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BATTLE CREEK BY A. D. P. VAN BUREN
The house he subsequently sold, and it became widely known as the American Hotel. It was afterwards burned.
In the meantime Mr. Merritt built the first flouring mill in the village, carrying out a two-fold object by attaching a saw-mill under the same roof and giving to the town two of the most material things to promote its growth
, __flour and building material. Deacon Fayette Cross was the master builder.
The mills stood on the present site of the Kellogg red mill, and were a great acquisition to the new town. Isaac Merritt, after selling his first house, built a convenient and beautiful cottage in which he spent the remainder of his ¦days. His excellent wife is also dead.
There were four children: Lucretia, widow of the late Wm. H. Coleman, now lives in Lansing; Joseph, who married Caroline, daughter of G. F. Smith; Lydia L., noted for her beauty and loveliness, was the first wife of Hon. B. F" Graves, and died some two years after her marriage; and Clara, the wife of Joseph Gilman of Battle Creek. Lucretia and Clara are the only ones of the family now living.
THE FIRST SETTLERS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BATTLE CREEK.
BY A. D. P. VAN BUREN.
The pioneer period of which we are writing, has justly been termed "the heroic age. " It was the period of great labor, of heroic endurance, privation, And suffering that men must always go through with before such great enterprises can be accomplished.
Michigan
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