|
|
Michigan Select Michigan Counties
STATEMENT BY JOHN MEACHAM.
Battle Greek, Jan. 7, 1877.
- John Meacham's statement.-He first saw Battle Creek in the month of July, 1835. Nathaniel Barney kept the tavern on the north, side of Main street and at the northerly end of Barney street. A list of the male inhabitants was taken at that time by Mr. Meacham, and is still in his possession; following are the names: Sands McCamly, Ezra Convis, Moses Hall, Tolman W. Hall, Polydore Hudson, Nathaniel Barney, Samuel Convis, Cephas A. Smith, John S. Halladay, Joseph Farnsworth, Jonathan Comstock, Ella G. Smith, Joel Fordham, John Marvin, Porter Kossin.
Sands McCamley's saw mill frame had been raised on the site where the Cushman mill was erected many years afterwards. A large number of men were employed in digging the race, and Benjamin Wright, widely known at that time as a mill-wright, was working at the machinery of said mill. The mill was put in operation in the winter following, and that was the first use made of the water power at Battle Creek.
At that time Milton was one of the political divisions of Calhoun county, and embraced townships one and two south, of range seven west, and townships one and two south, of range eight west. Township two south, of range seven west was afterwards organized as a separate township and called Cady, and was subsequently changed to Emmett.
Township one south, of range seven west, was set off and called Penn-field. Township one south, of range eight west, was organized and called Bedford, and the first township meeting was held in the spring of 1839, at the house of Josiah Gilbert; about forty votes were polled. Caleb Kirby was elected supervisor, and John Meacham township clerk.
Michigan Counties
Page 53
|
|
|
|
|
|