Isabella County, Michigan

Description

The history of cities, townships, churches, schools, businesses, clubs, organizations and family histories of the people from Isabella County, Michigan.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Míchigan
• State
• Isabella County, Michigan
• United States
• History
• Local
• Michigan

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781681622484
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 8 Mo

Extrait

T URNER P UBLISHING C OMPANY
Isbella County Court House, Mt. Pleasant, MI .
Turner PUBLISHING COMPANY Publishers of America s History
www.turnerpublishing.com

Copyright Isabella County Genealogical Society Publishing Rights: Turner Publishing Company
Turner Publishing Company s Representative: Virginia Forstot
This book was compiled and produced using available information. Turner Publishing Company and the Isabella County Genealogical Society regret they cannot assume liability for errors or omissions.
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of the author and publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Control No.: 2003113506 ISBN: 978-1-56311-936-1
Front and back endsheets: Prints of Courthouse paintings by John F. MacDermaid used in this publication by permission of artist .

Jockey Alley, south of the courthouse square in Mt. Pleasant, circa 1920. Ege Photo. In ten years scenes like this would be a memory preserved only in street signs. This view looks ESE from Main Street at the present day intersection of Mosher Street. Mosher Street would be where the tree to the left is located. Mosher Street ended at Fancher Street at the time and was extended to Main in the 1970s .

At left: Ann Arbor RR at the Chippewa River, Mt. Pleasant, MI, circa 1900. Clarke Historical Library. This is the bridge James Davis horse tried to cross pulling a buggy when the animal became entrapped. The structure is located a block north of the Mt. Pleasant Ann Arbor Depot. One can see an American Type 4-4-0 of mid 1880s vintage. It is pulling a passenger train north out of Mt. Pleasant with an eventual destination of Frankfort on Lake Michigan. To the front of the engine is Fancher Flats in the background. In afew years this would become Island park. To the rear of the train in the distance is Harris Brothers Mill on Broadway. The Ann Arbor discontinued passener trains in 1950 after 64 years of service. Today the new connector trail from Island Park to Nelson Park would be along the bottom of this photo .
T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Publisher s Message
Isabella County Genealogical Society
Isabella County Time-Line
Cities
Townships
Isabella County Items of Interest
Churches
Schools
Businesses
Clubs and Organizations
Family Histories
Index

A.R. Muterspaugh Blacksmith Shop .
Acknowledgement

Isabella Genealogical History Book Committee. Front row: Marydeana Duckworth, Veronica Schutt, Lucille Cotter, Darlene Fedewa. Back row: Floyd Seiter, Linda Hopp, Jo Jennings, Don Cotter, Sheri Sponseller; Gary Anderson, Dan Grace .
There are many people to thank when one undertakes a project of this nature and if we miss thanking anyone we want them to except this acknowledgement as our heartfelt thanks.
First, we are very grateful to all the individuals who submitted their biographies and pictures for the history book. We also want to thank the businesses, churches, non-profits and other organizations for purchasing feature pages and submitting their histories to us.
We would also like to thank Mr. James R. Schafer, of Mt. Pleasant Magazine , for putting together an article on the history book at the very beginning of our project. Thank you!
A special thank you goes out to Mr. John F. MacDermaid for allowing us to use copies of his paintings of the Isabella Court House for our front and end pages of the history book. Another special thank you to Mr. Hudson Keenan for the articles he submitted and to Floyd Seiter for the pictures he provided for this publication.
A thank you goes out to the society s members for their help in submitting biographies and for contacting their friends and relatives to also submit information to the history book.
We would like to thank Virginia Forstat, of Turner Publishing, for her help in bringing this project to a successful ending. Her many hours working with us were of great help.
It is also important to thank our treasurer, Darlene Fedewa, for keeping track of the monies collected on this project. Her many hours of effort are greatly appreciated and we thank her for a job well done.
In closing, a big thank you to the History Book Committee made up of Gary Anderson, Sherry Sponseller, Dan Grace, Marydeana Duckworth, Arlene Leiter, Jo Jennings, Veronica Schutt and Darlene Fedewa. Their many hours spent compiling and organizing items for this book were greatly appreciated.
Isabella County History Book Committee
Publisher s Message
Isabella County Genealogical Society

Genealogical Society of Isabella
The Isabella County Genealogical Society began informal meetings in 1995 with a group of people who had similar interests in family history research. By 1998, a solid core of individuals was meeting regularly which allowed for a more formal organization. The charter membership was made up of 23 individuals.
The objective of the Society is to preserve and make available for genealogical research the records of our members, to encourage and assist the study of family history; to promote the exchange of knowledge and to encourage the deposit of genealogical records. The Society also cooperates with other societies and assists the area libraries in expanding and publicizing their genealogical holdings.
The Society has been actively developing a library of research books, created an annual obituary list from the local newspaper, established a society newsletter, offered classes to the public on family history and participates with the Michigan Genealogical Council. The group hopes to expand in the future and find a larger location where it will be possible for the public to have greater access to local records.
Current officers of the Society are Dan Grace, President; Sherry Sponseller, Vice-President; Marydeanna Duckworth, Secretary; Darlene Fedewa, Treasurer; and Linda Hopp, MGC representative.
Isabella County Time-Line
1850
1854 First tract of land entered by Aloney Rust (exact date disputed). Feb Wm. B. Bowen settled in Coe Twp. RH. Estee, Daniel Brickley, John Stewart, Andrew F. Childs, James Campbell, George Reasoner, Charles F. Young and M.J. Hall entered claims of 1/4 section each. John Hursh claims 90 acres where part of CMU now stands.
1855 Treaty of 1855 to establish an Indian Reservation consisting of six townships.
1856 Chippewa Indians of Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River began coming and selecting lands.
1857 Indian Mills built on the Chippewa River. Isabella City exists already. Salt River settlement began. Methodist mission founded by Rev. George Bradley.
1858 Chippewa Township organized.
1859 Isabella County becomes independent from Midland County.
1860
1860 Census lists 1,443 people, 848 being Indian. Current site of the county seat selected. Court house accepted.
1861 Church of Christ at Salt River organized. Isabella City platted by A.W. Fitch and F.C. Babbitt.
1862 James Birney is the second Isabella County judge, succeeding Wilbur F. Woodworth.
1863 Mt. Pleasant platted by David Ward, lumberman, replatted by George and Harvey Morton.
1864 Northern Pioneer newspaper, later to become the Enterprise, established by O.B. Church. H.H. Dutton first stock of general merchandise. First plat at Mt. Pleasant recorded.
1865 First log schoolhouse in Mt. Pleasant taught by Ellen L. Woodworth.
1866 Salt River Village platted.
1867 Winn post office established.
1868 Broomfield Township established and named after William Broomfield.
1869 The Lutheran Synod closes at the site of present day Embers Restaurant.
1870
1870 4,100 people living in Isabella County.
1871 Pastor Wugazzer is visiting each month from Big Rapids to hold services for the Broomfield Zion Lutheran Church congregation since its founding last year.
1872 Harris Brothers milling founded. First Catholic Church.
1873 Last year of business in the village of Longwood for Major James Long, who platted the site south of the river from Indian Mills.
1874 Sacred Heart Church organized. C. Kimball and R.E. McDonald are running a four-horse stagecoach from Mt. Pleasant to Clare. IOOF established in Mt. Pleasant and elects first officers April 4.
1875 Much of the Mt. Pleasant business district destroyed by fire. Mt. Pleasant incorporated as a village.
1876 Dushville (Winn) platted by William Wiley Dush.
1877 Isabella County Courthouse building is completed.
1878 Formal dedication of the Isabella County Courthouse.
1879 First RR Flint and Pere Marquette RR ran a small gauge from Coleman in December. Mt. Pleasant s first library organized. Sherman City schoolhouse built after previous frame building is blown down the previous year.

1880
1880 Census lists 12,159 people, 479 being Indian. New Methodist Church built, remained until 1961. J.E. Chatterton establishes retail grocery business. First Presbyterian Church organized at Calkins ville (Rosebush).
1881 Exchange Savings Bank established by George A. Dusenbury Co. Upton s opera house grand opening. Dush s sawmill boiler explodes killing Andrew Gearhart at Winn.
1882 South side of Broadway destroyed by fire. First mass at St. Joseph the Worker in Beal City. Judge s brick house completed near Winn.
1883 Kane Brothers open grocery. Calkinsville Presbyterian Church built.
1884 Portrait and biographical album of Isabella County published. Forest fire destroys Methodist Indian campgrounds. Post Office located at Horr.
1885 William s addition to Dushville platted consisting of 20 acres.
1886 Ann Arbor, Toledo and Northern RR comes from the South connecting Salt River, Mt. Pleasant, Rosebush and Clare. Winn Masonic Cedar Valley Lodge #383 established. St. Joseph the Worker church burns in Beal City
1887 Brinton platted by E.F. Coburn on land owned by Oscar T. Brinton. Salt River village name changed to Shepherd.

Mr. Mrs. Barnes. Mr. Barnes helped build several of the churches .
St. Henry s church has its first mass near Rosebush.
1888 Gorham Brothers venee