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A TWENTIETH CENTURY
History and Biographical Record
Branch County, Michigan.
REV. HENRY P. COLLIN, M. A.
AUTHOR AND EDITOR.
ILLUSTRATED.
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
NKW YORK :; CHICAGO
1906
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PREFACE.
The purpose of a preface is generally only to supplement the introductory chapters. In the introductory chapter of this hook the aim and character of it as planned in the minds of the makers were set forth.
The editor and publishers have done their best to make their work what they promised it should be, and they have given no small amount of labor and money to realize their plans. The editor believes that the volume fairly fulfills the promises made, and approximates the ideal of a twentieth century history and biographical record. It is thought that the work will be one of value and interest to all former, present and future residents of the county of Branch.
In the execution of every work, however, men find themselves sub- ject always to certain limitations of space, time and abilit}'. Generally no one becomes so conscious of how much more might have been done in - ■ the doing of any work, and how much better it might have l^een done, than he who has gone through with it. The editor is very sure that no one will see as much that seems to be omitted, or so much lack of due propor- tion as he. But at the same time he feels that he may reasonably assume that no one can judge as well \vhat to omit where much must be omitted, as one who has gone over ' the entire field, and has seeri the variety of sub- jects and the immense amount of matter contained within it.
The writer of a local history is necessarily dependent to a large degree uiwn other persons for material and for co-operation. It is a pleasure for the editor to record here, on the one hand, the kindly willingness of the people of the county to furnish material, and, on the other hand, the gen- erous co-operation of the publishers in affording ways and means to bring the material together and to assist in putting into form. In this mention of co-operation on the part of the publishers, special acknowledgment must be made of the assistance rendered by the general historian of The Lewis Publishing Company. To him credit must be given for a large part of the work of preparing the general history for the press, in the gathering o£ material, in working out the details of arrangement, and also m the actual composition of copy. . . , , , . , . .
It is proper as a matter of historical record that mention be made of those to whom the editor has been specially indebted for information and assistance. The most fruitful sources of historical data are, of course, the county papers. Mr. Charles H. Newell, the proprietor of the Coldwater Conner, has a file of county papers in the Courier office, of earlier date and more nearly continuous than any other file or collection- in the county. Mr.
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iv PREFACE
Newell has given us free access to these files, which begin with 1841. The like courtesy has been shown us by Mr. Horace Kitchel of The Reporter, Mr. John S. Evans of The Sim and Th^ Star, m CoMwater, by Mr. C. W. Owen of the Quincy Herald. Mr. C. H.- Young of the Quincy Neivs, Mr. A. D. Shaffmaster of the Bronson Journal, Mr. Will L. Robinson of the Union City Register-Weekly, and Mr. Easton of the Sherwood Register.
The official records of the county officers in the court house are in some respects more valuable than newspaper files. To Mr. Henry E. Straight, county clerk, Mr. Charles F. Carpenter, register of deeds, Mr. Hiram Ben- nett, county treasurer, Mr. W. Gienn Cowell, prosecuting attorney,- Mr. Charles Hamilton, county surveyor, Mr. James Swain, county commis- sioner of schools, and Mr. Daniel E. Weage, county drain commissioner, we are indebted, not only for access to records in their charge, but also for favors shown otherwise than as county officials. The officers of the city of Coldwater and of the several villages and townships of the covmty, have generally been willing to furnish any data desired. To Mr, Calvin J. Thorpe, secretary of the Pioneer Society of Branch County, Mr. Horris Wilson of the Quincy Pioneer Society, and Miss Florence M. Holmes, librarian of the Coldwater Free Public Library, our acknowledgilients are due for kind- ness in furthering our quest for historic facts. It would be impracticable to mention the names of the many men and women in all parts of the county, from whom information has been received that has been incorporated in this volume. To all these the editor, on his own behalf and on that of The Lewis Publishing Company as well, takes this opportunity to express sincere thanks.
It is proper that we further mention that Mr. Fred G. Wahl, Mr. Henrv C. Bailey and Mr. Tom L. Robinson have assisted in writing up some of the subjects of the genera! history. Mrs. Jennie C. Donley of Coldwater took the photographic views from which nearly all the illustrations in the history have been made.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. The County as a Subject of History I
CHAPTER H. The Creation and Survey of the Coimty f)
CHAPTER HI. Topographical Features of Branch County — The Drainage System.. i6
CHAPTER IV. The Indiairs and the Early Settlers' Life With Tliem. 24
CHAPTER V. Xumljer, Nature and Distribution of the County's People 28
CHAPTER VI. Routes of Inrinigratioir 33
CHAPTER VII. Forniation o£ Townships 38
CHAPTER VIII. Settlement and Beginnings > 41
CHAPTER IX. Settlement and Beginnings (Coutimied) 49
CHAI'TER X. County Seat Contest 60
CHAPTER XI.
Settlelnent and Beginnings (Continued) 65
CHAPTER XII. Settlement and Beginnings (Continued) 78
CHAPTER XIII. The City of Coldwater 93
CHAPTER XIV. Branch Cotmty's Villages 98
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vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER XV. The Agricultlira} Industry — The Grange Io8
CHAPTER XVL Mannfacturing in Branch County Il6
CHAPTER XVII.
Branch County's Banks and Einance 124
CHAPTER XVIH. Railroads, Transportation and Communication 129
CHAPTER XIX. The County's Newspapers 138
CHAPTER XX. Education 148
CHAPTER XXI. Education ( Continued) 157
CH.APTER XXII. The State Public School — Branch County Infirmary 175
CHAPTER XXIII. Libraries — Activity in Literature, Music, .Art 181
CHAPTER XXIV. Religion and Cliurch Organizations 190
CHAPTER XXV. Political History of Branch County 210
CHAPTER XXVI. Courts and Lawyers 214
CHAPTER XXVII. The Medical Profession 221
CHAPTER XXVIII. Fraternities and Clubs 237
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Pioneer Society — Pioneer Record 2^8
CHAPTER XXX.
The County in the Cottntry's Wars 256
Lists of County. Township and Village Oihcials 297
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INDEX.
Abel, Moses T.— 768.
Adams, Wales.— quoted, 42 ; sawmill, 43 ; 2io-
Adolph, Willard.— 828.
Agriculture. — 108-113; effects of drainage.
Agricultural Society.— Branch county, 115.
Air Line R. R.— 132; 78; g8.
Aldrich, Abram.— 75; 80.
Aldrich, Abram J.— 141 ; 143 ; 186 ; 674,
Algansee township. — 39; settlement of, 8?-88; officials of, 300.
Alger, Isaac P. — 94; 223.
Allen, Alonzo B. — 374.
Allen, D, C & Co.— 96.
Alumni— of Coldwaler High School, 160-164; of Quincy High School, 165-167; of Union City High School, 169-171; of Bronson High School, 172-173; of Shei-wood High School, 174.
Ancient Order of United Workmen — 228; 230.
Anderson, J. H.— 829.
Anderson, Mrs. Hattie.~5i6.
Andrews, William L.— 188.
Andrus, Nelson H. — 512.
Ann Arbor convention. — 13.
Arnold, Samuel — 73; Arnold's Corners, 73.
Art — Activity in, 184.
Austin, Edmund.— 473.
A utom obiles. — 1 36.
Bailey, H. F. — 141.
Bailey, Willis €.—143; 144; 186.
Baker, Joshua.— 85.
Baldwin, Newton. — 224,
Ball Bros.— 96.
Banford, J. J.— ^52.
Banking and Finance. — 124-128.
Baptist churches— 196 et seq. ; at Coidwater, 196; Quincy, 197; Algansee, 198; Un- ion City, 198; Bronson, ig8; Girard, 199; Kinderhoofc, igg.
Bar Association of Branch County.— 220.
Barber, Julius S.— 94; 125; 335.
Barlow, Henry H.— ai8; 579.
Barnes, Walton J.— 714.
Barnhart, Martin, ^75.
Bassett, John. — 41 ; 47.
Bassett, L. M. & Son.— 96.
Batavia township.— 39 ; early settlement, 46; population in 1837, 46 ; topography, 47 ; first officials, 48; officials of, 301.
Bater, Samuel.— 471.
Bates, Edwin R.— 331-
Bates, Julius M.— 455-
Battery A.— 284-286.
Beech, John _H.— 223; 450.
Beardsley, Ezra E. — 771.
Beers, Calvin.— 476.
Belote, John S.— 37-
Bennett, Charles W.— 145; 187; 390-
Bennett, Hiram.— 121,
Bennett, Ida D.— 187-
Bennett, Isaac — 464.
Bennett, Isaiah W.— 79.
Bennett, James K.— 83.
Bennie. James.— 46; 72; 73.
Benton, C. P.— 214; 186; 210.
Berry, Enos G. — 67; loi ; 221.
Berry, Eira,— 67; 218.
Berry, Joseph.— 67; 101.
Berry, Samuel H.— 37; 67-
Bethel township.— 40 ; early settlement, 44; early roads, 44; topography, 45; pop- ulation in 1837, 45; Snow Prairie set- tlement, 45; first officials, 46; officials of. 303.
Bidelman, Horatio N.— 640.
Black Hawk Mill.— 51 ; S3-
Blackman, Edsou. — 224; 603-
Blackman, J- Morehouse,— 626-
Blackwell, George W.— 535-
Blake, John R.— 491-
Bicycles.— 136.
Bingham, Lemuel, blacksmith.^so.
Bolfon \ F— 50 54
Booth familj of Gilead — 72.
Bostwick, E E— 088
Buundarie'; — Of Branch county, i; southern boundary history of, 1 1 following ; northern bomidary of Indiana, 11; northern boundary of Ohio, 12; south- ern boundarv delays statehood for Michigan, 13, survey of southern boundary when begun, 14; latitude of southern boundary, 14 ; Harris line, li Hendricks line, 14.
Bow en Jerome ^217
Bon en Jerome K— 146
Bow en M S— 218
Bowen, Willard J— 141; 217.
Bowers L. M,— 625.
Boynton, Stanley W.— 458.
Bradley. Howard,— 86.
Brainard, E. S. E.— 87.
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Branch county — Subject of history, i; creat- ed and bounded, i ; population, 2 ; 28- 32; objects of hi5tory of, 4; creation and survey of, 6-15; Territorial Act creating, I, 8 ; topography, 16-20 ; drainage, 20-23; Indians of, 24-37.
Branch Count v Savings Bank,— 126.
Branch, J. B.^96; 559.
Branch village — History of, 51-54; laid out by Elisha Warren, 52.
Bray, Byron W.— SOS-
Brinton, Albert N,— 447.
Bronson, Jabe.— 3; first settler, 41; 103; 108.
Bronson, original name of Kalamazoo.— 103.
Bronson Prairie. — 41 ; settlers in 1830, 42.
Bronson township. — 40; first settlement, 41; population in 1837, 44; first schools, 151.
Bronson viilage,^ — Nucleus of, 43; history of, 103-106; manufacturing, 116 et seq. ; schools, 171 et seq; library, 181 ; churches, 190 et seq. ; officials of, 304.
Brooks. Loren R.— 500.
Broughton, John.— 68; loi.
Brown, Alva ra do .—^37.
Brown, Asahei.— 87 ; 432.
Brown, Elisha J.— 533.
Brown, J. Wesley. — 434.
Buell family — In Union township, 80.
Buell. Geo. W.— loi.
Buell, Martin F.— loi ; 486.
Buell, Perry J.— 850.
Burdick, Geo. E.— 179; 586.
Burdick, James M.— 37; 68.
Burlingame, Joel and Anson. — 53.
Burnett, Charles L.— 766.
Burnett, Leander S. — 548.
Burrows, Arthur. — 748.
Burton, George A. — 582.
Bushnell, William B,— 624,
Business. — Firms at Coldwater, 95-97; at Union City, 100- loi ; at Quincy, 103; at Bronson, 106.
Butler township.^40 ; settlement of, 76-77; pioneers, 77; officials, 305.
Cahfomia township — 39; settlement of. ()0-
92; officials of, 306. California village .^^1-92. Calkins B. H. & Son. Co.— 117. Calkins, Thomas N.^r39. Campbell, Hugh. — 54. Campbell, Milo D. — 56; 219; 386. Campbell, Oliver C— 212; 844, Campbell, William J.— 706. Canals— At Union City, 98 (see Erie Canal). Carey Mission. — 25, Carpenter, Charles F.— 328. Carter, George.— 588, Gary, Samuel H. — 48. Case. Almeron W.— -85. Cemen (^Manufacturers of, 120-123. Census Records-— 28-32; analysis of census
Chain Lake Channel Co, — 22.
Champion, Charles U,— 822.
Champion, John R.— 218; 821.
Chandler, Albert.— 94; 96; 140; 184.
Chanute Cement & Clay Product Co., Bron- son.— 123.
Chapman, Charles W. — 811.
Chase, Bishop Philander.^69 et seq. ; site of home, 71; 84; 109; 151.
Chase, Enoch. — 222.
Chase, H. H.— 100.
Chauucey, M. E. — 223.
Cherdavoine, Robert.— 785.
Chicago Road. — 34-36; 129; early condition of, 42; in Coldvtater tovunsliip, 50; and village of Branch, 53 ; Quincy town- ship, 65.
Chiesman. W. B.— 746.
Church, Edwin B. — 410.
Churches. — 190-209; (see Religion).
Circuit Court Commissioners — List of, 298- 299.
Circuit Coiirts. — 214.
Circuit Judges— List of, 297.
Civil War — Soldiers from Branch comity in, 258-296.
Clark family— In Bronson, 106.
Clark, Israel W.— 79.
Clark, Leonard C. — 105.
Clark, Leonard D. — 442.
Clark, Oliver J,— 676.
Clarke, Edwin R. — Store, 95 ; library, 95, 183, 735-
Clawson, John.^79.
Clerks— Township, lists of, 300-321.
Clerks—Village, lists of, 321-326.
Cleveland, Augustus A.-— 875.
Cleveland, George W. — 496.
Clizbe, S. H.^ — 224.
Clubs — Woman's, of Coldwater, 188; Twen- tieth Century, gf Coldwater, 188 ; Fortnightly Musical, 188 ; New Cen- tury, Quincy, 235 ; Columbian, Quincy. 236; Nika, Quincy, 236; Chautauqua Circle, 236; Woman's, Bronson, 236; Tuesday, Union City, 237.
Coddington, Frederick M.— 781.
Coldwater— History of, 93-97; origin of, 54 et seq.; first house, 55; platted by Tib- bits and Hanchett, 55; Dr. W. B. Sprague's History of, 56; citizens of 183s, 57 ; incorporated, 57 ; contests for county seat, 60 et seq.; schools, 151 et seq.; library, 182-184; churches, 190 et seq.; lawyers, 214-220; physicians,
Coldwater L ght G d —256.
Coldwater N t al B nk— 125.
Coldwater P —Vily not first settled,
49; I tl 54 109. Coldwater P land C m t Co.— 123.
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Cofdwater Public Library.— 182-184.
Coldwater River.— 18-19.
Coldwater Township.— 39 ; early settlement and growth, 49 et seq.
Cole, Archie W.— S4i-
Cole, George H.— 437-
Collin, Henry P.— 878.
"Company A." — 257.
Compulsory Education.— 156.
Conant, Sarah E.— 56; 452.
Congregational Churches. — 202 et seq. ; at Union City, 202; Algansee, 203; Gil- ead, 204; Bronson, 204.
Conklin, Charles P.— 456-
Conklin, Fred J— 526.
Conover, Charles A.— 96, 547.
Conover Engraving & Printing Co. — 118.
Conover, Jefferson S.— 186, 545.
Conover, William N.— 551.
Coombs.—Mills at Coldwater, 59.
Coombs, William A.— 621.
Coon Pen. — Name of building used for coun- ty and public purposes, 62.
■Copeland, Arthur G. — 503.
Corbin, Horace A. — 100.
Corbus, Family.— In Girard, 74.
Corbus, James G. — 36; 65.
Cornish, John. — First settler of Quincy vil- lage, 66; his tavern. 67.
Cotnwell, Charles T. — 414,
■Coroners — List of, 299.
Corson, John.— 83.
Corn-in, L. J.— 445-
County Clerks— List of, 297.
County Courts.— 214.
County School Commissioners — List of, 298.
County Seat.— First located, 51; at Hason- viile, 51; at Branch, 52; history of contest, 54; 60-62.
County Treasurers — List of, 298.
Courier, The Coldwater,— 141.
Court House. — First in county, 52; located at Coldwater, 61; history of, 62-64; names of building co -"-- ■^-
Courts and Lawyers. — 214-:
'Cox, Frank L. — 575.
Crater, Andrew.— 88.
Crater, Morris.— 88.
Crippen, L. 0,-37; 94; 124-
Crissy, Hiram.— 838.
Cross, Robert J.— 54.
Cross, William H.— 76.
Culp, John W.— 511,
Culver, Abiathar,— 83,
Culver, Oliver E.— 567.
Cunningham, Daniel 5,-224
Cutter, S. S,— 222-223,
Dall. Benedict,— 599, Daniels. Frank M,- Davis, Eber 7,-764. Davis, J, Harlan,— 830, Denham, Horace,— 438. Dexter, Thomas,— 799.
577-
Dickey, James K, — 711,
Dickey. James R,— 382.
Dimond. Isaac M, — 79.
Doolittle, Fred W,— 330.
Dorrance, Albert A,— 96; 426.
Dorrance, A, J,— -430.
Doubleday, Hiram.— -Ss.
Doubleday, Harvey M. — 356.
Douplas. Charles H,— 568.
Douglas, Jenny C— 568.
Drainage System, — 20-23; value of, 20; early methods, 2o; officials. 21; in different townships, 21-23; in Butler, 76,
Draper, OIney W.— 678-
Driggs, Alfred L, — 43 ; builds sawmill, 43,
Dry Prairie,— 8r.
Dufur, Ira,— 796,
Dunkards. — 207.
Dimks, F, J, — 430,
Dunlap, John,— 580,
Dunn, Polly A,— 650.
"Dutch Settlement."— 89,
East Gilead.— 73.
Easton, D. J.— 140; 146; 186,
Eaton, Franklin. — 474,
Eddy, Mary A,— 184,
Education — History of, 148-174. (See
Schools.) Eldred, Joseph G,— 858, Electric Railroads. — 133, Elizabeth Township. — 40; changed to Bethel,
40, Elting, Theron,~637, Engel, Eugene, — 837, Ensley, Homer, — 563. Ensley, Jacob. — 5&. Erie Canal.— When built, 33; importance to
Branch County settlement, 33 el pas-
Erie and Kalamazoo R. R, — 129. Etheridge, A. Munson,— 622, Etheridge, Kirkland 6,-372. Evangelical Lutheran Churches. — 205. Evans, John S.— 143; i44; 186; 86g. Evans, Thomas P. — 367. Ewers, Dr. H. F.— 132. Exchange Bank, Bronson, — 128. Exchange Bank of Crippen and Fisk,^i24.
Factories. (See Manufacturing,)
Farmers' Institute Society, Branch County. —
114-115, Farmers' Muiuai Insurance Co. — tz8. Farmers' National Bank of Union City,— 127. Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Sherwood,
—128, Farming, (See Agriculture.) Farrand, Joseph P. — 753 Fellows, Burt M.— 804. Fenner, Charles C, — 406, Fenner, Corydon M, — 498, Fet^uson, Benjamin R, — 873,
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Field Notes, Surveyors', — 7; first of Branch County, 7-9; original, where kept, 9; d^cribed, 10; copy of. II.
First National Bank of Quincy,— 127.
Fisk, A. C— 37.
Fisk, Clinton B.— 124,
Fisk, Samuel.— S73.
Flandermeyer, Herman H. — 96; 814.
Follett, Thaddeus.— 463,
Foote, Burnley.— 760.
Foresters, Independent Order of, — 231.
Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw R. R. — 132.
Foster, J. N. — 141.
Fox, Aaron O. — 594.
Fox, David,— 7g8.
Fox, John P.— 620.
Fraser, Robert. — 461.
Fraternities and Clubs.- 227-237.
Frederick, H. E.— 566.
Freeman, Isaac. — 45.
Free Methodist Churches. — 195.
Free Public Library of Bronson. — 181,
Free- Will or Free Baptist Churches. — 199
Friedrich, William H-, Co.— 119. Fry, Fred P.— 425. Fuller, E. G.— 139; 215.
Gamble, E. F.— 459.
Gardner, Amos M.^524,
Gardner Family, in Matteson,— 83.
Gardner, Samuel. — 361.
Gas Light and Fuel Co., Coldwater. — 119.
Gattschalk, William H.— 846.
Gazette, The Branch County.— 140,
Germans, hi Branch County. — 31.
Gilbert, H. C— 140
Gilead Township. — 40 ; Bishop Chase and, 69; early history, 69-73; population in 5837, 73; first schools, 151; officials of, 308.
Gillam, George F. — 104.
Girard Prairie. — 74,
Girard Township, — 39; early history, 73-76; pioneers of, 76; officials of, 309.
Globensky Bros .^120.
Gloyd, Cynthia. — 151.
Goodwin, Justus. — 79.
Goodwinsvtlle . — 79,
Gorman, Benjamin B.— 591.
Graduates. (See Alumni.)
Grand Army Posts.— 233-235.
Grange, The — History of, 113-114.
Granger, Adeline, — 514.
Graves, Henry A.— 103, 388.
Gray, Burr 0,-73,
Gray, Charles W. — 600.
Gray, John H.— 186.
Gray, J. M. — 466
Gray, Perry D.— 521.
Green, B. F. — 647.
Green, David N.^-94; 239.
Green, Mrs, David N, — 151,
Greenamyer, John A, Green Township.— 38, 39. Greenwood, George,— 368 Grove, Elijah,- 337. Grove,. Theron.— 604. Grube, Howard A.— 660, Griiner, Anton.^ — 847, Gruner, Starr W.— 53i- Gruner, Ward C, — 386. Gunsaulliis. Pyrl H,
■552-
■703-
Hall, Charles H.— 832.
Hall, Clark M,— 834. ,
Hall, Willis,— 661,
Hall's Corners,— 91.
Halsted. L, D.— 37; 56; 239;
Hamilton, Charles. — 417,
Hamman, Henry.— ^730.
Hammond Family,—^,
Hanchett, Edward S,— 75; 76,
Hanchett Family, in
Hanchett, Joseph, — 54.
Hanchett, William,- 222,
Hardenbrook, John. — 444,
Harris, Charles J, — 703,
Harris Line,— 13-
Harvesting (see Agricuhurc),— Pioneer har- vesting machinery, no.
Hawks, Joseph 5,-85,
Hawley, Hiram B.— 762.
Hawley, WiUard S,— 487-
Haynes, Harvey,— 37- 1S2. 177-
Hazen, Earl.— 492,
Hazen, E, F,— 107.
Ha^enville-- 107.
Hendricks, E. P., surveyor of southern boundary of Branch County,— 14,
Hendricks' Line.— 1 4-
Henry, Warren,— 196; 480.
Herald, Bronson. — 145.
Herald, The Quincy,— 144.
Hewelt, J. B,— 462,
Hickory Comers.-^89,
Highway Commissioners — Lists of, 3CO-321,
Hildebrand, Frederick,— 454,
Hildebrand, Louie F,— 455,
Hilton, Thomas A,— 96; 610.
Himebaugh Family, — in Noble, 89; Emanuel,
212.
Hodunk.— 76; 78; 80,
Holbrook, Arthur G.— 823,
Holbrook, David L.— 557,
Holbrook, Silas A,— 56; 215,
HoUenbeck, Russell B,— 642.
Holmes, Cicero J.— 853.
Holmes, Florence M.— 184.
Holmes, Jonathan and Samuel, — 44 ; build grist mill, 44.
Holmes, Thomas.— 43; 70.
Hotels, Early,— New York House, 46, 47; Rose House, 42; Taylor House, 47; Batavia House, 47; Dudley Tavern, 48; Morse Tavern, 50; Eagle House in Coldwater, 57; Corbus House ii»
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Qiiincy, 65; Cornish's Hotel, 67; Berry House in Qu'iO". 6?; Judson House in Bronson, 6g; Union City House, 79; "tog tavern" in Sherwood, 81; in California township, 90; Quincy, loi ; in Bronson, 105.
Houghlaling Family, at Quincy.— 103.
Hughes, Edwin W,— 682.
Hulse, John.— *56.
Humphrey, Leonard F.— 523.
Hungerford, Virgil U.— 435.
Hurd Family, at Union City,—??,
Hurd, Mrs. C. E.— 558.
Hurd, Theodore C. William P., Henry S — 221 ; William P., 223.
Immigration. — Va
33-37 ; influenced hy Erie canal, 33 ; sources of, 36; beginning of, 41; by Marshall road, 75; to Butler, 77; to Branch County at present, 112.
Indians of Branch County.— 24-27 ; treaties with, 25; villages, 26; trails in Branch County, 26; on Coldwater prairie, 49; on Girard prairie, 74; Indian trail in SherwocMl, 81 ; Indian trail in Mat- teson, 82 ; in Kinderhook, 84.
Infirmary, Branch County— History of, 179-
Jail, at Branch. — 52; destroyed, 61; jaiis at
Coldwater, 61, 62. James, Lemander.— ^50. Jardon, E. M.— 457- Johnson, Ad i son P, — 396. Johnson Cooperage Co.— 119. Johnson, Ezra.- 720. Johnson, Ira D. — 363. Johnson, John.— 333. Johnson, Jonathan. — 848. Johnson, Leon A.^ — 168; 831. Johnson, Prosper C. — 439. Johnson, Roll in A.— 346, Jones, Clarence C. — 428. Joseph, Lucas,— roi. Journal, The Branch County.— 140. Journal, The Bronson.— 145, Judd, Alfonso C. — 595.
Kellor, Frances A.— 187.
Kellsy, Ira.— 583.
Kelso, Robert,— 488.
Kempster, Stephen W.— 350.
Kent. William A— 43; 215,
Kilbourn, Samuel L.— 448,
Kinderhook Postotfic 6.-85.
Kinderhook Township, — 40; settlement of.
84-85; pioneers, 84; officials of, 311. King, Hawkins A.— 224. King, Seth. — 792. Kinter, George.— 574. Kitehel, Horace.— 380. Kitchel, Simon 3.-143: 186; 218; -fSo. Klock, Geo. W.— 188.
Knapp, Frank E. — 165 ; 470. Knapp, Thomas C. — 756. Knapp, Wells. — 106. Knauss, Henry D. — 735. Knauss, Samuel.— 651. Knecht, John,— 482. Knights o( rytnias. — 232. Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees 229; 230; 231; 232: 233.
130 Lakes ot Brmch County.— 16; outlets, 18. Larapman Ambrose.— 856. Lanipnnn Henry S.— 77. Lampson Bon z.— 85. Lancaster Columbia.— 151 ; 215. La rz el ere Diniel.— 747. Lawrence James H.— 90. Lawyer Justm. — 214, 216. Lawyeri of Branth County. — 215-220; roH
of m 1875, 216; in 1895, 219; in 1906,
Leek er Wesley.— 484.
Legg Charles N.— 218; history of Coldwater
schools 151, 157; 804. Leonard D P.— 779. Levis Art Gallery.— 184 ; 188. Lewis Ed E— 842. , Lewis Henrv C. — 451, Libraries. — 181-184. Lime Lake,— 120.
Lincoln Family, in Union lownihip, — 80. Literature — Activity in, 184, Littlefield, Darwin. — 222. Locke, A. LeRoy.— 56!;. Lockerby, William H^— 667. Lockwood, Edward C, — 418. Loekwood, George. — 77. Lockwood Family, in Ovid. — 86, Lockwood, Herbert B,— 612. Long, James M.— 223. Loomis Battery.— 284-286. Loring, Mrs. George E.— 783. Lover idge, H. C— 820. Loveridge, Noah P.— 217; 818. Lowry, Jefferson. — 833. Lowry, William T.— 584. Luce, Cyrus G. — 212, 327. Lyons.— First name of Coldwater, 55. Lytle, A. L.— 103.
Mack, Thomas W.— 395.
Mack, Truman C. — 452.
Mallow Family, in Noble.— 89.
Mallow, George W. — 732.
Mallow, William.— 336.
Mann, Jacob W.— 741.
Mann, Mark H.— 672.
Mansell. George. — 96; Edwin, 97.
Mansfield. Coldwater and Lake Michigan
R. R,-i33, Mansfield. Pizarro,— 855,
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Man u fact uring.^Un ion City Iron Co., 98 ; in Branch County, 116-123; Cement in- dustry, 120-123.
Marl.— 120.
Marqiiart, William.— 4?8.
Marsh Family. — 45.
Marsh, Francis E, — 103 ; 224.
Marsh, Franklin D.— 94.
Marsh, Lansing C. — 224.
Marsh, Loren, — 26.
Marshall and Coldwatcr R. R,— 133,
Marshall Road.— ?5,
Martin, George.-— S9S.
Martin, Ira A.— 556,
Martin, John G.— 597-
Martin, Peter,— 56; his sawmill, 58.
Masonic OrKanizations. — 227-228; 229; 230.
Masonville — History of, 51.
Matfeson, Amos. — 83.
Matteson Township, — 40; settlement of, 82- 84; pioneers of, 84; officials of, 312.
McCarger, A. T.— 147.
McCarty, William. — 56; his house the oldest in Coldwater, 56.
McCausey, Joseph W.— 371.
McCrary, Alexander 0,-643.
McCrary, Clay. — 649.
McCrary, Mrs. Alexander C. — 646,
McCrary, Roy.— 648.
McGowan, Jonas H, — 140; 186; 217; 212.
McKende Cereal Food and Milling Co. — 120.
Mclntyre, Alexander, — 616.
Mclntyre, John F. — 716.
McLane, John H. — 701.
McLean, Hector. — 419,
McNall, Irving. — 867.
Mc Murray, Hu^h.— 519.
Medical Profession— History of, 221-226.
Medical Society. The Branch County, — 226.
Mennonites. — 89; 206.
Meridian, for survey of Branch County, — 8,
Merrifield, Marc A,— 218, 635.
Merrill, Js, — 632,
Methodist Episcopal Churches. — 190 et seq. ; at Coldwater, 190; Quincy, 191; Bron- son, 192; Sherwood, 193; Girard, 193; Union City, 194; other churches, 194,
Michigan State Telephone Co, — 135.
Military History. — 256-296.
Miller, Harvey D.— 769.
Miller, Joseph. — 494,
Miller, Willis A, — 752.
Mills, — Adams' sawmill, 43 ; Driggs', 43 ; Holmes' grist mill, 44; Woodard mill, 47; Black Hawk, 51, 53; first at Cold- water, 58; Coombs' mills, 59; Bishop Chase at Adams' mills, 69; Gilead mill, 71; first in Girard, 75; Hodunk, 76, 80; Union City, 79; Crater's in Algansee, 88; Wakeman's in Algansee, 88; in California, 92; at Coldwater, 93; Quincy, 102, (See Manufactur- ing,)
Milnes, Alfred.— 212; 681, Milnes Supply Company.— 96, Mintling, James B,— 666. Mockridge, Robert F. — 94- Modern Woodmen.^ — 232. Monlux, George, — 91, Monroe, George.- 727, Montague, J, H.— 717, Moore, Bradley O. — 1538, Moore, W. G,— 141; 186, Morgan, F. E,— 218, Morrill. Oliver,— 426. Morrison, Paschal P.— 778, Morse, John.— 50; 54. Moseley, Augustus C, — 728. Mosher, J. D.— 765, Mowry, Henry P.— 224; 671. Music, — Activity in, 184. Mystic Workers of the Worid.-
-230,
Nationalities in Branch County,— 31.
Neal, John N.— 813,
Nesbitt, John S,— 354.
Nettleton, V, L, and Company, — 96,
Newberry, Frank D.— ^5.38.
Newberry, Mrs. Fannie £.—187; 540,
Newberry, Peter M.— 37.
Newell, Charles H.— 141 ; 483,
Newman, Stephen.— 592,
News, The Quincy.- 145.
Newspapers — History of, in Branch County,
138-147. New York House,— 41. NichoUs, An set I. —37. Nichols, P. P.— 140; 141; 186. Noble Township, — 40; seltiemcnt of, Hg-go;
officials of, 313, Northwest Territory, — Ordinance of 1787
for government of, 12, Norton, William P,— 506. Noyes, Orlando G, — 560.
Observer, The Coldwater,— 139,
Odd Fellows Organization,— 228 ; 232,
Odren, Alex.— 91.
Officials of Branch County and Townships
and Villages.— 297-326. Ogden, James S, — 403, Ohio, — Boundaries, source of trouble, 13, Olds, Clarence L.— 689. Olds, Fred,— 422. Olds, Martin.— 47; 36. Olmstead, Benjamin,— 48. Olmstead, Moses,— 45, OIney, Henry,— 786. O range vi lie.— 80.
Order of Eastern Star, — 231 ; 233, Ordinance of 1787, — quoted, 12. Ordinance Line,— 12, 13. Osborn, Zelotes G.— 211 ; 802. OutWaler, John £,—663, Ovid Township,— 39 ; settlement of, 85-87;
officials of, 314, Owen. Charles W,— 141, 144, 145, 186, 774.
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Palm
, Elm
, 710.
Paradine, Mrs, E, R. G,— 460.
Parker, Marcellus H,— 64, i8g, 413.
Parker, Richmond F,— 722.
Parkhtirst, John G,— 218; 212; 339.
Parks, John D.— 854.
Parley's Corners.— 87.
Parrish, Kimhle.— 499-
Parsons, Alfred.— 344-
Patrons of Husbandry (see Grange).
Paul, James B.— 508. •
Paul, Wilson S.— 697.
Pearce, Edwin K.— 585.
Peerless Portland Cement Co,— 121.
Phillips, John F.— 393-
Physici an s.— 221-226 ; list of, 225.
Piatt, Nathaniel.— 684.
Pierce, Charles.— 860,
Pierce, Oren L— 563.
Pierson, Clara D.— 187.
Pioneer Society— History of, 238-239.
Pioneers, Alphabetical Record.— 239-255,
Pitcher, David.— 871.
Pixley, Augustus.— I OS.
Polish People of Branch County,— ^20, 32, 105-
Political History of Branch County,— 210- 213; see sketch of Isaac Bennett,
Pollock, Samuel. — 820.
Pomona Grange,— 114.
Pond, C. V, R,— 144, 186.
Pond. Elihu B.— 140, 186.
Pond, ^ared. — 210,
Population, — In Branch County, increase and distribution of, 28-32; influence of Black Hawk war on, 29 ; nationalities. 31; sources of, 36; attracted to Girard prairie, 74; of Bronson village, 105.
Porter, Philo.— 48.
Postal Service.— 134 (see Postoffices). Postoffices, — Bronson, 42; Prairie River, 43; Quincy, 67; Goodwinsville, 79; Mat- teson, 83; Kinderhook, 85; Parley's Comers, 87; Algansee, 88; Hickory Comers, 89; Union City, 100; Rural Delivery, 114; 134-135. Pofawatomi Indians, — 24; treaties with, 25; villages, 26; on Coldwater prairie, 49; on Girard prairie, 74, (See Indians,) Powers, D. C. — 223. Powers, Randall D. and Charles, — ro6, Prairie River Township. — 39, 40, Pratt Manufacturing Co.— 118. Presbyterian Churches,- 200 ef seg,; Cold- water, 200; Quincy, 201; California,
Presidents.— Village, lists of, 321-326. Pridgeon, John, Jr. — 362. Primary School Fund,— 148. Probate Judges— List of, 297. Prosecuting Attorneys— List of, 297. Protestant Episcopal Churches— 207-208, Purdy, Fred, — 772. Purdy, Horace. — 87.
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Quick. Edmund W,— 408,
Quincy Independent Telephone Co— n6
Quincy State Bank.— 127,
Qmncy Township,— 39 ; early settlement, 65
et seq,; first officers, 68; officials of,
316, Qumcy Village,— 66; history of, 101-103 r
manufacturing, 117 et seq,; library
182; .schools, 164 et seq.; churches'
190-209.
Railroads.— In the thirties, 34, 93, 98; under .around, 99; history of railroads in- Branch County. 120-111
Randall, Caleb D.— 176, 316
Randall, Dr. AJvah._22i
Randall, Seth 8,-654
Ransford, Edward 6—825
Ransom, Alvarado B,— ■128
Rate Bill,-i32, ,58
Rathhurn, Charles D-^7
Rathbum, P. J,-836,
Regal Gasoline Engine Co,— n8
Regiments of Branch County Soldiers (see- under Soldiers). '
Register, The Sherwood,— 146
Register. The Union City,— 146
Registers of Deeds— List of, 298
Religion and Churches— 190-209 ; Bishop Chase at Adams' Mills. 70; Mennon-
ioI/y.^S'^C^^ V'"^'"^^'^ Reporter, The.— 142 Republican, The,— 140, Republican. The Branch County,-uo Reynolds Family, in Batavia Township,-47 Reynolds, Frank 6,-619. Reynolds, Norman A,— 617 Rheubottom, F, C— 100 Rice, Samuel W.— 353. Richey, James.— 400. Roads,--Oyerland, 33 et seq; Chicago road
<s«e>;34. 41; Indian road into Gilead
72;_Marshall road, 75; state road, 78;
tentorial road in Sherwood, 8i ; Kalamazoo trail," 82; state road iir
Matteson. Robinson, Arthur E— 658, Robinson, T, F.— 146 Rohinson, W. L,— 146. Roman Catholic Churches.— 207 Ronan, Michael,— 659. Root. Edward R,— 123, 863 Root, Roland.— 51, So, 211, Rose House, in Bronson.— 42 Rose, L. A,— 104, los- Rossraan Family, in Bufler— 77 Royal Arcanum,— ^231. Rndd, L, and Son, Bank,— 128 Runyan, Henry, — 699. Rural Free Delivery.— 1 14, i-u-iii; Russell, George A,-S6s. ^^'
Sager, Charles H,— 390.
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XIV
Salisbury, Joseph N.— 549-
Salsberry Family, in Ovid.— 86.
Sanders, Abishi.— 72.
Sanders, Levi. — 877.
Sanford, George R. — ?39.
Saunders, H. R.— 700.
Sawdey, R. C. and W. S.— 96-
Schaffmaster, Christopher. — 377.
Scheidler, L. F.— 755-
Schools (see Education) .—First in Batavia, 48; at Branch, 52; in Quincy town- ship, 6g; in Algansee, 88; in Caf,- fornia, ca; character of early schools, 148 et seq.; early schools in; Bron- son, 151; Gilead, 151; Coldwater, 151 et seq.; "rate bill," 152; Union schools, 153; administrative officers, 153; con- solidation of districts, 155; Coldwater city schools, 157-164: Quincy Schools, 164; Union City schools, 167; Bron- son schools, 171 ; Sherwood schools, T73.
School Books in Early Use.— 150,
School Reports,— From various townships, 154; from Bronson, 172.
School Taxes.^ — 153.
Schultz, Samuel.— 803.
Sears, Clark C.-747g.
Sears, Charles 8.-665.
Sebring, John.— 628.
Secor, John.— 874.
Seely, Southerland M.— 405-
Segur, M. S.— 103.
Sentinel, The Coldwater.— 138 ; 139 et passim.
Settlement and Beginnings.— 41 et seq.; in- fluence of Chicago road, 34, 49-59, 65-
?7-
3-g2.
Seymour, George H.— 550.
Seymour, Henry.— 826.
Shaffmaster, A. D.— 146, 187.
Shaw, William E.— 744.
Shedd, Louisa. — 851.
Shepard, Albert.— 493.
Sherer, Samuel, — 442.
Sherer, William.— 442-
Sheriffs—List of, 298.
Sherman, Albert A.— 812.
Sherwood Heading Co, — 119,
Sherwood Township. — 39; settlement of, 81-
82; pioneers of, 81; officials of. 317. Sherwood Village.- History of, 107; schools,
173 et seq. ; churches, 190 et seq. Shipman, J. B.— 2X8, 211. Shook, Jacob.— 77, 214, S hook's' Prairie. — 76. Shoudler, Hiram. — 211. Silo Tanks. — 112. Simmons, Reuben M. — 806. SI Oman, Louis. —530. Skeels, F. L.— 186, 218. Smead, Daniel. — 46. Smith, Abram I,. — 693. Smith, Benjamin H.— 75. Smith, F. v.— 94, 186,
Smith, George K.— 223.
Smith, Marshall F.— 415.
Smith, Orin L.— 578.
Smith, Sarah A.— 343.
Snider, William W.— 738.
Snow Prairie. — settled, 45.
Soldiers, Roster of.— 1st Mich. Inf., 258- 260; 7th Mich. Inf., 261-262; 9th Mich. Inf., 262-264; nth Mich. Inf., 264-269; ■ rsth Mich, Inf., 269-270; 16th Mich. Inf., 270-271; 17th Mich. Inf., 271-272; igth Mich. Inf., 272-275; 28th Mich, Inf.. 275-276; 1st Mich. Sharpshooters, 276-277; 4th Mich. Cav., 277-279; 5th Mich. Cav., 279-280; 8th Mich. Cav., 280-282; 9th Mich. Cav., 282-283; nth Mich, Cav., 283-284; Battery A„ 284- 286; Battery D, 286-288; Battery F, 289-290; Battery G, 290-291. Other regiments, 292-296.
Sorter, Delivan.— 391.
Sorter, William C. — 420.
Southern Michigan National Bank. — ^125.
Southworth, Floyd E. — 841.
Spanish- American War. — Branch County's record in, 256-258.
Spore, Clarence B. — 518.
Sprague, W. B.— 37; history of Coldwater. 56, 210.
Sprout, DeWitt C— 468.
Stafford, Charles W.— 724.
Staley, Frederick. — 630.
Stanton, Edward D.— 823.
Stanton, John A.— 558.
Stanton, William A.^365.
Star, The.— 143.
Star, The Michigan.— 139.
Starr, George.— 707.
State Roads.— 36. (See Roads,)
State Public School — History of, 175-180,
Stearns, George W, — 675.
Stepper, John G,— 338-
Stewart, Frederick W,— 573.
Stiles, Luther,— 88,
Stillman, H, B.— 140, 222,
St, Joseph River.— 19, 78.
St. Mary's Parish.— 462.
Stokes, Mary A.— 351.
Straight, Henrv E,^220, 731.
Stray, George J,~788,
Stuart, James B.— 51.
Studley, Jerome J. — 107.
Styles, George.— 218.
Sun. The.— 143.
Sunday School Association, Branch County. —209,
Supervisors — Lists of, 300-321,
Survey of County.— 6-15; value of, 6; "rec- tangular system," 6; meridian and base line, 6; "Field Notes," 7; beginning of, 7; survey of Chicago road, 36.
Surveyors, County— List of, 9; 299,
Swain, Charles E, — 440.
Swain, Frank-,— 518,
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Swain, James.-iS3. 156, m. 5I3.
Tappan, F""'*^ T.— Hoi.
Taylor, Leonard.— 507-
Telegraph.-First in county, 130.
Telephones.-History o£, 13M36.
Thatcher, Reuben J.— S73-
Thompson, David.— 217.
Thompson. Roy.— 607.
Thorpe, Calvin J.-I43. 144, 1S6 187, 211-
Tibbits, Alkn.-54; settles m Coldwater, 55;
zeal in promoting village. 57- Tibhits Opera House.— 95- Tift, David.— 87- Times, The Quincy.— 145- Toledo War.— 13- Tomlinson, Alex E.-Si. Tompkins, Charles A.— 309- Tompkins, Francis J-— 55, 839. Tompkins, James B.-75. 76- Tompkins, James T.--679- Tompkins, William A.— 743. ^ .„
" Toole, John.— Pioneer teacher and mill pro- prietor, 51 (see Bronson). Topography of Branch County.— 16-20.
Tower, Isaac— 384.
Tower, Willis H.— 385.
Townships.— Four fractional, when surveyed, 14; drainage. 21-23; formation of, 38- 41; government and civil. 38; Green, 38; Coldwater, 39;, Prairie River, 39 (see under township names).
Township Officers — Lists of,- 300-321-
Trails, Indian.— 35 (see Indians).
Transportation.— By St. Joseph river, 78 (see Chicago road) ; history of, in Branch County, 129-137.
Treasurers.- Township, lists of, 300-321.
Treasurers.— Village, lists of, 321-326.
Treat, Samuel I.— 423-
Treat, Samuel M.— 86.
Tripp, David.— 434.
Tripp, George.--85.
Truesdell, C. L.— 103.
Tucker, Chester S.— 223.
Turner, G. H.— 141 ; ISS. .__
Turner, John W.— 217, 211.
Turner, Nathaniel.— 83.
Turner, Sarah M. — 709.
Turner, Samuel R. — 596.
Turner, Thomas J.— 865.
Tuttle, George A.— 460.
Twadell. Rodney K.— 685.
Tyler, Alphonso.— 446.
Tyler, William M.— 359.
Underground Railroad. — 99. Union City.— 78; platted, 79; history, 98-11:- ■ manufacturing, 117 et seq. ; schools, . 167 et seq. ; library, 181 ; churches, 190
Union City National Bank.^126. Union Schools — Origin of, 153; 172,
Union Township.— 39; settlement of. 78-81;
pioneers of, 80; officials of. 318. Unitarian Churches. — 206. United Brethren Churches.- 205. Upson, Alonzo S. — 125, 35°. Upson, Charles.— 214, 216, 21?, 348-
Van Aken, George W. — 114, 712-
Van Aken, M. J.— 8i5.
Van Blarcum Family. — 75.
Van Every, Chauneey M.— 358.
Van Nuys, J. H.— 544.
Van Schoick, Rev. R. W-— 187.
Van Slvck, William,— 810.
Villages of Branch County.— 98-107.
Vosburgh, Mortimer. — 849.
Waggot, D. D,— 14s.
Walter, William,— 564.
Wanar, William,— ^52.
Warner, C. D.— 615.
Warner, E. A,— 216.
Warner, Harvey.— At Village of Branch, 52,
53- Warren, Elisha.— Plats Branch Village, 52;
sketch, S3. Warren's Military Band.— 106. Wars.— Branch County in the country's, 256-
Warsabo, L. A.— 224, 490,
Waterhouse Corners. — 85.
Waterhouse, John.— 85.
Waterman, David and Alonzo.- 42-
Waters, Samuel. — 409.
Waterworks. — In Coldwater. 94; in Union
City, 100; Quincy, 102. Watkins, Ed«ard M.— 542. Watkins, Ed W.— 663. Watson, Frank J.— 634. Watson, Joseph ,^106. Watson, Robert,— 83, 627. Wattles. George C— S37. Wesleyan Methodist Church at Coldwater,-
West, Charles P.— 139, 185. West, Laura.— 186. White, Dana P.— 75o. White, Geo. M.— 817. Whitehead. Henry V.— 870. Whitley, Henry C— 755. Whitney, Willard,— 609. Wilber, Havens,— 570. Wilcox, Edward P-— 555. Wilcox, Loring P. — 704. Wilkins, John H.— 758- Willbur, P, D.-614. Williams, C. Ross.— 510. Williams, E. H.— 485. Williams, Frank N.— 397- Williams, Harlow W.— 468. Williams, Mary M.— 794. Williams, Sheldon.— 85. Willis. Geoi^e £,—670. Willis, William.— 602.
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Willson, Horris.^Qiiincv pionee Wilson, L. T. N.— 2i6. Wilson, Reuben and Daniel. — S Wilson, William. — 224 ; 623. Wing, Lucius M.— 740. Withinston, Myron J.— ?i8. E Telephone Co.— 136.
Wolver
Woman's Christian Temper Woman's Relief Corps. — Union Women's Clubs (see Clubs). Wood, David H.-7-6gi. WoodcoK, Cornelius H. — 224. Woodward, Horace J. — 669. Wooley, Celia Parker.— 187.
Wright, C, D.— 218.
Yeatter, Sydney E.— 789. York Village,— Original natir
40, 42, Young, Charles H.— 145. 6g2. Young, D. W,— 103, Young, Hiram, — 608, Young Men's Christian ' Young, William F.— 475. Youngs, Dwight E.— 861.
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The location and numbtr of every achoolhouse in the county ia indicated by a aquare and a heavy-faced numeral.
The oatne, of varion, -en.,.- a.d focm.r ,o.,offic.. a„ <iv.. .v.. thc^h no c.nt.r now .xiat. there.
Pain, have been take, to ,c,,e-.t evc„ bi(h.ay a. found in the couaty " the d.t. of p.blication. : b, ^^lOLH^ IL
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History op Branch County.
THE COUNTY AS A SUBJECT OF HISTORY.
"All parti-colored threads the weaver Time Sets ill his web, now trivial, now sublime, Ail memories, all forebodings, hopes and fears, Mountain and river, forest, prairie, sea, A hill, a rock, a homestead, field, or tree. The casual gleanings of unreckoned years. Take goddess-shape at last and there is She."
— /ajiir.( Russi-ll LoivclL
Branch County, Michigan, is a name having two distinct though closely cfinnected meanings. It denotes a certain definite ixjrtion of the earth's sur- face, and also the people inhabiting that portion. This definite area is a ))art of the territory of the "The State of Michigan," and is thereby also a part of the domain of that great body politic known as " Tlie United States of .Xmerica." In its designation of the people inhabiting this area, the name Branch county .signifies that they are themselves an organized, pohtical " body ci»q)orate," with a certain distinct life of their own, and that at the same time they are a part of " The People of the State of Michigan," and also of ihat great republic of united states of which the State of Michigan is one.
Jn this volume the writers and publishers of it have undertaken to pre- sent in printed form a history of Branch County. Michigan, as thus defined. "Jliese sentences are being written in the year 1905 A. D., or in the fifth year of the twentieth century of the Christian era. We proiwse to look at the life the people of this county have lived upon their land in the light of the knowledge and thought of this Twentieth Christian Century. We shall attempt to comiMse their history, as nearly as we may, in accordance witli the principles and methods with which the Twentieth Century historian's art portrays humanity's past.
The area now definitely known as Branch county was made definite, was made into a county, and the name of " Branch " was given to it, by the Legis- lative Council and Governor of the Territory of Michigan, on the 29th of October, 1829. The part of the act by which this was done reads thus : " That so much of tlie country as lies west of the line between ranges four and five, west of the meridian, and east of the line between ranges eight and nine west, and south of the line Ijetween townships four and five, south
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2 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
of the base line, and north of the boundary-hne between this Territory and the State of Indiana, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be Branch." As thus created, defined, and nained, this area has remained without change in its boundaries from the above date to the present, and has been recognized as Branch County by all the people and powers that be that have had anything to do with it. It has thus had a continuous existence for seventy-six years. It is true, as will be noted more particularly in later pages, that in the full political sense of the term " county " the people residing on the area so named did not become a complete, organized, separate county imtJi March i, 1833, or until nearly four years after the area had been made such geographically.
The second and more important part of what the word " county " denotes in American speech and literature, is the people inhabiting its area as organized into a civil social body or body politic. The census taken by the State of Michigan in 1904, one year ago, gave the population of Branch County as 26,397. The separate enumeration of the people of Branch Coimty as such was made in the first state census in 1837. At least this is the first such enumeration of which the records are known by the officials of the county and state to be in existence. That census of 1837 made known the fact that Branch County as a distinct body poHtic consisted of 4,016 persons. Ouring the 68 years from 1837 to 1905, that body of 4,016 men, women and children became 26,397.
The subject before us, both as writers and readers, is Branch County in the twofold meaning of the name as thus described. In writing its historj', its people and their life will be the continuous and chief object of our attention. We accept the generally recognized truth, that the life of people ■ is largely determined by the land upon which they live, by climate and the other various factors of nature's environment. But the central object of our conteniplation will be first, those 4,016 men, women and children who were living the county's life in 1837, and then those who inherited it and further developed it through the decades and geiierations following. To portray what this life has been in its manifold forms, to indicate the causes of it, to trace the generative and formative forces at work in it, and to show some of the facts and truths that wilt help the 26,000 people of the county today in their efforts for even greater prosperity and welfare in the years before them, this is the task we liave undertaken. Among the matters thus to be written of in this history are these: the physical, mental, moral and religious character of those who l">egan the communities of Coldwater, Quincy, Union City and Bronson and of those who formed the sixteen organized town- ships of the county; their nationality, whether born in the United States or in some foreign country; from what other portions of the United States those who have moved into the county have come, and thus what ideas and customs they have brought with them and made a part of the county's life; the industries in which the people have engaged, the -wealth that has been accumulated, the kind of dwellings the inhabitants have built for themselves, and the domestic conveniences they have had in them; the general conditions
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 3
as to health aiKl sanitary care; the means of intercourse and transirartation, that is, roads, highways, railroad?, vehicles, bicycles and automobiles, tele- graphs and telephones; the kinds of persons who have been the teachers, clergymen, physicians and lawyers of the county; the institutions and social agencies through which education, intelligence, culture, music, painting, morality, public spirit and religion have been promoted, that is, schools, newsi>apers, fraternal, philanthropic and political societies, theaters and opera houses, churches and Sunday schools ; the divisions of the people among the great political parties of the nation, party politics in the county, and the administration of the various offices of the county, of its one city, and its several villages and townships. The life of the county in these various forms has embodied itself more largely in some individual men and women than in others. Accordingly, it is part of the plan of this work to give large space to the biographies and portraits of persons in whom the life of the county has more largely and influentially expressed itself. We shall strive to make our record as complete as space will permit. Absolute freedom from error will he impossible, but we shall take gi'eat care to make the history and bio- graphical sketches accurate in statement and truthful to life as it has been lived by individual men and women and by the people of the county as a whole.
The white inhabitants of Branch coimty's area, besides thus living their own life within it among themselves, have also lived a life in mutual rela- tions with the rest of mankind. They have been a part of larger wholes. They have put elements into the larger life of these larger wholes, and have received elements from them into its own life. A complete history of the county's, area and inhabitants must recognize this connection. The area of the county, along with the peninsula of which it is a part, has been under the jurisdiction successively of the kingdom of France, the kingdom of Great Britain, and the republic of the United States. Indeed there is a still more primary relation of this area of which a complete history must take note, •namely, its natural relation as a part of the earth's surface to the peninsula lying between Lakes Erie and Huron on the east and Lake Michigan on the west. As an arena of the history of the people occupying it, beginning with the family of " Jabe " Bronson in 1828, it has had its animal life and its vege- tation, or its fauna and its flora, its rainfall and other meteorological condi- tions, its surface with slopes and prairie-like portions, its land and its water, its lakes and streams with the direction and movement of their waters, its soil, its stone, its clay and mari, and its underlying and ontcropping geo- logical strata. All these natural factors have affected the life of the people who have increased from one family to 26,oc»o. But these factors and their effect upon the i^eople cannot be understood and historically exhibited with- out considering their relation to the large region to which this particular area belongs. The several sciences into which these natural features fall have described and explained the corresponding phases of nature in this large region. Even the history of a county, or of a township, must recognize the influence of nature in it upon man's life in it, and must use what science
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4 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
tells lis are the facts and truths of nature in the large region, in exhibiting the facts and truths of nature in the lesser area. On this arena with its physical condition and its previous political relations with France, Ejiglantt and the United States, the 4.016 white inhabitants of Branch county in 1837 began their relation with the new state of Michigan, which that year was admitted as such into the Union. Since that time the inhabitants of the county as a body politic have carried on their life as an organic part of the state of Michigan, and through it also as an organic part of our great American republic, while in numerous other ways than those strictly civil and political the people of the county have entered into the life of tlie people of the com- monwealth, of the nation and of the world, and have taken the life of these larger realms into their own. Tlie forms and the products of this continuous interaction will be to many, perhaps, the more interesting part of our county's history.
These introductory thoughts indicate the scope of this work and our aims in it. Stated briefly, these aims have been three fold : i . To show how Branch county came into existence as a definite area and what it lias been as such. 2. To portray what the life of the people within this area has been. 3. To make the \-ision of the ])ast a pleasure and a recompense to those who have done anything for the welfare and happiness of Branch county's people and the world thus far, and an incentive and inspiration to all to live for this welfare and happiness in even a higher degree in the future.
In preparing to write this history, it was natural that we should acquaint ourselves with H^iiate\'er history of the county may have l>een composed by previous writers. Any such previous work would be sure to be of service in presenting another and later picture of Branch county's life. Considerable of a historical nature relating to the county has been written and printed dur- ing the last fifty years, and much too in the way of biography of persons who have been resiclents in it. What has been thus done is itself material foi" our history. Moreover, justice to preceding writers and honesty with our read- ers require that the work of those writers be recognize{l and that acknowl-' edgment be made of its value and use. It is our puqrose to give in another place in this volume a complete bibliography of the county. In onlv two instances, however, have a history of the county and biographies of its resi- dents been printed in book form with contents extensive enough to be prop- erly called a county history or a county biography. We make mention here of these two works, inasmuch as the first one in particular comes into con- sideration in laying out the plan and the periods of the present history. The first one was entitled as follows: "History of Branch County, Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers." This history was written by Mr. Crisfiekl Johnson, and was published by Everts and Abbott of Philadelphia, in 1879. Tt is a medium sized quarto volume of 347 pages. The second work referred to has the fol- lowing title page: ".Portrait and Biographical Album of Branch County, Michigan, containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketclies of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, Togedier with Por-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 5
traits and Biographies of all the Governors of tlie State anil the Presidents of the United States. Chicago, Chapman Brothers. 1888." This volume is a smaller sized quarto than the other, but contains 654 pages. The latter part is devoted to Branch county and begins with page 180, thus giving to the county 474 pages.
The former of these works was a real history of the county. The lat- ter was a collection of brief biographies of " prominent and representative citizens of the county," 364 in number. Imt it contained no history proper a])art from the " biographical sketches." The other volume compiled by Mr. Johnson was a fairly full general history of the county as a whole, with a particular history of its one city, its four villages, and its sixteen townships, np to the date of its publication, the year 1879. Since then no such particular history of the coimty as a whole has lieen given to the public or attempted until the present work was begun.
We now ]iresent the periods into which the entire time of the comity's life may be con\'eniently divided by reason of events and de\'elopments in it. These periods will fomi the general framework which we shall use in building up the present history.
1. From 1828 to 1842 : or, from the year of the first white settlement in the county at Bronson to the transfer of the county seat from the village of Branch to Coldwater.
2. From 1842 to 1865 ; or. from the location of the county seat in Coldwater to the close of the Civil war.
3. From 1865 to 1879: or, from the return home of Branch county's soldiers in the Civil war to the publishing of Mr. Crisfietd Johnson's history of the county.
4. From 1879 to 1906; or. from the publishing of Mr. Johnson's hi,story by Everts and Abbott to the publication of The Twentieth Century History of the County by The Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER II. THE CREATION AND SURVEY OF THE COUNTY.
Let us now note precisely what and where Branch county is, its area, and how men came to define its boundaries with the precision of civdized custom and to make them permanent. We have already referred to the act by which the county was created, and have quoted from it the exact language in which its area was described and its boundaries established. The language thus used by the legislative council of the territory of Michigan is that in which the United States government describes and bounds the surveyed divi- sions of its public lands. It implied that already, previous to 1S29, the sur- veyors of the United States had been over the territory to be made into Branch county, and had divided it into " ranges '' of townships " west of the meridian," and into " townships " " south of the base line." These terms assumed that these men had already measured and marked off this land into portions six mile.s square and containing a certain number of acres.
This work of the United States surveyor must be done before people in the domain of the United States can begin to live upon Its land and form such associations with each other as constitute a county. Only on condition of this preliminary work having been done can definite individual ownership exist, and those mutual rights and duties of men with each other be established, which make an organic body such as a township or a county possible. The legislative council of Michigan territory were able to declare where and what the area of our covinty should be, liecause the United States measurers of land had already laid their measuring chain upon the land out of which the county was to be made. It was this fact that made it possible, for example, for John Morse in 1830 and Robert H. Abbott in 1831 to each become the owner of "80 acres" now lying within the limits of the City of Coldwater. In 1796 congress enacted the law in accordance with which all the public lands were to be surveyed. The system embodied in this act is called " The Rectangular System." The original act has been repeatedly amended by con- gress, and the methods of making the surveys under it have been continually modified and improved, but the system as such has been used through the hundred years from 1796 to the present time. The entire territory of the present state of Michigan has been surveyed and divided into townships in accordance with this system and with reference to a certain " meridian " and " base line."
" ITie meridian " spoken of in the territorial act as determining the loca- tion of Branch county was a north and south Hne known in the United States survey as "the principal meridian of the peninsula of Michigan." It is a
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 7
line running tlue north from the niouth of the Auglaize river, which empties into the Maumee near Defiance, Ohio. " The base Hne," or the east and west line also mentioned in the act creating the county, is a line crossing the principal meridian at a point 54 miles north of the southern boundary of tiie state. It now forms the northern boundary of all the counties in the second tier, or of the counties from Wayne on the east to Van Buren on Lake Michigan, the tier next north of Branch. With this principal meridian and this base line established, the surveyors of the genera! government began to go over the public land of the peninsula of Michigan lying north of Indiana and Ohio, with compass and chain, and to mark trees and set posts for the boundaries of townships and sections and quarter-sections, liiese survey- ors knew, of course, no names of counties and townships as we know them now, neither did they give names at all to townships or groups of town- ships as they surveyed them. They recorded and dated carefully day by day their measurements and tfipographical notes in their note-books, thus creating the original " Field Notes," which in Branch county and every county today are of such primary and incalculable importance for titles, deeds, mortgages and all transactions involving buying, selling and owning of land. As they tramped over the surface of the country, measuring and marking it off into portions each exactly six miles square, making a town- ship, Ihey gave no names to the townships, but merely numbered them in their relation to meridian and base line, according to the ingenious but simple system, the principles of which were struck in the Land Ordinance of 178.5, but which api^eared fairly well developed in the Congressional Act of 1796,
Mr. Silas Fanner, in his " Michigan Book " of 1901, says: " The pub- lic surveys of the region including Michigan were begun in 1815." In the " Outline History of Michigan." contained in the Legislative Manual of 1905, the statement is made that " the survey of public lands began in 1816." We shall see that there is a sense in which each of these authorities is correct as to the year in which the United States surveyors iDegan laying the founda- tions of the white man's civilization on the public lands of the Michigan peninsula. The earliest date appended to any part of their records or " field notes " of their survey of what afterward became Branch county, is January 23, 1825. It was thus ten years after the beginning of their work in the Michigan country that the sur\'eyor's chain was first laid down within the limits of our county. The eastern boundary of Branch county was stated in the creating act to be " the line between ranges four and five west of the meridian." Its distance west from the meridian was accordingly twenty- four miles. The surveyors must necessarily start from the principal merid- ian in measuring off their townships, and work east and west from it. In working westward from it towards our area, they must first lay out the townships which are now Hillsdale county, as this is the first county west of the meridian in the southern tier of counties, and indeed is the only county between the meridian and Branch county. The exact location of the townships destined to become Branch county would be dependent upon the previous location of the townships to become Hillsdale countv, and the
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8 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
dependence of all these townshijis of both counties was dependent upon the Michigan meridian. This dependence was so close and so important that a glance at the survey of Hillsdale's townships and at the history of the meridian itself will be interesting and wJl] make our own history more com- plete.
The Territorial Act of October 39. 1829, creating Branch county, at the same time also created and set off all the counties touching it on its three Michigan sides, namely, Hillsdale, Jackson, Callioun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph. The meridian itself was made the eastern boundary of the county to be called Hillsdale. This meridian has already been stated to be a line starting from the mouth of the Auglaize river in Ohio and running due north. -But how come it to start from that point? Mr. Crisfield Johmson in his History of Branch County, p. 29, has indicated the answer. In a treaty made with the Indians Novemher 17, 1807, they ceded their rights to certain land. The exact language of the treaty describing the western boundary of this land was in part the following : " To the mouth of the great An Glaize river; thence running due north until it intersects a parallel of latitude, to be drawn from the outlet of Lake Huron, which forms the river Sinclair." Evidently the boundary line in this Indian treaty of 1807 is the origin of the Michigan meridian, but when it was officially deter- mined upon and proclaimed as such, or when the actual survey of it from the mouth of the Auglaize was begun, the present writer has not yet with certainty discovered.
However, as to when that part of the meridian lying within the state of Michigan was actually run, the book of Field Notes of Hillsdale County in the office of its county sur^'eyor shows us with almost conclusive certainty. The eastern boundary of all the townships in the easternmost range of Hills- dale county is identical with the principal meridian. All these townships are in " range i west," that is, in the first range west of the meridian. The present names of these townships from south to north are Wright, Pittsford. Wheatland and Somerset. At the end of the field notes of the survey of the " East Boundary " of Wright township, or T S S, R i W, in the Hills- dale Coimty Book of Field Notes, is written the following: "Oct. 6, 1815. Benj. Hough, D. S." Tlie notes of the eastern boundaries of the other three townships are subscribed in nearly the same manner. Tiie notes of Pittsford. or T 7 S, R I W, are subscribed thus: "Surveyed in 1815 by Benj. Hough, D. S."; of Wheatland, "Oct. 6, iSi.^. Surveyed by Benj, Hough. D. S." ; and of Somerset, " Surveyed in 1815 by Benj. Hough. D. S." These subscriptions or certifications, copied from the manuscript volume of Field Notes in the office of the county surveyor of Hillsdale county, are in them- selves almost decisive proof that all that part of the principal meridian of Michigan forming the eastern boundary of Hillsdale county was run and marked out in 1815 and probably in the month of October. Quite likely nothing more was done by the surveyors in the year 181 5 than the running of the principal meridian. This may be thought of as the Ijeginning of the public survey of the region, and in tliis sense the survey of the public lands
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 0
of Michigan may be said to have begun in tSi5- ^n the stricter sense, tlic survey did not begin until the surveyors actuahy began to lay off town- ships, and this probably did not commence until 1816,
But while the eastern boundaries of Hillsdale's eastern range of town- sJiips were all run in 1815, none of the other boundaries of those townships nor any boundary of any other township was run until in 1823. Then in 1823, 1S24 and 1825 the country which now forms the area of Hillsdale county was marked off by the United States surveyors into six-mile square townships in ranges west of the meridian and south of the base line, and <!esignated accordingly. In the Field Notes of Hillsdale County over the date. "Feb. 3. 1825." and over the name, "'John Mullett, D. S.", stands a note which shows that on that day the surveyors touched territory that is now Branch county. That note is this: "set jxist cor. T 5 & 6 S, Rs 4 & 5 W." This was the post now marking the common corner of the two townships in Hillsdale now known as Litchfield and Allen, and the two in Branch, now known as Butler and Quincy.
We thus see that in working westward from the principal meridian, the surveyors reached what was to become Branch county land on the 3d of February, 1825. or a week or ten days Irefore. We have already noted that the earliest date of a day's survey entered in the Branch County Book of Field Notes was January 23. 1825, A photographic fac-simile of the page on which this date stands is inserted in this volume, it being j^rerhaps a repre- sentation of the oldest official document originating within our county. The surveyor who signed his name to these field notes and entered this earliest date apiiears to have Ijeen William Brookfield. The latest date given in the volume of Field Notes is June 12, 1820. The time during which the 'United States surveyors were occupied in the survey of our county lands was about four and a half years.
The men who, during these four and a half years of 1825 to 1829, actually went over the land of Branch county as United States surveyors were John Mullett, Robert Clarke. Jr., William Brookfield, and Orange Risdon. The original " field notes " or records which they made of their surveys are to the people of Branch cotinty without question the most import- ant documents in existence. A few statements as to the history of these " notes " will be of interest to those who see the important things in a county's life e\-en though they may not be .conspicuous. At the close of each day, these men wrote ofif in small blank books the records of the Hues they had run, their direction, the exact <listance measured, the posts they had set, and the trees or other objects they had marked to indicate the location of their lines. The original note books written out by these surveyors were deposited with the land commissioner of the state after its organization. They are now in the office of the commissioner in Lansing. In November, 1905, the present writer called at the rooms of the state land office in the capitol at Lansing, and at his request the land commissioner, William H. Rose, kindly put the original note books of Branch county as written up by the United States surveyors into his hands for examination there. These
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10 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
books are in general about four inches wide, six inches long, and alxiut a quarter of an inch thick, and contain about thirty leaves. Each book con- tains commonly the records of the survey of one township, that is, of the lines which were run to form the boundaries of the township itself, and its sections, and quarter-sections. With an eager interest the writer took in his hand the book containing the Field Notes of T 5 S, R 5 W, now the township of Butler, the features of which may serve as an example of the entire set. The book contains thirty-two leaves. On the first page is a map of the township, with its sections numbered from i to 36, and with its streams and some other topographical features indicated. Underneath the map is written, " Recorded S. Morrison," which is understood to mean, that the notes of this book have been copied into books of record in the United States Land Office in Washington, and that the fact and the correctness of the recorded copy were certified to by S, Morrison. The pages of this par- ticular little book are not numbered. On the leaf following that having the map, the notes, written in ink, begin. Apparently the notes were made during the day or at the close of each day's work, and when a day's work was done and the notes of it were written out, the date of the day was ap- pended to them. The first date thus written is " Oct. 30," but the year is not written; then follow notes and dates consecutively until "Nov. 7," im- . plying that the surveyors worked nine days in succession in going through the timbered lands and swamps and streams and openings of Butler town- ship as they were in 1825, one of which days must of course have been Sunday. Thirteen dates in all are entered in the notes, the last being " Nov. 13," ali without the year. On the last page, however, stands this entry, " Certified this 21st day of January, 1826. Robert Clark, Jr., Dep. Sun"
The " field notes " in these original small note books of the U. S. deputy surveyors were afterward copied into books of record in Washington, as was illustrated above in the case of the original book of Robert Clark, Jr., con- taining the notes of Butler township. When the survey of the entire state was completed, the original books themselves were given into the possession of the state land commissioner in Lansing. The survey was finished in 1857, and May nth of that year the origmals were deposited with the commissioner.
The records contained in these note books have been very important in the life of the county from its beginning continuously. They are the ultimate authority of the county surveyor in determining the boundaries of townships and of farms owned and bought and sold. While these books in Lansing were the only legal records of these surveys, the people of the county were obliged to obtain certified copies of the records from Lansing when needed. It would seem that this was done until 1871. At present the county surveyor of Branch county has in his official possession in one large book a copy of all the field notes contained in the small note books as made by the U. S. surveyors in surveying the entire area of the county. This book is the official " Field Notes " of the county. At the dose of the notes, on page 579, stands the written certification of E. H. Parker,
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY U
deputy commissioner in the land office at Lansing, with the date of March 22, 1871, that tliese notes are a correct and complete copy of the originals. There exists only one other copy of these notes, it is believed, and this copy is now in possession of Mr. lanthus D. Miner, a resident of Coldwater. Mr. Miner obtained this copy from Dr. John H. Bennett, who had it made from the county's book.
The act by which our county was created and its boundaries named described its eastern and western boundaries, as we have seen, by lines be- tween ■' ranges," and its northern boundary by " the line between townships 4 and 5 soulh of the base line." Its southern boundary, however, was described in different terms, namely, " the boundary line between this terri- to.^' and the state of Indiana." The year of this act was 1S29, and it recog- nizes the lx)undai-y of Indiana as already established. The boundaries of states are determined by Congress. The act authorizing the formation of the state of Indiana and naming its boundaries was approved by the presi- dent April 19, 1816. The state by this act was to be bounded on the north " by an east and west line drawn through a point ten miles north of the southern extreme of Lake Michigan," and extending from that point on Lake Michigan to the north and south line forming the western boundary of Ohio. This is the first time that this line appears in any official acts of the national or state governments. The people within the boundaries named responded to the enabling act of Congress by electing representatives who were to meet in convention at Corydon, June 10, 1816. The convention was in session from June 10 to 29. It accepted the boundary proposed by the enabling act, and December nth of the same year the state of Indiana was admitted into the Union with' its northern land Iwundary a line drawn as described, from a point on Lake Michigan straight east until it meets the western boundary of Ohio extended northward. This northern Iraundary of Indiana, thus established in 1S16, remained unchanged from that time on. It became consequently a line to be recognized by the U. S. surveyors in their survey of the public lands and their laying out these lands into townships from certain meridians and base lines. Some nine years befoi'e any of the land now forming Branch county had been touched by the U. S. surveyors this northern boundary of Indiana had been authoritatively pro- claimed on paper, though the boundary was not actually run by surveyors until 1827 and 1S28. Moreover, when the United States surveyors began laying off the public lands of the Indiana country into rectangular townships, they did it from another meridian and another base line, and when the year 1816 determined the northern boundary of the' state of Indiana, it deter- mined also the southern limit of the country to be laid off into townships from Michigan's meridian and base line. Hence, when in working south from our base line in laying off their six-mile square townships, the sur- veyors came to the Indiana line, they had reached the limit of land to be made into townships from the Michigan base lijie and meridian.
It is to be borne in mind that the U. S. survey of the land that became Branch county was made after Indiana had become a state in 1816, and
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I--i HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
while ilicliigau was a territory, and that the creation and naming of the boundaries of our county was an act of our territorial authorities in 1829. The southern boundaries of all the counties in Michigan's southern tier are coincident of course with the boundary lines between the state and the two states south of it, Indiana and Ohio. The history of these state lines is the history in general of the county boundaries. We have given in brief the history of the Indiana state line and of its particular connection with Branch county. Branch is the easternmost of the four counties having the Indiana Hue, a due east and west line, as tlieir entire southern boundary. Hillsdale county lias about one mile of this Une in its boundary, which then follows the Indiana Ixiundary south about two miles, when it reaches the Ohio line at its starting iK)int eastward. But the northern boundary of Ohio is not exactly a due east and west line, as 3 careful look at any accurate map of Ohio and Michigan will disclose, and the same is true of course of the southern boundary of Michigan and of all the counties bordering upon Ohio. These state lines have a long, large and interesting history, and this is especially true of the one between Ohio and Michigan. But Branch county does not touch Ohio even at its corner, and it must suffice for a his- tory of this county to merely indicate the movement in men's thought and the chief events which took place in the course of the settlement of the Ohio and Indiana state boundaries on the north.
People's thought relating to these boundary lines found its first formal legislative expression in that great regulative document, " The Ordinance of 1787 for the Government of the Northwest Territory." Article 5 of this ordinance named the eastern, southern and western boundaries of what be- came Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and theii said: "If Congress shall find it hereafter expedient, they shall have authority to establish one or two states in that part of said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly l^end or extreme of Lake Michigan." May 7, 1800, Congress made the eastern part of our peninsula a part of the Northwest Territory along with what is now Ohio, while the western part was included in Indiana territory. The country now forming Branch county belongs to this western part along with what is now the state of Indiana. April 30, 1802, Congress passed an enabling act, according to which the people within certain boundaries might form a state to be called Ohio. The northern boundary of the new state was to be the east and west line of the Ordinance of 1787, running east from the western boundary named for it. Tlie west- em boundary named was what it is today, and as this line lies a short dis- tance east of Branch county's territory, Ohio's boundary lines formed no actual part of Branch county's boundaries that were to be. Uncertaintv arose in the minds of the Ohio people, when their convention came to con- sider the enabling act, as to where the line running due east from " the southerly 1»end or extreme of Lake Michigan " would strike Lake Erie. Not- withstanding this uncertainty and a proviso adopted by the convention to meet it. Congress admitted Ohio as a state, February 19, 1803, with the due east and west line of the ordinance as its prescribed constitutional bound-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 1;!
arj'. But the uncertainty remained, and immediately began to produce trouble between the ?tate and the people of the territory of Michigan.
The dispute over the exact location of this boundary line lasted from 1803 to 1837, the year in which Michigan was admitted to the Union. Janu- ary 26 of that year the act of Congress admitting Michigan, with the consti-. tntion which had been adopted for it, was approved by Andrew Jackson as president. That constitution declared definitely what tlie southern lx>undary of Michigan should be, and the act of Congress settled the dispute which had been troubling the people of Michigan for thirty-four years, in which die people of Branch county had become involved along with the rest. Article I of the constitution of our state describes its boundaries, and the portion relating to the line between it and Ohio bears so many interesting marks uf its history that we quote it : " Commencing at a point on the eastern boundary line of the state of fndiana, where a direct line drawn from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Maumee bay shall intersect the same — sai<l ]Mint being the northwest corner of the state of Ohio, as established by the act of Congress, entitled ' An act to establish the northern Ixaundary of the state of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the state of Michigan into the Union upon the conditions therein expressed," approved. June fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, thence with the said boimdary line of the state of Ohio till it. intersects the boundary line Ijetween the United States and Canada in Lake Erie."
This boundary line between the two states, as finally fixed, was not a due east and west line, as we have already stated. It runs a little north of east. Branch county's southern Iwundary has not been at all a part of that state boundary line. Our entire southern boundary is a part of Indiana's northern line, but this was defined and laid out with a reference to the same IKiint from which the Ohio boundary line at first and finally was determined, namely, " the southern extremity of Lake Michigan." Moreover, Branch county people in 1835 took part in the so-called Toledo War, which ai^ose ill the controversy over that Ohio line.
We have already narrated the action of Congress and of the people of Indiana, by which the northern boundary of Indiana^as a state was estab- lished in 1816, and made to be a line due east from Lake Michigan nmning ten miles north of the east and west line of (he Ordinance of 1787. Through all the nearly thirty years from 1787 to 1816, the people of the Michigan peninsula had assumed that the Or<linance line east from the southern ex- treme of Lake M ichigan was to be recognized as the Ixjundary line of states south of them. In 1818 the authorities of Michigan territory protested that Congress had no right to include in the state of Indiana the strip oS land ten miles wide north of that line. They continued to insist iiixin their just claims to this strip even up to the years of 1835 and 1836, when the people through their conventions were seeking admission as a state. The convention at Ann .^rbor. December 14, 1S36, finally agreed to the condi- tions set forth in the act of Congress for the admission of Michigan as a
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14 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
state, namely, that Michigan should accept the boundaries claimed by Ohio and Indiana and should receive the Upper Peninsula as a compensation there- for. The congressional act of admission soon followed, and from January 26, 1837, the boundary lines therein laid down have been accepted without serious question.
Thus we have seen that the southern boundary of our county as a legally described line came into existence in 1816, that that line was de- scribed with reference to a geographical point used in the Ordinance of 1787, and that it became the boundary of our county as it now is by, territorial act in 1829. But this line as the northern boundary of Indiana was not actually run and marked off until 1827 and 1828. In the former year a bill was passed by Congress providing for its being run and marked. The work was begun October 8, 1827, by Mr. E. P. Hendricks, under the authority of the surveyor general of the United States. '
The four small townships of our county bordering on Indiana were not laid ofif by the United States surveyors until 1828, and, as appears quite plainly from the Field Notes of the county, not until after the Indiana boundary had been run and marked by Mr. Hendricks. These four are town- ships 8 south, of ranges 5, 6, 7 and 8 west, or what afterward became Cali- fornia, Kinderhook, Gilead and Noble. The Notes show naturally that the township of range 5, or California, was the first to be surveyed. Over the date and name, "April 7, 1S28, Robert Clarke, Jun. D. S.," stands the fol- lowing note of the east boundary of this township : " Intersected N. bound- ary of Indiana 30.89 west of 104th mile post. Set post." April 13th fol- lowing, Mr. Clarke ran the western boundary of this township to the Indiana line and set a post at the intersection of the two, " Snowed this day three inches deep," he wrote as a beginning of our weather bureau records. April 23d he did the same for the western boundary of Kinderhook, or the eastern boundary of Gilead ; April 30th, the same for the western boundary of Gilead ; and May 6th, 1828, he ran and marked the western toundary of T 8 S, R 8 W, or of Noble township, and set a post, which marked the southwest corner of the county when it came into existence in 1829, and whicJi marks it probably today.
The southern boundaries of these townships, or the southern boundary of the county, piay also be described in terms of latitude, if the boundary between the two states has thus been determined and recorded, inasmuch as the former boundaries ought to be identical with the latter one or the latter ones. The 1906 edition of Lippincott's Gazetteer gives the north boundary of Indiana as " the parallel of 4: degrees, 46 minutes, north," and the south boundary of Michigan as " the parallel of 41 degrees and 42 minutes north." There seems to be a difference of four minutes between the latitude of the north boundary of Indiana and that of the south boundary of Michigan, though there is no difference among authorities as to the exact location of the one line forming the two boundaries on the surface of the ground.
The exact courses of the line referred to in the Ordinance of 1787 of the Harris line run in 1816 for the northern boundary of Ohio and of'the
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 15
line named as the northern boundary of Indiana, and becoming the southern boundary of Branch county, the exact courses of all these lines depended upon the exact location of one point, namely, the point asstimed to be the southern bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. When this point was actually deter- mined and marked by the United States surveyors I have not been able definitely to ascertain. The first actual survey of a line from this point, of which I know, was the one run in part in 1S15, and which was l>egun anew and completed in 1816 and 1817 by a Mr. Harris, in accordance with the proviso of Ohio's state constitution.. The point must have been established, therefore, as early as the surveys of 1815 and 1816, at any rate. In 1820,- imder the direction of President Monroe, a line was run and marked for the northern boundary of Ohio in accordance with the act of Congress of May 30, 1812, that is, due east from that point.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER HI.
TOrOfiRAPHTCAL FEATURES OF BRANCH COUNTY— THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
Branch comity, situated as it is midway between Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, occupies the highest position in the lower tier of counties. Its average elevation is between ten hundred and eleven liundreii feet above sea level.
Its surface structure is easily seen to be due to glacial action. In fact Branch county is situated upon the crest of a moraine beginning near Sagi- naw, Michigan, and extending southward into Indiana. The soil, rocks, hills, valleys and lakes all bear unmistakable evidence of a glacial origin. There are no mountains in Branch county, and but few conspicuous eleva- tions. " Warner's hill," immediately south of the city of Coldwater, is the highest hill in Coldwater township, but it is a comparatively gentle slope whose elevation is, perhaps, sixty feet. Its crest extends almost east and west and finally merges itself into the surrounding country alwut tw(5 and one-half miles east of the state road running south of Coldwater. There are notably two other hills in the northeastern portion of Algansee township conspicuous for both height and slope. They occur one directly after the other, their elevation being about seventy feet and their slope making an angle of al»ut fifty degrees with the horizon. These are three of the more noticeable hills in Branch county, but all of them will bear practically the same description.
Branch county owes its beauty almost entirely to its many l>eautiful and picturesque lakes. In tracing out its system of lakes it is natural to start with its largest, viz. : Coldwater Lake.
Coldwater Lake lies in the southeastern part of Ovid township in sec- tions 26, 27, 34 and 35. and also sections 2 and 3 of Kinderhook town- ship. Its extreme length from north to south is about two and one-half miles and its greatest width from east to west al)out two miles. An island consisting of 80 acres lies in the southeastern i>ortion of the lake and is almost entirely within section 35.
There are three places along its shores where cottages have been built for purptises of summer resort. Sans Souci, designating the largest assembly of cottages, is directly opposite the island on the eastern shore. Crystal Beach is next in size, and is located on the eastern shore near the northern extremity of the lake. The third, Idlewild, is on tlie western shore facing Crystal Beach and about one-half a mile from it. The sccnerv at Cold-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 17
water lake is so picturesque and attractive that many resorters irom other parts of the county and from other regions spend a great part of the sum- mer there.
The outlet of Coldwater lake starts about one-fourth of a mile south of IdleAviid in section 27 of Ovid township and runs in a generally westerly direction through that section. It just cuts across the northeastern corner of section 28, and pursues a northerly course through the eastern portion of section 21 into section i6, where it clianges to a northwest course and enters section 9. In section 9 it again runs straight west into section 8, where it empties into the eastern end of a small lake. At the western end of the lake it resumes its westerly course and keeps it as far as the southwest corner of section 8. At this point it receives the waters of Little lake, Lake of the Woods, and Bingham lake.
Bingham lake lies in the northwestern portion of section 30 and covers about 100 acres. The water of Bingham lake empties north into a very teautifnl lake called Lake of the Woods. This lake lies mostly in section 19, but it also occupies parts of sections 20, 17 and 18. It is about 300 acres in extent. Its outlet is in the southeastern quarter of section 18. It flows north and empties into Little lake, which is about equally divided between sections 17 and i8. Little lake empties northward into the outlet stream (]f Coldwater lake at the point mentioned above.
This stream, which is called the Branch of the Coldwater river, now flows north through sections 7 and 6 of Ovid township into section 31 of Coldwater township, where it empties into the millpond at the Black Hawk mills. From this millpond it flows north through section 30 into section 19, where it takes a northeasterly course through the southeast portion of sec- tion 19 into section 20, emptying into the western side of South lake, which lies just west of the city of Coldwater. Into this lake the other outlet of Cold- water lake also empties.
Returning now to Coldwater lake, we will speak of the two Jakes, Mud lake and Bartholomew lake, whose waters flow into it.
Long lake is situated almost entirely in section 23 of Ovid township, lying diagonally across it. One peculiar feature of this lake is its great depth. Of several people who have attempted to sound its depths each claims to have been unable to reach bottom. The shore on almost all sides plunges down almost perpendicularly. It is almost as if an earthquake had opened up a great deep fissure which had afterward filled up with water. Long lake occupies also small portions of sections 14 and 13. In the southwest corner of the latter section Loner lake receives the water of Mud lake, also in section 13.
Between Mud lake and Bartholomew lake, a distance of perhaps half a mile, there is a natural watershed, dividing the two chains of lakes form- ing the two sources of the two streams, the Coldwater river and its branch, which unite west of Coldwater. Some years ago a channel was cut through this watershed, when it was found that the waters of Bartholomew and of the lakes north of it would flow south into Mud lake. The channel at this
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18 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
point was afterwards closed. An account of this channel is given elsewhere in this work.
Bartholomew lake lies in the central portion of section 7 of Algansee township and empties by a channel into Middle lake, lying for the most part in sections 7 and 5 of Algansee township. A channel connects Middle lake with Marble lake, a comparatively large body of water, about half the size of Coldwater lake and located in sections 4 and 5 of Algansee township and sections 32, 33, 28, 29 and 21 of Quincy township. Cedar Pbint on the eastern shore of the lake in section 33 is the location of a summer resort of increasing popularity. A small but exceedingly picturesque lake in the northwestern corner of section 9 empties into Marble lake. This lake is also very deep, no bottom having as yet been found, although it has been sounded with more than 300 feet of line. It is called Hanchett lake.
Marble lake has two outlets, the one leaving the lake almost on the north line of section 32 at the middle point, the other in the nortlieastem quarter of section 29. The former flows northwest through the southwest corner of section 30. where it turns to the northeast back into section 29 again. The latter flows west, uniting with the first branch in the north- west corner of section 29. From here the stream is called the Coldwater river, and flows northwest through section 20 into section 19, where it pur- sues a westerly course into section 24 of Coldwater township. Immediately over the border line its course is changed to the southwest, running into section 25. From here the stream runs approximately west through the northwest part of section 26. It leaves this section, entering the southeast corner of the city of Coldwater, through which it flows in a west-northwest- erly direction.
The stream through the city alternately divides and imites four times, finally entering South lake west of the city in two separate places. It is for the most part shallow, deepening only where it has been dammed.
From South lake the water flows into a channel (natural, but dredged out by the Wolverine Cement Co. in 1905 and 1906) running due north into section 17, where it empties into North lake. From North lake through what is practically a continuation of the same lake the current passes into McCrea's lake and then into Randall's lake in section 5. From here through what is known as " The Narrows " the current flows into Morrison's lake, which occupies about one-half of section 32 of Girard township. Resorters have also built a few cottages on the eastern edge of this lake, which are known as Templar Beach.
At its northwestern portion Morrison's lake sends its water into an outlet, which runs a short distance north, then makes a bend eastward and with another northward turn expands into something of a lake, situated in section 29. From this the Coldwater River again takes up its course as a stream considerably larger than before it entered South lake. Its course is a meandering one, its general direction being westerly through sections 29 and 30 of Girard township into sction 25 of Union township, where it flows into the Hodunk millpond. Pursuing a westerly course on the boundary
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 19
line of sections 24 and 25 it widens considerably in a northerly direction in section 23. Soon after leaving the Hodunk millpond it receives the waters of Hog creek, which serves as the outlet of Vincent lake in section 4 of Girard tow-nship and also of a few minor lakes. In section 23 the Coldwater river narrows again and takes a northwesterly direction through sections 23 and 22 into section 15 of Union township; here it runs due north through sections 15 and 10 to section 3, where it turns abruptly to the west into section 4. Here it again turns to the north and then west into Union City, where it receives the waters of another small stream from Calhoun county. From here on the stream is known as the St. Joseph river.
The St. Joseph river now flows west through Union township into section 12 of Sherwood township. From here it pursues a generally southwest di- rection through Sherwood township into the northwest section of Matteson township. After only about a mile in this township it leaves Branch and enters St. Joseph county. In section 21 of Sherwood township the St. Joseph receives the waters of the outlet of Sherwood Jake and several minor lakes near it. This stream also drains Haven lake and two smaller lakes and also Blossom lake in sections 31 and 30. ,
To summarize, it is seen that the St. Joseph river has two sources, both in Branch county and within a few miles of each other, viz. : Coldwater lake through the branch of the Coldwater river, and Marble lake through the Coldwater river ; west of Coldwater both streams unite and continue their way through the cliain of lakes to Union City. This system takes in nearly all the lakes of Branch county. The remaining lakes empty into minor streams and creeks.
South of Coldwater lake in Kinderhook township, between Silver lake and Crooked lake, there is a natural watershed. As we have seen, the Cold- water lake sy.stem flows north. Silver lake of section 25, Kinderhook town- ship, and Fish lake of section 14 of the same township empty southeast into Indiana. Crooked lake of section 8, Pleasant lake of section 17, and Lavine lake of sections 18 and 20 of Kinderhook township are distant from Silver lake only by a mile or two on the other side of the divide and have Prairie river flowing west as their outlet.
Matteson lake of section 23, Matteson township, empties west into Little Swan creek.
The numerous marshes which accompany such an abundant supply of lakes have been for the most part drained and turned into tillable land. The rainfall supplying these lakes is between 60 and 70 inches annually, the greater portion falling in the months of April, May and June.
The soil of Branch county is very fertile, and except in a few places not stony.
The mineral wealth of Branch cormty, except for the marl ocairring in nearly all the lake bottoms, which, mixed with clay, is used in the manu- facture of cement, is nil.
In general Branch county is a prairie pitted here and there by prehistoric
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20 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
glacial action and these pits are now filled with water forming the beautiful and extensive lake system we have described.
The Drainage System.
Jn Branch county in the year of this writing there are in round num- bers four hundred public drains, approximating a total lengfth of one thousand miles. The four townships of Algansee, Bronson, Bethel and Butler, which have received the greatest benefits from this system, have had their land valuations nearly doubled. Since 1898 an average of about $30,000 has been expended each year on this department of public works. Although under the direction of a county drain commissioner, an ofiicer elected each two years by the board of supervisors, these improvements are, in a very important sense, not " public works."' The cost of every drain is assessed entirely on the area benefited, not on the county or township, and the en- terprise is thus one of concern and expense to the group of individuals who receive the varying benefits. But in vieu'ing the system as a whole, and its effects on the county, the conclusion is easily and inevitably reached that the drainage work done during the last fifty years has actually created wealth to the aggregate of millions of dollars. One strikiing illustration will suf- fice. For years a large portion of the township of Bronson was impractic- able for agriculture because of its low, swampy nature. Abo\it twenty years ago a community of Polish people settled there, bought the swamp lands in small lots, instituted a proper system of drainage, and now own some of the most productive farm lands in the county and have nearly doubled the valuation of the township.
Drainage began in a limited way during pioneer times. The settlers in the valleys of the many sluggish water courses were compelled to ditch chan- nels to carry off the water that otherwise would have stood for a large part of the year on the arable land. The clearing away of the timber and brusli and the breaking up of the soil and consequent destruction of the grassy turf that had become matted through centuries of growth, all contributed to more effective drainage. To get rid of the excess of surface water was a hve question sixty and seventy years ago. In fact, it demanded partial sohi- tion at once. But the means already indicated were so far effective that the greater portion of the lands became available at an early date, without any general system of co-operation.
Tlie first state law on the subject of drainage was passed in 1S56. This act created a drain commissioner for each township, who should have juris- diction over all the drains entirely within his township; while one county drain commissioner exercised supervision over the drains in which two or more townships were concerned. This created an unwieldy system. Seven- teen men, with varying views as to the usefulness and practicability of drain- age work, and few if any possessed of the engineering skill needed in such construction, formed a body without the concentrated ability needed in sci-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 21
entific drain-making. Nevertheless, the stun total of their work reclaimed or benefited thousands of acres in the county.
In June, 1897, an act of the legislature took effect abolishing the office of township drain commissioner, and put all the drains of the county under the jurisdiction of the county drain commissioner. It further providerl that the new counti,' commissioner should collate and systematize the drainage records, which hitherto had been very imperfectly kept by the township com- missioners. This task of recording, alone, has consumed a large part of the commissioner's time, and it is due to the present commissioner, D. E. Wea^, to state that the records and plats belonging to this branch of the county's business are thoroughly we!! made and arranged. Mr. Weage has been com- missioner the greater part of the time since the office was created, and it has been under the new law that the county's drainage has, in the main, become systematic and scientific.
It has been thought well to present a brief account of the important feat- ures of the drainage work in the variotis towmships of the county. Butler township, which is one of the four that have received greatest benefit from the worif, has forty-five public drains wholly or partly within its borders. The land of this township is largely a clay subsoil, originally covered with heavy timber, and hence lacking, over a great portion, in natural <lrainage. More land has been reclaimed in this township than in any other. The most important drain is known as the Warren Brook ditch, which crosses tlie township from east to west, almost centrally o\'er the area between Hog creek and Tekonsha creek. This drain was constructed in the seventies. Another drain, crossing the northeast comer of the townsliip, from Hillsdale county into Calhoun, will, when completed, reclaim five hundred acres and liienefit about fifteen hundred acres in Butler.
Girard township, whose most conspicuous feature is the beautiful and fertile prairie in the center, has required as little artificial drainage as any township in the county. Tliere are about tweli'e public drains, the two most important being a continuation of the Warren Brook and the Tekonsha Creek, which come from Butler, the former finding an outlet in Hog creek.
Union township, though originally thickly wooded, has more natural drainage than Butler. Its thirty public drains affect about five sections of its area. Tlie largest drains are Buell No. 10, in sections 19, 30 and 31: and Union No. 36, in sections 2, 3. il. 13. 14. and 24, afl^ecting a lar^e area in the northeast comer of the tow'nship.
Sherwood township is cut up with natural water courses, chiefly the St. Joseph river, and consequently its eighteen ixtblic drains; are comparatively short. The Kiiboura, Blackwel! and Fimple drains are the largest.
In Matteson township are twenty-five public drains, none of them ex- tensive. No. 16 and No. 17 lieing the largest. Nevertheless, drainage has added materially to the agricultural wealth of this township. Along the courses of several of these drains lie large areas of peat or muck lands, and since they have become available for cultivation the owners have engaged in
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22 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
mint-raising, a crop that is becoming a strong asset in the agricuftnre of southern Michigan, and which is best grown on the reclaimed' swamp lands. With an average yield an acre of such mint land as is foiind along drain No. 17 will produce sixty pounds of mint oil, for which the market price is three dollars per pound, a large income from the land and labor expended.
Batavia township is crossed from northeast to southwest by the swampy valley of Mill creek. Tlie principal drainage worff to be done in this town is the straightening and dredging of this sJuggish stream, some work having already been done. Altogether Batavia has thirty-three drains, the largest being county drain No. 5, in sections 6, 7, 17, 20.
In Coldwater township are twenty-three drains. The most important are drain No. 15, Benton Pond and Williams No. 28. These three especially concern the city of Coldwater. Benton Pond was constmcted to take the storm sewerage from tlie second ward, wliile No. 15 and No. 28 w^ere also constructed mainiy for the city. The city is at the bottom of a watershed of abornt five square miles extending east into Quincy township. In freshet seasons the drainage from this area not infrequently sprrad over the prairie and caused inundations in the city. The municipality therefore constructed a drain along its eastern border to divert this water, in 1904, and after it had proved ineffective against a recurrence of tli* flood, the 'county took charge of the drain and improved it and made it county drain- No. 15.
Quincy township has thirty-four drains, the largest being No. 8, which was laid out in 1861, but did not become fidly effective until two years ago, when, after the expenditure of ten thousand dollars, it drained and reclaimed a large amount of land in the township.
An interesting bit of history may be told in connection with Quincy drainage. In 1878 was formed the " Quincy Chain Lake Channel Company,"' the president of which was James Donovan of Quincy, and the secretary and treasurer was R. W. Berry. These men and their associates proposed to dredge out a navigable channel connecting the chain of lakes in Quincy, Al- gansee and Ovid townships, so as to afford a continuous water way from Marble lake to Coldwater lake; in other words, to connect the headwaters of both branches of the Coldwater river, the east branch of that stream having its origin in Marble lake, and the west branch rising from Coldwater lake. The purpose of the channel company was to make a continuous water course of some twenty miles' length, affording magnificent fishing and pleasure resorts. The enterprise was begun with much popular enthusiasm and the channel was actually dredged out and completed according to program.
About that time it was discovered that the surface of Marble lake was eight inches higher than that of Coldwater lake. It had previously been con- tended that the lake were of equal level, and that the connecting channel would have no effect on the flow of the water though their natural outlets. But as a matter of fact. Marble lake being the higher of the two. and the new channel affording a freer escape for the waters than the natural river bed. the result would have been for Marble lake to empty its waters through the chain
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY i!3
of lakes and thence by way of the west branch of tlie Coidwater river, while the east branch of the river would receive a greatly diminished supply and might eventually become entirely dry.
As is known, the Quincy branch of the Coidwater supplied the W. A. Coombs mills at Coidwater with power. As soon as he saw that the opera- tions of the Channel Company would threaten his water supply, Mr. Coom!)s. secured an injunction against Mr. Donovan and his associates preventing them from diverting the waters of Marble lake frc*n. its former outlet. Tlie courts upheld this injunction and the Qiannel Company was compelled to fill up part of the channel, etfectually preventing them from carrying out the broad plan they had contemplated.
Algansee township has thirty-seven drains. Most !mjx>rtant of these, and the largest in Branch county, is the Pridgeon and Warner drain, which was completed in 1905 at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. This ditch also drains a large portion of California township.
In Ovid township are eighteen drains. Tlie largest is the Betts drain, which was dug in 1901, its course lying in sections 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 29, 30, 32. All of section 29, as well as portions of several other sections, was long known as " Grass Lake," and the land was sold again and again for taxes, l>eing totally unfit for use. The old drain No. 7, which passed through it, did little to reclaim the land. Since the completion of the Betts drain prac- tically all this submerged land has been reclaimed.
Bethel township has for years known the value of drains. Elias C. Tozier now deceased, was township drain commissioner for about twenty- five yearSj.laid out most of the drains during his term of service, and the results of his careful and energetic work make his name deserving of men- tion in this connection. Bethel now has thirty-six drains, all of about equal importance and size, running over fronr one to three sections.
Bronson township has thirty-two drains, the largest being county drain No. ID, built in 1861 and ninning through sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 23 and 29.
Noble township has not required much artificial drainage. Tliere are eleven drains, Biosser drain and Noble drains No. 4 and Noi. 5 being the largest.
In Gilead township a large acreage in the central portion had little value until it was cleared and drained. Lang's drain, running through this sec- tion from Pleasant lake, has lowered the waters to such an extent that at the liresent time the north shore line of that lake has receded south of the state line. Drain No. 39 is also a large drain. There are seventeen public ditches in the township.
Kinderhool< townshii) has ten drains. Kinderbook No. 4, which is the largest, passes from the center of the town out through the lakes into Gilead.
California township has fifteen drains, the most important being the Pridgeon and Warner drain already mentioned in connection with Algansee.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER IV. THE INDIANS AND THE EARLY SETTLERS' LIFE WITH THEM.
Tlie first settlers of Branch county had Indians as their neighbors, and for several years after settlenient began there were more red men than whites in the county. In the work of development and civilization the Indians had no part; in fact they were an adverse element which had to be removed before white men could proceed to build homes, make farms and lay the foundation of business and institutions. Happily for the history of Branch county, the Indians were never hostile to the degree that was true of Indians in other parts of the country, notably in the far west, Tbe repre- sentatives of the government were able to conciliate them and generally treated them fairly, and therefore this history can recount no revengeful outbreaks nor pitched battles between the two races. It seems necessary in a general way to describe the people who lived here before the coming of the whites, the manner of disposition of their lands and their removal to the west, and what relations subsisted between the natives and the settlers.
The Indians whom the pioneers to Branch county encountered were in nearly every case Potawatomis, an Algonquian tribe that originally were found by the whites in the vicinity of Green Bay, Wisconsin. But about 1670, being harassed by hostile tribes, they were moving south, and by the close of the seventeenth century had established themselves on Milwaukee river, at Chicago, and on the St. Joseph river, mostly in territory that had previously been held by the Miami. By the beginning of the nineteenth century they were in possession of the country around the head of Lake Michigan, from Milwaukee river in Wisconsin, to Grand river in Michigan, extending southwest over a large part of Illinois, east across Michigan to Lake Erie, and south in Indiana to the Wabash and as far down as Pine creek. Within this territory they had about fifty villages. The principal divisions were those of St. Joseph river, Michigan, Huron river, Michigan, Wabash river, and the Potawatomis of the Prairie in Illinois and Wis- consin.
The Potawatomi sided actively with the Frencli down to the peace of 1763. They were prominent in the rising under Pontiac, and on the break- ing out of the Revolution in 1775 took arms against the United States, and continued hostilities until the treaty of Greenville in 1795. They again took up arms in the British interest in 1812, and made final treaties of peace in 1815. As the settlements rapidly pressed upon them they sold their land by piecemeal and removed beyond the Mississippi. Those who went west were settled partly in western Iowa and partly in Kansas, the former, with whom
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 25
were identified many individuals of other tribes, being known as Prairie Potawatomi, while the others were known as the Potawatomi of the Woods. In 1846 they were all united on a reservation in southern Kansas. In 1861 a large part of the tribe took lands in severalty and became known as citizen Potawatomis, but in 1868 they again removed to a tract in the Indian Terri- tory, where they now are. The others are still in Kansas, while a consid- erable body, part of the Prairie band, are still in Wisconsin, and another l)and, the Potawatomi of the Huron, are in lower Michigan. According to the census of 1820 there were 3,400 Potawatomis in the United States. In 1884 those in the United States were reported to number 1,332, distributed as follows; Citizen Potawatomi in the Indian Territory, 550; in Kansas, 430; Prairie band in Wisconsin, 280: and Potawatomi of Huron, in Cal- houn county, Mich., 72. A few besides these are scattered through their ;incient territory and at various other points. The numbers in the United States in 1903, according to the official report were as follows: Prairie band in Kansas, 602; Potawatomi of Huron, 78; Citizen Potawatomi in Oklahoma, I.6S6.
The Indians of this tribe are described in the early notices as the " most docile and affectionate toward the French of all the savages of the west." They were also more friendly disposed toward Christianity, besides being more humane and civilized than the other tribes. Their women were more reserved than was usual among Indians, and showed some tendency toward refinement in manners. As slaves were found among them when first visited ])y the white^i, it is probable they were in the habit of making slaves of their captives rather than torturing and slaying them, though no positive state- ment on this ]H3int is on record. Polygamy was common when they were visited t>y the early missionaries.
These \\ere the people whom the first settlers in Branch county found dwelling in small village groups or passing across the county over the Indian trails. But even then they were living in the county merely by sufferance of the government, for they no longer had \ega\ claim to the land. The im- portant treaty that affected Branch and other counties of southern Michigan was the Chicago treaty of 1S21. which was negotiated at Fort Dearborn on the 29th of August by Governor Cass and Solomon Sibley with the Pota- watomis, Chipewas and Ottawas. the first named being the tribe principally interested and the others signing the instrument as auxiliaries or friends. By this treaty the Indians ceded to the government a tract of land embracing nearly eight thousand square miles, containing Branch county and all those surrounding it, besides practically all of the country now designated as south- western Michigan. As mentioned in the history of Coldwater township, five small tracts were reserved from this cession, one of them being in the center of Branch county.
On the 19th of September, 1827, a treaty was made at the Carey Mission (Niles) by Gov. Cass, the object of which was to gain the cession of a num- ber of small Indian reservations (that in Branch county being of the num- ber) " in order to consolidate some of the dispersed bands of the Potawatomi
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26 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
tribe in the territory of Michigan, at a point removed from the road leading from Detroit to Chicago, and as far as practicable from the settlements of the whites."' This last reservation was along the St. Joseph river near Niles. A few years later this last foothold of the tribe in Michigan was signed away, and the chiefs of the St. Joseph band of the Potawatoniis agreed that they and their people would remove from the country in 1836. This was the result of the second treaty of Chicago, signed on September 26, 1S33. There were Indians in Branch county during the greater part of the decade of the thirties. They did not willingly leave their Michigan home. When the commissioners escorted the bulk of the tribe to their new homes beyond the Mississippi, many eluded the vigilance of the officers and remained behind. Some even returned after they had reached the western reserva- tion. The efforts at collecting the Indians had to be repeated several times, and as already mentioned, some were never taken away and their descend- ants are still to be found in certain localities of southern Michigan.
The Indian villages that were found in the county by the early settlers are to be mentioned in connection with the story of se'ttlement. There was one on Coldwater prairie. When Wales Adams came along the Chicago trail in September, 1830, and stopped over night at the Bolton-Morse taveni on the east side of the prairie, he learned, to quote his own words, that " a lodge of several hundred Potawatomi Indians was encamped about one and a half miles in a northwest direction, to which place the travelers re- paired. The Indians occupied their time in smoking, dancing and speech- making alternately. They were discussing the subject of their removal be- yond the Mississippi." Girard prairie was also a favorite haunt of the In- dians, and in historical times a small village existed in Kinderhook town- ship.
The relations of the Indians and the settlers were generally amicable. Then, as now, vagrancy was a notable characteristic of Indian nature, and it was chiefly petty stealing and meddling that made the whites apprehensive of such neighbors. Dnmkenness was the source of most of the crime, and this coupled with natural shiftlessness made the Indian a generally unwel- come though not dangerous visitor.
The presence of the Indians actuated the establishment of the first mer- cantile businesses in Branch county. Roland Root, the father of E. R. Root of Coldwater, is said to have had a trading post on the banks of the Cold- water river west of present Coldwater, and there trafficked with both the Indians and the whites. Loren Marsh in 1831 had established a trading post in the eastern part of Coldwater township, and later moved to a location west of the Coldwater river, where he carried on his trade with the Indians over a large circuit.
So often in the course of this history will Indian trails of Branch county be referred to as affecting settlement, that credit should be given at this point for what was practically the only public improvement which mav be said to have originated with the Indian. The eariy settlers were familiar with several trails, which they used until straight roads could be laid
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 27 ■
out. and in some cases the trail bed became the route and foundation of the highway; the conspicuous example of this being the Chicago road.
As late as 1840 Indians were not uncommon in Branch county. They caused the settlers much annoyance, and the latter at every opportunity urged their removal from the country to which they had no longer any legal right. The civil authorities finally co-operated with the military of the United States, and a detachment of troops under Gen. Brady of Detroit was sent to gather up and take away all the Indians who still remained in Branch and surrounding counties. Even then some escaped the forced exile, but with the departure of that band from the home of their ancestors the Indian ceased to be a considerable factor in the life of Branch county.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER V.
NUMBER, NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE COUNTY'S PEOPLE.
The first enumeration of the people of Branch county as a county by itself took place in 1837. At least this is the year of the first census of which there now remains any particular record. The number of white men, women and children then making their home within the county's boimd- aries was 4,016. This census was taken by the state government a few months after the admission of the state into the Union. No Indians were included in this census, and no Indians not taxed have been included in any census of the county taken either by the state or national government.
There was, however, one enumeration, and probably two, previous to 1837, of the people residing within our county's area. The year of the first settlement of a white man in this area was 1828, the year before the county was created and named. The first regular decennial census of the United States after the white man had thus begim to live within our limits came in 1830. Branch was not yet separately organized as a county, but for all judicial purposes was attached to St. Joseph county, and along with " Cal- houn and Eaton, and all the country lying north of the county of Eaton," formed the township of Green. The population of St. Joseph county is given n the census of 1830 by four subdivisions of the county, the second of which " Green and Flowerfield." The total population of Green and Flowerfield s given as no, 71 males and 39 females. Green and Flowerfield were the westernmost of the four subdivisions of St. Joseph county, and the total of no inhabitants was the smallest of the four, "Sherman" having 205, the "Township of Brady" 391, and "White Pigeon" 607. Within the bound- aries of our Branch county itself there were, it can be said with certainty, not a hundred people in the year 1830, and probably not more than fifty. But here in this census, we see at any rate at this time towards fifty people living within our area, the fountain head or nucleus of all our history.
In 1834 a census of the Territory of Michigan was taken by order of the Legislative Council in preparation for the admission of the territory as a state. The act provided that the enumeration be taken by the sheriffs of the counties " between the second Monday of October and the first Mon- day of November," and that returns be made to the county clerks and to the territorial secretary. The county had been organized for its own action sepa- rate from St. Joseph, March i, 1833. William McCarty had been elected sheriff in April. But there is no record now in the county clerk's office of any census taken in this county in that year, nor are there any records of
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 29
sucli census of this county in the state hbrary or in the archives of the De- partment of State in I,ansing. The total population of Michigan territory bv that census is known, but not that of Branch county.
In starting with the first enumeration of our county's inhabitants, and making our first note of the increase of population, we have, therefore, to think of the period of seven years from 1830 to 1837. Inferring the num- ber to have been fifty in 1830, as we have done, 1837 shows the number to have reached 4,016. AH the counties adjoining us had in 1837 a larger population than we. Hillsdale to the east of us had 4,749; Calhoun on the north, 7,959; and St. Joseph and Cass, with areas exactly equal to ours, had 6,337 ''nd 5,296, Today, according to the census of 1904, our popu- lation considerably exceeds that of St. Joseph and of Cass.
In 1840, three years after the first state census, another national census was taken and in 1845 the second state census. In 1850 a new constitution was adopted, which required the legislature to " provide by law for an enumer- ation of the inhabitants in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four and every ten years thereafter." Accordingly, from 1S50 on, a census of the county has been taken every four and six years in alternation, the work being doniC alternately by the national and by the state authorities. We present here in one view the population of the county at the times of these several censuses from 1837 to 1904:
1837 4,016 1870 26,227
1S40 5.715 1874 25.726
1845. ........ 9.070 1880. ........ .27,941
1850 12,472 1884 1..,. .27,661
1854 15,686 1890, 26,791
i860. , . 20,981 1894. ... ... . . .26,207
1864 22,458 1900 27,811
I9CM- 26,397
Space will not permit us to direct attention with much particularity to the facts which appear 011 the face of these figures, nor to bring forward facts and causes which lie behind them. We present only a few of the more general and striking phases of the population during the seventy-four years between 1830 and 1904.
First, as to the first decade of 1830 to 1840. Inferring as we have done from the census of :830, that the county began with fifty inhabitants ill that year, we see 1837 giving it 4,016, and 1840, 5,715. This was an increase on the average of over five hundred people in each one of those first ten years. Our knowledge of the persons who were living in the county in 1831 makes it certain that by the end of that year there were thirty or forty families settled in it, and we may say that the fifty inhabitants of 1830 had increased to 150 or 200. As to the points about which they were nearly all settled, these were Bronson, Branch, Coldwater and Girard.
In May, 1832, the call for Michigan militia to aid in defending Chicago in the " Black Hawk War" put a stop almost entirely to the coming of
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30 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
people, which had been growing; from 1830 up to that time. People coming from the east hecame afraid to settle where there were any Indians. About the same time in 1832, cholera was brought from Quebec to Detroit and Chicago. Fear of cholera combined with fear of Indians to prevent emi- gration to southern Michigan. After May many of the stages, which had been doing a larger passenger business during the spring over the Chicago road than ever before, were taken off. The check put upon immigration into the county in 1832 by these two causes was felt through the two years fol- lowing. There was increase, but it was slow. With the opening of 1835. however, the tide began to flow strong again along the Chicago road. A goodly share of prospectors and of the occupants of the white-covered emi- grant wagons were attracted by the lands of Branch county. In the spring of 1836 the tide doubled its volume. It seemed to those already on the ground as if the whole country was alive with emigrants. Speculation in land and platted village lots, with visions of great profits, was a large factor in the movement. The numbers coming continued to increase through 1836, and with the opening of 1837. In the early part of 1837 Dr. Isaac P. Alger found thirty-three taverns on the Chicago road in Branch county in going from Quincy to Sturgis. But in May and June of 1837 this tide of immi- gration and of business inflated by " wild cat " currency reached its height, and then began rapidly to decline. By the latter part of autumn [people had stopped coming. The standstill of 1832 was repeated. But the people who had been brought into the county by the three years from 1835 on, mostly remained, and the state census of 1837 took them, and found them to be 4,016, as we have seen. Probably more than three thousand of this number came into the county during the three preceding years. The three following years added only 1,699, according to the United States census of 1840, whicli made the population of the county 5,715.
We will next take a general view of the population of the county as to numbers during the entire time of the county's life. We note in this view, first, that the census of 1880 stands out as the high-water mark of all the census years between 1837 and 1904, that highest population being 27,941. It win be natural now to note the movement during the forty-three years preceding that year, and the twenty-four years subsequent to it.
From 1837 to 1870, or during tlie first thirty-three years, each census showed an increase over the one immediately before it. But four years later, or in 1874, the first decrease appears; this, however, is more than overcome in the six years following, which brings us to the high-water census of 1880. The rate of increase was very rapid from 1840 to the begin- ning of the Civil war in 1861. Tlie four years of the war lowered the rate of increase, but during the six years from 1864 to 1870 the rate rose to about what it was during the six years before the war.
As to the twenty-four years since 1880, it will be a taie genera! state- ment to say that the population of the county in numbers has continued at a standstill. The United States census, taken twenty years after 1880, made
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 31
a difference of onlj' 130 between the population then, in 1900, and that of 1880. it being 130 less.
To understan<l the nature of the i>eople, whose history we are writing, we mnst give some attention to their nationality, to the communities from which they came, to their occupations, and to their intelligence and moral and religious ideals. Very few counties in Michigan, and, indeed, in any western state, have had an American bom and homogeneous population to file degree which Branch has had all through its history. We use a few facts from the census of 1880 to illustrate this statement.
By that census there were no Indians and no Chinese in the county, and only 65 colored persons. St. Joseph had"230 colored people and Cass 1,837. In its entire population of 27,941, Branch had 1,808 persons of foreign birth. This was one in fifteen, or six per cent of the total. St. Joseph county had in that year 3.554 foreign-born in its poinilation, and its total was some- what less than that of Branch. There is an interesting significance in the several numbers of these 1,808 foreigners coming from different foreign countries. The number born in England and Wales was the larg^est; it was 481. This is quite a sprinkling of fresh, genuine Englishmen among the inhabitants of the county, and those who have been residents of it have been aware that they are a perceptibly distinct element of its life. Se].>arate from those who were born in England and Wales, the census of 1880 made enumerations of those who were born in Ireland, in Scotland, and in British America or the Dominion of Canada. It is rather surprising perhaps that a less number of persons had come into Branch county from Canada, just across t!ie Detroit and St. Clair rivers, than had come directly from old England across the ocean, or than had come from Ireland alone. There were 276 of Branch county's [jeople who had been born in British America, while 330 had been born in Ireland, and 481 as we have noted were natives of England and Wales. Besides these there were 46 who had been born in the land of Burns and Carnegie, Counting these ail together as being in the large sense British bom, they make a total of 1,133, ^^^ become by far the largest foi'eign-born ingredient in the county's population. But in the bearing of this fact on the homogeneous and American quality of the population as a whole, it is to be noted that all these English speaking foreigners are nearer than any other nationality to native born Americans.
Next in number to the British born component stood in 18S0 those born in Germany. There were 479 of them, two less than the 481 born in Eng- land and Wales. ITie larger portion of the Germans have always been found in the city of Coldwater and its immediate vicinity. Since 1858 a German Lutheran congregation ha\-e held services in the cit;' in German. Next to Coldwater city and township. Algansee is t^e region in which men from the land of Luther and Lessing have settled. The numl>ers of foreign- born in the county in 1880 from other countries were given as follows: Born in Poland, 141; in p-rance, 9: in Sweden and Norway, 7; and in Hol- land, 3. The Poles of 1880, with the 14.1 who had been born In the Poland of Europe, were settled almost entirely by themselves in the township of
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33 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
Bronson, south and west of the village. They have since then multiplied rapidly, and have been spreading out from their locality in 1880. By their industry and cheap mode of living they have saved money, have bought not a little of the land upon which they began to labor for wages, and have been steadily improving their condition in every respect. They are almost uni- versally Roman Catholics, and now, in 1906, form a large Roman Catholic congregation with a church building in Bronson which is the largest in the village. A PoHsh priest resides there and conducts the church services in the Polish language and superintends a parish school in, a fine, large brick school building, in which the teaching is in Polish. Our Polanders are gradually becoming assimilated to our American life, but as yet they are noticeably the most foreign and un-American portion of our county's population in physique, in language and in religion.
With only 1,808 foreign-born people in a population of 27,941, the mass of Branch county people are seen at once to be American born. But the different portions, the different states even, of the Union have always shown distinctive qualities in their people. Michigan belongs to the first or perhaps the second group of western states that were settled by migrations from the eastern states. It remains to glance at the nativity of the American-born portion of our county's people.
The census of 1880 gave the following figures as to the nativity by cer- tain states of the inhabitants of the county at that time : born in the sitate, 13,873; born in New York, 6,425; in Ohio, 2,706; in Pennsylvania, 828; in Indiana, 790 : in Vermont, 301 ; in Massachusetts, 203 ; in New Jersey, t43 in Wisconsin, 83. It thus appears that when the county had attained its growth as to population, almost one-half of the people were Michigan born. As to those born in other states, the figures confirm a fact generally perceived and frequently commented upon by the people of the county, that they are more largely from New York state than from any other. More than 22 per cent of the population in 1880, or nearly one in four, were born in the Empire state. If we go back a decade to the census of 1870, the fact of New York state people leading those from all other states in the early population of the county, grows more conspicuous. In that year 7,875 out of a total of 26,227 were natives of New York. This is 30 per cent, or ■nearly one in three. The census of i860 made no note of the nativity of the population by counties. The events and influences which caused this main stream of the migrations from other states to flow from New York will be set forth in a future chapter, especially in the one treating of the Chicago road.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER VI. ROUTES OF IMMIGRATION.
THE ERIE CANAL.
In 1S25 the Erie canal, after eight years in building, was opened to traffic, and the waters of Lake Erie flowed across the state of New York into the Hudson river. Tlie dream of Henry Hudson in seeking a northwest passage up the river that bears his name was realized after more than two centuries, only instead of the spice-laden orient the new way led to the far more desirable and potentially richer American west. The land-bound com- merce of the Atlantic seaboard found, in this direction, outlet to the eager west, and, borne along the same channel, the grain harvests of the inland were brought to the markets of the world. It was no uncommon thing for fifty ark-like boats, loaded with passengers and freight, to depart from the eastern terminus of the Erie canal in a single day, passing to the west at the rate of four miles an hour. While before the water was turned into the " Big Ditch " the toilsome urging of creaking wagons had not carried a frac- tion of the commerce that passed along this waterway.
The Erie canal not only gave a tremendous impetus to westward expan- sion and development, but it changed its direction. Herein lies the signifi- cance of the canal in the history of southern Michigan, including Branch county.
Before 1825 the trend of western migration had been down the Ohio valley. The great water courses were fringed with settlements when the inland country was still an unbroken wilderness. The regions bordering the riverways and great lakes were populous before a tree had been felled for a settler's cabin on the fertile prairies and woodlands of northern Indiana and southern Michigan. In proof of this witness the admission of Indiana to statehood ten years before the first settlers came to her northern tier of coun- ties. Southern Michigan was aside from the current of emigration, and its settlement was delayed while settlers were overrunning the country to the south and the Illinois prairies.
OVERLAND ROADS.
There were no roads in southern Michigan even for several years after the completion of the Erie cana!. A inap of the highways of travel in the United States in the year 1825 shows a network of routes along the Ohio valley, but none north of the watershed into the great lakes which would bring emigrants within many miles of Branch county.
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34 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
The homeseekers who traveled across Lake Erie to its western end would on their arrival at Detroit find one generally used road to the west. 'I'hat led southwest to Monroe, up the valley of the Maumee river past Defi- ance, Ohio, through Fort Wayne, Indiana, and thence northwesterly around the lower end of Lake Michigan to Chicago or further west. Fort Wayne was the converging jjoint for several other roads leading from different points along the Ohio river. The great bulk of the pioneers who settled the northern Indiana and southwest Michigan counties bordering on Lake Michigan came by way of Fort Wayne. This accounts for the more cosmo- politan character of the population of that region than is found In Branch county. Through Fort Wayne passed streams of emigrants not only from the New England states and New York and Pennsylvania, but also from Maryland, Virginia, the Carohnas and Kentucky,
It should also be mentioned that a large number of emigrants, instead of debarking at Detroit and taking the Fort Wayne route, made the entire circuit of the lakes by way 'of Mackinac, not beginning their journey over- land until they reached the lower end of Lake Michigan. But this route also took them far from Branch county, which remained practically isolated except as a chance settler might fiiid his way here.
Railroads at that time had not become a factor in directing and assist- ing emigration. In 1830 only thirty-six miles of railway were in operation in all the United States. Only two years before had the first mile of the Baltimore and Ohio been built. The decade of the twenties was prolific of railroad charters and plans, but Only the beginnings were made of the rail- road building which soon absorbed the energies of the nation. In fact, the part of the railroad in southern Michigan was that of development rather tlian settlement. When the first railroad penetrated Branch county its popu- lation was nearly fifteen thousand. The lands had been taken up, and the pioneer period was practically over when the Southern Railroad began push- ing west from Lake Erie.
CHICAGO ROAD.
Such was the situation for Branch county at the completion of the Erie canal. The routes of travel were around the lakes to the north or through Fort Wayne on the south, converging a hundred "miles to the west, where settlement was begun before Branch county had any inhabitants, except the Indians and some wandering hunters. What reason is to be found for the settlement, within a period of twenty, years, of fifteen thousand people in this county? Pre-eminently above all other causes, the " Chicago Road."
While the stream of migration that poured forth from the western end of the Erie canal would in time have overflowed all the peninsula between Lake Erie and Lake Michigan, it was the Detroit and Chicago national ^oad that gave it direction and caused the rapid settlement of the southern tier of counties. To this institution more than any other except the character of the settlers it brought, Branch county is indebted for the establishment of its
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 35
prosperity on the substantial Ijasis which has endured more than two genera- tions.
The famons thoroughfare which passes centrally through Branch county from east to west may reasonably be called an overland extension of the Erie canal. It was a national highway built to connect two important strategic jjoints, to afford rapid transportation of military supplies and armies from the ■western terminus of the waterways at Detroit to Fort Dearborn on Lake Michigan. Fjnpowered by the constitution to establish post roads, the gen- eral government designed this road as an important section of the postal route l)etween the east and the west, and for the twenty years before the railroad came the New York-Chicago mail was carried by stage over this. road. But its character as a government highway was almost lost sight of in the im- portance it attained as an emigrant route. The coming of the mail coach never lost novelty or ceased to be the event of the day for the people dwelling along the road, but the almost continuous line of settlers' wagons became one of the commonplaces of life at that time and attracted little attention.
In accordance with congressional legislation for the construction of a military and postal road between Detroit and Chicago, in 1825 the president was authorized to appoint commissioners to survey and mark this road. In 1827 congress appropriated twenty thousand dollars for the construction of the road. It was the original purpose to build the road in a straight line between the designated termini, but the commissioners soon found that with the money at hand they could hardly make a beginning of the undertaking on that basis. The straight course had to be abandoned, and one was adopted which, while presenting fewer engineering difficulties, was, historically, more natural and interesting.
Before civilization introduced scientific road-making, wild animals were doubtless the markers and surveyors of roads. The narrow, deep-worn and wavering path through the woods, indicating the route of the wild animal i)etween its lair and the spring where it quenched its thrist or the spot where it sought its quarry, was the course which the Indian, and later the white man, took in going through the woods or across the prairie. Thus animals were the first road-makers, and blazed the way for their immediate succes- sors, the roving Indians. The latter would naturally extend and connect the trails into certain long avenues of travel across the country, which they would follow in making their pilgrimages from one hunting ground to another or for their war expeditions.
Several of these trails existed in Branch county long before white man set his foot here. Most used of all was that one extending centrally across the county from west to east. This was not only a favorite route pursued by the Indians of southern Michigan, but since the war of 1812 the Indians dwelling in Illinois had been accustomed to make their annual pilgrimages along this route to Canada, where the British government paid them their annuity earned by loyalty to that government in its war against the Ameri- cans. The Detroit-Chicago Indian trail, therefore, had historic importance long before any marks of civilization had been made in Branch county.
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36 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
Accordingly, when the government surveyors who sought to carry, out instructions and define a military road from Detroit to Fort Dearborn, found tliat the appropriation for that purpose was far from adequate, they deter- mined to follow the route that had been surveyed and marked by the animals and the Indians. Of course many of the windings of the original trail have been corrected, either when the road was made or later. But the traveler whose journey lies along this thoroughfare may say with approximate fidelity to history that the road is but an Indian trail enlarged and improved to a modern highway.
The engineers who began the work of marking this road in 1825 did not "make" the road; they merely designated its course. As late as 1829 the pioneers through this county called the road little better than an Indian trail. It was planned that the road should be one hundred feet wide, but in the actual process of construction it seemed most expedient only to cut off the trees for that width and to clear the stumps and smooth the roadway for a width seldom exceeding forty feet. From available data, it seems probable that the Chicago road was still in process of construction through Branch county as Jate as 1832. For James G. Corbus in that year was a contractor engaged in building a portion of the way on Bronson's prairie. And when Martin Olds, the Batavia pioneer, came along this road in 1834 the first stream over which he found a bridge was the Coldwater, the bridge at Masonville having just been completed before his arrival in June. Stages had been running, however, since 1830, so that the road must have been passable at that date or earlier.
It should be kept in mind that the Chicago road was a national highway, was constructed and maintained by appropriations from Congress. ■ At a later date the Michigan legislature provided for numerous " State roads," sfeveral of which were built through or in Branch county, and are still known as " State roads." The third class, to whicli most of the roads in the county belong, are those laid out by the township highway commissioners. But both state and township roads were maintained by local taxation.
SOURCES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
One of the most interesting themes of early Branch county history is concerned with the sources which furnished the pioneer settlers. The same study will indicate in a graphic manner the combined influence of the Erie Canal and the Chicago Road in directing migration to this county. This route was the most natural one for the people of New York and the New England states to take in moving to the west. It is from New York state, indeed, that we find the bulk of the early settlers of this county to have come. While that state may not be called the first state home of al! these people, it will be found that in most cases the people of Massachusetts, of Vermont, or of Connecticut, made some point in New York the first stage of their westward movement, in many instances spending several years there before proceeding to Michigan.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 37
Samuel H. Berry, father of the Quincy pioneers among whom was the late Dr. E. G. Berry, while a native of New Hampshire, moved from that state to Pennsylvania, then to New York, and from there came to Brand county, in 1835. Saratoga county, New York, was the birthplace of Peter M. Newberry, also of Quincy, who in 1836 started from New York with the intention of settling in Ohio, but landing in Detroit came down the Chicago road to Jonesville, and then on to Quincy township, where he was one of the early settlers. Other pioneers of Quincy who came from New York were Alvarado Brown, from Orleans county; John; S. Belote, from Albany in 1835 ; B. F. Wheat, the banker, who came from Ontario county to Lenawee county, Michigan, in 1836; AnseH Nicholls, who settled in Quincy township in 1836, was from Oswego county. New York; Chautauqua county was the starting point of William P. Arnold, who located two miles east of Coldwater along the Chicago road in 1833, and in 1839 bought a hundred acres in the present Quincy village.
The late Dr. W. B. Sprague of Coldwater came from Rochester to this county in 1835, and Syracuse was the birthplace of Alonzo Waterman, who came to Bronson in 1832 and later to Coldwater and became noted as a miller, merchant and successful business man. The Erie Canai was the route that Lorenzo D. Halsted followed in coming to this county in 1836. He drove a horse on the towpath from Albany to Buffalo, and from there worked his way on a steamer to Detroit, whence the Chicago road iinally guided him to Coldwater,
Monroe county. New York, was the home of many who later became well known in Branch coi;nty. James M. Burdick walked from there to Buffalo in 1830, took a steamer to Detroit, and by the roughly marked Chicago trail reached Allen's in Hillsdale county, whence he came to Quincy in 1836. The well known horseman, Abram C. Fisk, who settled on the Chicago road just east of Coldwater, was from Monroe county, and in the next year the pioneer Harvey Haynes came from the same locality. In 1835 came Lorenzo D. Crippen from Herkimer county, and began his career as merchant, manufacturer and public-spirited citizen of Coldwater. And in the next year James R. Wilcox, also of Coldwater township, came from Cayuga county.
Many other instances of this community of origin might be set down here, but it is sufficient to indicate the subject to the reader, who will find abimdant examples of the historical phenomenon on nearly every page of the following narrative.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER Vn. FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
A map of Branch county shows sixteen civil townships blocked out four square, and laid out on the lines of the original United States government survey. Although the government surveyors blocked out the territory that became Branch county by means of the range and township lines that desig- nate the boundaries of the present civil townships, it was more than fifteen years after the creation of Branch county before the townships were all ■ organized and named as we know them at present. • The civil townships and the townships of government survey happen to correspond in Branch county ; but there is no necessary connection between the two, and in some other counties one civil township is more than an area six miles square. The civil township is created for the convenience of government, and in Michigan the legislature has almost invariably caused its boundaries to coincide with those of the United States survey, as has been the case in this county. But during the period of early settlement the population was not dense enough to warrant a civil organization in each of the sixteen surveyed townships. So it is that the map of Branch county underwent many changes up to 1846. There were townships of varying extent and form, and several whose names are practically forgotten. It will be the purpose of the following paragraphs to show how the county was divided from time to time and to describe the process of township making until the boiindaries were fixed as at present.
It has been elsewhere related that Branch county, although created in 1829, did not obtain a separate county government until 1833, ^nd that in the meantime it was attached to St. Joseph county for judicial purposes. The great area of adjoining country which for legal purixjses became a part of St. Joseph county was divided into townships, and the township of whicli Branch county was first a part was known by the name of Green. Not only did the " Town of Green "' comprise Branch county, but several other counties as well, and a vast territory not yet laid out in county form.
In the first instance, then. Branch county was only part of a town,ship. As population increased, but before it was sufficient to warrant county organ- ization, Branch county's area was laid off into two townships. This act was approved June 29, 1832, but was not to take effect until March i, 1833. In the meantime the legislature provided for the organization of county government in Branch countv, which was also to take effect on March i 1833-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 39
Accordingly, on the date of the county's organization two townships came into existence. All of the county east of a north and south line passing through the center was called Coldwater township, from which eight town- ships have since been made. Ail the western half of the county was made into a township named Prairie River.
Less than two months later, on April 2,-^, 1833, the following section of act of the legislature was approved :
" That the township of Prairie River in the county of Branch shall be called Green, and by the name of Green shall hereafter be known and dis- tinguished, any law to the contrary notwithstanding."
Notwithstanding the passage of this act which revived the name of Green in such emphatic terms, the township continued to be known as Prairie River .both in the supervisors' records beginning with the first meeting in Octo!)er, 1S33, and also, as will be seen, in the later laws affecting the parti- tion of that township.
March 7, 18134, was the first act in the process of division of these two larger townships. By a law approved on that date the north tier of surveyed townships, technically known as " townships 5 south, in ranges 5, 6, 7 and 8 west," was created a township by name of Girard. This reduced the area of the other two townships, and made one long narrow township and two relatively square ones.
Two years passed before the next change. By act approved March 23, 1836, three new civil townships were carved from the older ones. Coldwater township was cut in two by the north and south line between ranges five and six, and the east half was called Quincy, comprising the present townships of Quincy, Algansee and California,
At the same time Prairie River was reduced by almost half. The following is the law : " All that portion of the county of Branch designated by the United States survey as townships six and seven south, of range seven west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Batavia, and the first township meeting therein shall be held at the dwelling house of William Reynolds in said township."
Original Batavia was thus twice as large as now, and it so remained for nearly a year.
Also in March, 1836, Girard was cut in half, and the two surveyed townships on the west were set off by the name of Sherwood. In 1837, the year of Michigan's admission to the Union, Branch county had six town- ships—on the north were Girard and Sherwood, and from east to west they were Quincy. Coldwater, Batavia and Prairie River, all of rectangular shape except Prairie River, from the bottom of which projected eastward the frac- tional township that soon became Gilead.
The act of the legislature approved March 11, 1837, gave five more civil townships to Branch coiintj-. Sherwood was divided, and the east half was called Union. The previous section of the same act organized the town- ship of Ovid, bounding it so as to include the present Kinderhook. Ovid being set off from Coldwater, the latter was accordingly left with its present
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40 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
boundaries and must be considered the first township in Branch county to be
reduced to the regular area of the government township.
At this date the southern haif of Batavia township was set off under
the name of the " Township of Ehzabetli." After two years the " Town of
Elizabeth " became the " Town of Bethel " by act of the legislature of 1838-39,
and as Bethel it has since been known to history.
The next section of this act of March li, 1837, brings into existence
the township of Galead. Up to that date the membiers of Bishop Chase's
colony and the other settlers of fractional township eight in range seven
had been citizens of Prairie River township. Gilead was the first of the four fractional townships to obtain separate town government, its rapid
settlement entitling it to this privilege as soon as any of the full townships. With the approval of the act of March 11, 1837, the township of -Prairie
River ceased to be a name. Originally comprising the west half of the county, it had been reduced in size, first by the formation of Girard, then Batavia, then Gilead, and now ail that remained, in the range south of Sher- wood, was given the name of Bronson. The section providing for this change is worth quoting for several historical points contained. It reads : " All that portion of the county of Branch known as the township of Prairie
River, and the village in said township by the name of York, shall, on and after the first Monday of April, next, be known and designated by the name of Bronson."
The next act dealing with Branch county townships was approved March 6, 1838. On that date Matteson township was formed from Bronson, while in the northeast comer of the county the double area of Girard was halved and the eastern part was named Butler.
After all these divisions Quincy remained the largest township in the coumy. But on April 2, 1838, the Quincy as we know it to-day came into existence, and the block of territory south of it to the state line was named Algansee.
The county now had thirteen townships. It was nearly four years later, on February 16, 1842, when Kinderhook was set off from Ovid. Noble was named and permitted to form its own government apart from Bronson on March 19, 1845. Last of all the sixteen townships to come into being, California was separated from Algansee on March 25, 1846. It was not until these respective dates, of course, that Ovid, Bronson and Algansee assumed the area which each now has.
For the past sixty years there has been no further change of civil boundaries if we except the formation, in 1861, of the City of Coldwater within the area of Coldwater township. Three names that once designated areas in this county have disappeared, namely. Green, Prairie River and Elizabeth, and references to these names and the territory they represented would be the only source of confusion to the present generation in reading the records of the past.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER VTH.
SETTLEMENT AND BEGINNINGS.
Bronson.
The movement of settlers along the Chicago road began in the last two years of the twenties. A large proportion, perhaps, of those who went through this county were prospectors for homesteads; that is, they had no definite locality in mind, but were merely on their way to a home in that vague country called " the west," which at the time lay anywhere between the Alleghany and the Rocky Mountains. Some had in mind the prairies of Illinois, but even they sometimes stopped before reaching that destina- tion by reason of having found the land of their heart's desire along the route. An iliiistration of this is presented in the case of a Batavia pioneer, John Bassett. Starting from his home in New York state in 1835, he had shipped his goods by canal and the lakes to Chicago, and he and fan-rily came overland by wagon, his purpose being to settle in Illinois. But while spending the night at the old " New York House " on the Chicago road, the Bassetts discovered an old friend in the person of the wife of the landlord, William Reynolds, and instead of resuming the journey the next morning, were induced to locate a home in Branch county. Not on\y that, but two other families traveling with the Bassetts also chose to settle here. It was no easy matter to bring east the goods that had been shipped to Chicago, but Mr. Bassett adhered to his detenni nation, and, obtaining a homestead in section 34, became one of the substantial citizens of Batavia.
The first spot along the road to attract the passing emigrants was the burr-oak plain in the northeast quarter of what is now Bronson township. In 1828 Jabe Bronson, a Connecticut shipwright who had turned pioneer, in the course of his wandering through southern Michigan found the attrac- tions of this place too strong to resist, and remained here long enough to become identified with history as the first settler and the first official of Branch county. There are no records to indicate the exact motives that caused Mr. Bronson to locate where he did, and with such a character the ijeauty of the country and its location along the Chicago road may have fulfilled all the conditions that would satisfy his restless nature. The fact that he made a taverji of his log house and accommodated there some of the first emigrants who passed through the county is itself sufficient reason for his location. He had spent the summer of 1827 in raising a crop in St. Joseph county, and thus had time to pick out what he beheved the most eligible site for a home and place of business.
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43 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
By Sqjtember, 1830, six families had settled on Branson's Prairie. This is on the authority of the late Wales Adams, who passed through that locality at that date, and who named the heads of the families as follows: Seth Dunham, who was then supervisor of Green township; Jabe Bronson, who besides acting as landlord was the justice of the peace; John J. Rich- ardson, constable and collector; Samuel Smith, who had come in 1829 and was by trade a cooper, ahhough owning a farm and engaging in its duties as nearly all the pioneers did ; Jeremiah Tillotson, who had located there in the spring of 1829 and become a competitor of Jabe Bronson as inn-keeper, and whose position in the community is evidenced by his election as the first sui>ervisor of Prairie River township ; and Samuel Haslet.
This community was the nucleus of Bronson village. Already in 1829 a postoffice had been established in the house of Jabe Bronson. In 1833 came David and AJonzo Waterman, and in part of the building which they erected on the east side of the present village they placed a small stock of such things as a pioneer community would buy, and thus inaugurated the commercial side of the settlement. It seems that these men might well be given the honor of founding the village of Bronson, for they made the original plat of the village, to which they gave the name " York," This name was changed to Bronson by the same legislative act which gave the name of the first settler to the township.
At this point it is not our purpose to give in detail the history of Bronson village, but rather to indicate the extension of settlement with the Chicago road as the central axis and directing force. Jabe Bronson moved away about 1836. and his log tavern was occupied soon after by E, L. Rose, wlio had come from Niagara county, New Y'ork, and who in 1838 built the well known " Rose House," which stood on the north side of Chicago street. In 1837. on the south side of Chicago street, and a short distance west of Rug- gles street, Mr. James Ruggles built a frame house in which he lived and kept public house for sixteen years.
In the meanwhile many other historic settlements bad been made along the great road in Bronson town. To describe one of the most important of them no quotation could be so apt as one drawn from the oft-quoted histori- cal sketch prepared by Wales Adams for the Branch Countv Directory of 1870.
"They (Wales Adams and Willard Pierce) traveled — after stopping at Bronson's prairie in September, 1S70, as above referred to — through the counties of St. Joseph and Kalamazoo and saw many beautiful and unoccu- pied locations; but unaccustomed to agricultural pursuits and country h"fe, they knew not in what business to engage. After much reflection they con- cluded to retrace their steps. Accordingly, about the first of October, they left Prairie Ronde in the morning, followed the trail through Nottawa and reached the Chicago trail about an hour after sunset, five miles west of Bron- son prairie and near where the Chicago road now crosses Prairie River." Here he states that the road to Bronson was circuitous and difficult to fol- low— an interesting side light on the condition of the Chicago road at that
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 43
time. While debating whether to continue the journey to Bronson or to remain without shelter in the wiiderness, the tired travelers discovered the camp of an emigrant party consisting of Resin Holmes and Thomas Holmes wit!) their families, who had come from Marion county, Ohio, and were on their way further west. Adams and his friend having been accommo- dated over night in their roadside quarters, " the next morning," to resume Mr. Adams' narrative, " the parties examined tlie surrounding country, and before night it was stipulated tliat Pierce and Adams should build a sawmill where the Chicago trail at that time crossed Prairie river, and that the Holmeses should settle in the immediate vicinity. Accordingly, in the course of a few days, Pierce went on foot to Monroe, where the land office was then ideated, entered the land, and returned by the way of Detroit; purchased the mill irons and shipped them around the lakes to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, and from thence up the river to Mottville. The following July (1831) the mill was in operation. Mr. Pierce became dissatisfied with the country and with the business of making himber, sold his interest in the sawmill to William A. Kent, and returned east."
Interesting as is the story of origin of this settlement, there is httle to cdimect this place with the subsequent history of the township. The site cliosen for the mill (in the northwest corner of section 29), was in the dense woods and low and swampy groiflid that did not attract settlers looking for farms. The sawmill was an institution of great value to the settlers for miles around, but the dam was considered a nuisance and after it was swept away by high water no attempt was made to rebuild. " Adams Mills " was llie |5lace at which Bishop Chase stopped over night and where he received tlie information which led him to settle in Gilead. The Bishop mentions the landlord Judson, who had come from New York state in the fall of 1831 and had established a tavern at this point maittly for the accommodation of those employed at the mill. The Bishop also held services here, to wh-ich nil the settlers came.
At the Judson House was established the Prairie River postoffice in 1832, with Judson as the first postmaster, followed by William A. Kent. The office was discontinued on the completion of the Lake Shore Railroad tlirougb this locality.
Yet another instance may l)e related of how one thing leads to another ill the settlement of a new country. In the winter of 1S31-32 there arrived at the Adams mill from the state of New York a man named Alfred I* Diiggs, Without independent means and seeking employment, he obtained a place with Mr. Adams as sawyer in the mill. He was ambitious to buikl ;iiid ojjerate a mill on his own account, and assisted by Mr. Adams as security he bought the necessary material at Detroit, he had if shipped to Mottville, as Adams and Pierce had previously done, and from there was brought by ox team and wagon to Branch county. The location selected for this enter- pn,sc was on Swan creek in the northeast corner of section 17. a short dis- tance north of the present line of the Lake Shore Railroad. The mill was limit, and its operation gave anodier industry to Bronson township. In
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44 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
June, 1836, the property was sold to Jonathan and Samuel Holmes. These men were from the state of New Hampshire. Samuel never became a resi- dent of this county. Jonathan was one of the best known of Bronson pioneer citizens. In September, 1837, he brought his family to.his new loca- tion in this county, the mill in the meantime having been run by his brother- in-law, David Taggart. After much delay he finally completed and had ready for operation in 1839 the first grist mill in the township. For thirty years the Holmes mill ground corn and wheat for settlers in all the surround- ing country. As an institution in the development of the country its im- portance is clear. Early settlers everywhere have had to contend with that paramount need of getting bread-stuff, and when it was necessary to go long distances, over almost impassable roads, with a load of corn or wheat, be obliged to wait at the mill several days and nights for their "turn," the entire trip often consuming a week or more of time, it is easy to comprehend how essentia! such a mill as that just described was to rapid settlement.
By the census of 1837 Bronson township contained 635 inhabitants, ranking second among the townships of the county. But it must be remem- bered that at this date Bronson township incUided the territory from which have since been formed Mattesou and NoTjle townships. With this modifi- cation the population is clearly not so concentrated as would otherwise be supposed. Bronson's prairie, of course, was the central and largest group, but as just indicated there were other centralizing points, and more important stii!, there was a gradual extension of population over all the available terri- tory. This extension can only be stated in general terms. Only the "high lights " of settlement can be portrayed in a work that must stop far short of being encyclopedic and at the same time tedious.
Bethel.
Since we have taken the Chicago road as the central theme in our nar- rative of the settlement and growth of Branch county, and having begun with Bronson prairie as the chronological starting point of this narrative, it will prove not uninteresting to pursue the subject in like manner, consid- ering the townships through the center of the county successively from west to east.
Going east from Bronson the Chicago road next enters the town of Bethel, passing through the northwest corner. Since so much emphasis has been placed on routes of travel as factors in the development of this county, it is preliminary to the following paragraphs to state that Bethel township had two other roads that influenced early settlement. One was the old Indian road already mentioned, running from Adams mill along Prairie river across the southwest corner of Bethel township. The other was the state road, authorized by the legislature in March, 1S36, and running centrally across the county from north to south toward Fort Wayne, Indiana. This road, however, was not immediately constructed, and did not become a large factor in the very early settlement of the south part of the county.
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HISTO'RY OF BRANCH COUNTY 45
It runs along the eastern Lx^rder of the town of Bethel, and when built be- came a route much traveled by immigrants.
As to the original topography of this township, it has been stated that the timber lands and the burr-oak openings were about of eqvial extent, so that its attractiveness to early settlers would compare favorably with that of other townships. When the process of settlement was practically com- plete, the population of Bethel was equal to that of any of the townshipis except those containing villages or cities. None the less, Bethel township re- ceiA'cd the smallest proportion of the early settlers of all the townships trav- ersed by the Chicago road. This is shown by the figures of the census of T837. which gave Bethel (or Elizabeth as it was still called) township only 177 inhabitants. An outline of Bethel beginnings may be briefly given.
The article by Wales Adams already quoted tells of Bethel's first settler. "A Mr. Snow (EJeazer Snow) boarded with Mr. Tillotson {at Bronson in tS^o), and was cultivating a patch of corn and potatoes without a fence, alxjut three miles east of Bronscwi, at a place now called ' Snow Prairie.' " This was the first improvement commenced in Bethel, and likewise gave to the locality the name it has ever since borne. This first settler is thus honored more by accident of time and circumstance rather than as a builder. He was of the restless, wandering sort, and in the fall of 1831 sold out his claims and improvements to Moses Olmstead, a man of sturdier mold. It was at the letter's home that the first town meeting was held. Of his sons, Lyman Olm- sead was for thirty years one of the substantial citizens of Bethel.
In the following years other accessions to the Snow Prairie settlement were made, and it is one of the oldest distinct localities in the county.
The best farming land of the township lay in the southwest comer, and it was there, along the Indian road above mentioned, that the strongest settle- ment was made. First of all are the names of the Freeman and Marsh fami- lies. They increase the list of strong pioneers that Onondaga coimty, New York, gave to Branch county. Having entered land in the timbered region nf I^nawee county, Mr. Isaac Freeman, in the fall of 1834, started west by the Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit, and then overland to Ypsilanti. There he met a man from Jackson Prairie, Indiana, who convinced him of the far superior advantages of the burr-oak region over the timber lands of I^nawee county. Determined to see this country before settling perma- nently on his first claim, Mr. Freeman came on west to Bronson township, and then southeast along the road leading to Jackson prairie. The region of Bethel and Gilead townships through which he passed fulfilled all his ex- pectations, and he at once returned to Ypsilanti to bring on his familv and his goods. The Marsh family, consisting of the mother and four sons, Ebenezer, Daniel, Wallace and John, had accompanied Mr. Freeman on his prospecting trip, and when all were once more united they moved into a house on section 5 in Gilead township, half a mile south of the Bethel line. Soon after Mr. Freeman bought land in section 30, of Bethel, and later in section 32. This was the beginning of the community in southwest Bethel. Others came soon after, among whom should be mentioned the Scotchman,
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46 HISTO'RY OF BRA^XH COUNTY
James Bemiie, whose first experiences in Branch county were connected with the Bishop Chase estabhshment, and who in 1836 located on the south- east quarter of section 31 in Bethel. About the same time the families of Mc- Millan, McWilliams and Olds located in this vicinity. Mrs. Margaret Mc- Millan and sons, Stephen and James, bought land in sections 29 and 30, near Prairie river, building their house on what was known as the Bronson road, a short distance north of the section line. Philander Olds bought a small plat of land in section 29, and had a cooper shop there several years. Ebenezer Green and sons, Amos and Silas S.. were other accessions to this settlement, their land being on section 30.
A sudden illness was the cause that deprived the state of Illinois of a party of settlers and gave them to north Bethel. Daniel Smead, at the head of his family of eleven persons, had halted for the night at the Taylor Tavern, and while there was prostrated by a disease which precluded the possibility of further progress. It was in the month of November, 1835, that the party stopped there, and being compelled to spend the rest of the winter there, the sons spent the time in prospecting ateut the surrounding country and were so pleased that they determined to locate permanently instead o£ continuing the journey to Illinois. The father, on recovering from his illness, was brought to the same way of thinking, and early the next vear they entered a large tract of land in sections 3, 4 and 9, of Bethel township. Two of the sons, Morgan L. and Lyman Smead, lived there nearly half a century.
By the state road from Coldwater there came into the eastern sections of the township the families of Heman Lake. Origen Bingham. Lemuel Bingham, Adam Bower, Thomas Judson, Lyman Seymour, Timothy Colby, Job Devol and Otis Davis, all being from Erie county. New York, and coming to this county in 1S36. Most of them settled in section 25, about the Bethel postoffice neighborhood, and all had their homes adjacent to the state road.
It has been stated that at the census of 1837 there were 177 persons in Bethel township. It is likely that the township officers elected at the first town meeting, held in the spring of the same year, would fairly represent the citizenship at that time, and for that reason their names are given, as follows : Elijah Thomas, David M. Clark, Silas S. Green, Isaac Freernan, David Cummings, Ebenezer Green, Daniel Smead, Moses Olmstead, Jr.' Lauriston Smead, Stephen McMillan, Morgan Smead. Phillip Olmstead Mor- gan Johnston, O: Dickinson, Samuel Handy, James Thurston.
Batavia.
In October, 1837. Batavia township had 357 inhabitants. When one considers the position of this township both with reference to the Chicago road which runs for four miles across its southeast corner, and to the village of Branch' which lay close to the east line of Batavia, it will be possible to judge beforehand about where this population of 1837 was largely located. Topog-
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 47
raphy also played its part in the shaping of settlement. Mill creek running from northeast to southwest gave a strip of low land along its banks in the central portion of the township. Between this strip and the line of the Chicago road was the oak-openings land, which seems to have been favored most in the settlement.
In the northwest corner of section 25, on the north side of the Chicago road, Timothy R. Wallace, in 1832, established the first public house in this township. Five years later it was purchased by Leonard Taylor, a New York state settler, and under his ten years' management became known far and wide as the " Taylor House," and still later as the " Batavia House." During the twenty years before the coming of the railroad, thousands of emi- grants must have stopped there, and in many ways it was a part oif the pioneer life.
Even more noted was the " New York House." a log tavern on section ■^3 on the south side of the Chicago road, built in 1833 by Jeremiah Tillotson, the first supervisor of Prairie River township. About a year later the house and tlie farm were sold to the Reynolds family, who had come from Genesee county, New York. Tliis family, so long identified with this portion of the county, consisted of the father, Alpheus, and his sons, Alpheus, William, Lewis, Jacob and John. The " New York House " had the distinction of being a stage station. A stage station was not so important to the sur- rounding locality as a railroad station of later date, but many a village that grew up along the Chicago road dated its history from the time when the ,st.iges began making their over-night halts at that point. And for a time it seemed likely that the " New York House " would be the nucleus of a village, for about a dozen houses were grouped around the station. The railroad was built, the stage coach ceased to arri\'e, and the community dis- integrated. It is of interest that the first town meeting of Batavia was held at this place, in 1836.
The next important settlement was made at the east side of the town- ship. In the southwest corner of section 24, Abel Olds settled in 1834. His brother, Martin Olds, one of the most prominent of the early settlers, came in June of that year. He journeyed hither from Ohio, and passing through Coldwater halted at the Wallace House already mentioned. Here his family remained until he had completed his land entries, which were made in the oak-openings of sections 13 and 14. His house was built at the southwest comer of section 13. Martin Olds became the first supervisor of this township, and was later probate judge of the county.
John H. Stephens, one of the early sheriffs of Branch county, also settled on section 14 about a year after Mr. Olds, his farm being located along the state road. Another neighbor of Mr. Olds was Allen Stoddard.
Tliere was soon a settler on every section of the land south and east of Mill creek. The circumstances connected with the settlement of John Bassett on section 34 have been recounted. In 1835 the first blacksmith shop in the town was established in section 2S, its proprietor being John Woodruff. In the same section, on Mil! creek, was located, in 1836, the
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48 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
first sawmill of the township, long known as the " Woodard Mill." It was built by Alphens, William and John Reynolds, but was later owned by Samuel Woodard, hence its name. Here, too, was the site of a boom town, " Lawtonville," whose location was described as beautiful and whose lots were sold in the east to any credulous purchaser who was willing to take a well executed village plat as evidence of a flourishing village.
In 1836 Benjamin Olmstead and Philo Porter located on section 27. The latter served two terms as sheriff of the county. In 1838 another tavern was opened along the road, in section 34, by Sainuel H. Gary, a settler of that year from Ithaca, New York. He also gave the name to Gary's Lake, and when the government consented to the estabHshment of a postoffice in this town in 1840, he became first postmaster. On the building of the railroad the office was moved and became the central institution of the little hamlet since known as Batavia. The office was-kept in another of the Chicago road hostelries, the " Dudley House," which had been built by Albert Dudley.
That the sections just mentioned contained the bulk of the early popu- lation, finds additional proof in the fact that when, in 1835, ^^^ citizens decided they needed a school they built the first one in section 13. A year later the site was changed to a location on the Chicago road in section 27. The second district, organized in the winter of 1836-37, had its building on section 25, the land being donated by Timothy R, Wallace.
The names of the first settlers already mentioned find repetition in the record of the first town meeting of Batavia, held in April, 1S36. The fol- lowing are the men who were chosen at that meeting to act as officials of the township : Alphens Reynolds, Martin Olds, J. H. Stephens, Jabe Bronson (who hved in Batavia after leaving Bronson), Samuel Woodard, L. Taylor, Abel Olds, Morgan Smead, Shirlock Cook. Amasa Miller, T. R. Wallace, James L. Young, Ira Gifford, George D. Babbet, Horace Field, John Bas- sett, John M. Chapin, Moses Olmstead, Benjamin Parker, John Woodruff.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
CHAPTER IX. SETTLEMENT AND BEGINNINGS (CONTINUED).
COLDWATER ToWNSIIIP.
When the census of 1837 was taken, Branch county had ten townships. Of these Cbldwater was by much the most populous.; indeed, it contained nearly a fourth of the entire population of the county. That ratio has been maintained practically throughout the subsequent seventy years. Approxi- mately, a quarter of the entire population of Branch county now live in Coldwater township, including Coldwater city.
Coldwater township did not receive, the first settlers of Branch county. This is a circumstance retjuiring some attempt at explanation. It might ha\-e been an accident of history. But when we consider that the west- bound emigrants saw the beautiful plain known as Coldwater Prairie before they reached Bronson's Prairie, it is pertinent to ask why the nucleus of the county's settlement was formed at Bronson, that Jabe Bronson's house was the first civic center, rather than on Coldwater prairie.
Major Abraham Edwards, of Kalamazoo, who went along the Chicago trail in August, 1828, stated that on the site of the village of Coldwater was an Indian trading post kept by Beaubien and that on the prairie adjacent was a large Indian settlement. The same traveler found Bronson settled on his prairie, and both Hillsdale county on the east, and St. Joseph county on the west had begun to be settled. But the existence of a large Indian reserve in central Branch county and the presence of a number of Indians in )Kissession of one of the most eligible regions along the Chicago road, would seem to be sufficient explanation of the fact that no settlement had yet Ijcen attempted there.
At the Chicago treaty of August, 1821, the Indians of southern Mich- igan ceded to the government all their lands except five comparatively small reservations, on which it was the policy of the government to collect the various bands and retain them until the convenient season should arrive for removing all the tribes to the west. The " Mick-ke-saw-be " reservation, which was one of the five, was located wholly in Branch county. It was six miles square, and comprised the eastern two-thirds of what is now Coldwater township, and the western one-third of the present Quincy township. How- ever, in compliance with the request of the Indians, the west boundary of the reserve was run sixty rods west of the appropriate section line in Cold- water township, and the same was true of the east boundary in Quincy township.
Thus the greater part of the present Coldwater township was an Indian
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60 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
reserve, until it was ceded to the United States by a treaty of September, 1827. Notwithstanding this treaty, the Indians did not at once quit their old reserve in this county, and there can be no doubt that their presence acted as a retarding influence on settlement for at least a year or so after the treaty of 1827.
But with a population of 960 in October, 1837, Coldwater township must have been settled very rapidly between 1830 and that date. In the other townships we have indicated the focal points of settlement and the general directions of growth. In Coldwater township the prominent facts are con- cerned with the county seat at Branch and with the gradually overshadowing importance of Coldwater village. Therefore, the story of beginnings in Coldwater township becomes the story of the origin of Coldwater City, around which the rest of the township extends as a fringe to the central coinmercia) and social area.
A little more than seventy-five years ago, not a habitation nor institu- tion of white man existed on the ground now covered by Coldwater city. The Chicago trail, entering at the center of the east line of the township, continued a distance of one mile over the gravelly drift ridges that were once the east shore of a large lake, and then descended, at what is known as the Fisk schoolhouse, to a plain of burr-oak openings, almost perfectly level, and stretching to the west for a distance of over three miles until the trough of the Coldwater river and the chain of marl lakes is reached. Along the trail a small band of Indians still had their homes, and there was an Indian trading post near the east side of the prairie, and another on the ground now occupied by the cemetery. From the point where the trail came to the level, a ridge of gentle ascent passed around the northwest, while to the southwest a more prominent acclivity, since known as the Warner hills, seemed to guard and give direction to the little stream that wound at its northern base.
At this point, at the eastern edge of Coldwater prairie, there settled, in 1830, Abram F. Bolton and John Morse, on the east part of section 23. This was " university land," and had not yet come into market, consequently these men, and those who became their neighbors, were " squatters." They built a log cabin of two rooms, which they opened to the use of the traveling public as the lirst hotel in the vicinity. Here also was held the first town meeting of Coldwater township, and the " Morse Tavern " belongs among the institu- tions of early Branch county. Another well known family that settled on these university lands east of Coldwater were the Arnolds, who located there in 1833, and who soon after became identified prominently with Quincy town- ship.
But this was not the only event of that year of beginnings, 1830. Lem- uel Bingham put up his cabin near the house of the Indian trader, Phineas Bonner, also near the east side of the prairie, and there established a black- smith shop, at which many an emigrant's horses were shod and wagons mended.
In another important event of that year, Mr, A. F. Bolton was con- cerned. Although, as stated, he had located with Morse at the east end
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 51
of the prairie when he brought his family here in 1830, in 1829 he had been over this ground and had purchased a tract of land on the east side of Cold- water river where the Chicago road crossed the stream. In the summer of 1830 the three commissioners appointed to locate the spot where the county seat should stand when the county was organized came to transact their busi- ness in Branch county. Mr. Bolton at once became an interested party, and explained convincingly the eligibility of his land for the purposes intended. As one looks back from the present, it seems that the commissioners exercised good judgment in locating the site of the future court house on the east bank of Coldwater river near where the bridge is located; for it must be remem- bered that the village of Coldwater had not yet begun, and few spots along tjie Chicago road, and in the central area of the county, offered more advan- tages than the one selected. But the commissioners had failed to be " sworn in " before proceeding with the exeaition of their duties, and for that reason iheir action in " sticking the stake " on Mr. Bolton's land was invalid. Had their work been legal, the history of the Branch county seat and of Cold- water city might have been different.
This event leads us to the brief recital of the ephemeral existence of the village of " Masonville," which long since became an empty name, and whose site many years ago was absorbed in the growing city of Coldwater. Mason- ville was the name given, probably by Mr. Bolton, to the prospective village that would inevitably grow up around the county seat. Furthermore, at the spot now occupied by the cemetery, there had been for some years an Indian trailing post, and as early as :83i Roland Root and James B. Stuart were engaged in merchandising there, principally with the Indians. About the (iame time Mr. Bolton had procured the services of two carpenters, and just east of the river, on his land, had a frame hotel constructed. The " BoHon House," according to the authority of the late Dr. W. B. Sprague, was kept for awhile by such well known men as EJisha Warren and Harvey Warner, and in 18.33 Passed into the hands of James E. Stuart, who was a very popu- lar landlord. Shortly after his death the hotel burned, and so far as known that was the last page in the history of Masonville, which had once aspired to be the county seat and commercial center of Branch county.
For the time being the western side of the township was in the lead. Ill 1830 John Toole, the schoolmaster and pioneer of Eronson, had begun the construction of a sawmill on the west branch of the Coldwater, on sec- tion 30, at the site of the historic Black Hawk mills. The work progressed slowly, and during the same year Seth Dunham, John Allen and others took a share in the enterprise. Toole became discouraged and left, but the others had the mill in operation by the spring of 183 1, Mr. Allen being in, charge. This was the first sawmill in the county, and from it the settlement at Cold- water obtained its lumber for several years.
Village of Branch. Half a mile north of this mill site the land rises rather abruptly from the river and forms a well defined eminence. On this broad surface the
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52 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
three commissioners appointed imder an act of March 4, 1831, formally located the county seat of Branch county. Mr. Bolton tried without effect to prevail on them to accept the original but invalid location of Masonville. No settlement or improvements had been made on the spot thus designated for the county seat ; but no censure can attach to the commissioners on that account. Nothing resembling a village had yet appeared in this vicinity; and their choice not being circumscribed except in a general way, the com- missioners selected what at that time must have seemed the most suitable spot for the civic center of the county.
This action of the commissioners gave official cause for the existence of the " village of Branch." There yet remained two years before the seijarate organization of the county when this county seat should really become a place for the transaction of county business; but men of judgment were on hand to make the most of the opportunity thus presented. EJisha Warren and others purchased all the land about the site, and at once laid out a village.
The fortunes of the village are soon told. A few of the old pioneers lived there and were identified with the only years of prosperity the village had. Seth Dunham, the first county treasurer and one of the proprietors of the mill near by, was one. Another was Harvey Warner, who, born in Warren county. New York, in 1809, had come from Monroe county, that state, by the Chicago road to Coldwater prairie in 18:30, and in 1832 was appointed the first postmaster, the office being located in Branch. A store was opened in 1833 ^Y ^- ^- Pa^ton, a distillery was put in operation about 1835. and a schoolhouse was erected that served not only its essential pur- pose but also for religious worship and was the first court house of Brancli county. In the summer of 1837, in accordance with previous action of the board of supervisors, a jail was built. Branch county's prisoners up to that time having been detained in the St. Joseph county jail. Five hundred dollars was the sum set aside for the construction of this building. It was thirty feet square, built of hewn logs, and while the lower floor was utilized as a jail, the upper part was used for court purposes. This was the only public building that Branch county had until the construction of the first court house of Coldwater.
The village of Branch was also the home of the first newspaper published in the county, the Michigan Star, issued by County Clerk Charles P, West for the first time in May, 1837. At this time of s],ieculation and " wild-cat " business promotion preceding the great financial panic of 1837, several efforts were made to establish in Branch a bank, along the lines of the old Cold- water Bank elsewhere descril>ed. The principal mover in this enterprise, which never succeeded, was Joel Burlingame, father of Hon, Anson Bur- lingame, the statesman and diplomatist. Four or five years of the latter's youth were spent at his father's tavern in Branch, and he got his first ac- quaintance with men and affairs in the original county seat.
So far as authentic records go, the above may be considered a fair description of the village of Erandi in the high tide of its existence. One other institution is of pregnaiit importance to the succeeding iiarrative.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 53
As already stated, the water power of the west branch of the Coldwater was the first utihzed for mill purposes in the county. The same power was used to turn the first grist mill in the county. The " Black Hawk " mills have been an institution in Branch county almost from the beginning of its history. One of the first physicians in the county, a Dr. Hill, was the pro- moter of the enterprise, and it is probable that Seth Dunham and others had a part of the control, and, as Dr. Hill soon left, they must have become sole proprietors. The mill was a small affair, located alongside the sawmill, and the stones were about two feet in diameter, and the bolting clotli a sort of gauzy cotton fabric. At that early day it was best known for the bad qual- ity of flour it produced. The date of construction of this mill is usually given as 1832.
But the important fact in connection with this mill was explained by the late Judge Harvey Warner at a pioneers' meeting in 1884. While the rush of settlement was at its height, about 1836, several enterprising men, among whom was Francis Smith, determined to establish a mill. " And as the water power at Branch was better than that where Coombs' mill is now situated, they proposed to Mr. EUsha Warren of Branch to buy the half interest in his property at that place for $75 and then build the mill there. This offer Mr. Warren would not accept, and on that account the mill was located at Coldwater. This was the death blow to Branch; and this transac- tion was the turn in the tide that ended in the prosperity of Coldwater. Otherwise what is now the city of Coldwater woulcl have remained a beauti- ful broad field dotted with elegant farm houses." Perhaps the importance 01 the mill transaction is overestimated in the quoted words. But it is certain that the proprietors of the village of Branch, by holding the land at high price, did not encourage the formation of an industrial and business center at that jMint, and this fact is to be kept in mind in considering the waning importance of Branch and the growlh of Coldwater.
The situation of the village of Branch off the line of Chicago road must also be considered an adverse circumstance in its struggle to become the center of the county. M'hen we remember that mail stages began running along this road from Tecumseh to Niles in 1830, and that travel increased constantly from that date, it is evident that a position even a mile south of the thoroughfare was a detriment to the fullest development of the village. Concerning Elisha Warren, the founder of the village of Branch, Caleb D. Randall, in a paper read before the Pioneers in December, 1884, gave this sketch :
Born in Connecticut in 1795, and died in 1857, he married Caroline Hanchett, daughter of Joseph Hanchett, and moved to this county in 1831. Mr. Warren settled at Branch, where he purchased five eighty-acre lots and platted and established the village of Branch, where he secured the estab- lishment of the county seat. In connection with the ten years' contest over the county seat the name of Mr. Warren is intimately associated. After the first location of the county seat (at Masonvijle) had failed, new commis- sioners were appointed in 1831, who located the county capital at Branch
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54 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
where the court house and jai! — a cheap wooden building — was located on the fine rise of ground just west of the present group of houses. From that time until 1840 there was a contest for the removal to Coldwater, in which Mr. Warren took an active part and fought his battle well. Mr. Warren frequently visited Detroit, the then seat of the state government, to defend his county site, and it was not till 1840 when the legislature passed the definite act of removal to Coldwater. The question entered into politics. The county was canvassed for votes. Mr. Warren was able to carry the western part of the county with him, and he had much merit on his side. First, the county seat was already located at Branch; second, it was the geographical center of the county; third, the site, by its high rolling ground, purer water, drainage, etc., was better adapted to a village. But he had a hard battle when we recall that against him were the Crippens, Spragues, Daugherty, the Hayneses, Francis Smith, Cross, Chandler, and a host like them, young vigorous men. It was not, after all, the merits of the case that decided the issue. The population of Coldwater and the eastern part of the county in- creased the more rapidly, and so it had by 1840 votes enough to secure com- missioners favorable to the change, which was accomplished. Mr. Warren remained and died at his post.
I Origin of Coldwateii.
In the meanwhile Coldwater Prairie had become the seat of a thriving population. In October, 1829, when the first lands of this vicinity were offered for sale, two brothers, Robert J. and William H. Cross, obtained a patent, signed by President Andrew Jackson, to three-fourths of section 22 in Coldwater township. The following year both these men came to this land and built a flat-roofed log shanty on the north side of the Chicago road, a few rods west of the present eastern limits of the city. The improvements they made became proverbial with the people in the county and with travelers who passed through this region. This land was sold in 1835 to James Fisk, Rev. Francis Smith and William B. Sprague, and Robert J. Cross then went to Illinois. His brother, William H., who held oflicial position in the first years of the coimty, was at one time in the mercantile business as a partner with Silas A. Holbrook, and his later career was identified with St. Joseph county, where he died in 1886.
On section 15 John Morse purchased eighty acres, in 1830, and in Jan- uary of the following year A. F. Bolton, Robert J. Cross and Robert H. Ablwtt each purchased eighty acres of this section.
On section 21, Joseph Hanchett, Jr., took up eighty acres in the fail of 1830. In 1831 entries were made on this section by Elisha Warren, Audrain Abbott and Robert J. Cross.
Section 22 was entirely taken upi by Hugh Campbell and the Cross brothers, their entries being dated in the fall of 1830, and by Allen Tibbits, who entered the remaining eighty acres in June, 1830. In February, 1831,
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 55
Campbell sold his eighty acres, in the northwest corner, to the Crosses. Twenty acres of this had been plowed and sixteen apple trees set out.
These three sections comprised the area on which the village of Cold- water had its beginnings. The first entry on section i6, which was the public school section, was not made until 1837. It is reasonable to suppose that the men above mentioned were on the ground in 1831, and were the landed proprietors most concerned in the inauguration of any village enterprise,
Hugh Campbell, whose eighty was located in the northwest corner of section 22, built a log house on the north side of the Chicago road. This was in 1830, and is accredited with being the first dwelling erected on the original site of the village. It stood near the corner of what is now Hudson and Chicago streets, about the site of the Y. M. C. A. building.
This was the approximate situation when the Rev. Allen Tibbits came along the Chicago road to this spot in the autumn of 1830. An itinerant Methodist preacher, with headquarters at Plymouth, twenty-five miles west of Detroit, he was at this time a young man of twenty-six years, having been born in Lyons, New York, in 1S04, The purpose of his visit to Coldwater prairie in 1830 was to find a permanent home, and when he returned in 1831 he located, as above shown, eighty acres in the southwest quarter of section 22. In the meantime Hugh Campbell had moved from his residence, and in liis rough log cabin, which was without a floor, Mr. Titoits made his first home. About the same time, also, he must have purchased this Campbell eighty (from the Crosses) in the northwest corner of section 22, From the records above given and from what follows, it is certain that, in the year 183 1, the eighty acres in the northwest corner of section 22 was owned by Mr. Tibbets, and the eighty adjoining that on the west, in the northeast cor- ner of section 21, was owned by Mr, Joseph Hanchett.
Mr. Hanchett, who had arrived on the ground a few weeks before Mr, Tibbits, also lived during the summer of 1831 in the Campbell cabin. These two men decided to establish a village on jjart of their land. To them be- longs the. honor of being called the founders of Coldwater, Calling in the services of James B. Tompkins, they platted a village. The original plat, signed by James B. Tompkins, the surveyor '( whose son, of the same name, died in Girard township in 1905), and dated July 29, 1831, is now in the register of deeds ofiice at Centerville, where it was filed for record December I, 1832. This plat was acknowledged by Allen Tibbits and Joseph Hanchett on November 29, 1832. From these facts it is proper to date the origin of Coldwater on July 29, 183 1, so that the city may in the year of this writing celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary.
The first name given to the village was "Lyons," assigned by Mr. Tib- bits in honor of his birthplace at Lyons, New York, But in the following year it was christened Coldwater, which was a translation of the Indian name "Chuck-sew-ya-bish," by which the natives are said to have designated the waters of the stream flowing south of the village.
The two eighty-acre lots owned respectively by Joseph Hanchett and Allen Tibbits, as above stated, were both included in the act of incorporation
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66 HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY
of the viliage. But only part of this land was surveyed into village lots at first. The extent of the original village of Coldwater is easily stated. On the west it was bounded by what is now Monroe street ; on the east by what is now Jefferson street. The north boundary was the section line, or, approximatelyj Church street; while the south was what is now Washington street. This area was divided into fifty-five numbered lots, each six rods wide by twelve rods deep. The conspicuous features designated on the original plat were, the Public Square, sixteen rods wide from east to west, and thirty rods long from north to south ; the Chicago street, one hundred feet wide, a width that has been one of the chief charms of this broad avenue and a matter of pride to citizens; the other streets named on the plat — Pearl and Church streets, running east and west, and Hudson ant) Division streets, north and south- were each four rods wide.
The manuscript history of "The Origin of the City of Coldwater," by the late Dr. WilHara B. Sprague, describes the first twelve buildings erected on this village plat and which were standing at the time the Doctor came to Coldwater in 1S35.
The first was the log structure put up by Hugh Campbell, the location of which has already been mentioned.
The second was more pretentions, a log residence, finished and occupied by Mr. Joseph Hanchett in the fall of 1831. This stood on Lot 44, a little north of the E. R. Clarke and Company building, and on what is now Monroe street.
In 1832 John Wilson, a brother-in-law of Allen Tibbits, built for him- self and family a frame residence on Lot 41, on the north side of Chicago street and next to the Loomis Battery Park. Mr. Wilson was a carpenter and joiner by trade.
On the next lot east, where the Episcopal church now stands, William McCarty in the same year built a frame house. This house is still standing, externally intact, as part of the barn on the rear of the premises of Mrs. Sarah E. Conant, next east of the Loomis Battery Park. We were assured by Mr. L, D. Halsted early in the present year, 1906, that this is the oldest house in Coldwater ever used as a dwelling. It still shows so well what it was originally that an illustration of it is given. Mr. McCarty used his dwelhng as a jail during his service as sheriff.
Where the Edwin R. Clarke Library building now stands, Peter Martin, the first probate judge of Branch county, erected in 1832 a frame dwelling.
Also in 1S32, the first building used for store purposes was built. It was a frame structure, and stood on the south side of Chicago street just west of the public square, on part of the site now occupied by the Bovee block. Silas A. Holbrook and Grover Hibbard had come here early in 1S32 from Tecumseh, and in this building the first Coldwater store was opened, the attic being used for the residence of Mr. Holbrook and family.
On the north side of Chicago street, near Hudson, on the' spot now occupied by the Milo Campbell residence. Rev. Allen Tibbits erected a small
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Tlie House occupied in 1833 in Coldwater by the first Sheriff of the County, W^illiam McCarty. as tome and jail: now, 1905, the oldest huilding in Coldwater and part of a harn.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY 5T
frame house in 1833. Up to that time he liad continued to live in the log cabin built by Hugh Campbell.
On the west side of Hudson street, a short distance south of Chicago, Hiram and George Hayden, cabinet makers, put up two dwellings in 1834. On the northeast corner of their lot, that is, on Chicago street, they had their sliop.
■ There is evidence in what has just Ix^en said, that the proprietors of Coklwater village were very miicli in earnest in promoting the interests of their village. Every encouragement was held ovit to the settlement of those who would become factors of usefulness in the community. The good judg- ment of the founders is seen in the fact thai all of the settlers just mentioned became closely associated with the affairs of the village and county, excepting only the Hayden brothers, one of whom soon died and the other moved to a farm in the county.
The zeal with which Allen Tibbits undertook to build up Coldwater is well shown in the case of the next settler. Matthew Brink, a blacksmith, had located in the village of Branch. Early in 1835 he was induced to move to Coldwater by the gift of a lot in the village, on which he was to build his home and have his shop. This lot was on the south side of Chicago street, at the east edge of the village, near the present Jefferson street.
Dr. Sprague mentions three other buildings that were on the village plat in 1835. One was a plain frame house on the west side of Division and between the square and Pearl street, about where the Baptist church stands. On the east side of Hudson street, a little north of Pearl, was built the first \illage schoolhouse,' standing on a lot also donated by Mr. Tibbits. And on the north side of Chicago street, just west of the public square, where the Southern Michigan Hotel now stands, was a two-story frame