County, New York.
They came to Michigan in 1864, making a long and hazardous
journey across the country in a covered wagon, and settled in
Orangeville.
The date of their arrival in the vicinity is a memorable one, as
they embarked on their struggle with the still crude conditions of




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


157


I


EZRA MOREHOUSE








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


159


their new home, on the eve of the new year, 1865, a day that still
lingers in the memory of many old settlers as one of intense cold.
The family located on a farm, comprising for the most part
acres of uncleared land. Tile buildings, were of logs and the task
of preparing the soil for the raising of crops was a strenuous one.
Ezra M\orehouse was born June 30, 1868, and was the
youngest of eleven children. His father died when he was four
years old, and up to the time that lie was fourteen, young Morehouse continued to live at home, living the active outdoor life of
the country boy of the period, working hard and learning early
to meet and shoulder the many responsibilities that confronted
him as one of a large and fatherless family.
When he was fourteen his mother died and the home was
broken up. Tile family scattered and Mr. Morehouse entered the
employ of Joseph Kelly, a well known and prosperous farmer of
the neighborlood. His salary was twelve dollars a month and
board, and his duties comprised all of the tasks that usually fall
to the lot of a full grown man.
At this time he was securing a desultory education in the
district sclools, being able to attend only a few months out of the
year. For five years he worked for the farmers in his community,
making the best of the opportunities for advancement that presented themselves.
In 1887 he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and here, as assistant to
Steplen )oster, then overseer of a large estate belonging to his
sister, from fourteen to twenty-one, saved the sum of one thousand
dollars. This le resolved to devote to the finishing of his education, and with this object in view lie entered Oberlin College in
1889. Iuring the two years of his stay in Cleveland, Mr. Morehouse attended night school, taking a course in law and business.
He remained at Oberlin four years, partly in preparatory, and
partly in college work.
In 1893 lie went to Clicago and entered the Moody Institute, a theological training school, where lie prepared to enter the
ministry. One year was spent in this manner, part of which time
lie attended a branch of the Moody Institute in Kalamazoo.
In conjunction with his work as a student, Mr. Morehouse
also acted as pastor of the Congregational church at Doster, Mich.,
during this time. He superintended the erection of a new place




160   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


of worship tliere and did much good work in the interest of tile
church.
This same year (1893) lie married Miss Lucinda I)oster and
assumed active charge of the Congregational churches at Hopkins,
Hilliard and Allegan, Mich. He continued his duties as pastor of
these churches for two and one-lialf years, at the expiration of
which time, owing to a severe nervous breakdown, lie retired
from the ministry.
In 1896 he moved to Prairieville and settled upon a farm.
He combined tile handling of a lumber business witll his agricultural pursuits, and remained tlere until 1901, at tlis time
removing to I)elton, where lie built and opened the first bank in
tlhat community.
He maintained tllis bank as a savings institution under the
name of E. S. & L. S. Morehouse. Four years later lie organized
the Delton State Bank, of which lie became casliier. Mr. Morehouse witnessed the growth of his banking enterprise, from the first
dollar deposited to a sound financial basis, aggregating assets of
$140,000, this increase being due to tlle sound integrity and business sagacity of its promoter. lie was connected witli tlhe Delton
State Bank for two years.
Mr. Moreliouse is widely known throughout Barry, Eaton and
Allegan Counties as an active and conscientious worker in tile
cause of local option. He instituted and won the first damage suit
brought against liquor dealers in Barry County.  Following his
lead, seventeen similar cases were tried and tlie verdict in each
instance was disastrous to the interests of tle saloons.
In his ably conducted fight to eliminate the saloon from his
own and other counties in the State, Mr. Morelouse met witli all
the opposition that such aI cause would necessarily entail, from
tlose interested in its defeat.  Thlt lhis policy of local option
has won recognition in the field of his endeavors is a gratifying
reward of his efforts in tlle cause of riglit.
He is at present a resident of Ielton, wlere lie conducts a
real estate, loan and insurance business.
In 1910 lie married Miss Nora Fox, daughter of S.S. Fox of
Allegan. Two children were born of tlie first union, Floy and
Pauline, botl of wlom are living.
He lias been justice of the peace for sixteen years, was director




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


161


J. W. MUNTON








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


163


of the Prairieville Sclool from 1898 to 1901, and was director
of the Delton Schools from 1903 to 1906.
Mr. Morehouse is at present candidate of the Progressive
party in Barry County for the office of Probate Judge, being
nominated unanimously by his constituents.
He is a member of the Yeomen lodge and still retains his
connections with the ministry of tile Congregational church.
Mr. MIorehouse is essentially a man of broad and progressive
ideas and is a valuable citizen in his community and in the county.
J. W. MUNTON
John W. Munton is a man who is well and favorably known
in Barry County because of his absolute integrity of character and
rectitude of life. He is an efficient and successful business man
and is the father of a family of whom any citizen might well be
proud.
Mr. Munton is a native of England, being born in Lincolnshire in 1819. His parents came to the United States in 1853,
locating in Marshall, this state.
Young IMunton grew to manhood in IMarsllall. He attended
the public sclools there and learned the carpenter's trade, later
having charge of a sasl and door factory. In 1872 lie located at
Big Rapids in the same business and was united in marriage to
Miss Alice L. McClure, daughter of David G. M\cClure of Marsliall, in the fall of the same year.
In the spring of 1873 the young couple moved to Greenville,
where Mr. Munton lhad charge of a sash and door factory for Hall
& Dodge. In 1876 lie engaged in the building business for himself, continuing in this business intermittently until 1895, when
business matters called him to Morgan, this county, where lie
engaged in the saw mill and elevator business. Here by square
dealing and diligence he has built up a good, successful business.
Mr. Munton is a member of the Baptist denomination, having
united with the church of that denomination at Marshall. He
was honored by the church at Marshall by being erected superintendent of the Sunday school, and the church at Greenville
elected him to the same office. In the latter church he was also
made a deacon.
Mr. Munton is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is




164


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


actively connected with Hastings Lodge No. 52, F. and A. M., and
is Past High Priest of Hastings Chapter No. 68, R. A. M. He is
a member of Giblum Council No. 49, Hastings, and Charlotte
Commandery No. 37. He is also Past Worthy Patron of the
Hastings Chapter No. 7, Order of Eastern Star. He is a man
who tries to set forth in his daily life the excellent precepts of
these institutions, and his efforts in this direction have indeed
borne splendid fruit.
Mr. and Mrs. Munton have been the parents of six children,
Clarence J., Charles H., Herbert I., Harry B., Alice, Beatrice,
and Cecil G. Of these, all are living except Charles, who died in
1900, just as he was entering upon his promising young manhood.
Of Charles H. Munton it is very fitting that there should be a
memorial written here. In 1894 he received an appointment to
West Point, ranking at that time forty-fifth in his class. He
graduated in 1898, eleventh in his class, with the rank of second
lieutenant, and became a member of the Twenty-third infantry.
While with this command he was detailed to take clarge of a
transport from the Philippines to San Francisco. In the latter
city he was offered leave of absence to visit his parents, but learning that hostilities had broken out in the Philippines lie decided
not to avail himself of the opportunity and returned to his command. Soon after his return he was transferred to the Twelfth
Infantry with the rank of first lieutenant, and while with this
regiment lie contracted typhoid fever. He was taken to the hospital and on becoming convalescent was given sick leave to return
home. On board transport lie suffered a relapse and died at sea.
Funeral services were held at Greenville and lie was buried at
Marshall with military honors. Special memorial services were
held for him at West Point and many were the letters which
poured in upon his parents from his superior and brother officers,
who had known him at West Point and on the field, attesting to
his courage and fine manly characteristics.
The oldest son, Clarence J. Munton, is now a resident of Kendallville, Indiana, where he is superintendent of an interurban
railway. Herbert I. lives in Pontiac and is assistant superintendent of the Pontiac Division of the Detroit United Railways.
Harry B. is engaged in the railway mail service and lives in
Grand Rapids. Miss Beatrice Munton recently married Raymond




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY  165


N


JOHN MORSE NEVINS








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


167


W. Knapp of Detroit. She is a graduate of the Hastings Higl
Sclool and of tile State Normal School of Ypsilanti. Cecil G.
Munton has just left home for Detroit, wlere lie entered the passenger department of the Detroit United Railways.
Mr. and Mrs. Munton certainly have the right to that feeling
of satisfaction which must arise in the hearts of all parents wlose
children have acquitted themselves well and successfully in tile
world.
JOHN MORSE NEVINS
Hon. Jolin MI. Nevins, l)ioneer business man and politician,
of Barry County, was born in Braintree, Vt., April 26, 1826, and
was raised on a rugged farm on tlhe eastern side of the Green
mountains. In May, 1814, witli his father's family, lie removed
to Richland, Kalamazoo County, Mlichl., where lie learned the carpenter's trade, which hle followed during the summer months,
teaching school during the winter.
September 27, 1849, lie married Maria Mason, eldest daughter
of Edwin Mason. April 13, 1853, lie removed to Hastings, Barry
County, wllere lie resided till his death, January 8, 1890.
His hlome was at the corner of Jefferson and Walnut streets.
Thle upright was built in 1855, mucl of tile carpenter work being
done by himself. Here his two sons, Morse E. and Mason C., and
his two daughlters, Eva C. and Anna C., were born. Morse E.
Neviiis still resides in Hastings and lias business interests there.
Mason C. Nevins resides at Wiclita, Kan., whlere lie has real estate
interests. Eva C. Kenaston, widow of the late Hon. A. E. Kenaston, resides on tile lots formerly occupied by the old Nevins
homestead. Anna C. Campbell, wife of Attorney T. I). Campbell,
lhas long been a resident of W\est Bay City, Mich.
Mr. Nevins clerked for Edwin and Heman Knappen his
first year in Hastings and then, in 185-, when both Edwin and
Heman Knappen died of typhoid in the epidemic which then
visited the village and removed many of its citizens, young Nevins
formed tile partnership of Nevins &  Knappen with Ashman
Knappen, brother of Edwin and Heman, and continued in the
mercantile business, tleir location being on the north side of
State street.
Having left the mercantile business, in the summer of 1857




168   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Mr. Nevins became editor and publisher of the Hastings Republican Banner, and continued as such till April 1, 1866.
In politics, a Whig until 1854, he in that year joined his
political fortunes with the Republican party upon its organization,
and to this party he ever afterward strongly adhered.
He represented Barry County in the lower branch of the
Legislature in 1857-8 and in 1865-6 he represented the Barry and
Eaton district in the state Senate. In politics his sterling qualities
and fealty to party brought him into prominence. He was elected
a member of the State Republican Committee and served as such
in 1860-2 and again in 1870-2, and a greater portion of the time
from 1858 to 1876 he held the position of Chairman of the Barry
County Republican Committee. For seventeen years lie served
almost continuously as one of the County Superintendents of the
Poor, and for twelve years lie was Secretary of the Barry County
Agricultural Society, and from 1875 to 1883 lie was Postmaster
of Hastings and also for eighteen years was a member of the
Board of Education of the City of Hastings.
A matter wlich is of much interest in connection with Mr.
Nevins' political career is tlat at the State Republican convention
in 1870 it was an unexpected and felicitous speech by Mr. Nevins
that secured for Daniel Striker the nomination for Secretary of
State, to which office lie was duly elected. In this speech Mr.
Nevins stated that Barry County in her modesty had never asked
nor had a state official, but witl a candidate like )Daniel Striker
she now cast this modesty aside and asked, and expected, Mr.
Striker's nomination.
Perhaps it was as a Christian tliat Mr. Nevins was especially
well known. For years lie was a faithful and consistent follower
of the Master and was one of the leading members of the Presbyterian church.
John Morse Nevins was known for his kindly traits of character and as a man who filled his niche of life for the betterment
of his fellow man, a man of earnest and strong conviction, and
one who would say No in no uncertain manner when a doubtful
proposition was put before him, faithfully performing all the
duties of the several official positions he held, standing firm for
the right as lie saw it, and may it be truthfully said his friends
were legion, his enemies none.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


169


/


A. J. BOWNE




.1




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


171


OLNEY-BOWNE
A family which came early to this county and settled in Rutland is tile Olney family-the name being also spelled Olner by
some of tile family, although the former spelling is the correct
one —and it is a representative of this family, William Olney,
whose biograplly we wisli to present liere.
Tlhose who know William Olney, and his name is well known
tlroughout tlhe county, know him as a man of sterling integrity
and honesty, a good citizen and a man of action. He is the son of
Joseph Olney and Mary Kelley Olney. The fatlier was born in
Warwickshire,,England, February 3, 1820, and at the age of 24
came to tlhe United States. For six years lie lived at Rochester,
N. Y., and tlere on October 20, 1850, lie married Mary Kelley.
In tlhe same year the newly married couple came to Rutland
nlld settled on tlle farm on which they lived until death claimed
tlem, the fatlher dying in 1903 and the mother five years later,
botlh having lived to see tlle original lomestead of 85 acres grow
to a farm of -00 acres.
Iike his fatlher. William Olney is a farmer, and although for
tlhe past tlirty years lie lIas been actively engaged in stock buying,
lie still owns two farms, botl in Irving township. As a stock
buyer Mr. ()lne is known and admired for his honorable metllods
and the square treatment which lie always extends to those with
whomn lie comes into contact.
Mr. Olnev, like his father, is a staunch Democrat and is
strongly interested in tlle welfare of his party and country. He
is a member of the K. of P. and has belonged to this order for the
last quarter of a century.
December 14i, 1892, lie married Kittie, daughter of the late
A. J. Bowne, who was born in Prairieville, December 12, 1853.
Her family was one of the oldest in the southwestern part of
the county and ler fatler was for many years a man of exceeding
prominence in Hastings and Barry county, also in the state at
large. He was recognized as having a genius for banking and
business affairs and was pre-eminently successful in those lines.
Andrew Jackson Bowne was born in Cortland County, New
York, January 19, 1829, and died in Grand Rapids, June 7, 1896.




172   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


He was the son of John and Sarah Bowne, Americans by birth
and of English descent. They came to Prairieville in 1837, where
John Bowne became a man of prominence, representing his
district in the State Senate.
Young Andrew Bowne received his education in the district
schools of New York and Michigan, and later, in 1849 to 1851,
was a student in the branch academy of the University of Michigan
at Kalamazoo. From 1851 to 1853 he studied law in the office
of Marsh Giddings of Kalamazoo.
Giving up his law studies in 1853, he went to California,
traveled through that state, engaging in various ventures, and
returned to Micligan to visit his parents in Prairieville. Here
lie opened up a general store in 1858, dealing largely in real estate.
In 1868 lie moved to Hastings and opened a private banking
business with F. N. Galloway, this private b)ank becoming in 1870
the Hastings National Bank, with Mr. Bowne as its first president.
Mr. Bowne extended his banking interests into many other
fields and while yet a resident of Hastings lie became president of
the Fourtl National Bank of Grand Rapids.     llis with other
interests led to his removal to Grand Rapids in 1883.
Mr. Bowne was a life long D)emocrat and in 1870 was I)emocratic candidate for state treasurer. In 1876 le was delegate to
the National convention at St. Louis, which nominated Tilden
and Hendricks. In order to further the cause of the party in
Barry County he also founded the Barry County Democrat, later
the Hastings Herald, now merged into the Journal-Herald.
Mr. Bowne on February 15, 1853, a few months before lie left
for California, married Miss Jennie Kenfield, and by this union
were born tlree children, Kittie (Mrs. Olney), Charles and William, all residents of Hastings. In 1873 Mr. Bowne married Miss
Sarah Gardner and to them were born two children, Burdette
and Beatrice, both of whom are still living. One child, Nina, died
at the age of ten.
Hon. Andrew J. Bowne was one of the most influential citizens Barry County has produced. He made himself felt strongly
in the community and was a power in finance. He remained
president of the Hastings National Bank until his deatl, at which
time he was also president of four other National Banks.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


173


I,"l


WM.V OLNEY








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


175


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134
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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


177


EBENEZER PENNOCK
Ebenezer Pennock, or as lie is more commonly called, Eben
Pennock, was born in tle town of Rushford, Alleghiany County.
New York, January 4, 1824. His parents were of English ancestry and came to New York from near Montpelier, Vermont.
Mr. Pennock was the fourth child in a family of eleven. He had
five own brothers, two own sisters, two llalf-brothers and one
half-sister.
Mr. Pennock's boyhood days were spent in much the same
manner as tlose of most sons of the pioneers of Western New
York. His parents were very poor and his opportunities for getting an education were very limited. The public schools of his
time were supported on the rate bill plan and his parents were too
poor to pay their share of the bill. Mr. Pennock says that even
when lie did go to school lie often took his diiiner basket and
went apart from the rest of the pupils to eat his dinner, being
ashamed of his meager lunch. At the early age of 12 lie was
bound out by his parents to work during the summer season at
$.I per month.
On the 14th of October, 1843, lie was happily married to MIiss
Elvira Farwell, of Rusllford. As showing that neitller Mr. Pennock nor his bride were very far along the road to wealtl and
prosperity, it is related that Mrs. Pennock's bridal costume was of
calico and that Mr. Pennock had to borrow $1 to get his license
and pay the magistrate.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pennock resolved to join
the general movement which was at that time being made toward
settling the newly admitted state of Michigan, and after saving up
money for the enterprise, on July 1-4, 1844, they started overland
for Micliigan. Their outfit consisted of two decrepit old horses.
a democrat wagon, $10.50 in cash, and the few goods, provisions
and cooking utensils necessary to the journey. The entire trip
consumed fifteen days.
Their final destination was the home of Mr. Pennock's brother
in what is now Richland, Kalamazoo County. Here they found
a hearty welcome and almost immediately began to plan to set up
housekeeping for themselves. They first lived in a rented house
containing one room, for which they paid an annual rental of $8.
Botl worked out to secure money and goods to furnish the house




178   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


and to get the necessaries of life. During their first winter in
Michigan Mr. Pennock cut four-foot wood at 31 cents per cord
and later in the same winter lie cut eight cords of four-foot wood
at 25 cents a cord to buy himself a new axe.
After looking over the country a bit Mr. Pennock pre-empted
40 acres of land on Section 17 in Barry Township, and to this
place they removed in l)ecember, 1845, and began the work of
carving out their fortunes in real earnest. There was no house
upon tlie land they had lpurclased and so they found shelter in
the house of a neighbor until they could build upon their own
land.
While this record as it now reads would lead one to suppose
tlhat not many misfortunes came to Mr. and Mrs. Pennock during
tlese early days, yet sucl was not tile case. Sickness and accidents
befell tlem frequently but could not quench tlieir ambition and
determination to succeed.
Wild animals gave Mr. and Mrs. Pennock mucl trouble in
their efforts to get togetler tlhe necessary equipment of live stock.
Wolves and bears were especially troublesome. During tile summer of 18416 Mr. Pennock worked out most of tile time, receiving
as pay for his summer's work a cow, ten slheep and a pair of steer
calves. Thlese were kept during the winter witlout accident, but
one day in tle following spring, M\r. Pennock upon return from
exchanging work witlh a neighbor, found tlhe slieep missing. Tlle
next morning lie found tllat nine of tile slieelp lad been killed by
tlhe wolves. An inventory of his losses would make the farmer
of today absolutely dislleartened.
In 1847 MIr. Pennock put out 17 acres of wleat on his new
farm and upon the prospects for a crop lie borrowed $50, witli
wlhicll lie made tlle overland trip to Kalamazoo and paid for his
land at tlhe government land office there at tile rate of $1.25 per
acre.
Mr. Pennock remained on this piece of land for a few years
until lie lhad cleared it up, and tlen lie purchased the first 80 acres
of tile farm near Hickory Corners now owned by his nephew,
Alvahl Pennock.
Here Mr. and Mrs. Pennock lived for 33 years, and here they
fought out thle stern battle of life, earning that substantial competence which is enabling them to pass tlieir last days amid the




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


179


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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


181


n
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W. W. POTTER








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


183


comforts that old age so much appreciates, and which enables
them to contribute to the support of the church and its affiliated
organizations.
The first place owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pennock in tile vicinity of Hastings, was the house just north of their present home.
Here they lived for three years, but Mr. Pennock became very
much dissatisfied owing to the complete change in his mode of
life. He had always been accustomed to hard work and could
not accommodate himself to the change. So lie disposed of this
property and purchased the farm in South Hastings, now occupied by Wr. I. Pennock. Here they lived but one year when
they purchased the place upon which tley now live and immediately removed to it. Tlhere they have lived for the past 36
years.
No clildren of tlleir own have come to Mr. and \Mrs. Pennock, but tley have given a home to otler children wllo tenderly
venerate and respect the dear old foster mother and fatler who so
kindly took tlem in and cared for tlem in days gone by. Mrs.
Maria Tolles, deceased; Mrs. Etta Barnaby, of Hastings; Mrs.
Ella Rolfe, of Michigan City; W. L. Pennock, of Soutlh Hastings,
also Mrs. Iva Bedford, of Seattle, Walsh., make up the list of
tlose who have been reared under tlle care of Mr. and Mrs.
Pennock.
To write tlhe religious history of Mr. and Mrs. Pennock would
require a careful review of practically tleir wllole lives. In 1850
tley became members of tlhe Wesleyan Metllodist clurch of Barry
Township, and have ever since been identified witl this denomination except for a sl)ace of tlree years when they were members
of the Metllodist Episcopal clhurch of Hastings City. The clurch
of tlleir choice llas always llad tleir most hearty support and tleir
most loyal service. Even at tlieir present advanced age each returninog Sabbatl morning sees tllem at their place of worship four
miles distant. As had been truly said of tlem, "They hlave ever
been true defenders of tlle gospel of Clhrist and liberal supporters
of His church."
WILLIAM W. POTTER
William Wr. Potter was born August 1st, 1869, in Maple
Grove townslip, Barry County, Michigan. He attended district




184   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


school in that township and graduated from the Nashville High
School in 1891. He taught district school in Assyria township
and was three years superintendent of schools at Harrison, Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in 1894 and graduated from
the law department of the University of Michigan in 1895, and in
August of that year opened an office in Hastings. In the fall of
1895 he entered partnership with J. Edmund Barrell, and in
August, 1896, became associated with P. T. Colgrove. He has
been a member of the board of education, chairman of the Republican county committee, city attorney of Hastings, prosecuting
attorney of Barry County, and a member of the State senate.
He was married in 1894 and lhas six children.
LEE H. PRYOR
Among the younger professional men of the county, whose
early prominence bespeaks a long and useful career, must be
placed Lee H. Pryor of Hastings.
Mr. Pryor is the son of Leander B. and Cordelia A. Pryor,
both natives of New York State, but who have lived in Michigan
since 1858. Leander Pryor was of Quaker stock, his fatller having
been excommunicated for marrying outside the church.
Mr. Pryor located on a farm in Yankee Springs. He was one
of those who went to the front in the perilous days of 1861-65.
On March 13, 1864, lie married Cordelia A. Snow, and on March
16 of that same year he re-enlisted.
Tile subject of this sketch was born August 22, 1881, at
Yankee Springs. His young boyhood was spent on the farm.
In 1897 the family removed to Middleville, where Lee entered the
High Sclool and graduated in 1898. He took a post-graduate
course in sclool, intending to enter college in 1899, but was prevented by sickness from carrying his plans into effect.
In 1899 Mr. Pryor came to Hastings and entered a law office
and pursued his legal studies for two years. He then entered the
law department of the University of Michigan, where he remained
one year, and on October 23, 1902, he took the state bar examination and passed. He then took a position in the office of Secretary of State, F. M. Warner, at Lansing, remaining at this work
fourteen months.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY  185


LEE PRYOR








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


187


1~~~~*
Kl L
I


SAMUEL C. RITCHIE








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


189


On the first of December, 1903, he formed a law partnership
in Hastings and began the practice of his profession.
In 1904 he was nominated by the Republican party for prosecuting attorney and was elected. At the time he assumed the
duties of his office he was only 23 years old, probably the youngest
prosecuting attorney in the state. He was re-elected in 1896.
In 1907 lie married Miss Winifred Harper, daughter of John
S. Harper of Hastings. They have two children. He was president of the Barry County Bar Association in 1906 and 1907. He
is a member of the Masonic order, being at the time this is written
(1912) High Priest of Hastings Clapter No. 68, R. A. MI. He is
also an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, and a member of
the Grange. In religious faith he is a Unitarian.
Mr. Pryor possesses marked forensic talent and is in frequent
demand as a public speaker. He is at present engaged in the
pursuit of his profession.
Mr. Pryor, whose own remarkable career illustrates the truth
of his words, thinks that the most essential condition of success
is first, thorough preparation and study, and then steady application and honest work in putting into practice the principle and
theories acquired.
SAMUEL C. AND HARRY S. RITCHIE
The names here grouped together are those of father and son,
and besides the fact tllat they are both men of sterling cllaracter
and unquestioned integrity they are also distinguished as having
been the only father and son wlio have both been honored by
being elected to the office of Sleriff of Barry County. In this
office both father and son served two terms each.
The father, Samuel C. Ritchie, was born at Messenger's Hollow, Livingston County, New York, July 20, 1841. His father
was William  Ritchie, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland,
May 15, 1815, and his mother was Margaret Caruthers, also a
native of Londonderry, her natal day having been December
16, 1820.
In the summer of 1840 the young couple emigrated to America, landing in New York City in July and at once locating in
the southern part of Livingston County. The first work done in
this country by William Ritchie was on the Genesee Valley Canal,




190   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


he being a stone mason. It was here in Livingston County that
Samuel Ritchie was born, as noted above, in 1841.
In 1862, when young Samuel was 21, the Ritcliies moved to
Michigan, locating in Yankee Springs Township. In Ireland
William Ritchie had done farming and now in Michigan lie again
turned his attention to agriculture, buying and clearing a farm of
92 acres of wild land and turning it into a productive property.
Young Ritchie received a good common-school education, although at the early age of ten years he began working for wages,
receiving eighteen cents a day. He continued to labor by day
and month until he was twenty-seven years old when, six years
after he had come to Micligan, he bought the farm in Yankee
Springs which was his home for the greater part of his mature
years.
Samuel Ritclie was married February 17, 1870, to Miss Anna
Doyle, daughter of Darby and Ann Doran Doyle, tlat couple
having come from County Wexford, Ireland, to the United States
in 1832. They first settled in Rochester, N. Y., and then seven
years later they came to Yankee Springs Townznip, where the
future Mrs. Ritchie was born.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie four children were born-George
MI., Harry S., Lizzie A. and Maggie J. Three of tle four are
living, Lizzie A. having passed beyond. Maggie J. Ritclie is now
Mrs. Bert McKibbin and lives in Orangeville, MIici. George
Ritcllie lives a short distance south of Hastings andl of Harry S.
more will be told later.
Samuel C. Ritchie llas been repeatedly lionored by his fellow
citizens with public office and lie has always been found faithful
to his trust. He has repeatedly been Highway Commissioner and
Supervisor in his township. He las also been a census enumerator and for many years from the very foundation of the school
district, he was a school officer.
In 1896 he was elected Sheriff of Barry County and two
years later lie was accorded a re-election. No man could have
been more faithful in executing the duties of this office, and his
record was most enviable.
Four years ago Mr. Ritchie sold his farm in Yankee Springs
and removed to Hastings, where for the most part lie has since
resided.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


191


H. S. RITCHIE








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


193


MR. AND MRS. J. P. ROBERTS
From a daguerreotype








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


195


Mr. Ritchie is a Mason and is honored as a man whose life
is ordered on the square.
Harry S. Ritchie, son of Samuel and Anna Ritchie, and like
his father also Sheriff of Barry County for two terms, was born in
Yankee Springs Township. His early years were spent on the
farm there until January, 1897, when he came to Hastings and
for four years was under-sheriff for his father.
In November, 1901, Harry Ritchie married Lena MA. Sylvester, of Hastings, dauglter of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Sylvester. Mrs.
Ritclhie died December 29, 1909, leaving besides her husband three
children, Mary Josephine, Harry Francis, and Robert S., to mourn
her loss. The children are all living.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Ritchie was living in Yankee
Springs Townslip and there in 190- lie was elected to the office
of Supervisor. I)uring the next four years Mr. Ritchie was
Deputy Sheriff for Sheriff Furness and then in 1903 lie was himself elected Sheriff. In 1910 he was accorded another term, which
is not expired.
Mr. Ritcllie hlas made a good Sheriff. He hlas found that the
office requires a lot of energy, perseverance and courage and lie
has never been found lacking in any of these qualities. In the
pursuit of his duties Mr. Ritchie has been in some particularly
trying positions but lie has never flinched and has never failed
yet to do his duty. Several times his escape from death has been
almost miraculous, but be that as it may lie has always executed
his trust.
Mr. Ritcllie tlinks that success in political life comes from
devotion to the duties of the office to which one has been called
and lie has always measured up to this test.
Mr. Ritclie is a member of the Knights of Pythias and fully
believes in tle fraternal idea.
MR. AND MRS. J. P. ROBERTS
Coming to Hastings in the '40's, Mr. and Mrs. James P.
Roberts were of that coterie of early settlers who took their part
in laying the foundation for the present prosperous and beautiful
city it has come to be. Mr. Roberts was born June 23, 1825, in
Buck's County, Pennsylvania, of Welsh-Quaker parentage and




196   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


naturally inherited from these his quiet, unostentatious, peaceloving nature and upright moral qualities. He came first to Hastings in 1844 to visit his brother, Ir. J. B. Roberts, one of its
pioneer physicians. He returned in 1849 to open the first drug
store in Barry County, and followed this occupation for many
years, and was associated with Daniel Striker and later with W.
H. Goodyear. He had considerable dealings with the Indians and
was much revered by them. He was a Republican in politics
and a member of the Masonic order. He was a life long Presbyterian, serving as elder in the Hastings church for over fifty
years. In the chase lie found his greatest diversion and was one
of the best known hunters in the county and a famous slot. His
love of nature, of birds and animals was one of his strongest
characteristics.  "A man who read a great deal, thought much
and talked little," he never had an enemy. What lie did, like
many another good man, will not be found in the annals of the
state or country's best known, but rather in those unwritten
volumes which human hearts love to treasure up.
He was married on July 6, 1854, to Anna M. Robinson, who
was born in Vassalboro, Maine, October 7, 1834, and came to
Hastings with her parents, Judge and Mrs. I)avid G. Robinson,
in 1848. She was a student at Albion College in the early '50's
and taught in the old Hastings schoolhouse before her marriage.
She joined the Presbyterian church by letter in 1852.
In the home, the church and the community where Mrs. Roberts lived and lovingly ministered for over fifty years, "ller light
still shines on and on." As a friend wrote lovingly at her death,
"There is no death for such as she! The fragrance of ler blessed
life on earth will live on in the lives of those whom it clieered
and comforted."
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts' married life lacked but a few months
of fifty years, she dying February 26, 190-, lie Iecember 17, 1907.
Four children were born to their union:  Mary, who died in
early childhood; Mrs. Anna I). Mason, Mrs. William A. Chidester, and Mrs. William R. Cook.
JULIUS RUSSELL
A long time resident and a highly respected citizen was lost
to Barry County by the death of Julius Russell February 11, 1901,
and this article is written as a memorial to him.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


197


JULIUS RUSSELL








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


199


Julius Russell was born at Byron, near Rockford, Ill., March
18, 1836. In 1855 his father, Dr. Jeremiah Russell, came from
Byron to Hastings and went into partnership with his brother-inlaw, John W. Stebbins, in the dry goods business. Julius, then
a young man of twenty, came soon afterwards, entering his
father's store and devoting himself to the mercantile business,
which he followed constantly till 1899, when failing health compelled him to retire from active life.
After a time the young man became a partner of his father,
and later Mr. John M. Nevins was associated with him in business. From 1870, however, Mr. Russell conducted the business
alone.
In 1862 Mr. Russell married Miss Charlotte Lawhead Barlow. One child came to bless this union, Harry, who was born
in 1866 and died in 1886, just as he was entering upon a promising manhood. Mrs. Russell is still living.
Such is the brief chronicle of an honorable citizen, whose
quiet, unostentatious and yet useful life gained tle respect and
won the friendship of the whole community. His business career
was marked by honorable dealing and his excellent habits of life
stamped him as a good man, a kind neiglhbor and an exemplary
citizen.
Mrs. Charlotte Russell, who survives her husband, is one of
the well known ladies of Hastings. While her husband was in
business Mrs. Russell was his able assistant and showed much
ability as a business woman. She resides at the Russell home in
Hastings, at the corner of Jefferson and Center streets, and has a
host of friends in the community.
PHILO A. AND HENRY S. SHELDON
For many years in Barry County the Sheldon family has
been prominently known. Three generations of this family have
lived in the county and in each generation the family has been
recognized as being interested in public affairs and as consisting
of men of practical and progressive tendencies.
The Sheldons are an old New England family, the first representative of the family in this country being Isaac Sheldon, who
was born in Essex County, England, in 1629, and in 1651, at the




200


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


age of 22, came to Windsor, Connecticut. In 1653 lie married
Mary Woodford of Hartford, and the next year removed to
Northampton, Massachusetts, of which lie was one of the first
settlers, and where lie lived until he died. He was the father of
thirteen children.
Johnathan Sheldon, the youngest of the thirteen, was born
at Northampton, May 29, 1687, and December 30, 1708, married
Mary Southwell. In 1723 he moved to Suffield, Connecticut, and
built a house which is still standing. He died April 11, 1769,
having been the father of ten children.
It was the eldest of these, Johnathan, second, wlio was a
direct ancestor of Philo A. and Henry S. Sheldon. Johnathan,
second, was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1711, and
came to Connecticut with his father in 1723. On September 17,
1734, he married Sarah Kent and settled on a farm given him by
his father. He died February 3, 1761, having been the father of
a family of ten.
Rufus, a son of Jolinatlian, second, was born in Suffield,
Connecticut, July 10, 1744, and married Rachel Harmon of the
same place. He died in Suffield, August 3, 1787, and was the
father of seven children.
With Ira, the son of Rufus, the family began a movement to
the westward. He was born in Suffield in 1786, but moved to
Brutus, New  York.   He married M\ary Shleldon, daughter of
Jacob Sheldon, a descendant of Jollnatllan Sheldon, first, who
was born January 25, 1788, and to them were born six children.
Ira Sheldon died October 11, 1827.
Harvey N. Sheldon, son of Ira Slleldon, and father of Plilo
A. Sheldon, is the first of the family to come within the confines
of Barry County. He was born at Brutus, New York, September
14, 1819, and came to Barry County in 1840, locating on a farm
of 80 acres in section one of the Township of Castleton, in 1843.
In 1854 he was elected County Treasurer and held that office
twelve years, residing for the most part at Hastings.  At the
end of that period he moved to Hagar, Berrien County, and
engaged in fruit raising. After his removal to Hagar he was
Treasurer of the Township and served several terms as Supervisor. He died March 5, 1892.
September 14, 1842, he married Iydia Miller, wlo was born




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


201


7


II:;,4, ~'e
i~


P. A. SHELDON








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


203


November 22, 1826, and who died September 17, 1846. To them
were born three sons, Ira, born March 29, 1844, and Philo A.
and Milo, who were twins, their natal day being June 28, 1846.
Harvey N. Sheldon married a second wife, Almira Wheeler, on
July 4, 1847. She was born January 19, 1827, and was the
mother of five children, Mary, Albert, Seward, Jesse and Emma.
Now having traced the ancestry of the Sheldon family from
the very earliest days of New England colonization, it is very
fitting to sketch the biography of a member of the family who,
having been born within the county, has lived within its borders
all his days and hlas been active in its political and business affairs
for many years. We refer to Philo A. Sheldon.
Philo A. Sheldon, as was stated above, was born June 28,
1846, his birthplace being the farm of his father in Castleton
township. In 1856, two years after the father's election to the
office of County Treasurer, the family moved to the Township
of Hastings and then in 1857 they came to live in the then
Village of Hastings. Young Philo attended school in Castleton,
Hastings Township, and also in the village, where school was
held in the old schoolhouse on the hill. Here he continued his
studies until 1864, when in the month of May he entered the office
of the Register of Deeds as assistant to S. H. Cook, the register,
and 1). R. Cook, his deputy. He continued in this office until
1870, when he engaged in the abstract business with I). R. Cook.
In 1889 he bought out Mr. Cook's interest in the business and has
since continued as sole owner. From the above it will be seen
tlat for forty-eight years Mr. Sheldon has been connected with
the business of making abstracts in Barry County, and he is probably better informed on this subject than any man in the county.
He is the oldest abstracter in the state in point of service.
Mr. Sheldon has always been a Republican and has held the
offices of Supervisor and Alderman many times. He was Postmaster of Hastings under Harrison from 1891 to 1895 and has
also made a very efficient secretary of the Barry County Agricultural Society, serving in this capacity several times. He is a
public spirited, progressive citizen and is always ready to boost
his city and county.
January 10, 1867, lie married Mrs. Nettie Hodges, who died
March 26, 1901. To them were born five children, Emma, Lydia,




204   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Frank, Harvey S. and Henry S., of whom only Harvey S. and
Henry S. are living.    In 1892 Mr. Sheldon married Mrs.
Johanna Campbell, who died in 5March, 1909. There were no
children from this marriage.
Of Henry S. Sheldon, who is a present resident of this city,
and is engaged with his fatler in tile abstract business, we wish
to make mention here.   He was born January 29, 1876. He
attended school in Hastings until lie was thirteen, wihen lie went
to Grand Rapids, at first attendingr business college in tllat city
and later being engaged in various employments calculated to
give him a good experience for use later on.
In 1892 lie returned to Hastings Iand went into the postoffice
under his fatlier.  He continued in tlis connection until 1895,
when his fatller's term as postmaster expired. I)uring his service
in the postoffice lie had been engaged in equipping himself by
hard study, alone, for other duties, so whlen lie finished his work
with the government lie found limself ready to go into the
ablstract office with hlis fatller. In this occul)ation lie lhas continued
ever since with tile exception of tile period when lie served in tile
Spanish-American war, enlisting with Company K, Thirty-fifth
Michigan Volunteer Infantry in April, 1898. He was mustered
out in March of the following year witl the rank of corporal.
October 21, 1903, lie married Miss Ella Coburn and to tlem
have been born two children, Agnes Harriet, born July 9, 1905,
and Philo Henry, wlio was born April 25, 1909.
Like Ilis father, Henry S. Slieldon is a staunch Republican
and is ever willing to do service for Ilis party. Flor several years
he has been Alderman from his ward on the Republican ticket.
Fraternally, he is a Knight of Pytlias, a Mason and a
Maccabee.
Henry S. Sheldon has made for himself a splendid reputation
in Hastings as a careful, efficient business man and a citizen who
is always interested in progress. Although still young, lie has
acquitted himself most creditably and there is still a fine future
ahead of him.
CLEMENT M. SMITH
No man now living in Barry County is more widely known
to all the people of the county or more universally esteemed than




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


207


Clement McDonald Smith, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit
since 1893. He is the son of David W. Smith and Leonora McDonald, pioneers of Barry County, an account of whose lives is
given elsewhere in this book. Born December 4, 1844, near Fort
Wayne, Indiana, he was brought in infancy by his parents to the
farm near Nashville where they had settled. His early years
were spent on the farm, where when old enough he bore his share
of the labors of the pioneer days, going to the district school in
the winters and imbibing such knowledge as those primitive conditions could afford. At the age of sixteen he entered the Academy at Vermontville, where he spent one year in adding to his
stock of knowledge. Then, like many another ambitious boy of
those days, lie taught school winters and worked on the farm
summers. The scenes of these youthful labors in the school room
were Coats Grove, Barryville and tle Star district near Hastings.
In 1865 lie entered the Law Department of the University of
Michigan, where lie remained one year. His straightened circumstances did not permit him to go on with his class, but, with determination to realize his professional ambition, he returned home
and taught school another year, reading law during spare moments and vacations. In Hastings lie read law in the office of
Frank Allen and while teaching in the grammar grades in Charlotte lie continued his legal studies in the office of Attorney Edward A. Foote. He was admitted to the bar before Judge Woodruff of Charlotte in April, 1868. Forty-five years after his class
at Ann Arbor graduated, the honorary degree of Bachelor of
Laws was conferred upon Judge Smitl, an honor that came to
him entirely unsought, in recognition of his distinguished services
in the realm of jurisprudence.
After his admission to the bar lie opened a law office in Nashville, supplementing his practice by teaching in the first union
school opened in that village. In 1869 he went to Middleville
and formed a law partnership with Harvey Wright which was continued for about six months. In 1870 he returned to Nashville
and practiced law there until 1876, when he was elected Judge of
Probate and removed to Hastings. For eight years he performed
the responsibilities of this office to the satisfaction of the public.
In the fall of 1880 he formed a partnership with Hon. Philip
T. Colgrove of Hastings, which continued until Judge Smith was
called to the bench.




208   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


In 1889 Circuit Judge Hooker appointed Judge Smitl Prosecuting Attorney to fill the vacancy caused by the death of C. H.
Van Arman. On January 3, 1893, Governor John T. Rich, then
just entering upon his office, made his first appointment, by placing Judge Smith upon the Circuit bench of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, comprising at that time the Counties of Barry, Eaton and
Calhoun, to succeed Judge Hooker, who had been elevated to the
Supreme bench of the state. Ever since tlat time Judge Smith
has occupied this responsible position. At the end of his appointive term he was elected by a majority of 1,529, and at eacl succeeding election his majority has been increased, until in the spring
of 1911, his nomination was endorsed by all parties and lie was
returned to his judicial position without any opl)osition.
In 1903 President McKinley tendered Judge Smith the Associate Justiceship of the Supreme Court of the Territory of New
Mexico. After careful consideration, Judge Smitl declined this
high honor.
Besides his professional and official duties Judge Smitl hlas
found time to form fraternal associations, to attend to other lines
of business, to take an active part in his churcll, the Methodist
Episcopal, in whose Sunday school lie lhas been a faithful teacher
many years. His services as a speaker are always at the command of his friends, and often are availed of, on all manner of
public occasions..Fraternally Judge Smitl is a Mason, member
of Hastings Blue Lodge and Chapter and of Charlotte Commandery. He is President of the Masonic Temple Association of Hastings, Mich. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
IIe is President of the Hastings National Bank and is interested in other business enterprises. For many years lie has been
Historian of the County Pioneer Society.
He was married May 17, 1871, to Miss Frances M. Wheeler,
daughter of Milo T. Wheeler of Woodland. Mrs. Smith has been
active in women's club work and is an ex-President of the State
Federation of Women's Clubs. They have three children-Shirley W., who holds the responsible position of Secretary of the
University of Michigan; Donald D., a civil engineer now connected with the Southern Surety Company at St. Louis, Mo.,
as consulting engineer; and Gertrude J. Smith of Hastings.




r m


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY                   209.:: i
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E t A- 7>tsi ~3
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&E                       b-  b iCE~~~~~~~~~v








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


211


MR. AND MRS. DAVID W. SMITH
This sketch is intended as a memorial to David W. and
Leonora Smith, pioneer settlers of Barry County, who labored
hard to transform WVestern Michigan into the fertile and busy
territory which it has become.
Born in the State of New York, August 31, 1817, David W.
Smith in 1842 came to the then new State of Michigan. He went
to Indiana in 1843 and married Leonora McDonald, who also was
born in the Empire State, her natal day being May 19, 1825.
They were married October 12, 1843, and came at once to Michigan, settling on the farm north of Nashville, in Castleton township, on which they continued to live until the time of their death,
Mrs. Smith dying in 1901 and he in 1906.
On the farm in Castleton the two pioneers fought and struggled against the difficulties of those early days, clearing the land
and wresting from the soil the means of sustenance.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children, all of whom
are living. They are: Clement Smith, of Hastings; E. V. Smith,
of Nashville; Mrs. Josephine Coulter, of Chicago; and Mrs. Ida
Hartzell, of Battle Creek.
Mr. Smith was a Democrat in politics and from 1860 until
1876 he held the office of supervisor of Castleton township. For
many years lie was secretary of the Barry and Eaton Insurance
Company and helped in a great measure to make the company
what it is today.
Mr. and Mrs. Smitl were of that company of pioneers whose
number is now small, but who in the early days labored and struggled to make possible the conditions which we enjoy today.
WILLIAM H. AND FRED W. STEBBINS
William H. Stebbins, an honored resident of Hastings, Barry
County, where lie is engaged in the undertaking business, is the
son of John W. and Eliza (Holland) Stebbins, natives of Chautauqua County, New York. Mr. Stebbins' father came West in
1843 and settled at Hastings, where he worked at his trade of carpenter, helping to build the Barry County court house. Our
subject was born in Hastings, June 2, 1845. In 1846 his father
moved to Rutland township and purchased a farm of wild land,
cleared sixty acres of it, and there lived until 1855, when he




212   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


returned to Hastings.  The farm is now known as tile L. D.
Gardner farm.
The return of tlhe family to Hastings gave W\illiam H. an
opportunity to attend tile public school of tile village, from
wllicl lie was duly graduated. At tile age of 16, his ftllher being
now a partner in tile firm of Stebbins & Ellis, engaged in tlle
furniture and undertaking business, lie entered tleir employ as a
clerk. A sllort time later tlhe fatlher became sole owner of tile
business and continued in it, being assisted by William, until 1869,
when lie retired from active business. He died in 1871.
In 1873 Wim. H. Stebbins resumed the business in which lie
lhad gained a long and profitable experience with hiis fatlier, associating himself witl Henry Belding under the firm name of Stebbins & Belding. Tlis l)artnershli was maintalined for five years,
at the end of which time Mr. Stebbins became exclusively engaged
in tile undertaking p)rofession, in whicll lie lias continuled ever
since, building up a splendid reputation.
Mr. Stebbins was city treasurer in 1873 and for a period of ten
years in succession served as alderman of tile Third ward. In
tlhe fight for tile installation of tile city water works Mr. Stebbins
was especially active and was cllairman of tile committee which
had the building of tile system in clharge. For a number of years,
also, lie was a member of the sclool board. In politics MIr. Stebbins is a I)emocrat. Fraiternally, lie is a member of tlie Knights
of Pythias, the 5Maccabees, Odd Fellows, and Foresters.
April 25, 1872, lie married Miss Julia Hoonan and to Mr. and
Mrs. Stebbins four children llave been born, Maud Fliza (Mrs. E.
J. Huffman), Fannie I)ora (Mrs. J. H. Templeton), Carrie
MIelissa, and Fred 'W. All are living and are residents of Hastings
witl tile exception of Mrs. Templeton, whose home is in Seattle,
Washington.
In continuing this sketcl witl tlhe biography of Fred W.
Stebbins we are presenting the record of a family wlose name
has always stood in the community for progress and rectitude.
We are also presenting the record of a family wlich for tlree
generations has been engaged in the same profession, that of
undertaking.  This profession las been handed down in the
family from father to son until the name of Stebbins is widely
known in this connection.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


213


WILLIAM H. STEBBINS








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


215


FRED W. STEBBINS








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


217


Fred W. Stebbins was born in Hastings, July 14, 1879. ITe
has always lived in Hastings, being educated tiere and making
that city the field of his subsequent business endeavors.  He
graduated from tle Hastings High Sclool in the class of 1898 and
in the fall of 1899 entered the employ of the City Bank, remaining with that institution for seven years.
After discontinuing his connection with the bank lie was
engaged in the insurance business for two years. He then formed
a partnership with L. R. Glasgow and opened a furniture store.
This was sold to Miller & Harris in 1910 and since that time
Mr. Stebbins lias been associated witll his father, W. H. Stebbins,
in the undertaking business, the undertaking rooms being located
in the modern business block whicl the father has built just east
of the Masonic temple on State street and which bears the name
of the Stebbins block.
Fred W. Stebbins was married October 18, 1904, to Miss
Myrtle Sullivan, daughter of Tllomas Sullivan of Hastings, who
is a very estimable and talented young woman, and is at present
president of the Hastings Women's Club.
The Stebbins family is one of the old families of Hastings.
It has been associated witl the city's development from almost
the very beginning and its members have always helped in every
movement which would make for progress and advancement. It
has been the men and women of this type who have made the
Hastings of today.
WILLIAM J. STUART
Tlhe greatest crop which any community can produce is men
of character. Barry County has been the birthplace of many such
men, some of whom have gone forth to wider fields of usefulness
and honor. Among these must be counted William James Stuart,
Judge of the Superior Court, of Grand Rapids. His parents,
Alexander and Martha (Noble) Stuart (many members of the
family spell the name Stewart), were of Scotch-Irish descent, a
mixture that has produced many strong and famous men. They
came to Michigan from  Ireland about 1843. John Stuart, a
brother of Alexander, had preceded him in coming to this country
and had located and settled upon a farm on the road leading from
Yankee Springs to Orangeville on Section 37 of Yankee Springs,
in 1837.




218   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


Alexander joined his brother and lived on his farm in a house
near the Orangeville Township line for several years, till he located his own farm on Section 34, Yankee Springs, in 1849.
Here, on his Uncle John's farm, William J. was born, November 1, 1844, about one mile from the famous Yankee Springs
tavern. Let no one think that the place was without its diversion and excitement. For in those days the tavern was known
all over Western Michigan. Stage coaches used to pull up at its
hospitable doors, drawn by four horses and loaded to the limit.
There was a store, a blacksmith shop, a school house and the
straggling roofs of the tavern, surrounded by its many barns and
outbuildings and bustling with the ever changing stream of travel.
William met his first sad experience in life in the death of
his mother when he was but ten years old, her death occurring
September 20, 1854. He remained on the farm until 1859, when
he entered the public schools at Hastings, supporting himself by
working for the family of William Barlow while at Hastings.
Two years later he entered the Preparatory Department of Kalamazoo College and the next year the High School at Kalamazoo,
under Professor Daniel Putnam, graduating from this school in
1863, a member of the first class to graduate from that institution.
While at school in Kalamazoo lie supported himself by working
for the family of H. G. Wells.
One term of teaching country school followed and in March,
1864, he entered the University of Michigan, where he pursued
the classical course until the middle of his Junior year, March,
1866. After spending several months in Illinois he was employed
in the fall as Superintendent of Schools at Hastings, filling the
position for one year. He then returned to the university, graduating in 1868 with the degree of A. B.
He again filled the Superintendency of Hastings schools for
two years, after which he commenced reading law with Balch,
Smiley & Balch of Kalamazoo. In the fall lie entered the law
department of the university, completing his course in 1872, with
the degree of LL. B. The money that he needed to complete the
Classical Course at the university, over and above wlat lie could
earn, he borrowed from Hon. H. G. Wells of Kalamazoo, and to
complete the law course at the university, he borrowed from the
Hon. A. J. Bowne of Hastings, Mich. After teaching in Iowa




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HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


221


three months he went back to Kalamazoo and for a short time was
connected with the law firm of Balch & Son, the style of the firm
being Balch, Stuart & Balch. In November, 1872, Mr. Stuart
went to Grand Rapids, as affording him a wider field for his
profession, and on January 1st, 1873, entered the office of E. A.
Burlingame as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Kent County,
soon afterwards becoming a partner under the name of Burlingame & Stuart. During this time lie tauglt and had charge of
the night sclhool then first established in the Public Schools of
Grand Rapids. This firm continued until 1876, wlen Mr. Stuart
formed a partnership with Edwin F. Sweet, under the name of
Stuart & Sweet. On April 13, 1874, Mr. Stuart married Miss
Calista I. Hadley of Hastings. He was applointed City Attorney
in tile spring of 1880 and held thle position two terms.
In May, 1888, lie was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of
Kent County and later was elected for a full term.
In 1888, after twelve years witll Mr. Sweet, the relationship
was discontinued and M\r. Stuart formed a partnership witl L. E.
Knappen and C. H. Van Arman, under thle name of Stuart, Knappen & Van Arman, witl offices for some time in botl Grand
Rapids and Hastings. The Hastings office was closed soon after
the deatl of Mr. Van Arman in 1890, but the Grand Rapids office
of Knappen & Stuart continued until 1893. From the latter date
M\r. Staurt was in general practice alone until the spring of 1897,
when lie formed a partnership with Sylvester W. Barker, tlle
arrangement terminating in 1901. In 1902 he formed a partnership witll Henry T. Heald under the name of Stuart & Heald. In
April, 1905, Mr. Stuart was elected Judge of the Superior Court
of Grand Rapids, a position which lie has faithfully and ably
held ever since. His business connection witli M\r. Heald was
dissolved when lie ascended the bench.
Judge Stuart's interest in educational matters lhas always
been active. For two years lie was a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, and a member ex-officio of said board
during his two terms as Mayor. The degree of M. A. was conferred upon him by his alma mater in 1876. He was president
of the Alumni Association of the University in 1894 and 1895.
He was Mayor of the City of Grand Rapids for two terms in
1892 and 1893.




222


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


As a business man Judge Stuart helped organize tle Citizens
Telephone Company and has been a member of its board of directors, and its attorney and counsel ever since, having seen the business develop from a $50,000 to a $5,000,000 corporation. At the
organization of The State Bank of Michigan, now the Kent State
Bank, he was elected a director, holding the position until he
went on the bench as judge.
Judge Stuart has been for many years active in the life of his
church. He was long a vestryman and treasurer of St. Mark's
Episcopal church and serves in the same capacity for the procathedral. He is a trustee of Akeley Institute, a church school
for girls at Grand Haven; a member of the standing committee
of the Diocese of Western Michigan, secretary of the Board of
Trustees of the same diocese, and has had the honor of representing the diocese in the general conventions of the church at
Richmond and Cincinnati. He is treasurer of the Missionary
Council of the Fifth Department, usually attending its business
meetings.
He is a member of the Masonic and Pytlian orders, and in
politics a Republican. He holds membership in the Kent Country
Club and the Grand Rapids Historical Society.
Judge Stuart has two brothers living and one sister-John N.
Stuart, on the old homestead at Yankee Springs; Mrs. Elizabetll
S. Ritchie, who lives near the old home, and Thomas A. Stuart,
whose home is in Gaines Township, Kent County.
Both of his parents are sleeping in the little cemetery at
Yankee Springs, the father lhaving died in Kalamazoo, July 31,
1878, 2-4 years after the death of the motler whose passing has
been already clronicled. Mr. Stuart and his wife have no children, but a niece of his, Edith Stuart (now Mrs. Raymond V.
Parsons of Ietroit) has lived in tlhe family from her clildhood
and has always filled the position of a daughter.
THOMAS SULLIVAN
Foremost among the legal ]ights of the Barry County bar
stands Thomas Sullivan of Hastings. Mr. Sullivan was born in
Bloomfield, Prince Edward County, Ontario, August 7th, 1856.
His parents were of Irish extraction, Jeremiah Sullivan and Eileen
Mahoney, who left their native county, Cork, and settled in Can



HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


223


THOS. SULLIVAN




I




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


225


x.


DR. B. C. SWIFT








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


227


ada in 1834. From Canada they came to Michigan in 1867 and
settled in the Township of Campbell, Ionia County.
Thomas was next to the youngest of eleven children, six boys
and five girls. He attended rural school, worked on the farm and
afterwards found employment for two years in a factory at Freeport. Shortly after this lie was elected Justice of the Peace of
Irving Townslip and held the office four terms. He was also
Township Clerk three times.
I)uring tliese years of official duties at Freeport he was devoting every moment not employed in other duties in the study of
law. How well lie laid the foundations for his professional life
is evidenced by lhis successful career as an Attorney-at-law. He
was admitted to tle bar November 15, 1890, and began practice
at Freeport. In 1896 lie was nominated by the Democratic party
for thle office of Prosecuting Attorney and was elected. He
moved to the county seat and has constantly practiced his profession in tlhat city to the present time. He lhas been City Attorney
tlree terms and liolds that position at the present time.
His political convictions have always been witll the Democratic party, in whose councils, both locally and in state politics,
lie has been useful and influential. In 1908 lie was a delegate to
the National Convention at Denver. At the present time (October,
1912) lie is the candidate for Prosecuting Attorney.
Fraternally Mr. Sullivan is a Knight of Pytlias and an Odd
Fellow.
In 1877, Mr. Sullivan married Emily V. Kent. They have
two children, Myrtle, now Mrs. Fred Stebbins, and Eileen.
Mr. Sullivan, familiarly and affectionately known all over
Barry County as "Tom" Sullivan, has by assiduous devotion to his
profession, strict honesty and square treatment, built up a lucrative business, to which he devotes his most faithful attention,
while his many fine qualities of heart and mind have won for him
a host of friends in whose association lie finds that enjoyment
which comes from the consciousness of work well done.
BIRGE C. SWIFT
Birge C. Swift is the son of John and Jennie E. Swift, both
former residents of Lansing, Michigan.
He was born in Lansing, August 2-1, 1877. In 1881 the




228   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


family moved to Harbor Springs, and here Mr. Swift graduated
from the local High School in 1894. He attended the Petoskey
Normal School in 1895-1896 and was a special student at Alma
College, 1897-1899. He graduated from   Detroit College of
Medicine in 1903, being valedictorian of his class, and moved to
Middleville in the same year.
In 1905 he married Marion Grace McIntosh of Grand Rapids
and one child, Birge Carlton, Jr., has been born of this union.
Dr. Swift is a descendant of Colonial forefathers.
He is a member and Past Chancellor of the Knights of
Pythias, and Odd Fellows and K. O. T. M. He also belongs to
the Kappa (Detroit) Chapter of the Phi Beta Pi fraternity.
Dr. Swift is pre-eminently a progressive citizen and a man of
whom Middleville may well be proud.
W. L. THORPE
A young man who has achieved much and who has at the
same time gained a wide circle of friends is W. L. Tlorpe, more
commonly known as Roy Tlorpe.
W. L. Thorpe is the son of James L. and Lucinda Tliorpe.
The mother was born in Micliigan, but Mr. Thorpe, senior, was
born in Canada, coming to Micligan and locating in St. Claire
County in 1866. It was here that W. L. Tlorpe was born in 1873.
The family lived in St. Claire County until 1881, wlien they
moved to Barry County, Prairieville Township. Young Tliorpe
lived at home with his parents until he was fourteen years old and
then at that early age lie began to teach school. Later lie decided
to supplement his education, whiclh had been received principally
in country schools, by taking a course in the Higli Scliool at
Richland, where lie graduated at the age of sixteen. He then
worked as a clerk and salesman in stores at Ricliland and Kalamazoo.
On October 2, 1895, Mr. Thorpe married Miss Ada Jolnson
of Milo. To Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe has been born one son, Russell,
now a student in the Hastings Higl Scllool.
After his marriage Mr. Thorpe farmed and slipped stock
at Milo until January 1, 1909, when lie came to Hastings as
County Clerk. In this office Mr. Thorpe hlas served two terms
and his conduct of the office has given universal satisfaction.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


229


WM L. THORPE








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


231


i'..


GEO. TOMLINSON








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


233


More than that, during the four years he has been in Hastings
lie has made a great number of friends, all of whom will regret tile
fact that lie is not to continue in his office another term.
Before his election to the office of County Clerk, Mr. Thorpe
had been entrusted for four years with the office of Supervisor
of Prairieville Township, and it was to a great extent due to
the excellent record lie made in this office that he was later
accorded the election to the County Clerkship.
Mr. Thorpe believes in fraternity and brotherhood and is a
member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the
Masons. He also believes that success in business or politics is
not so much reckoned in dollars as in being able to say that in all
deals a man stuck by his word, misrepresented notling, and was
honorable all the time. He believes that the friends a man makes
from among those who deal with him are of greater value than
money.
Mr. Thorpe is still a young man and so it is probable that
he will advance much farther than lie has ever yet done, but it is
safe to predict that however far lie advances and wherever he
may be, lie will always have a host of friends who will believe
in him and whose confidence lie will entirely possess.
GEORGE S. TOMLINSON
This sketch is written as a tribute to the memory of George
S. Tomlinson, one of the sterling citizens of Hastings, who on
September 3, 1902, completed on earth a life full of the honor
which comes from upright living and honest dealing with one's
fellow men.
Born near Watertown, Connecticut, September 15, 1842, at the
age of fourteen he came to Marshall, Michigan, and there lived
until 1866. In April of that year lie was married to Miss Jennie
Selleck and in the following month moved to Hastings, where
lie was foreman of the Prentiss & Dickey, sash, door and blind
factory. After remaining in their employ for some time Mr.
Tomlinson helped to build and establish the plant of Bentley,
Rider & Co., for whom he worked as a foreman until he became
a member of the firm.
In 1896 he sold his interest in the firm of Bentley, Tomlinson
& Rider and until he died was engaged in the retail lumber busi



234   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


ness. This business he built up from small beginnings to large
and profitable proportions. After his death it was conducted for
some time by his daughter, Mrs. Mae Young, who with his widow
survived him and are both present residents of this city.
As a business man M\r. Tomlinson was strictly square and
honorable. His reputation for integrity was never questioned and
until failing health prevented, he was tirelessly active in building
up and extending his interests.
He was a progressive and public spirited citizen and took a
great interest in all civic affairs. He was alderman for several
terms and for many years served as City Treasurer. For twentyone years he was a member of the Board of Education, holding
the record in Hastings for length of service on the board. He
retired in 1898. For many years during his service on the school
board he was president of that body, but whether serving as
president or merely as a member, lie always had a great influence
in its deliberations. Mucli of the excellence of our splendid system
of schools can be honestly credited to George S. Tomlinson. In
politics he was a staunch Democrat.
Mr. Tomlinson was a worthy Knight of Pythias and devoted
much time to the upbuilding of the Hastings lodge.    While
physically able he was ever a faithful attendant at its sessions.
He was a loving husband and father, a genial neighbor and
a true friend.
DR. WILLIAM UPJOHN
Dr. William Upjohn was born in Shaftsbury, England, Marchl
4, 1807. His father, whose name lie bore, was a man of great
ability and widely known throughout the west of England. He
was a devoted Christian and was the author of several religious
works.  In 1795 he married Mary Standard, of Tisbury, and
reared a family of twelve children, three boys and nine girls,
William being the eldest son. Mr. Upjohn was a wealthy English
gentleman and his children all received liberal educations.
It is most fitting here to speak of William's brother Uriah.
In fact, it is impossible to write a sketch of the life of William
Upjohn without touching upon the life of this brother, with
whom he was always most closely associated. Together they
came, in 1828, to explore the wonders of the new world. They




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


235


DR. WM. UPJOHN




I




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


237


both graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
New York City and together, in 1835, they both came to Michigan
where they found vast fields of usefulness. They had no thought
of remaining permanently in the then Territory of Michigan,
but Uriah met pretty Maria Mills and after that he could not
leave. They were married and lived long and useful lives. Their
work and influence in Kalamazoo County, where Dr. Uriah had
located, can never be forgotten. Not only was the doctor's medical skill widely souglt, but he was a deep thinker and a sound
adviser on all subjects.  He would almost bear a part in the
history of Barry County, for many a long ride did he take to
Hastings from his home in Richland, and many a life was saved
in Barry County by his wonderful medical skill. When Dr. William Upjohn was in the Civil war it was to his brother, Uriah
that the people of Hastings turned. No decisive step was ever
taken by one brother without the counsel of the other, and this
wonderful brotherly friendship and love is a thing to ever cherish
and remember.
Botl the brothers settled first in Richland, where William
spent the first four years farming. But the work of caring for
the sick was more than one physician could do and so he joined
Uriah in the practice of medicine.
Dr. William Upjohn's first trip to Hastings was made by the
marked trees to visit Mr. Leach, after whom Leach Lake was
named. He left his patient with but a few hours to live and on
his way home stopped in Hastings to care for the sick. In a
little store building which stood wiere the white brick barn
now stands, at the southeast corner of Creek and State streets,
lie met Henry A. Goodyear and Alvin Bailey. These gentlemen
prevailed upon him to settle in Hastings, inasmuch as there was
no physician in the place. This was in 1841. In 1842 he married
Affa Cannett, who died in the first year of her married life. In
1847 lie married Lydia Amelia, sister of his first wife, who was
the motler of his three daughters. Dr. and Mrs. Upjohn spent
a long life togetller, Mrs. Upjohn surviving her husband three
years.
Dr. Upjohn's first home in Hastings was on the southwest
corner of Creek and Apple streets.  He later built the house
wlich is now just east of the C., K. & S. railway where it inter



238   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


sects the Michigan Central. This place was laid out in garden
beds bordered by English box and planted to shrubs and flowers.
State street now passes through wlat was once the doctor's beautiful garden.  He afterwards located on Broadway, wliere lie
made his home until his death. He owned some valuable pieces
of property in Hastings.
Dr. William Upjohn was so prominently identified with the
history of this county that his name can never pass from its pages.
He was one of the best and grandest citizens Barry County ever
had. He was loved and honored by all, not only for his medical
skill, but for his work in public and among the poor.
In 1852 he was elected register of deeds and the same year
he was elected a member of the first Board of Regents of the
University of Michigan. At his death the University authorities
paid him a very high tribute.
In 1862 Governor Blair tendered him the position of surgeon
of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, which lie accepted.  From
the position of regimental surgeon lie was promoted to Surgeonin-Chief of the First Brigade, First I)ivision of Cavalry, of the
Army of the Potomac. The doctor was witll Kilpatrick in his
raid on Richmond and accompanied General Slierman in his raid
up James River. He served throughout the war and at its close
went with General Custer to what were then the vast unexplored
plains of the West, to put down the Indian trouble. lie made
as fine a war record as could be desired. Tlle doctor was a great
horseback rider and lie took into the army witli him the horse
lie had ridden in his practice. This faithful animal carried his
master to the Black Hills and back and died in the stable from
which lie was taken when the doctor entered the service.
It was in 1865 when Dr. Upjohn once more returned to
Hastings and resumed his practice, for several years in the '70's
having associated with him his nephew, Dr. William E. Upjohn,
now of Kalamazoo. He passed many useful years beloved and
honored by his fellow citizens and died August 2, 1887, mourned
by all.
CHRISTOPHER H. VAN ARMAN
This sketch is dedicated to the memory of Chiristophler H.
Van Arman, who was taken away by an untimely deatll January




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


239


"m


I


C. H. VAN ARMAN








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


241


12, 1890, at the age of 38, just as lie was in tle very prime of life
and llad before him the brightest and most promising of futures.
Born in Falkland, Brant County, Ontario, September 11,
1851, lie came, six years later, with his family, to the township
of Rutland, his father, George Van Arman, buying what is now
the Gardner farm in that township. Later the father bought a
farm about a mile west of the Gardner farm and there lived until
his death. The family was a large one, consisting of five brothers
and five sisters. Of these only five are now living: Joseph Van
Arman, of Detroit; Mary, now Mrs. M. W. Hicks, of Hastings;
Sarah, Mrs. Thos. Kelley, of Hope; Ruth, Mrs. Orley Peake, of
Kansas City, and Harriet, Mrs. Mark Cliilds, of Fowlerville. The
mother was Elizabetll Harrison Van Arman.
Young Clristopler Van Arman attended district school in
Rutland until lie was fourteen years of age, when lie entered the
employ of Jolhn M. Nevins of the Hastings Banner, with whom lie
worked at the printer's trade, boarding with the family. Later lie
tauglt district school and then was principal of schools at Nashville and Middleville. While teaching lie studied law. He pursued his legal studies in the offices of James Sweezey and of L. E.
& C.. Knappen, and in 1881 was admitted to the bar. In 1882
lie graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, and in the following year became a partner in the firm of
Knappen & Van Arman. In 1888 William J. Stuart of Grand
Rapids allied himself with Mr. Knappen and Mr. Van Arman
and the firm of Stuart, Knappen & Van Arman was thus formed.
Mr. Knappen removed to Grand Rapids and the firm maintained
offices in both that city and Hastings, with Mr. Van Arman in
charge of the Hastings office.
In 1888 Mr. Van Arman was elected prosecuting attorney of
Barry County on the Republican ticket by a majority of over
700 and this office lie held at the time of his death.
He was a member of all the Masonic bodies in Hastings
and was closely identified witl the K. of P. He was a devoted
and earnest churchman and was an active member of Emmanuel
parish.
Mr. Van Arman was a striking example of what a young
man can do unaided except by his own efforts. A deep and
careful student, lie made great progress in his chosen profession




242   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


and at the time of his death had reached a position of great
promise. He was of a deeply sincere and honorable nature and
pre-eminently merited that highest of all titles, that of Christian
gentleman.
His widow, Mrs. Clara Longmaid Van Arman, is now living
at Salt ILake City.
LUKE WATERS
One of the eminently successful business men of Hastings and
a man who has been repeatedly placed by his fellow citizens in
offices of trust and honor, is Iuke Waters.
Mr. Waters was born near Canandaigua, New York, in Ontario County, May 4th, 1853. His parents were Patrick and
Mary Hoonan Waters and with them he came to Micliigan in
1855, arriving in the Wolverine State in October of that year and
settling in the Township of Irving on Section 29. Here for ten
years the family lived the life of pioneers, undergoing experiences
which a younger generation can know little of. (ften times in
order to eke out the family income tle fatlher went to work for
his neighbors. For such work he received the sum of fifty cents
a day, payment being made in produce.
In 1865 the family came to the vicinity of Hastings, locating
on what is now the Wellman farm north of the city. Here the
land had to be cleared and the ground prepared for cultivation
by any but easy processes. It was Ihard work but it was honest
and honorable. Of course money was not over plentiful and
luxuries were scarce, but still tlere was always enough for comfort and poverty was unknown.
In the midst of these circumstances, which were well calculated to bring out the true American qualities of endurance and
perseverance, young Waters grew to manllood. Then in 1876, at
the age of 22, he left the farm and entered the employment of
Barlow & Goodyear in their grain elevator, and it is this business
of which Mr. Waters is now today the sole owner.
In 1880 Mr. Waters formed a partnership with F. H. Barlow
and bought out Nathan Barlow, who had become the entire owner
of the elevator business through the dissolution of the firm of
Barlow  &  Goodyear. The new     partnership continued until
March, 1912, when on the death of Mr. Barlow, Mr. Waters
assumed full ownership.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


243


-Amamb-,
"i


LUKE WATERS








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


245


During the many years which Mr. Waters has been in business lie has always enjoyed a well earned reputation for absolute
integrity and square dealing. He has always given careful attention to all the details of his business and his success has been of
his own making.
October 16, 1878, Mr. Waters married Adella Wickham,
daughter of John Wickham of Hastings. From this marriage
were born three children, James P., Sophia H. and Mary M., all
of whom are still living. After a long illness Mrs. Waters died
January 9, 1909.
Mr. Waters has always been a man who has been interested
in the affairs of his community and lie has held numerous offices
in the city government. For twenty years he served on the
Council as Alderman and for two terms, in 1897 and 1898, he
was Mayor of the city. He is also Director in the City Bank,
President of the Board of Trade, Director of the Manufacturers'
Club and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Besides having always been in the grain and elevator business Mr. Waters has always been interested in farming. He is a
practical farmer and thoroughly understands the tilling of the
soil.
In February, 1910, Mr. Waters married Miss Ruth Handy of
Hastings, who has always fully entered into his ideas of community and civic betterment.
Mr. Waters' ideas on attaining success are interesting and
well worth while. Industry, choosing a congenial occupation and
then pushing that occupation without vacillation are, lie believes,
the essential elements of success.
Luke Waters has always been a square, straightforward citizen. He has attained success by his own efforts and by his own
zeal. He has been public spirited and has the respect and good
wishes of his fellow citizens.
JOHN WEISSERT
John Weissert, one of the first German residents of Hastings,
was born in Freudenstadt, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on
October 11, 1828. Left fatherless while very young, John went
to work to help support himself, his mother and a young halfbrother. When 14 years old, he apprenticed himself to a tinsmith




246


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


for a term of three years. In those days it was the custom in
Germany for every graduate apprentice to start out and gain
worldly knowledge by working his way from town to town. This
was called the "handwerksbusch." As soon as he had learned his
trade, John left his native town in the heart of the Black Forest
and worked his way through Wurtemberg and Northern Switzerland. He battled with the world until he was 21 years old. Then
he enlisted in the German army, for he came from a military
family whose members had served under Napoleon in Eastern
Europe, his uncle, General von Reicllstadt, having won distinction
in service in Austria. He gained a good knowledge of drilling
and also became a sharpshooter. While stationed at the barracks
in Stuttgart, the capital of the kingdom, lie met and married Fredericka  Handel, of the    family  of Handel the    musician,
who resided in the ancient town of Leonberg, romantically located in the hills a few  miles west of the city.  It
was here that their son, Charles G. Weissert, was born on March
26, 1852. Times were turbulent, and the young soldier decided to
try his fortunes in the United States. He arrived in New York
City late in 1853, and worked at his trade until lie had saved
enough money to bring his family to this country. After working
a year in Philadelphia, lie took his family to Herkimer, N. Y.
Later they joined the tide of westward emigration and arrived in
Hastings in 1855. He worked at his trade until 1859, when lie
moved to Ohio, but lie returned to Hastings six months later.
The second son, John Weissert, was born on August 13, 1860.
Whien the war spirit preceding the rebellion broke out, some
of the residents organized themselves into the "Barry County
Zouaves," and John Weissert drilled them in the upper story of
the old court house and on the lawn. Giving his commands in
broken English that often caused amusing mistakes, which he enjoyed as much as any of his men, lie drilled the volunteers after
the German methods. In the fall of 1862, lie enlisted in Company
C, First Regiment of Michigan Engineers and Meclanics. A few
weeks afterward he was slightly wounded in the battle of Perryville, Ky., a bullet striking him in the hand as lie raised his musket. His true soldierly traits, strict adherence to discipline and
faithful performance of duty won the regard of the officers, while
his unchanging cheerfulness in the face of extreme hardship made




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


247


IL


JOHN WEISSERT








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


249


him a great favorite with his comrades. When Governor Blair
visited the camps at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Col. Innes of the First
Engineers placed John on sentinel duty one night and had him
challenge the party until the password was given, in order to show
the governor what a faithful soldier he had. John was a companionable man and was in demand at officers' social gatherings.
He was made a corporal, and afterward refused further promotion. In 1864 lie returned to Hastings and enlisted a number of
recruits. He was mustered out of service with his regiment in
Washington, D. C., on January 18, 1865. Returning home, he
worked at his trade until he established a hardware business of
his own in 1870. He taught his trade to his two sons. In 1877,
he and his older son, Charles, went into partnership.
After a brief illness of inflammatory rheumatism which resulted from his service in the army, John Weissert died on September 27, 1883. His son, John, then entered the business now
conducted by Weissert Brothers.
Jolln Weissert was known tlroughout the county as "Honest
John."  He was noted for his kindness, his courtesy, his clean
character, his devotion to his friends, his hoslitality in his home,
his absolute squareness in business dealings, and his spirit of liberality whicll amounted almost to a fault. He was unceasingly
industrious, and thought notling of walking a dozen or a score of
miles to do work. When new arrivals in the county appeared in
his store without a cent with whiichl to pay for whlat they wanted
to purchase, John unhesitatingly "trusted" them, for he believed
everyone as honest as himself. "Take it along, I know you will
pay," lie said. Unreliable persons seeing that honesty was unquestioned, seldom failed to p)ay their debts. Many who afterwards prospered, lhad him to thank for assistance.
John Weissert was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and he believed in that grand principle, "Do right, and
fear naught."  He became widely acquainted. He served with
marked ability on the Board of Education. His popularity was
proved by the great attendance at his funeral, which was the
largest ever held in Barry County, people coming miles to pay
their last respects. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, a
charter member of the Hastings Arbeiter Verein and of Fitzgerald Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His widow died on
March 6, 1901.




250   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


MILO THATCHER WHEELER
Milo Thatcher Wheeler was born in tile township of Wheeler,
Steuben County, New York, February 6th, 1821. He was the
third in a family of nine sons and two daughters, children of Asa
and Henrietta Wheeler, wlho were among the first settlers in the
township of Woodland, having moved there in the year 1842.
He was elected Supervisor of tlat township in 1819, which office
lie held for fifteen of the next twenty years.
In 1864 lie was appointed postmaster at Woodland Center,
which position lie retained until December, 1870, when lie moved
to Hastings to assume the duties of County Treasurer. He was
twice re-elected to this office, which he filled witl credit to himself and the satisfaction of all. He was a member of tlhe Board
of Education for nearly all of tlle time of his residence in the city.
Iuring tlhe thirty years over which his official record extends
not a stain attached to his name. In all his business relations
he was characterized by an unswerving honesty and fidelity which,
togetler with his genial good humor and obliging disposition, won
him  many friends among those wlho knew    him only in this
capacity. As friend and neighbor lie was universally loved and
respected. He was an official member of thle Methodist Episcopal
church in Hastings at the time of his deatl, December 8th, 1878.
He was married October 2htlh, 18-47, to Amanda Haigllt, daughter
of Reuben and Sally Ann Haigit, wllo hlad brougllt their young
family to tile township of Odessa, in Ionia County, in 1810. Mrs.
Wheeler was born in Steuben County, New York, I)ecember 4th,
1828. After tlieir marriage they went to live on Mr. Wheeler's
farm in Woodland townsllip, wilere their four cllildren were born.
The only son, Tlieron P., died at the age of two years.
The tlree daughters who survived tlhe fatlher and mother
are: Frances, wife of Judge Clement Smitl of tlle Fiftl Judicial
Circuit; Rosella Belle, wife of Marshall I. Cook, editor of tlle
Hastings Banner, and Stella A., wife of Colonel A. I). Kniskern,
at this writing stationed at Manila, P. I.
Her home during the days of the Civil War was the gathering
place of those who waited for the mail to come from Hastings
on horseback, bearing tidings from tlhe front and for the "war
widows" who came to her husband, as supervisor, having the disbursement of the monthly allowance paid toward tleir support by




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


251


MR. AND MRS. MILO T. WHEELER
From a daguerreotype








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


253


the township. Her's was the office of comforter to many a lonely
wife and mother, and to many a stricken one when the news of a
battle arrived.
Mrs. Wheeler was always interested in public affairs and
patriotic, as only those can be who have sacrificed much for
their country. She had three brothers in the war, two of whom
fill unknown graves in the Southland. She was a leader in the
Soldiers' Aid Societies in Woodland, and after coming to Hastings,
a charter member of the Women's Relief Corps. She came of
Revolutionary stock and was a member of the original society
organized for the preservation of Mt. Vernon. She was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years, at the
time of her death, which occurred in Hastings, August 25th, 1909.
HENRY OSCAR YOUNG
The oldest resident of Hastings in point of continuous residence is Oscar Young. He has lived in Hastings over 71 years.
Born in Battle Creek July 1, 18.0, he was brought to Hastings in
October, 18-1, when his father, Vespasian Young, moved to Hastings and engaged in business as a merchant, carrying on his business until his death in 1848 in a store building which lie erected
west of where the National Bank now stands.
Tile fatller was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, April 7,
1807, and came to Michigan in 1833, settling in Battle Creek.
With him came his wife, Agnes Bishop Smith Young, who had
been born in Peebles, Scotland, November 2, 1811, and had come
in 1820 with ler family to Pennsylvania, where she met Vespasian Young and married him. Tile trip which the young
couple made to Michigan was a slow one. From Pennsylvania
they came by wagon to Ithaca, New York. From Ithaca they
went by canal to Buffalo and from that city they took a steamboat to Detroit. The last part of the journey from Detroit to
Battle Creek was by wagon.
Vespasian Young was a blacksmitl by trade, but he also
made gloves and mittens of buckskin. At times also lie would
buy up a sheep or a beef critter and kill the animal and sell the
meat to his neighbors. This was before he began keeping store.
Eventually lie became a fur buyer, selling to the two great fur
dealers, Godfrey and Campau. It is said that the Thornapple




254   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


river was at times filled with canoes of Indians carrying furs.
Vespasian Young also studied law and would have been admitted
to the bar at the term of court immediately following his decease.
Oscar Young was only a little over a year old when the family came to Hastings, so he has been a resident of Hastings practically all his life and his earliest recollections are of Hastings
scenes. His first teacher was J. W. T. Orr and the sclool house
was located on what is now the city market place, east of Mrs.
Hannah Barlow's residence. This same building was later moved
to where Emil Tyden's home now is. At the time Mr. Young
attended school the total number of pupils hardly exceeded 30.
Bedford and George McLellan were lis schoolmates, as was also
John Fuller. An interesting side light on early sclool affairs in
Hastings is afforded by the fact that in 1845, when Vespasian
Young was school Director, his report stated that tlere were 47
pupils enrolled in the district and that Hugh Jennings, Phoebe
Hays and Mary J. West were the teachers, to wlom for six months
and a half of teaching an aggregate of $18 in wages had been
paid.
In 1860 Oscar Young began to learn the carpentering trade
with W. I. F. Hams, and worked at that until August, 1862, when
lie responded to the call to arms and enlisted in the cause of his
country in Company C, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics,
for three years. He was mustered September 8, 1862, and on tile
first day of the following year was made a corporal. February 1,
1864, lie was made a sergeant. He was discharged at Washlington June 6, 1865, having been in the battles of Perryville, Ky.,
Lavergne, Tenn., Brown's Ferry, Tenn., and Bentonville, N. C.
Mr. Young was with Sherman on his march to the sea and endured with his company the hardships of that long and bloody
march.
After the war Mr. Young returned to Hastings and went
again to work at his trade, and in 1866 married Miss Annie Elizabeth Hams, daughter of W. I. F. Hams, from wlom lie learned
his trade.
To Mr. and Mrs. Young were born four children, Agnes,
Clarence, William and Ralph, of whom William and Clarence are
still living. Clarence is living at Allegan, and is now serving his
third term as Mayor of that city. He is a dentist by profession




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


255


H. 0. YOUNG








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


257


but is also interested in numerous business and manufacturing
interests. William is the proprietor of a grocery store at Bellevue
and has one daughter, I)agmar, who is now studying music in
Paris. Mrs. William Young was Miss Belle Stanley of Hastings.
In 1867 Mr. Young built his present residence on West Green
street, moving in in November. At that time there were no
othler llouses near by but those of W. I. F. Hams and James Dunning. In 1869 I). R. Cook built what is now the Stem residence
at the west end of Green street.
Mr. Young has always been a man wlho llas merited and received tlhe respect of his fellow citizens. He has been industrious,
honest and honorable and has been ever ready to do his duty as
lie has seen it.
Mr. Young llas one sister and two brothers still living. Tley
are Mrs. _Mary Geer of Hastings, Andrew Young of Claremont,
Soutli Dakota, and W. I. Young of Grand Rapids. These witli
Mr. Young are tlle survivors of a family of nine brotllers and
sisters. six of whom lived to maturity. The mother died in 1882.
In concluding this article we wish to call attention to the
article by Chas. Weissert, Jr., wliiclh has been incorporated into
the narrative portion of this volume. Tlis article is entitled,
"When tile Circus Came to Yankee Springs", and was written
from facts furnished by Mr. Young. This article will give much
interesting information tllat a formal biograplly could not hope
to tell.
THE HASTINGS NATIONAL BANK
Tlhe oldest banking institution in Barry County is tile Hastings National Bank. It is also the only National Bank in the
county and ranks first in point of deposits. The Hastings National Bank has never failed to meet every single demand upon
it no matter wliat may have been the financial conditions in the
country at large, and in consequence of this long record of absolute reliability it is universally recognized as a splendid example
of wliat a substantial, conservative bank should be.
The present bank had its origin in 1856 when William H.
Skinner, of Battle Creek, opened a private bank in Hastings in
the Alvin W. Bailey building, where Herman Bessmer's meat
market now is. Soon after, Mr. Skinner sold his bank to Henry




258   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


A. Goodyear, who moved it witl his dry goods business, to where
the Grigsby shoe store is at present located. Mr. Goodyear utilized the west window of his business place for the bank and
employed John S. Van Brunt to help him in tile banking business.
In the fall of 1859, J. S. Goodyear bought the dry goods
business of Henry A. Goodyear, who tlen built a one-story
wooden store building where Pearson's grocery store is now and
started in the hardware business, also continuing in the banking
business and installing the bank in a wing running west from
his residence, which stood on the site of the present bank building. This wing, which was about 23 feet long, was about 25 feet
back from the street and opened by a door into the lardware
store. George Goodyear acted as his father's cashier.
In 1867 the bank was purchased by A. J. Bowne and F. N.
Galloway, who conducted it under tile firm name of Bowne &
Galloway. For some time previous to this purclhase, Bowne and
Galloway Iad conducted a bank in Hastings, tlieir bank lhaving
been started by Mr. Galloway, wlio was soon after joined in the
enterprise by Mr. Bowne. Mir. Galloway I1ad started lis bank in
tle building now occupied by tlle Bessmer jewelry store, and liere
Bowne & Galloway continued tlieir banking business after buying Mr. Goodyear's bank. In 1870, Bowne & Galloway erected
tlie present splendid bank building on tlhe northwest corner of
Main and Jefferson streets.
It was in this same year tliat tlhe Bowne & Galloway bankl
was organized as a National Bank. At tle organization. November 11, 1870, the first stockholders and organizers were A. J.
Bowne, IR. W. ightman, George E. Goodyear, I,. I). Gardner,
I)aniel B. Pratt, I)avid R. Cook, Timotly P. Jollnson, James A.
Sweezey and Fred N. Galloway. Tlie first officers were A. J.
Bowne, President; L. I). Gardner, Vice-President; F. N. Galloway, Cashier; George E. Goodyear, Teller. Tlle first Board of
Directors was composed as follows: A. J. Bowne, I). R. Cook,
James A. Sweezey, I). B. Pratt, RI. B. Wightman, F. N. Galloway
and I. 1). Gardner. Not one of the above named gentlemen is
now living.
A. J. Bowne served as President of tlle bank until his death
June 7, 1896. Daniel Striker, wlio hiad been a I)irector since
Marcl 29, 1873, and Vice-President since January 8, 1878, then




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


259


i


HASTINGS NATIONAL BANK








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


261


succeeded to tile Presidency and continued in that position until
his death, April 12, 1898. J. T. Lombard was then elected President and served until January, 1911, when he was succeeded by
Judge Clement Smith, the present incumbent.
There have been certain changes in other of the bank officials
wlich should also be noted. J. F. Goodyear was elected a Director January 12, 1886, and Vice-President, April 20, 1898, both of
whicl offices lie still fills. George E. Goodyear was elected
Cashier when F. N. Galloway resigned, November 10, 1871, and
served until his death August 11, 1884, wlen W. I). Hayes was
elected I)irector and Cashier to succeed him and has served continuously since. Harry G. Hayes has been in the employ of the
bank since 1886 and lias been Assistant Cashier since January,
1899.
The first cllarter, whlicll was issued for twenty years in November, 1870, was renewed for twenty years in November, 1890,
and again renewed for twenty years in November, 1910. The
bank's capital is $50,000 and it has a surplus of the same amount,
with undivided profits of $26,000. The institution has deposits
of $565,000 and resources of $750,000.
The present directors are Clement Smith, John F. Goodyear,
W. I). Hayes, J. T. Lombard, F. D. Pratt and W. H. Chase. The
present officers are Clement Smith, President; John F. Goodyear,
Vice-President; WV. I). Hayes, Cashier, and Harry G. Hayes,
Assistant Casllier.
Besides commercial and savings departments which are
patronized widely by a public which gives its entire confidence
to this solid institution, the Hastings National Bank is also the
United States government depository for postal savings in this
city.
The banking offices are handsome, modern and up-to-date
in every respect and the bank is in a splendid position to take
care of its large and growing business.
The Hastings National Bank is an institution of which not
only its officers, directors and stockholders should be proud, but
also the entire county should share in this same feeling. Its unbroken record of over 56 years in this community certainly warrants and secures the most implicit confidence.




262   HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


THE UNION BLOCK AND LOPPENTHIEN'S
In 1866 a three-story brick building was erected in Hastings
at the southwest corner of Main and Jefferson streets. It was the
first brick business building in Hastings, if not in the entire
county, and was called the Union Block because there was a union
of effort to erect it, three different business interests uniting in
building the block. Tile men who were behind the erection of
the block were W. S. Goodyear and Nathan Barlow, of the firm


THE UNION BLOCK


of Goodyear & Barlow; 1). G. Robilnson and R. B. Wiglltman, of
the firm of Robinson & W\ighltman; and I. A. Holbrook, attorney.
Tile building extended for three fronts along Main street, making
three fine store buildings on the ground floor. Goodyear and
Barlow owned the east tlird of the building and utilized the store
on the ground floor for their stock of dry goods. Tlie middle third
fell to Robinson & Wightman, who used it for a l:ardware store,
while the west portion of tle block was Mr. Hollbrook's share.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


263


Tile greater part of the second floor was used for offices, while
the east two-thirds of the third floor was given up to what was
known as Union Hall, and here for many years theatrical entertainments, social gatllerings and dances were held. On the third
floor in MIr. Holbrook's part of the building was located the
Masonic lodge room. January 13, 1893, the scenery on the stage
of Union Hall caught fire, and the result was that the building was
badly damaged. It was soon rebuilt, but since then the west third
has hardly been considered as a part of tile Union Block.
Today the first story and the rear half of the second floor
of the rebuilt Union Block is occupied by the Loppenthien Company, of which Richard Loppenthien is president and general
manager and James Harrison Race is secretary-treasurer.  Mr.
Loppentllien came to Hastings in 1910 when his company bought
out Wright Brothers, who had previously conducted the same
sort of a business at the same location. Mr. Race came to Hastings in Febriury, 1912, associating himself wit Mr. Loppenthien
at that time.
The Lop)pentliien Company conduct a general department
store, carrying tile different lines generally displayed by an up-todate store of this sort, including a splendid grocery department.
Since taking possession of the store the Loppenthien Company
have more tllhan doubled tleir stock and it is no longer necessary
to go to larger centers to secure anything desired in the lines
handled by this company. Consequently the business has grown
steadily and there is every reason to believe that the company's
ambition to occupy the entire building will eventually be realized.
The store as it is today is equipped in a most modern manner.
Everything has been done to make it possible to give the very best
of service to the company's steadily growing trade and the
entire community slould be proud to have such an enterprising
firm in its midst.
GRAND RAPIDS BOOKCASE AND CHAIR COMPANY
Located in the City of Hastings are a number of manufacturing enterlrises which contribute largely to the city's industrial
relputation. Foremost among these is the Grand Rapids Bookcase
and Cllair Company, which manufactures a very comprehensive




264


HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


line of furniture for tile dining room, living room, library, den and
bedroom.
This concern is a consolidation of the Grand Rapids Bookcase Company and the Barber Bros.' Chair Company.       The
Grand Rapids Bookcase Company was organized in 1901 and the
first officers were John Seliler of Grand Rapids, president; A. A.
Barber of Grand Rapids, vice president; Kellar Stem of Hastings,
secretary; and F. E. Brown of Grand Rapids, treasurer.  Tlle
Barber Bros.' Chair Company was organized in 1903, tle factory
being built just east of the Grand Rapids Bookcase Company's
plant. The original officers of this concern were A. A. Barber of
Grand Rapids, president and treasurer; John W\. Shank of Grand
Rapids, vice president; and J. C. Barber of Hastings, secretary.
The interests of these two concerns were very closely allied
and in 1910 it was considered expedient to form aI consolidation
under tle name of Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chatir Company.
Mr. A. A. Barber of Grand Rapids became president of the new
concern; the late Henry J. Heystek of Grand Rapids, vice
president; and Kellar Stem of Hastings, secretary and treasurer.
Since its organization in 1901 the Grand Rapids Bookcase
and Clair Company has enjoyed a steady growth, increasing from
a floor space of seventy-five tlousand square feet and an output of
seventy-five thousand dollars per year to a concern lhaving a floor
space of four acres and an output of one-half mnillion.  Their
furniture is recognized all over the United States under the copyrighted trade-mark, "Lifetime Furniture", and the City of Hastings slould be proud of the fact that tlere is no better nor more
favorably known line in the country.
The factory is equipped with the most modern and up-to-date
woodworking machinery and each machine is run by an individual
electric motor. All power used is manufactured by the company's
own power plant maintained on the premises, as is also the electric
current for lighting. The company also pumps its own water
and has installed for its immediate use an improved underwriter's
fire pump capable of pumping 90,000 gallons of water per hour,
or over 2,000,000 gallons per day.
The plant is equipped with the most improved system of fire
protection, namely, a sprinkler system whicl consists of a network of pipes arranged at the ceiling of eacl floor in such a man



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Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair C.OO.








HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY


267


ner that there is a head or valve every ten feet eacl way capable
of throwing fifteen gallons of water per minute. In other words,
every 100 square feet of floor space in the immediate vicinity of
a fire would receive sixty gallons of water per minute.
The Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Company does a
wlolesale business only and is under tile active management of
Kellar Stem. It is on a sound financial basis and credit is due to
logical, clean, progressive metllods and the co-operative policy of
the management for its success.
THE HASTINGS TABLE COMPANY
The hlistory of the Hastings Table Company as a successful
institution is to a great extent involved with the personality of
Emil Tyden, its vice-president and manager, althougl, of course,
many others llave contributed much toward putting the company
in its present enviable position.
Before Mr. Tvden became interested in the manuafcture of
extension tables an extension table was an extension table and
nothing else. It had no distinctive character. The now very
popular pedestal or single leg idea could not be applied, for when
a table was extended the pedestal was divided and when the table
was closed tlle pedestal sagged and left an unsightly gap. Mr.
Tyden invented the Tyden Pedestal Lock and this difficulty was
overcome. As a result of this invention tle pedestal table became
instantly pol)ular.
Mr. Tyden then invented anotler locking device for locking
in tlree leaves without opening tile pedestal, although tile feature
of the pedestal lock was still retained and used when it was desired
to extend the table to a greater width than tlle tlree leaves
permitted.
Mr. Tyden also invented the steel dowel pin to take the place
of tile wooden pins which liad heretofore been used in table leaves.
Together witl a sloping groove to guide tlle pin, the steel dowel
pin obviated mucl difficulty in fitting leaves togetller.
A  concealed nut and bolt construction, invented by Mr.
Tyden, was tile next step in perfecting the mechanical construction of the extension table. But Mr. Tyden was not content with
this and lie has added two new features which sllould make the
extension table almost perfect. Tlese are the steel bearing table




268       HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY
slide and the removable table top. By this latter device both
halves of a table can be taken off and removed if it is desired, for
the purpose of getting at rugs, etc., on the floor under the table.
All these inventions have made the extension table practically
perfect mechanically and now the desire of the factory management is to perfect a selling force which will sell the perfected table
"From the inside out", a desire which is being rapidly and successfully realized.
Besides the Table Company, Mr. Tyden is also interested in
the following Hastings manufacturing institutions:  The Hastings Cabinet Company, International Seal and Lock Company and
the Consolidated Press and Tool Company.
When Mr. Tyden became identified with the Table Company,
it employed about 50 hands. Now it employs about 125 hands
and has also trebled as to size of plant in the same period.




HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY       26


269


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4




onIs,, r at o r's Report.
Bent ley Historic al1 ibirary
Title:  History of Barry County - Potter
Received:  Book bound in case-style binding.   Cover was of
cloth.  Binding had been repaired previously.   Cover was.
free. Headbands were loose. Book was Smythle sewn. Sew in
was broken.  Paper was ir good condition.   Boards were of
solid binder's board. Repairs had been made wit.h gummod
holland tape.
Treat-mei.t;. Picked book to pieces.  Added new dolJble-fll i(i
endsheets.  Sewed all al,,ng over cloth tapes.  Added nIw
machine-woven headbands.   Lined the spine.  Rebound in new
cover of full cloth.
Uaterials.: Jade #834-403N PVA adhesive.   Barbours l ii.,n
thread.  Linen tape.  PROMATCO heavy-duty,nddsheet p)!p'r.
Machine-woven headbands.   Backing flannel. Davey "Hed
Label" binder's board.   'yr,-xyill-limpregnated cotton tryt
cloth. 23K gold.
iate work        jd.    g.-J Y!997
Signed: tsA. /"        n