This article was one
of a series of articles
published during the year 1879, in
The Lake
County Star called “Progress In
Lake County.”
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Appeared in: The Lake County Star
Date Published: February 27, 1879
Volume: VI Number: XLIV Page: 1
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Progress in Lake County.
[Under this title we give a
series of short sketches, descriptive of the time of immigration of each
settler in the county, with amount of improvement, present and future
prospects; crops raised in 1878;
grain sown last Fall, &c. Also,
sketches of manufacturing and business interests. Correspondence is solicited from all
interested in the growth and prosperity of our county. We would suggest to our readers that
they cut out and preserve,in scrap books these
sketches; as they will doubtless find them of more interest in the future than
at this time].
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Hiram F. Young—Settled in the Spring
of 1873, on the west half of northwest and west half of southwest quarter
section 22, Pleasant Plains township;
The soil being sand plains.
There are about 45 acres under improvement, with log house and stable. Has small fruits; over ½ acre
strawberries. For shade and
ornament he has set out some maples, and left original oaks standing. Recently, one of his oxen died, so that
he is left without a team; but has the 1 ox, 2 cows, 2 young cattle, 1 hog, and
poultry. The water is of good
quality from a well 25 feet deep. In
1878, he raised 6 acres wheat, 10 acres corn, 1 acre potatoes (which he estimated yielded 100 bushels), 9 acres rye, and 1 ¼ acres turnips and rutabagas. Last Fall he sowed 4 acres wheat on his own place, and 7 acres on S. C. Brockway’s and 1 acre rye on his own place.
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Horatio N. Jenks—Settled in Spring
of 1871, on the west ½ of northwest quarter, and the southwest quarter
of section 28, Pleasant Plains township, and now has about 60 acres improved.
The soil is sand plains, and it is estimated that there is 800,000 feet of pine on the 80 first mentioned. There is also a fine spring stream
across this lot. Water for cooking
purposes is obtained in abundance and of excellent quality, from a well 30 feet deep. The
buildings are comfortable, log. For
fruit he has apple, cherry, peach and small fruits; about ¼ acre black
and red raspberries from which he harvested 10 bushels during the season two
years since. For shade has left
oaks, and set out some fine maples.
For stock he has a span of horses, yoke of oxen, 5 cows, 3 young cattle,
4 hogs; and keeps poultry. In 1878
he had 10 acres
wheat, 10 acres
corn, 6 acres
oats, 7 acres
buckwheat, 1 ½ acres potatoes, and 4 acres rye; and last Fall sowed 21 acres wheat and 15 acres rye. Mr.
J. seems to be quite contented.
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George N. Jones—In the Summer of
1874, homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 14, Webber township; the
soil being sand plains. There are 60 acres improved, and small frame buildings; with good well, 14 feet deep. In
1878 there were 20 acres wheat, 20 acres oats, and 20 acres timothy, and the wheat ground had also, been seeded
to timothy.
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Jas. Roxburgh—Bought
about 200 acres
of “railroad land,” and settled on section 13, Pleasant Plains
township, In Fall of 1872. The soil
is sand; about 40 acres under improvement. He has a large frame house, log barn;
and a good showing of apple trees and small fruit. For shade he has left a portion of
original forest trees.
Stock—2 oxen, 2 cows, (raised pork for family use, last year);
keeps poultry. Had 3 acres wheat, 2 acres corn, and 2 acres potatoes, in 1878. Abundance of water for stock, from
Middle Branch of Pere Marquette, which runs through
his land. There is an excellent
well, 18 feet
deep, of soft water. Mr. R.
evidently has the chance for making a good farm.
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Jas. Forman—Settled in Spring of
1870 on southwest quarter of section 18, Yates township; built log house, and
cleared 8 acres;
but in Spring of 1875; he sold to George Forman, his brother, and the Forman
Mill was built on this tract, on the Middle Branch. Water was obtained here, from a well 18 feet deep. Mr.
F. owns the south half of southwest quarter section 16, Pleasant Plains
township, bought as school land, in 1872.
This is unimproved; and he is at present keeping hotel at Forman
Station.
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Wm. Forman—Settled on the west half
of southeast quarter section 18, Yates township, in Spring of 1871, cleared 5 acres, and built him a log house. The soil is sand; considerable pine
timber. Obtained water of excellent
quality; soft; at a depth of 16 to 18 feet. Sold to
George Forman in 1872, and at present resides at Forman Station.
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E. W. Wright—Purchased the east half
of southeast and east half of northeast quarter section 12, Pleasant Plains
township, of the widow of the late John S. King, (who settled in 1873) and
settled, in the Spring of 1878.
Most of the improvements on this place were made by Mr. King. The soil is sand plains; 80 acres under cultivation; good frame house and frame
barn. The fruit consists of about
50 apple trees, with some peach, plumb and strawberry. There is a grove of original oaks for
shade and ornament. Mr. W. has
also, purchased 20 acres on section 18, Yates township; the lot cornering on
the 100. For stock he has a span of
horses, 2 cows, 1 hog, 25 sheep; and poultry. Good water from a drive well, 16 feet deep. In
1878, he raised 4 acres corn, 2 ½ acres oats, 2 aces potatoes, 10 acres rye, and 10 acres millet.
Sowed 10 acres rye, last Fall.
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VILLAGE OF NIRVANA.
This village was
started in 1873, by D. Knight; who owned considerable land where the site
rests; and who built the Nirvana House.
The Spring following M. Munson and a Mr. Cook built a small board house;
and during the Summer of 1874, Munson built his dwelling, north of the railroad
grade; where Knight and Munson, also, had a saw mill. During this Summer, also, Wm. Dove built
a store and dwelling combined and a postoffice was
started; Mr. Dove being the first postmaster and continuing in that position at
the present. Wm. Markham erected a
store, and D. Sprague a dwelling in 1874; as also, W. C. Benedict, Thos. A.
Ball, Thos. Phillis and L. O. Chapman erected
dwellings. F. D. Lacy built house
and shingle mill, in 1874-75; and at about the same time Hicks & Benjamin
built a saw mill, and store and dwelling combined.
The school house was
built in 1874, and the first school in the new house was taught by Miss L. Bobb, of Three Rivers.
But the first school taught in the village was by Miss Clara Lacy, of
Nirvana, in a room in Wm. Dove’s building; the room being used, on
Sundays for reception of Sabbath School and religious services.
On the 30th day of
September, 1874, iron on the F. & P. M. Railway was laid through town.
In 1875, C. A. Swain put up a dwelling, and D. Knight the Indra House.
At present the business
of the village consists of F. D. Lacy’s shingle
mill and variety store; Williams’ lumber mill (formerly, Hicks &
Benjamin); the hotel (Indra House). There has been some building during the
past year, and indications of father improvements within the year to come.
There are from 25 to
30 buildings in the village, at present.
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FORMAN STATION.
The first blow was
struck in clearing for this hamlet in the Fall of 1874, by Geo. Forman, who let
the job of clearing 5 or 6 acres to Andrew Craig and Wm. Goff. During the following Winter Jesse Belyea erected a dwelling, as also, Wm. Goff, whose house
was at once occupied by Wm. Forman, who became postmaster and R. R. ticket
agent; both those offices being established that Winter. The present small freight house was
also, built at this time. Dr. Ward
and son each erected a dwelling; and Jas. Forman moved to the village and built
the hotel 24x48, and kitchen addition.
The following Summer, J. T. Batcheldor built a
store and dwelling combined, which was occupied by Cook & Dane; the last
named building a shingle mill, the same season, on Batchelder’s
Lake. The store and dwelling was
burned in Winter of 1877; and the mill was also, destroyed by fire, in July,
1877. The first side track was put
in by the Railroad Company, in 1875; another in 1876; and still another in
1877; two of them have been joined together. In the Summer of 1876, J. T. Batcheldor built a saw mill on the railroad; which mill
afterwards received the addition of shingle machine; and was destroyed by
explosion, Oct. 3d, 1878; causing the death of Jesse Forman, oldest son of C.
H. Forman. A store and dwelling
combined; 24x60 feet; was built by C. H. Forman, in Summer of 1876; Mr. F. at
the present time keeping a snug variety stock and doing the mercantile business
of the place. In Fall of 1877, Geo.
C. Sweet built a saw mill, to cut the large tract of pine owned by himself and
brother, in the vicinity of the Station; also, built a store and dwelling,
stables, &c. In 1878, Mr. S.
sold his pine to Dewey & Co., of Kalamazoo, but contracted for cutting the
logs into lumber, and moved the machinery of his mill some four or five miles
into Cherry Valley township, to be near the timber. The best of the lumber is being
transported by teams to the Station; about 1, 000, 000 feet now being piled there awaiting shipment by rail. In Fall and Winter of 1877, dwellings
were built by I. Sandborn, C. G. Blackmar,
Geo. C. North, Wm. Tuxworth and J. T. Batcheldor.
In 1878, C. H. Forman donated ground, and a neat frame school
house, 24x36 feet, plastered and finished in comfortable shape was erected by
the District. The cost was about
$400.
A saw mill is being
placed by C. H. Forman in the structure formerly occupied by Sweet Bros, and
will probably be in running order in a few days.
There are at present
about 16 buildings in the place.
C. H. Forman is
present postmaster and R. R. ticket agent.
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FORMAN MILL.
Was built in 1873-4 by
Geo. Forman and commenced operation, in Spring of 1874; cutting about 1,000,000 feet that season, and the same in 1875. Mr. Geo. H. Switzer, recently deceased,
was the millwright who superintended the work of putting in mill. In the Fall of 1875, Mr. Forman sold to
Whitcomb & Son, who became involved and retired from the mill in Spring of
1877. L. M. Hardenburg
took the mill to run; but the property was eventually sold on a mortgage, and
has been lying idle for about two years.
It is to be regretted, as the machinery was all first-class, and its
operation would no doubt prove a benefit to the county.
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Abram Kinney—Settled, in Spring of
1876, by homesteading the northeast quarter of section 14, Webber
township. The soil is sand plains;
about 13 acres
improved. Water for stock in two
small lakes. The buildings are log
house and barn; and for fruit he has peach, and small fruits. Has left orignal
oaks for shade. Mr. K. has had the
misfortune to lose one of his oxen, which deprives him of a team. In 1878 he had 2 ½ acres wheat, 2 acres corn, 1 acre potatoes (estimated yield 70 bushels), 1/8 acre
beans, 1 ½ acres rye, 1 acre rutabagas; and says he also, had as fine a garden as
he could ask for. Sowed 6 acres wheat and 3 acres rye, last Fall.
Next Sprin, he intends to set out 50 apple
trees, and some maples for shade and ornament. Also, intends to build a log barn, 24x30
feet, with basement. Estimates the
standing pine at 400,000.
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A. Reynolds—Bought the north half
of northeast quarter section 22, Pleasant Plains township, and occupied it in
Spring of 1877. The soil is sand
and gravel; 73 acres improved.
A good well, 32 feet deep, gives the best of water for cooking purposes;
while middle branch of the Pere Marquette River
affords abundance for stock. The
house is of hewed logs; frame barn.
Small fruits. Most of the
improvements were made by Mr. R; but the place was entered by V. Hallett, who sold to A. Sitzer;
Mr. R. purchasing of the latter. He
has a span of horses. In 1878, he had
8
acres wheat, 7 acres corn, 6 acres oats, 7 acres buckwheat, 3 acres potatoes, (estimated to have produced 65 bush. Per
acre); 10 acres
rye, 1 acre
rutabagas, 5 acres millet, with a fine crop of melons. Expects to eract
a frame barn, 30x40, next season, and has part of material together now. During the present Winter he has put
about 75 loads of manure on the place, from J. Danaher’s camp, and
expects to have some 300 more.
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George Burt—Started
his homestead on the south half of southwest and north half of northwest
quarter section 10, Webber township, in Spring of 1873. The soil is sand; about
20
acres under
improvement. Has a log house and
barn, and intends to put up a barn, 30x40, next Summer. Has good water for house, from a spring,
and a lake (firm margin around it) affords water for stock. There are 10 acres of dry marsh for hay. Mr. B. has 50 apple trees, with plum,
cherry and small fruits. Has an ox
team now, but will have a span of horses in a few days; 2 cows, 1 yearling, 2
hogs, and poultry. In 1878, he
raised 3 acres
wheat, 2 ½ acres corn, 1 ½ acres buckwheat, ½ acre
potatoes (about 35 bushels), 2 acres rye, 2 acres millet, and ½ acre turnips. Sowed 7 acres wheat and 1 acre rye last Fall.
Water can easily be had at a depth of from 15-20 feet.
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[Note—Should any of our readers find an error in any of the
above sketches, they would confer a favor by sending us the proper correction].
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permanently for free access.
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Page Notes:
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All of these sketches are typed as they appeared in the newspaper
(spelling and so on).
- - - = Is missing some lines.
I will be making another trip to be able to get the missing items of this
article, image for this name became blurry in sections.
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