Part 2- The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
The history of Muskegon, so far as we have been
able to learn any items in regard to it, has its origins in 1812, when
John Baptiste Recollect began to occupy a trading post, which was situated
about twenty rods west of the Raddiman Flouring Mill, at the mouth of Bear
Lake. This was the first trading post on Muskegon lake, and was occupied
for a number of years, the remains of the chimney still being visible as
late as 1836. In the spring of 1812 it became necessary for Recollect to
go to the military station at the mouth of St. Joseph river, and he made
the trip in one day, having swam the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers, and forded
the other streams.
Mr. Constant, the father of Mrs. William Lasley,
built the next trading post, near the A. M. Allen & Co. mill, which
he occupied in the winter for about thirty years. The next was built in
1830 by Joseph Daily, near the Rogers foundry, and was occupied by him
until 1834, when he sold it to Louis B. Baddeau.
George Campau also built a trading post in 1833,
near the present site of the White, Swan & Smith mill, and occupied
it until 1835.
The territory embraced within the limits of the
present townships of Norton, Fruitport, Ravenna, Chester, Moorland, Cazenovia,
Eggleston, Muskegon, Laketon, Lakeside, and the city of Muskegon, was organized
by a provision of section 11 of an act of the State Legislature, approved
December 30, 1837 into one township, and called Maskego. The act was passed
at the first session after the State was admitted into the Union. This
section was repealed in 1838, and the same territory was organized as the
township of Muskegon, and the first town meeting was appointed to be held
at the house of Newell & Wilcox. At this time, and for several years
after, there was quite a diversity of opinion in regard to the correct
spelling of the name, as will appear by reference to various acts of subsequent
legislatures. In 1841 an act was passed, by the provisions of which the
unorganized county of Oceana was attached to the township of Muskegon for
judicial purposes, and in 1843 certain territory was detached from the
township of Muskego and organized into the township of Norton. This confusion
in regard to the name ended at the establishment of Muskegon postoffice
in 1848.
The first township meeting was held in 1838,
when township officers were elected, among whom was Henry Penoyer, supervisor.
But little was done in the way of township business for several years,
often no taxes being assessed. Township meetings were often omitted entirely,
the old officers holding over.
George Ruddiman held the office of supervisor
several years during this time. In 1847 Geo. W. Walton was elected supervisor,
and the township having increased somewhat in population, taxes were assessed
and business regularly transacted after that time. The old township records
were destroyed in the great fire of August 1st, 1874.
The land in this part of Michigan was brought
into market in 1839. The first attempt that was made to claim and hold
any of the land now embraced in the city limits was made by a Mr. Taylor
in December, 1836, who built a shanty on lot one of section nineteen, near
where the Washington House now stands. He retained possession for a few
months and then sold his claim to Horace Wilcox, who afterwards entered
the land. Theodore Newell soon became the owner, who platted a portion
of it in 1849, which was the first plat of Muskegon. This plat embraces
that part of the city lying east and north of a line running from the Chapin
& Foss mill to the old cemetery, and thence east along the north line
of Mills & Furlong's addition to H. D. Baker's residence.
Another tract of land that has since become very
valuable is lot two, section thirty, which was entered May 2, 1833, by
Elias and Isaac D. Merrill, and Josiah P. Dana. This land is that part
of the city lying south of the line running from the old cemetery
to the Bigelow Bro.'s mill, and between Mills & Furlong's addition
and Muskegon lake. On this property at the present time are several of
the most valuable mills in Muskegon. There were no frame buildings in Muskegon
until 1837, when Theodore Newell and Erastus Wilcox erected a boarding
house, which stood near the C. Davis & Co. boarding house.
Horace Wilcox put up a small dwelling the same
year near where the Hofstra home now stands. The first village plat was
made in 1849, but nothing of any account was done for several years towards
opening the streets, and the hill was so steep where Western avenue and
Pine street now are that a man could not ride up on horseback. Village
lots must have been at a discount, from the fact that two lots on which
the Hofstra home now stands, were once sold for forty-five dollars. Nothing
was done towards opening the roads leading into the surrounding country
until 1846. At this time Mr. Ryerson cut out the road to Ravenna, to connect
with the road from that place to Grand Rapids, which had already been cut
out and was in a condition to be traveled. Ravenna township was detached
from Muskegon and organized in 1849.
Part 3- The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
SAW MILLS
The building of the first saw-mill on Muskegon
lake was commenced in January, 1837, by Benj. H. Wheelock, the agent of
the Muskegon Steam Mill Company, most of the stockholders of which resided
at Detroit and Ann Arbor. The mill was built on the site now occupied by
the White, Swan & Smith mill, upon which land Mr. Wheelock about that
time had made a preemption claim. It was a steam mill, and was a large
one for that time, having two upright saws. Before it was completed the-panic
of 1837 occurred, and money becoming scarce, it was not ready for operation
until 1838, when the first lumber was
sawed; that being also the first sawed on Muskegon lake. The adventure
proved to be an unprofitable one for the company, and the next year after the mill
was started the property went into the hands of John Lloyd, of Grand Rapids, and
John P. Place, of Ionia, who owned and run the mill until 1841, when it burned and, the machinery
was taken to Grand Rapids.
In August, 1837, Jonathan H. Ford, the
agent of the Buffalo and Black Rock Company began building a water mill at the mouth of Bear lake, on
the site now occupied by the Ruddiman flouring-mill. It was completed the next year, and
the first cargo of
lumber made at this mill was hauled to the mouth of Muskegon lake
in February, 1839,
and put on board of the Victor, Captain Jackson, a vessel that would
carry about
40,000 feet. The vessel started for Chicago, but soon after got
into a drift of ice, and it was ten days before she reached her destination,
those on board having suffered severely from cold and hunger in that time.
Hiram Judson & Co. bought the mill in 1840 and made very extensive
repairs and improvements upon it, among which was the putting in of a new
water-wheel, which was done by George Ruddiman. The mill was valued at
$20,000, and was the best one on the lake for several years; it was burned
in 1853, and was never rebuilt.
Theodore Newell began to build a mill in
the spring of 1838, and finished it in 1839,
on the site now occupied by the Ryerson Hills & Co. mill; this
was a small mill, with one
upright saw, costing altogether about $4,000, and would saw about
6,000 feet of lumber
in twenty-four hours. The engine was eight inch bore and twenty-six
inch stroke: the boiler
was sixteen feet long and thirty-six inches in diameter, with one
thirteen inch flue; the engine not having sufficient power to saw a log
and haul up another at the same time. The first lumber was shipped from
this mill in the autumn of 1839. In September, 1845, Martin Ryerson and
J. H. Knickerbocker bought the mill of Mr. Newell, and in the winter following
removed the old mill and, built a new one on the site, and had it ready
to run within three months froth the time of commencing operations. In
1847, Mr. Knickerbocker sold his interest in the mill to Robt. W. Morris
who continued a partner of Mr. Ryerson until the time of the sale of his
interest in 1865 to the present firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co. The latter
firm has made very extensive repairs and improvements, until but little
of the old mill remains; excepting the foundations.
Joseph Stronach built a small water mill
in 1842, near the site of the McGraft & Montgomery mill, and run it until 1844, when he sold it to George
and John Ruddiman. The latter afterwards put in a small engine and used water and steam
power at the same time. This double power not proving sufficient for hauling
up logs at the same time the saw was in operation, animal power was also
produced and applied to mechanical purposes, an ancient white bull being
used to haul up the logs; hence the origin of the name of the bull-wheel
in a saw-mill.
One evening in the autumn of 1848, after a heavy
rain, George Ruddiman heard the water escaping through the dam, and on
repairing to the house after examining it, told the men that in the morning
they must cut some brush and stop the leak. About two hours afterwards
he visited the dam again, finding that the break had increased, and then
said that it would be necessary to haul some sand in order to repair the
break. On going out in the morning to begin work, there was nothing to
be seen of the mill, the log slide, or the dam; even the engine and machinery
had been carried out into Muskegon lake. The next winter a portion of the
present steam sax-mill was built by George Ruddiman, on the site of the
present mill; this has since been considerably enlarged and improved.
In 1847 S. J. Green built a water mill at the
mouth of Green creek, on the north side of Muskegon lake. It was run for
several years, but with rather indifferent success; at length it got out
of repair and finally went into decay, and has never been rebuilt.
The mill now known as the Chapin & Foss mill
was commenced in 1848 by Wm. Lasley and G. T. Woodbury, the latter having
a quarter interest, and completed and started in the spring of 1849, Marshall
W. Lloyd sawing the first lumber that was made in the mill, he being employed
there at the time. Mr. Lasley sold the mill in 1852 to Chapin, Marsh &
Foss, Mr. Marsh afterwards disposing of his interest to his partners.
In 1849 John Ruddiman built a steam saw-mill
on the north side of Muskegon lake, on the site now occupied by the Torrent
& Arms mill. He continued to run the mill until 1862, when it went
into the hands of Anson Eldred, after a closely contested suit in regard
to the title. The mill burned soon after, and was replaced by a large mill
built by James Farr, Jr., under the superintendence of L. H. Foster. The
property was sold its 1871 to Torrent & Arms, and, the second mill
on the site was burned in 1872. The mill now belonging to this firm was
erected soon after. The mills built on this site seem to have been rather
unfortunate in regard to fires and lawsuits, whose effects upon property
are about equally destructive.
The foregoing includes all the saw-mills built
on Muskegon lake prior to 1850. There were three mills on the lake in 1840,
whose aggregate sawing capacity, per day of twelve hours was about 13,000
feet.
In 1850 there were six mills on the lake, having
an aggregate sawing capacity of about 60,000 feet. During the next ten
years ten mills were put in operation on the lake, with the following capacity:
C. Davis & Co. 38,000
Eldred, Way & Co. 20,000
Ryerson & Morris (Bay mill) 36,000
Smith, Fowler & Co. 20,000
Brown & Trowbridge 16,000
Trowbridge Wing 22,000
J. C. Holmes & Co. 15,000
Durkee, Truesdell & Co. 38,000
L. G. Mason & Co. 36,000
J. & H. Beidler 35,000
OLD MILLS STILL RUNNING.
Ryerson & Morris (upper mill) 24,000
John Ruddiman 36,000
George Ruddiman 15,000
Not only has the sawing capacity of the mills
been increased, but the number of men required to perform the labor has
been proportionately lessened. In 1860 it required a man for each 1,000
feet sawed per day, while at the present time the daily product is, on
an average, something more than 2,000 feet for each man. This result is
to a large extent due to the valuable improvements made in the machinery
used in the mills.
There are twenty-six mills on the lake at the
present tune, with the capacity per day as follows:
Rutherford, Anderson & Co 70,000
Wilson & Boyce 75,000
C. Davis & Co. 80,000
Ryerson, Hills & Co. 48,000
Chapin & Foss 40,000
Mason Lumber Co. 130,000
Bigelow & Bros. 70,000
G. R. Roberts & Hull 130,000
C. H. Hackley & Co. 150,000
Beidler Manufacturing Co. 130,000
White, Swan & Smith 80,000
Bushnell, Walworth & Reed 60,000
Montague, Hamilton & Co. 120,000
McGraft & Montgomery 40,000
E.Torrent 30,000
A. V. Mann & Co. 75,000
Alex. Rodgers 65,000
Kelley, Wood & Co. 75,000
E. Eldred & Co. 80,000
A. M. Allen & Co. 30,000
C. D. Nelson & Co. 120,000
Ryerson, Hills & Co. 90,000
Torrent & Ducey 30,000
Baudry, Vallicott & Co. 40,000
Farr, Dutcher & Co. 40,000
Torrent & Arms 150,000
INFLATED CURRENCY.
The first attempt at running logs down the river
was made in 1839, by John A. Brooks; the logs having been cut a few miles
above Croton. The "drive" finally reached Muskegon, but after a great outlay
for clearing the river, the men employed celebrated the event by buying
and drinking a barrel of whisky, which then cost about sixteen cents per
gallon. The whisky was common property, but in order to assume an appearance
of "business" they fitted up a counter on a stump, and one of the number
having a silver quarter dollar, commenced by treating the company, one
of them tending bar; this bar-tender then took the money and came outside
and treated the company, another taking his place as bar-tender. This was
continued several days until the whisky disappeared. There was an annual
carousal for a few days on the arrival of the "big drive," until the village
"lock-up" was erected in 1861, after which the officers became able to
suppress it.
Part 4- The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
EARLY SETTLERS
Until 1834 the Indian traders had
been accustomed to come to Muskegon lake in the autumn and buy furs and
traffic with the Indians during the winter, and go away in the spring,
taking with them all their movable effects. At the latter date, Lewis
B. Baddeau, having secured the interest of Mr. Daily in his log building,
established a trading post, and became a permanent settler of Muskegon.
He was of French descent, and was born at Three Rivers, near Montreal,
in Canada. Mr. Baddeau afterwards made a preemption claim on lot two of
section nineteen, on which his trading post stood, being that part
of the city lying west and north of a line running from the Chapin &
Foss mill to the old cemetery, and thence to the Bigelow & Brother's
mill, and on the 31st of July, 1839, after the land came into the market,
he made a regular entry of the lot. He continued to trade with the Indians
until 1840, and in 1845, having become embarrassed in business, and having
lost most of his property, he went to Newaygo to live, and afterwards to
the Dam, on Muskegon river, where he died soon after.
The second settler on Muskegon lake was Joseph
Troutier, who erected a building in 1835, of hewn timber, near the
White, Swan & Smith mill, which he occupied as a trading post for several
years. Mr. Troutier was born in Mackinac, August 9, 1812, where he resided
until his settlement in Muskegon. He continued the Indian trade several
years at this place, and then removed to the Dam, where he still resides.
In 1836 Mr. Troutier went with the Indians to Washington, and assisted
in forming the treaty by which the Indian title to the land in the part
of Michigan lying north of Grand river was obtained. Mr. Troutier remembers
many interesting incidents in the early history of western Michigan,
and often remarks that "me and my wife the first white man in Muskegon."
Wm. Lasley was of French origin, was born
in Pennsylvania, but spent his early life in Mackinac, and settled is Muskegon
in the autumn of 1835, having built a trading post near where is now the
corner of Western avenue and Seventh street. He continued to trade with
the Indians for several years, and, eventually brought on goods suitable
for the trade of the early settlers sometimes keeping a stock valued
at $20,000. In 1852 he sold the mill that he had previously built, and
retired from business and died the next year.
Martin Ryerson was born on a farm near
Peterson, New Jersey, January 6, 1818. In 1834, having become satisfied
that the fortune he had even then determined to acquire was not to be easily
and readily obtained at farming, he started for Michigan, which, at that
time, was regarded as the Eldorado. When he reached Detroit his funds were
exhausted, and he was obliged to stop and obtain employment for a time
before he could proceed. After a few months he started again and reached
Grand Rapids in September of the same year, and soon after went into the
employ of Richard Godfroy, at which place
he remained until May, 1836, when he left and came to Muskegon.
On his arrival at this place he went into the employ of Joseph Troutier,
and engaged in the Indian trade, which he continued three years; was then
employed by T. Newell & Co.,, which firm then carried on the same business.
In October 1841, Mr. Ryerson & S. J. Green made a contract with
T. Newell to run his mill for two years.
After the expiration of this term Mr. Ryerson
made an arrangement to run the mill on a salary for another two years.
In September. 1845, Mr. Ryerson, in company with J. H. Knickerbocker, bought
Mr. Newell's interest in the mill and became a mill owner. This fact,
however, did not change his style of living or lessen the amount of labor
he performed. During the first year that he owned the interest in the mill
he often worked eighteen hours out of the twenty-four, filling any place
where a vacancy might chance to occur, or where his services were the most
needed. Mr. Ryerson's practical experience rendered him a competent judge
of the men in his employ, and he "expected every man to do his duty." An
incident that once occurred at his will may not be uninteresting. One day
a man who was employed in moving a pile of cull lumber, was carrying a
few pieces and going and returning at a very slow pace. Mr. Ryerson observing
this, called out to him to throw down his little load. The man stood a
minute with a surprised look without doing so. On Mr. Ryerson's repeating
the order with increased emphasis, he threw it down. He then told
him to go and sit in the shade and rest himself until he was able to take
and carry a load as a man ought to carry it. It is useless to say that
the rest was not required.
As an instance of the hardships and privations
endured by the earl settlers, Mr. Ryerson relates the following experience
: In September, 1839, he started on foot to go to Grand Rapids to
attend "Indian payment." The ordinary route at the time was by the
beach of Lake Michigan to Grand Haven, thence up Grand River. Mr. Ryerson,
however, went through what is since the township of Ravenna, although there
was then no road or settlement on the way, excepting along the first five
miles west of Grand Rapids. He kept his course by a pocket compass, crossed
Crockery creek somewhere near where is now the village of Ravenna, and
stopped for the night about ten miles beyond. He made a brush tent, built
a fire and roasted a coon that he had caught during the day and brought
with him, and made his supper from it without salt or water, and then slept
soundly on his brush bed. The remainder of the coon served for his breakfast
in the morning, after which he pursued his journey, reaching Grand Rapids
early in the day and without feeling any particular fatigue.
The following incident was related to the writer
by Mr. R., and shorts the manner of enforcing a rule of the early settlers
requiring a uniformity in dress; a rule which prohibited the wearing of
"stove-pipe" hats and white shirts. A young man from Grand Rapids one day
made his appearance on the "streets" of Muskegon wearing these contraband
articles of dress, and who, by the way, was putting on numerous airs in
consequence. A mock court was soon organized, a complaint was made against
him for horse-stealing; he was arrested, examined, and bound over to circuit
court, the constable started with him for the jail (a log stable) and on
the way he was allowed to escape, as had been, pre-arranged. The fellow
ran for the roods at a rate of speed that would have astonished a deer,
while the whole town followed, him, yelling at the top of their voices,
and pretending to try to overtake him. That hat was never seen in Muskegon
again.
Mr. Ryerson removed to Chicago in 185l, where
he has since resided, excepting about five years which he spent with his
family in Europe.
Theodore Newell was a native of Connecticut,
and settled in Muskegon in 1836 at the mouth of Muskegon lake; his object
in locating in that place being to secure a claim to the land in that vicinity,
as it was then supposed that the future city of Muskegon would be built
on the sand hills near the mouth. He and his brother Augustus Penoyer built
a mill the same year at Penoyer creek, a few miles above the Newaygo. Mr.
P. left Muskegon soon after and removed to Grand Haven. He now lives at
Nunica. `
Samuel Rose was born in Grandville, Mass.,
in 1817, and came to Grand Rapids in 1836, where he met Augustus Penoyer,
who was then getting ready to build a mill at Penoyer creek, a few miles
above Newaygo. He made an agreement to work for Mr. P., and started with
some other men to go through the woods to the place where they were to
work.
There being no road and not keeping the right
direction they got lost and were out five days before they reached Muskegon
River. Then, thinking they were above Newaygo, they started down the stream
and after a time came to Muskegon Lake. After obtaining some provisions
they started up the river, and passing the site of the village of Newaygo
( at which place there was then no settlement), reached their destination.
Mr. Rose has continued to reside on Muskegon river, sometimes at Muskegon
or at others up the river; his present residence near Newaygo.
George W. Walton was born January 3, 1812,
in Essex Co. N. Y. In 1833 he removed to Chicago, and settled in Muskegon
in May, 1837. During his early residence here he was very active in public
matters : was supervisor of the township for several years, having been
first elected in 1847, and was also the first postmaster of Muskegon. Mr.
Walton removed to California in 1855, where he remained several years and
went thence to Nevada, where he died in 1874.
Jonathan H. Ford was born in the State
of New York. He settled in Muskegon in 1837. and built the mill at the
mouth of Bear creek. During, his residence here he was elected one of the
associate judges of the Ottawa county court. He left Muskegon in 1845,
and now resides in Wisconsin.
Thomas W. Dill and his wife, -now Mrs.
Susan Bohne,- came to Muskegon in 1837, stopping here a few days, and then
went to Penoyer's Mill, a few miles above the present village of
Newaygo, where they lived one year. They then came down the Muskegon river,
to Mill Iron Point, where Mr. Dill built a house and lived two years. Here
Minerva Dill, now Mrs. John Curry, was born, June 10th, 1838; the first
white child born in the present limits of Muskegon county. In the spring
of 1840, Mr. Dill and his family moved into the house previously occupied
by Mr. Baddeau, near where the Rodgers foundry now stands, and occupied
it as a hotel and boarding-house. This was known as the Muskegon
House, and was the first attempt at hotel keeping in Muskegon. After,
the death of Mr. Dill, in 1854, Mrs. Dill married Mr. Bohne, who has since
died. Mrs. Bohne is still living in Muskegon, and is the oldest settler
in Muskegon county.
Part 5 - The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
EARLY SETTLERS (continued)
Isaac D. Merrill was born in 1809, and
settled in Muskegon in 1839. He has continued to reside on Muskegon river
since that time, his present residence being at Bridgeton.
George Ruddiman was born in Aberdeen, Scotland,
Sept. 29,1815, and came to America in 1833, stopping one year in
Pennsylvania, when he came to Michigan, and has since resided most of the
time in this State. He settled in Muskegon in April, 1840, and engaged
as a millright in repairing the mill at the month of Bear lake. In 1841
he took charge of this mill, and in 1844, in company with his brother,
John Ruddiman, he bought the property where the McGraft & Montgomery
mill now stands.
In 1840 Mr. Ruddiman attended the election
in Muskegon and voted for Gen.
Harrison for President of the United States. Geo. Ruddiman built
the first boat used for towing logs and vessels in Muskegon lake. It was
a small sidewheel steamer, and was called "The Peggy." He now resides in
the township of Muskegon.
George B. Woodbury was born in Worcester,
Mass., and in 1837 removed to
Michigan City, where he remained until October; 1840, when he left
and settled in Muskegon, coming all the distance along the shore of Lake
Michigan in a small boat. Soon after reaching Muskegon he obtained employment
as engineer in the T. Newell & Co. mill. He continued this for several
years, at the same time carrying on a blacksmith shop, where be employed
his leisure time in making traps for the Indians and in doing other blacksmith
work. This was the first shop of the kind in Muskegon, and the only one
at the time north of Grand River.
Mr. Woodbury in those days was rather fond of
a practical joke, as were most of the early settlers. The following is
remembered as one of them: A man from Monroe, who was rather inclined to
put on airs, came to Muskegon with a quantity of wildcat money which at
that time was not entirely worthless, but was considerably depreciated
in value; and thinking he was off in the woods among ignorant men, be endeavored
to buy lumber with it at its par value. Samuel Rose, who happened to be
up the river at the time, had a raft of lumber lying in the water near
where the flouring mill now stands, and Mr. Woodbury sold the raft to the
Monroe man, agreeing to wait for his pay until the lumber was hauled out,
and at the same time telling everybody to keep the joke quiet.
The man worked three days in the water and got
out about 25,000 feet, when Mr. Rose returned and exposed the joke,
when the man left town a somewhat wiser man, taking his "wildcat" with
him.
Another joke was to the following effect, played
upon a loud-talking newcomer, who had failed to become popular with the
settlers. Mr. Woodbury one day said to Mr. Ryerson that it was too bad
that that stranger should be eaten up in that way; that Mr. Green ought
to suffer for it. The loud talker, as was intended heard the remark and
immediately inquired in regard to the particulars. Mr. Woodbury in reply
said "that Mr. Green had sent a stranger upon the hill alone to cut logs,
and that the hodags had killed and eaten him, leaving nothing but his boots."
He started at once for Mr. Green's house to give him a terrible lecture.
Mr. G. said it was one of Ryerson and Woodbury's jokes, but he would not
believe it and continued blame him for thus allowing a stranger to expose
himself. Mrs. Green endeavored to corroborate her husband's statement,
when the loud talker said "he did not want her to put in her clack; " "she
could not make him believe that Mr. Green was not to blame." The man was
so much afraid of the imaginary animals that he soon after left the town.
Hence the origin of the term hodags.
Samuel J. Green was born in Ohio, and settled
in Muskegon in 1840. He died in May, 1858.
John H. Knickerbocker was born in 1815,
at Watertown, N. Y. He settled, in Muskegon in 1840, and died August
26, 1856.
Richard Ryerson was born in Paterson, N.
J., Feb. 9th. 1812, where he lived till he was about twenty years of age,
when he removed to Western New York, where he lived until 1843, when he
came and settled in Muskegon. He was engaged during the first years of
his residence here at logging, at prices that would not be considered very
good at the present time: sometimes selling good logs at $2 per thousand
feet. Mr. Ryerson for several years kept the Walton House, the first frame
hotel in Muskegon. He still resides in this city.
Alfred A. Maxim was born in Chautauqua
county, N. Y., January 26, 1820. Coming west in 1843, he made Kenosha,
Wis., his first stopping place. In November of that year he started from
Chicago for Grand Haven on a schooner, with two yoke of oxen and some men
whom he had employed, to seek his fortune at lumbering. The next day after
reaching Grand Haven he started along the beach of Lake Michigan for Muskegon,
there being at the time no road through the woods. They had not proceeded
far when they came to a place where the driftwood had filled up the narrow
space between the water and a high bank; and not being able to drive around
they were obliged to unload the wagons -part of the load being barrels
of pork -take apart the wagons and carry them and the contents over the
hill. They then led the oxen around, and having yoked them and put the
wagon together, loaded up and started again.
Mr. Maxim was entirely unacquainted with quicksand,
and when driving along on the smooth sand at the mouth of Little Black
Lake, the oxen began to sink, and before he could get upon dry land they
had sunk so that their heads alone were visible. After great exertion they
finally succeeded in rescuing the animals alive from their perilous situation.
They left the beach at the mouth of Black Lake and went through the
woods, taking their course by compass, and reached Muskegon Lake near were
the A. V. Mann & Co. Mill is now situated. From thence they followed
along up the lake and stopped at the Muskegon House, then kept by Mr. Dill.
These wagons were the first ever driven into Muskegon. Mr. Maxim has been
engaged in lumbering most of the time since, and has continued to reside
on Muskegon river, his present home being in this city.
John Ruddiman was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.
March 20, 1814, and came to this country in 1831. He lived four years in
Pennsylvania, when he came to Michigan and lived a year in Detroit. In
1839 he removed to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1843, when he settled
in Muskegon, where he has since continued to reside. In 1849 he built a
mill on the north side of Muskegon lake, in which in 1850 he put in the
first siding mill in use on the lake. He built a flouring mill at the mouth
of Bear lake in 1862--the first in operation on Muskegon Lake.
Elias W. Merrill was born in Falmouth,
Me., Oct. 2, 1812; came to Michigan in 1837, and settled in Muskegon in
June, 1844. He has continued to reside here, excepting one year when be
lived at Bridgeton and one year in his native State. Mr. Merrill was elected
to the lower house of the State Legislature in 1856; was postmaster in
1861, State senator in 1865, and postmaster a second time in 1869, holding
the office till 1875.
Robert W. Morris was born in 1813 in the
State of New York, and settled on the Muskegon river in 1842, and a few
years after came to Muskegon. For a number of years he was an active business
man, but his health having failed he retired from business in '65 and removed
to Grand Rapids, where he died May 5th, 1866.
Ashley B. Furman was born in Saratoga county,
N. Y.; in January 1819, and settled in Muskegon in 1845. Although he saw
very much of the early history and settlement of Muskegon, it is doubtful
whether a reply that he once made to the question, "How long had he known
Muskegon river?" was strictly true. He said "he had known the river
ever since it was a small stream, in fact since it was first laid out."
Mr. Furman died Oct. 4th, 1872.
The foregoing are sketches of all those who settled
in Muskegon during the first ten years after the first settlment was made,
so far as the writer has been able to learn. Some of these sketches are
not as perfect as would be desirable, the necessary information not being
accessible.
SETTLERS PREVIOUS TO 1860
The following is a list of the persons who settled in Muskegon
prior to the year 1860, so far us the writer has been able to obtain their
names:
1846--James Graham, P. Blake.
1847--Charles Martin, Frank Young.
1848--Ezra Stevens, Nich. Petrie, C. Davis, Chas. Carmichael, E.
A. Partridge, Mrs. Julia Witherell, Mrs. Fanny Shepherd, John Witherel,
Mrs. Albert Hodge.
1849--Mrs. W. Lloyd, Mrs. Ellen Boyd, John Cameron, C. P. McSherry,
E. H. Wylie, Dennis Garvey, Theo. Wilson, Nich. Kempff, P. J. Connell.
1850--Julias Bosksch, A. Trowbridge, F. John Hetz, Jonathan Boyce,
Thomas Mills, Fred Drixelius, Kister Werner, John Carmichael.
1851--David Blake.
1852--A. J. McHenry, Hubert Stein, J. D. Davis, Jacob Hetz, Charles
T. Hills, Lars Larson, Fred. Bowles, Edward Boyce, Raymond O'Harrow, M.
S. Burge, Dennis Reardon.
1853--J. H. Swan, Charles W. Root, Wm. Glue, Peter Crossman.
1854--Ira O. Smith, P. Dowd, Henry Van Bambus, Ole Olson, Wm. Kotelman,
Nich. Schuler, Henry Jacob, John Bronson, Andrew Olson, Edward Ford.
1855--A1ex. Cotie, John W. Kent, Martin Kochlin, Peter Muhl, Captain
Henry Dobson, J. H. Hackley, Matthew Wilson, Henry H. Getty.
1856-- L. G. Mason, S. D. Murray, R. P. Easton, Luman Hamblin, Gideon
Truesdell, A. B. Miner, S. R. Sanford, F. Eimer, H. Riehle, J. W. Moon,
John Torrent, Chas. H. Hackley, S. H. Stevens, Dr. A. Maurer.
1857-A. A. Bullock, M. F. Ranier, P. Schnorbach, Lewis M. Haines,
John T. Dibble, Chas. D. Nelson, E. Potter, W. F. Wood, A. V. Mann, W.
L. Ryan, Thos. Wheeler, W. H. Lewis, Bennett Ripley, Wm. Rutherford, Chas.
Graves.
1858-- Henry H. Holt, Wm. Pickett, George Schwegler, A. Rodgers.
1859-- S. B. Peck, Geo. Armes, A. Mulder, J. Mulder, Geo. F Outhwaite.
Part 6 - The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
THE SCHOOLS
The first school in Muskegon was
a private one, taught by Miss Clark in the winter of 1848-9, in a room
in the dwelling-house of Charles Martin. Among those now living in this
county who attended this school are Henry Lasley of Montague, William,
August, and Joseph Baddeau of Holton, and Mrs. Minerva Curry of this city.
The first school-house erected was built by private subscription, in the
autumn of 1849, on the corner of Clay avenue and Terrace street, where
the Smith, Henderson & Co. wagon-shop now stands. It was 20x30 feet,
one story, and cost about $300. It was afterwards considerably enlarged,
and was for several years the only school-house and place for religious
services in the village. It was finally sold, removed, and converted into
Holt's Hall, which was destroyed in the great fire, Aug. 1st, 1874. Wm.
D. Holt taught in this school-house the first winter. Miss Roberts (afterwards
the wife of Frank Cole) taught during the second winter and the summer
following.
The first union school building was erected in
1860, while Thomas Wheeler was director of the district. This was replaced
by the present building in 1875.
Miss Margaret McIntyre has been engaged in the
public schools in this city, either as principal or first assistant, for
fifteen years prior to the close of the last term, having been employed
continuously excepting one year.
THE CHURCHES
The first priest of the Roman Catholic Church who officiated
in Muskegon after the town was settled, was father Visosky, of Grand Rapids,
who came here in 1835 and held the first services in Lasley's house. Services
were held here occasionally after that time, but nothing was done towards
building a church until 1856, when Father Van Pamel of Grand Rapids commenced
the work. The original building was completed and the first service held
in it in 1857. It was known as St. Mary's church. Since that time several
additions and improvements have been made. The first resident priest in
Muskegon was Father Stonehouse, who settled here in 1857. Father Rievers
has occupied his present position eleven years.
In 1843 Rev. Mr. Waring of the Presbyterian Church
made a visit to Muskegon, when Mr. Ryerson, having fitted up seats in his
boarding house, went around and notified the people of the proposed service.
The settlers were all present, including an old man who was very much under
the influence of liquor. The minister was preaching when the man went in,
and was saying something in regard to the Jews; and as the old man passed
along he chimed in, "and gentiles too." No notice was taken of this intrusion,
and he took his seat on the stairs that led to the floor above. He soon,
however, began to respond very loudly, not with the word amen, but in stead
the Indian on-in-day. Mr. Woodbury, who was sitting near, often making
repeated attempts to keep him quiet, took him by the collar and pulled
him up the stairs, and the service proceeded in an orderly manner. At the
close a collection was taken amounting to $7.50. This was the first Protestant
service held in Muskegon.
From this time until 1850 several ministers who
were here on a visit or otherwise held services, several of whom came at
the request of Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, of Grand Haven. Among them was the Rev.
Mr. Wheeler, who came a number of times in the winter of 1844-5, and held
services in the boarding house occupied by Mr. Maxim. In the spring of
1850 an agreement was made with Rev. Mr. Reynolds of the Congregational
Church, who lived at Lamont, to preach each alternate Sunday. The services
were held in the school-house, and the arrangement was continued through
the summer and part of the following winter, he being the first minister
who had a regular appointment. Sleighs were unknown in Muskegon in those
days, but C. Davis had a one-horse sled on which was a wood-rack, which
was used occasionally when the snow was deep in taking the ladies to church,
accommodating as many as could stand in the rack.
The first M. E. minister who preached here regularly
was Rev. Mr. Bennet in 1844-5.
Rev. J. M. Pratt of the M. E. Church settled
in Muskegon as a minister in 1856, and soon after began to make arrangements
for building a church. The Methodist church was commenced in the spring
of 1857, and was so far advanced that the basement was used in the spring
of 1858; but it was not fully completed until the spring of 1859, when
the dedication services were held on the 9th day of June, Rev. J. K. Gillett
at that time being the pastor. The church, including the bell, cost, as
appeared by the report of the building committee, $11,600.
The first resident Congregationalist minister
of Muskegon was Rev. Mr. Payson, who settled here in 1857, and remained
until 1859. In March, 1859, Rev. A. St. Clair located here and began to
preach, and the Congregationalist Society was organized soon after, the
services being held until 1863 in the basement of the M. E. church, at
the same time the Methodist services were being held in the room above.
In 1863 the Congregatiuonalist church was built, costing about $7,000.
The original Dutch Reform Church was built in
1859. This was a small building, and was sold and removed for a school-house.
The large Dutch Reform Church was built in 1865.
The Dutch Reform Church on Terrace street was
built in 1865.
The Universalist Church was built in 1865.
The Baptist Church was built in 1871.
The Scandinavian Lutheran Church was built in
1865.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was built in 1873.
The Danish Lutheran Church was built in 1874.
The Swedish Lutheran Church was built in 1875.
The first Sunday-school organized in Muskegon
was in 1852, by Mrs. E. W. Merrill, Mrs. J. H. Knickerbocker, Mrs. E. ?,
and Mrs. Chas. Odell. This was discontinued after a time, and a school
was reorganized in 1854 by Fred Bowles, Mrs. Elizabeth Bowles and some
others assisting, since which date a Sunday-school has been continually
in existence in Muskegon.
POSTAL FACILITIES
The Muskegon postoffice was established January
3rd, 1838, at the mouth of Muskegon lake, that being at that time the most
central location for the settlers on the lake, and Henry Penoyer was appointed
postmaster. No provision was made for carrying the mail, and the office
was supplied from Grand Haven, the mail being carried by persons on foot,
usually Indians. After a time the postoffice was removed to the "head of
the lake," as the present site of Muskegon was then designated; but the
business of the office being but small, on the 11th of February, 1847,
it was discontinued.
On the 2d of March, 1848, the postoffice was
re-established, and George W. Walton appointed postmaster. The postoffice
was kept in the old Walton House for several years, when it was removed
to the old warehouse building, now standing near the Chapin & Foss
mill. Here it also remained for several years, until John B. Wheeler was
appointed postmaster, who removed the office to the small building on Water
street, the second building north of T. Merrill's livery stable. The receipts
of the office for the first year amounted to about $36.00. Previous to
the organization of the Muskegon postoffice, the nearest office was Grand
Haven, where the mail matter for the Muskegon people was received. There
was no regular arrangement for getting the mail from Grand Haven, and it
was brought here by persons who might chance to go there, and occasionally
an Indian or some other person was sent for the mail. During the first
few years after the postoffice was established the mail was received from
Grand Rapids via Ravenna once each week. After a time the mail service
was increased to three times per week, which continued until 1860, when,
the Detroit & Milwaukee R. R. being completed, a daily mail route was
established to Ferrysburg.
Part 7 - The Centennial History of Muskegon
By HENRY H. HOLT
THE PRESS
There was no newspaper published in Muskegon until
the spring of 1857, when Charles Cowen started the Muskegon Journal. It
was Rebublican in politics, and was published weekly in a room in the old
Walton House. After a short time Mr. Cowen took in Thomas H. Hodder as
a partner, and the firm continued the publication of the paper until
the autumn of the same year, when it was discontinued.
The next newspaper was the Muskegon Reporter,
which was started in April, 1859, by Fred B. Lee & Co. This was also
a Republican weekly, and was published until October, 1864, when it was
discontinued. August 20, 1864, John Bole started the Muskegon News, which
he published a few months and then sold to Wm. K. Gardner, who continued
the publication until March, 1865, when he sold his interest to Ferdinand
Weller. The latter soon after bought the press and type of the Reporter
office and revived that paper, publishing two papers. After a time they
were united, and known as the News and Reporter. The first Democratic paper
started in Muskegon was the Muskegon Telegraph, which was succeeded by
the Muskegon Enterprise, and Gazette and Bulletin, the latter being discontinued
Sept. 9, 1873. Charles S. Hilbourn established the Democratic Lakeside
Register in the fall of 1873, and still continues its publication.
MUSKEGON HARBOR
The harbor at the mouth of Muskegon
river and lake remained in its natural condition until the year 1863, when
the work of improving it was begun. Until this time, at the best stage
of the water there was scarcely ever more than six feet on the bar,-oftener
not more than four or five feet, and at times, after a strong wind from
the southwest, the sand would be drifted in so that men have waded across.
In 1863 a corporation called the Muskegon Harbor Company was organized,
under the provisions of a law of this State, for the purpose of improving
the channel. This company built a slab pier on each side of the channel,
the south pier being 1,500 feet long, and the north pier about 500 feet.
Previous to the building of the piers there was no well-defined channel,
the water of the river spreading in every direction on reaching Lake Michigan.
As a consequence, whatever there was of a channel was very changeable as
well as crooked, and even after the piers were commenced the water did
not flow directly into the lake. To obviate this difficulty, the superintendent
resorted to the somewhat novel expedient of boring a channel through the
sand. To accomplish this, he chartered the propeller Caldwell to force
her way backwards from Lake Michigan into Muskegon Lake, agreeing to pay
$1,500 for the job. The revolutions of the wheel cleared away the sand,
so that the propeller continually "advanced backwards," but so slowly that
the captain at one time was inclined to relinquish his undertaking, but
on endeavoring to return into Lake Michigan he found that so much of the
sand that he had displaced had settled behind the propeller that she could
not move in that direction, and his only course was to go into Muskegon
Lake, turn around, and then bore out again. The result was that the current
of the river was so strong that it afterwards kept the straight channel
to Lake Michigan open.
This company was composed entirely of those interested
in the Muskegon lumber business, and expended altogether about $40,000,
all of which was donated towards this improvement.
Congress soon after began to make appropriations
for the same purpose,- the result of all which is that this harbor is undoubtedly
the best on Lake Michigan, there being at the present time sixteen feet
of water on the bar.
The current of the river is so strong that the
channel never freezes over. Even in the cold winter of 1874 it did not
freeze, and had it not been for the ice on Lake Michigan, vessels could
have entered at any time and run up to Muskegon Lake, a distance of nearly
a mile.
MISCELLANEOUS
The first physician who settled in Muskegon was
Dr. Chas. P. McSherry, in 1849.
The first attorney was Edwin Potter, in 1857;
the second attorney was Henry H. Holt, in 1858. The latter was elected
prosecuting attorney of Ottawa county, of which Muskegon then formed a
part, the same year.
Samuel R. Sanford was elected sheriff of Ottawa
county in 1858.
R. O'Harrow has been general manager in the mill
of C. Davis & Co. since January, 1854, a length of time in one position
not exceeded by that of any person in Muskegon.
The first banking office in Muskegon was started
by Captain T. J. Rand in 1859. He also erected the building in 1867 now
occupied by the Lumberman's National Bank, which was the first brick building
in Muskegon.
Muskegon county was organized in the winter of
1859, from territory detached from Ottawa county. C. Davis, E. W. Merrill,
R. W. Morris were very active in securing the passage of the act, there
being a very decided opposition to the measure. The first election of county
officers was held on the fourth of April of that year, when James H. Lobdell
was elected sheriff, E. H. Wyllie county clerk, J. D. Davis county treasurer,
C. D. Nelson register of deeds, Jesse D. Pullman judge of probate, Henry
H. Holt prosecuting attorney, and Edwin Potter circuit-court commissioner.
The officers entered on the discharge of the
duties of their several offices on the first of June following, when the
new county commenced in existence.
The first meeting of the board of supervisors
was held in the office of Henry H. Holt, on the 18th of July, 1859, when
E. W. Merril represented the township of Muskegon, I. O. Smith, Norton,
Nathan Whitney, Casinovia, and Thomas D. Smith, Ravenna. E. W. Merrill
was elected chairman of the board. The first business transacted was the
detaching of a part of Muskegon township and organizing the same into the
township of Eggleston.
The supervisors of the townships of White River
and Dalton refused to meet with the board, claiming that the organization
of the county was illegal and void. I. E. Carleton, the supervisor from
Oceana township, was afterwards prosecuted for neglect of official duty,
a statement of facts was agreed upon and submitted to a jury, which found
him guilty, upon a special verdict; whereupon Judge Littlejohn, who was
the first judge of the county, imposed a small fine. Mr. Carleton then
took the case to the Supreme Court, as it was understood that he would
when a a decision was rendered, which sustained the organization, the court
being equally divided.
The first representative in the State Legislature
from Muskegon county was Chauncey Davis, who was elected in 1860, and was
reelected in 1862.
The village of Muskegon was incorporated in 1861,
and the first election was held in the basement of the M. E. Church on
the 8th of July of that year, when Lyman G. Mason was elected president;
E. Potter, R. W. Morris, C. P. Bigelow and Thos. Mills, trustees; Robert
McQueen, recorder; Luman Hamblin, marshal; C. D. Nelson, treasurer, and
W. P. Odell, and R. O'Harrow, aldermen of the first ward, J. H. Landreth
and Alex. Rodgers, aldermen of the second ward, and Chas. Kreig and Dennis
Riordan aldermen of the third ward.
CONCLUSION
Among those who were born in Muskegon and are
still residents of Muskegon counyt are Mrs. John Curry, Mrs. Horation Hovey,
James and George Graham of Muskegon; and Mrs. A. G. Smith, of Lakeside;
S. H. Lasley, of Montague; and William, Augustus, Michael, and Joseph Baddeau,
of Holton.
In closing this imperfect sketch of the early
history of Muskegon, the writer wishes to express his obligations to Messrs.
M. Ryerson, C. Davis, M. W. Lloyd, George B. Waterbury, R. O'Harrow, Geo.
Ruddiman, A. A. Maxim, R. Ryerson, and Mrs. Susan Bohne, Mrs. Julia Witherell,
Mrs. Fanny Sheperd, and many others for valuable assistance rendered in
furnishing information.
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