Mrs. Angie Hooker, Mrs. Lura Vining, Mrs. Helen Avery, Mr. Merrill Sayles, and other old residents

Michigan Historical Collections, vol. 38

History and Directory of Kent County, pub. in Grand Rapids in 1870.

History of Kent County – Fisher

Clippings from old papers

History of Kent County 1881, pub. by Chapman & Co., Chicago

History of Grand Rapids – Baxter

Memorials of Grand River Valley – Everett

History of Grand Rapids – Tuttle

Wisconsin Historical Collection, vol. 14

General Sources:

Novel – "Heroine of the Straits"

Novel – "Pere Marquette"

"Stories of the Crooked Tree" – John C. Wright

History of Michigan – Prof. C. S. Larzelere

Ryerson Library, Grand Rapids

Kent County Museum, Grand Rapids

Many years before any white man set foot in the Grand River valley, three Indian tribes, kindred in blood, tradition, habits of life, and general appearance, migrated from the Ottawa river in Canada to Michigan. They fought three bloody battles along Grand river with the Prairie Indians. Then these tribes, known as the "three brothers," separated. The Chippewas settled in the northern part of the lower peninsula. The Pottawatomies south of the Kalamazoo river, while the Ottawas chose the central part of the state. Hence there were probably more than one thousand Ottawa Indians living within the present limits of Kent county in the eighteenth century

The Ottawa Chief who commanded the Flat river Indians was called Noonday, and Cobmoosa was a sub-chief under Noonday. There were between two and three hundred inhabitants in his village, which was one and a half miles north of the junction of the Flat and the Grand. Cobmoosa's grandson, Rodney L. Negake, and his grand daughter Negonce were well known to the pioneers.

The Indians raised corn, melons, pumpkins and beans, to which they added game of the woods and the fish from the streams. They named the Grand river O-wash-ta-nong, meaning the far away river, and Flat river, Quab-a-quash-a, meaning current stream. The Indians had a burial ground one half mile west on the Ada road. In 1765 a battle was fought thereabouts, when the Pottawatomies attempted to dislodge the Ottawas.

Chief Pontiac, from eastern Michigan, visited the Grand river valley in 1761, and spoke at a meeting of some 3,000 Indians.

He urged them to volunteer to go to Detroit to fight the British, who were fast encroaching on French possessions. Pontiac was here again in 1762 and 1763 for the same purpose.

After the French had established trading posts at Mackinac Island and Detroit, daring Jesuit missionaries and fur traders traveled down Lake Michigan and inland by the various rivers that emptied into the lake.

The La Framboises

During the spring of 1806 young Joseph La Framboise and his courageous wife traveled by canoe from Mackinac and established a trading post one and a half miles west of the present site of Lowell, on the bank of Grand river. There a cabin was built of logs chinked with clay and bark, and about thirty feet long.

In the spring of 1809 the La Framboises' were returning from their winter quarters at Mackinac with their usual retinue of French voyageurs and Indians. Dusk coming on they encamped on the lake shore midway between the present cities of Muskegon and Grand Haven. That night Joseph La Framboise was murdered by a drunken Pottawattamie Indian. Through the long sad summer that followed Madame La Framboise carried on the work at the trading post so efficiently that the Astor Fur Co. made her the official agent in place of her deceased husband. The Indians held her in high esteem. She never married again, but became wealthy, and in 1821 resigned her commission in favor of Rix Robinson. Madame died at Mackinac Island in 1846.

But the first White man to settle in what is now Lowell, was an eighteen year-old Frenchman from Detroit, by the name of Daniel Marsac (Marsaque). He was tall, straight, athletic and well liked by the Indians. In fact, he first made his home with Chief Wobwindego. He came through the wilderness by Indian trail in 1829. He carried on a fair trade with the Indians but it wasn't until the spring of 1831 that he built a small log cabin trading post, on the south bank of Grand river, directly opposite where the Flat river empties into the Grand. There the Indians would exchange fur pelts, berries and maple sugar, for cloth, beads, ammunition and whiskey.

Marsac married a beautiful Indian girl, Jenute, according to the ceremonies of the Ottawa tribe. She was a true and loving wife, and had one daughter, Marie. When the child was five years old, Marsac insisted that she be sent to his relatives in Detroit to be educated. That nearly broke Jenute's heart. Nevertheless, the husband took Marie away, but in a short time the child was taken ill and died.

When the white settlers began coming into the Grand River valley Marsac became ashamed of his squaw, so he went to Detroit and married a French woman by the name of Colette Beaufait, and brought her back to his trading post. This was too much for Jenute and she died soon after.

Obviously Marsac lost the respect and trade of the local tribe, so he turned his attention to farming. He sold or traded his land on the south side of Grand river, and bought an eighty acre plot on the north side of the river, east of Flat, where he later platted a portion of it and called it Dansville.

In 1836 when the township of Vergennes included what is now Vergennes, Fallasburg, Lowell and Bowne townships, more white settlers began to arrive via canoe and raft up the Grand River. Lewis Robinson, one of the famous "Robinson 44," who emigrated from New York state, came with his family and settled on the bank of Flat River in the south part of what is now the Village of Lowell. His brothers, Rodney, and Lucas Robinson, soon followed, but they traveled up Flat river to the present town of Vergennes. Then another relative, Philander Tracy and his family arrived, entered a tract of land near the mouth of Flat river, on the east side. He raised a high pine log house, 40 feet long, and 30 feet wide, with the aid of Indians, at a total cost of $1,000.

Other families who entered lands between the years 1837, 1838, 1839 were Sylvester Hodges, T.I. Daniels, William Van Deusen, James A. Campbell, Arba Richards, Daniel McEwen, John N. Andrews, John Mark, Robert B. Mintum, Alden Boughton, Alva Jones, John B. Daniels, Jacob Francisco, Matthew Patrick and Everett Wilson.

It is hard to imagine the inconveniences, hardships, and privations, the early settlers had to put up with. Indians were not always friendly, and one always had to be on the lookout for bears, wolves and rattle snakes. The air was filled with nausmatic vapors, making every settler ill some time or other. Even the dogs shook with the ague. Consequently quinine became a household necessity. All supplies had to be brought in from Kalamazoo county, through a country utterly devoid of roads. Everything was very high priced. Pork sold for $40 a barrel, flour for $20 a barrel, and potatoes for $2.00 a bushel.

Mr. Philander Tracy died in 1838, which was the first death among the white settlers.

In 1838, a steamboat, the Paragon, built by New York owners, was placed on the grand, and ran between Grand Rapids and Lyons. The steamboat landing was on the north side of Grand river, a little east and south of the present site of Grand river.

Also, in the spring of the year 1838, a one-room log school-house was raised by the Robinsons, on the west bank of Flat river, a few feet south of the present transformer building. The building was 18 feet by 26 feet and stood due north and south. It was about seven feet high to the beam, and four feet from there to the caves. The interior was furnished with long benches made of logs hewn to a face on one side, and pegs driven into holes made by an augur. The desk were made of boards, brought from the Indian mill near Grand Rapids in canoes. The boards were place on sticks, which in turn were driven to augur holes, placed at the proper angle for desks, along each side of the room.

There was one narrow door to the south, one paned window on the east side and one on the west, as well as a small window in the south gable. The room was heated by means of a large stone and clay fireplace in the north end. The chimney was made of sticks and clay.

The school directors were Rodney and Lucas Robinson, and Philander Tracy. They hired Miss Caroline Baird, a relative of the Fallas family at Fallasburg, who had come from New York on a visit. The salary was not a stated amount, but she was paid so much a scholar for the summer term of three months. If sufficient money could be guaranteed the teacher was hired for a winter term. Miss Baird boarded around with the families who had children in school.

May first, 1838, Miss Baird rang a pony bell, and nine white, and five Indian pupils responded to the call. The white pupils were Carl Tracy, and eight of the Robinsons. Some of the teachers who followed Miss Baird at the log school, were Marie and Harriett Winslow, Lura Bates, Harriet and Henry Patrick.

Miss Baird evidently became tired of "boarding around," so she conceived the idea of living in the school house and boarding herself. Her cooking was done in the fireplace. The only approach to her chamber in the loft was by a ladder, which she drew up for safety, upon retiring at night.

In October, 1839, Miss Baird and Mr. Caleb Page were married in the log schoolhouse. The wedding proved to be a great event in those days. Mr. Page was also from New York state, and during the summer he had been employed on a farm, and helping to building a sawmill at Fallasburg.

It required a great amount of originality, plus work, to transform the schoolroom into a wedding bower. Sheets were fastened over the side walls, and small boughs of evergreen were pinned to the sheets. The floor and benches were scrubbed, and the desk boards removed. Tallow candles, and a fire of hickory bark in the fireplace illuminated the scene, during the evening ceremony. Practically every family in the community was invited, including the children. A circuit rider, the Reverend Mr. Richards married the couple.

A bounteous supper was served after the ceremony, the food having been brought by the families who came to the wedding. The menu consisted of wild turkey with cranberry sauce, potatoes baked in the ashes of the fireplace, pumpkin pie and bride's cake, which was the old fashioned twisted friedcake. The drink was probably sassafras tea, as that was a favorite beverage in those days. The evening's entertainment was concluded with songs furnished by Mrs. Rodney Robinson, after which the company departed to their homes, following the Indian trails.

George Post, who came from Connecticut in 1842, was the first, and for three years the only settler south of the present line of the Grand Trunk railroad within the township. Maynard Chatterdon and his family were the next to arrive.

The first bridge over Flat river was built at Fallasburg in 1840, the second in 1844.

A Methodist circuit rider by the name of Frezee, followed Mr. Richard, and preached at the log schoolhouse.

The log school was abandoned in 1845, but was not torn down until 1856. One summer term was taught in a board shanty, erected near the site of the B.C. Smith home, by Clarinda Robinson, mother of R.D. Stocking. For the next few years private schools were not the only means for an education.

The first dance was in Lewis Robinson's log hut, near where the baseball grandstand is located. The tickets were printed in pen and ink. This was the first of "Fid" Stocking's fame with the violin. In 1842 Mr. Stocking organized a string band in Saranac. Lucas Robinson and Octavius Chaplin helped to make "heel music" for years.

In 1846 Cyprian S. Hooker and family moved from Saranac to Lowell, and bought nine acres of land of Daniel Marsac. Mr. Hooker built the first frame house in the settlement, where Henry's drug store now stands.

His son, John S. (1830-1918), a sixteen year old lad, who was well schooled in the Ottaway language and customs, acted as interpreter and clerk for Alfred A. Dwight, who opened the first white man's store.

Young John also worked for Daniel Marsac, trading with the Indians. Since the nearest mill was Kalamazoo, and it took one week to go there and back by ox team, after a supply of flour, the settlers were all overjoyed when in 1847 C.S. Hooker built a dam and grist mill on Flat river across the road from his home. The mill site is still in use. A rickety wooden bridge spanned the river near the mill.

About this time, 1847, Timothy White, of South Boston, rented his farm and moved to Dansville, or "The Mouth." A stage coach had started to make the run from Grand Rapids to Portland carrying mostly "land-lookers." Mr. White saw the need of a place for the travelers to put up for the night, so he built and managed the first Tavern, where the Pullen block now stands, (just east of the City Hall.)

And it was in this same Tim White's Tavern, on Monday, April 3, 1848, that the first township meeting was held, for the purpose of organizing the settlement of Dansville, it having here-to-fore been included in Vergennes township. The following twenty-five voters were present: John C. Chatterdon, Daniel McEwen, George Post, Henry Church, John Monks, Ira A. Danes, Samuel P. Rolf, Porter Rolf, Noah Burch, Jessie Van Deusen, Henry Alden, Henry Wickham, Thomas Camaford, Samuel Johnson, Isaac Fairchilds, J. Francisco, Charles Newton, William Lyon, Harry Upham, Daniel Marsac, Charles Marsac, Francis Nauta, Cyprian S. Hooker, Stephen Denny and Timothy White.

The first township officers elected at this meeting were:

Supervisor – Cyprian S. Hooker

Clerk – Timothy White

Treasurer – Henry Church

Justices – C.S. Hooker, Daniel McEwen, Samuel P. Rolf and Ira A. Danes.

It was voted to raise $245.00 to build a bridge over Grand near Flat.

A name for the newly formed township had to be thought of, and it was named Lowell by Mrs. Timothy White, who had just returned from a visit to Lowell, Massachusetts.

A short time later, (1848) a post office was established at Lowell. Philander Tracy was the first postmaster. Rodney Robinson succeeded him, while his daughter Clarinda was assistant. The pioneers came from ten miles around once a week for their mail. All letters were sealed with red wax, and it cost 10c to send a letter to Ohio.

Daniel Marsac sold the remainder of his lands to Abel Avery in 1850, and left Lowell.

The Hookers did not run their mill at night, but generally C.S. went over to look around and see if everything was all right, before he retired. One night in the spring of 1852, he noticed on his nightly tour of inspection, that Flat river was rising. Still he did not fear an immediate flood. But by midnight the water was rushing by their house, and flooding the village. When the water came through the windows downstairs, the families had to move up. It was many days before the flood receded and the hours were passed by playing cards, knitting and visiting the neighbors by boat.

In 1849, Rev. S.S. Brown, of Constantine, preached the first Congregational sermon in Lowell, in the C.S. Hooker home. In 1851 an undenominational Sunday school was organized by Rev. S.S. Brown and C.S. Hooker, and it was well attended. Sup't White was in charge, Jacob Snell, the first lawyer in town, was the Bible class teacher, John S. Hooker and Clarinda Robinson led the singing, "making their own music," because the hymn books contained the words. March 6, 1856 a Congregational church society was organized, consisting of nine members, but the building of the church was not begun until 1858. June 1, 1861, the building was dedicated under the pastorate of D. L. Eaton, with thirteen members and free from debt.

The Baptist church was organized in 1854, but the church was not built until 1859, at a cost of about $1,000.00 and A.P. Howell was the first resident pastor.

French Jesuit missionaries visited the Grand river Indians at an early date. During early pioneer days, priests came from the Grand Rapids mission, the Lowell Catholics worshipping in private houses. In 1879 the present church was erected by B.G. Wilson, at a total cost of $3,300.00.

The First Methodist Episcopal society of Lowell, was organized in 1855 as a part of the Flat Circuit, with Rev. Isaac Bennett as pastor and J. Martin, class leader. Until 1869 they worshipped in the red school house. In 1860 there were but seven members. In 1862 the society purchased the lot on which the school house stood for $400, and in 1869 they entered upon the building of the present brick structure. The cost of the building, furniture and grounds was $8,500.00.

January 16, 1859, Lowell Lodge No. 90, F. & A.M. was chartered with Wm. H. Dickerson, W.M.; C.W. Hooker, S.W.; and Thomas Daniels, J.W.

The frame school house, mentioned as the "red school house," was built by C.S. and J.S. Hooker in 1851, on the site of the present Methodist church. As the village grew, a larger and more centrally located school house was needed. Many special school meetings were held in '59 and '60, one site after another was chosen and abandoned, but in the spring of 1861 it was finally decided to build a frame school house on the east bank of Flat River, where the present building now stands. The building committee consisted of Dr. A. Peck, Mr. I. N. White, and Mr. Hiram West. $700.00 was voted for the building, $500.00 more was added later, but when the structure and enclosing fence were completed, the total cost was $1,889.42, plus $125.00 for a bell. The contract was let to B.G. Wilson.

Dr. Arba Richards was the first physician in the Vergennes-Lowell district. His daughter Octavia married the Congregational minister, D.L. Eaton.

The first Lowell Band was organized in the fall of 1857. The first members of E.W. Avery, O.N. Standish, L.C. Hildreth, and John Maynard, who acted as leader. In the spring of 1858 George Balcolm, Homer Avery and Oscar Robinson joined.

The first public appearances was July 4, 1858. Five brass instruments and two drums turned out. They played national airs, some light quick steps and waltzes, sacred music and old songs.

The exercises for this first 4th of July celebration were held in the oak grubs, a block east of the Central school. John Hooker was marshal of the day, Deacon Joseph Wilson president; Dr. A.M. Ellsworth, orator; Rev. Goodman, chaplain; E.H. Crowell, reader of declaration; and Elder Clutes, addressed the children. A picnic dinner was held on the higher ground were the Swarthout and Mason houses now stand. The band played during the afternoon and were guests of Mr. Elias Parker, proprietor of the American house for dinner. In the evening there was a display of fireworks consisting of fire crackers and turpentine balls and anvil shooting.

The band did not wear uniforms and had no special meeting hall in which to practice.

The Detroit, Milwaukee, Grand Haven railroad, now the Grand Trunk, was finished during the Winter of 1857 and 1858. This line was the second to cross the state east and west, while no north or south roads had ever been dreamed of. A Mr. Henry O. Cheesebro had his land platted for a village south of Grand river, and he named it Segwun after an Ottawa Indian. Mr. Cheesebro used his friendship and influence with the chief engineer of the D. & M. R. R. to get them to survey their tracks on the south side of Grand river, instead of through Lowell.

Around 1850, the various businesses along Main street, were located much differently than they are today.

Azra King was running the Lowell House east of the City Hall. Directly across the road to the south, William Cobmoosa, an Indian, had a little grocery store, trading mostly with his own tribe. Farther east, where the Superior Furniture factory stands, Tousant Campau, often referred to as "Two-cent" Campau, sold dry goods, notions and groceries. His store was later called the Checkered Front, and Joseph Smith was the proprietor.

On the corner were the McQueen residence now stands, was the White Shoe shop and post office, run by Dr. F. E. White's grandfather and great-grandfather. The elder man was postmaster, and he kept the mail in a drawer under his shoe bench, so it was but little trouble to serve his customers calling for mail. The family lived in a house just east of the shop. From there to the red school house, on the Methodist church site, there were no business places.

Chapin and Booth built a warehouse on the banks of Grand river, south of the red school, for the accommodation of the steamboats. Farther east was the Campau warehouse and boat landing. Orson Peck had a stock of goods in the front end of the warehouse, and Ashbel Winegar, father of Will Winegar, was his head clerk. Later, Orson Peck built a store on the corner east of the red school, and across the road to the south, Daniels and Young built a store and a dwelling. At the foot of Peck's Hill, John Blain had a blacksmith shop.

Chapin and Booth also operated a general store in the west "L" of the Hooker house, where Norton Henry has his drug store. Their store soon outgrew its crowded quarters, so Joshua Randall built them a store where the Hosley residence is located.

The block west of the City Hall was vacant, except for a few small buildings, one of which was later used for the post office.

Where the Lowell State bank is, Stephen Denny had a blacksmith shop. To the west, came Howk's shoe store, Young's grocery, Abe Vandenberg's drug and grocery store, and Severy's meat market on the west corner.

From the Hooker mill across Flat river west, was a rickety bridge, and no buildings obstructed the beautiful view up and down the river. There was a saw mill, owned by a Mr. Jackson, where the cutter factory was later erected.

The Franklin House extended over the block from the City State bank, west. East of the hotel was Bosworth's Smithy, across the street south, there were five or six stores, all wooden. In fact there were not any brick buildings in the village, and only two three story ones. There were not any sidewalks, although each business place boasted a platform, and usually a wooden awning, or cover. There were many vacant lots along main street, because the stores and shops were not concentrated. Most of the houses were built of logs and were practically all located either north or east of the business district.

On the east side of Flat river, north of Oakwood cemetery, was the Ottawa Indian village of some five hundred souls.

A four-page newspaper, the "Lowell Weekly Star," was first published in September, 1860, by G.S. Spofford. The paper made two bold statements on the top of the first page. They were, "Independent, Not Nutral" and "Rate, $1.50 per annum, in advance." The print was much finer than contemporary newspapers use. Jokes, stories, and poetry filled the first page, editorials, national and general news on the second page, while the third and fourth pages were filled with lengthy advertisements, in various sized type, mostly small. The columns were narrow, and no ad. was more than one column wide. Many of the ads described patent medicines of the day. Some of the local advertisers were:

Robert Hunter Jr. – Clothing and shoes.

A.C. Vandereugh – Druggist and grocer.

Misses Chadwick's – Millinery.

Daniels and Young – General store.

Cyrus Clark – Drug store.

J.D. Carpenter – Produce.

John Kopf – Lowell Cabinet and chair factory.

Chapin & Booth – Dry goods and hardware.

Hooker, Hunt & Co. – New general store.

I.N. White – Lowell Boot and Shoe Co.

Blaisdell – Hardware.

Miss M. Carpenter – Millinery.

Noah P. Husted – Nurseries,

Franklin House & Lowell House – Hotels.

Empire saloon – Joseph Serille.

Jacob Snell – Lawyer.

C.A. Blake – Insurance Agent.

A. Peck – M.D.

Wheat ranged around 60c a bushel, butter 12c or 15c, eggs, 8c or 10c, and whiskey 3c a glass.

An act to incorporate the village of Lowell was passed in 1859, but it was allowed to pass unnoticed by the villagers. The subject was brought before the Legislature in the Winter of 1860, and the act of incorporation was approved March 15, 1861. Under this new authority the charter election was held. The following officers were elected:

Village President – C.S. Hooker.

Recorder – C.A. Blake.

Treasurer – Simeon Hunt.

Marshal – John Chapman.

Assessor – Cyrus Hunt.

Trustees – W.W. Hatch, I.B. Shearer, Dr. Arvine Peck.

When the war cry rang out, no part of the North responded more freely than Michigan. One thousand from the Grand River Valley never returned. The first man from Lowell township to enlist in the war was Henry Booth. On the 19th of April, 1861, Booth and Webster Morris walked to Saranac, and enlisted. The pen was handed to Morris, but he handed it to Booth, so Booth signed first.

In 1867 the Lowell Literary Association was organized. The membership soon reached 111 with membership fee of $1.00. One hundred and fifty-one volumes were purchased. Over one hundred persons, not members, drew books from the library on the payment of ten cents. In 1870 the books had mostly been read and money was needed to replenish the library. A subscription was started with $5.00 pledges on condition that one hundred dollars be raised to purchase books. Failing to raise this amount the association disbanded and turned all the books on hand over to the township library. Shortly after this a number of ladies formed a circulating library – each lady buying one book and having the reading of all others by a systematic exchange.

During the year 1876 both the West and South Ward school houses were built.

A group of friends of congenial tastes decided in 1868 to meet together regularly in order to read and discuss current literature. This group consisted of Rev. E.R. Stiles, pastor of the Congregational church, Mr. H.M. Clark, Dr. and Mrs. Eddie, Miss Nellie Bruce, Mrs. Winegar, mother of George M., Rev. D. L. Eaton and wife, Mr. Herbert Johnson, Mrs. E.R. Craw, Miss Jennie Sinclair, and Mr. and Mrs. Perry. A committee was chosen to select books, and the meetings were carried on informally.

The Lowell Literary club was organized in 1874 with nine members. With rapidly increasing membership the club purchased a library. For twelve years they sponsored many fine entertainments and it was a potent means of culture to the ladies of Lowell.

Lowell's First Commencement took place in the Methodist church on the evening of June 28th, 1878. The church was beautifully decorated with hundreds of bouquets of flowers and garlands, and the building was crowded with people.

The exercises were opened by Rev. Mr. Busser. Music was under the direction of Professor Hills. "Hail Smiling Morn," a beautiful quartette was sweetly rendered by a selected choir consisting of Miss Cleland, Mrs. Rickert, Messrs. Sunderlin and Hills, Mrs. Strong, organist. The greeting was given by Miss Kate Terwillieger, and was most admirably done. Will H. Clark next delivered an oration on "Alexander Hamilton."

After the oration there was music by the choir. Next came a very lively essay by Miss Aura Wait on "Noses" followed by an oration by Frank Hine, one of the graduates. His subject was "Master Mind" and he handled it with great credit to himself. Following this came a charming vocal duet by Miss Cleland and Mrs. Strong, Professor Hunt at the organ. It was a perfect gem, and its rendition was most brilliant. The valedictory, "Ideal Thoughts" by Miss Jessie Hooker was a fine production worthy of the excellent and disciplined mind that produced it. Professor May, in conferring the diplomas, gave Miss Jessie and Mr. Frank much credit for their proficiency and good advice to govern them in their future. Another beautiful piece by the choir and the exercises were closed with the benediction pronounced by the Rev. D. O. Ball. It was the first commencement ever held in Lowell, and it was a complete success.

October 22nd and 23rd, 1890, the business men of Lowell held a carnival at Train's Opera House. It was a grand success, both financially and socially. The drills the actors went through were difficult and carried out with the precision of veterans. The participants were masked on the stage and when the curtain raised a picture of beauty and color greeted the audience. The costumes were unique, tasty and elegant.

One of the oldest institutions, and one that still occupies its same location is the Lowell State Bank, which was incorporated under the laws of Michigan in 1891.

In less than half a century war was declared again. The following Lowell boys went to Cuba in May 1898: U.A. Hawk, Clarence Long, Hayes Rolf, Charles Dickenson, Bert Fenning, Marshall Ransford, Sherman Reynolds, Morris Lang.

They were discharged at Port Huron at 12 a.m. Jan. 1, 1899.

The East Ward school was erected in 1899.

From 1900 on, the village of Lowell began to replace their wooden sidewalk with cement ones.

In the Spring of the year 1901 the Clover Leaf Literary club was organized with Mrs. M.M. Perry it's first president.

Among the oldest industries thriving in the town was the Kopf Furniture Factory, the King, Quick & King Saw Mill and the Lowell Cutter Co.

March 24th, 1904 was the beginning of a big flood, followed by another disastrous one in June 1905.

The most spectacular fire took place in the Negonce block, April 13th, 1905.

Mr. Charles Doyle purchased a Buick Model 10 in 1909 and it proved to be quite a curiosity because it was the first factory made car in town.

For the sum of $13,500 the City Hall was built in the year 1909, during the Councilship of the following men: D. G. Look, president; R.E. Springett, attorney; T. A. Murphy, clerk; Frank McMahon, Light and Power superintendent. Trustees: H.I. Taylor, Chris Bergin, W.S. Winegar, H.A. Peckham, E.D. McQueen, J.A. Mattern.

A few years later Main street was paved and boulevard lights were installed.

The Loyal Order of Moose was organized in January 1912.

During 1914 and 1915 the white school house was torn down and a new red brick building was put up at a cost of $50,000. The bonding issue was put over through the efforts of the superintendent, A.F. Frazee, and a capable school board consisting of D. G. Look, president; W.S. Winegar, secretary; R. Van Dyke, treasurer; E.D. McQueen and F.E. White, trustees.

In 1917 about 150 young men answered the call to enlist in the World War. Then in 1919 some of these same men organized the Charles W. Clark Legion Post No. 152. From a membership of 18 it has grown to embrace 126 ex-service men.

In 1928 the Lowell Literary and Clover Leaf Clubs merged into the Lowell Woman's club. Mrs. C.D. Hodges was the first president and Mrs. Allen Bennett the first secretary.

It was Lowell's good fortune to have the M-21 pavement built through the town from east to west during the summer of 1928. The curbings and added blocks of boulevard lights makes the town appear as one of the best looking in the state, to the many tourists who go through.