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The Early History of Missaukee County: a Reader

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The Early History of Missaukee County: a Reader The Early History of Missaukee County: A Reader First Edition This is a collection of documents describing the early years of the settlement of Missaukee County, Michigan. Some are summaries taken from newspapers, public records, and family memories, while others are memoirs. Taken together, they provide a multi-faceted picture of Missaukee’s pioneering decades in the late 19th century. Thanks to the historians, librarians, families, and fans of Missaukee that have preserved these histories. Thanks to Barbara Lesser for her online archive and transcription work. I dedicate this modest collection of transcriptions and excerpts to my parents, Ed Koster and Joyce Brinks Koster, both born in Aetna Township, on the occasion of my father’s 75th Birthday. I myself have never lived in Missaukee, but it’s always felt like home. -Steven Koster, Tinley Park, Illinois, Father’s Day 2013 © 2013 Steven Koster Contents MISSAUKEE COUNTY SETTLERS .............................................................................................................................. 3 [PREFACE] .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 [EARLY EVENTS] ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 [TOWNS AND GHOST TOWNS] .......................................................................................................................................... 5 THE HISTORY OF MISSAUKEE COUNTY ................................................................................................................. 10 [PREFACE] .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 [1871: ORGANIZING THE COUNTY] ................................................................................................................................. 11 [1873: COUNTY SEAT] ................................................................................................................................................. 14 [1877: STATE ROADS] .................................................................................................................................................. 15 [1880] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17 [1881] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 19 [1884] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 [1887] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23 [1889] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26 [1890] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 28 [1891] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 28 [1892] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 [1893] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 [1894] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31 [1895] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32 [1896] ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33 [1900S] ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 [HIRZEL’S CLOSING REMARKS] ........................................................................................................................................ 37 DUTCH SETTLEMENT NORTH OF MUSKEGON 1867-1897 ..................................................................................... 39 PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 HISTORY ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 FREMONT ................................................................................................................................................................... 39 VOGEL CENTER ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 NEW ERA ................................................................................................................................................................... 42 LUCAS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 42 ATWOOD .................................................................................................................................................................... 43 MEMOIR OF JOHN VOGEL, IMMIGRANT AND PIONEER ....................................................................................... 44 SOURCE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 44 FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................................................. 44 MEMOIRS OF JOHN VOGEL ...................................................................................................................................... 45 ADDENDUM: OBITUARY OF JAN VOGEL ............................................................................................................................ 53 Missaukee County Settlers Excerpt from “Families of Missaukee,” published by the Waterfront Newspaper [Transcribed 2013 by Steven Koster, from a copy of “Families of Missaukee” found in the Grand Rapids Public Library. Transcriber notes are in brackets throughout. Some typographic errors were corrected, but are unmarked.] [Preface] [“Families of Missaukee” is a booklet published by Lake City’s Waterfront newspaper, possibly in the 1960s or 1970s. It includes a Forward, Introduction by William Hage, a long list of families including names, biographical sketches, and photos, and near the end, this sketch of the county’s early history. It also includes this epilogue: ] “The Historical Society thanks all those who contributed stories, pictures, and time to the production of this book and we regret that more histories were not submitted. Errors in information, names, places or dates can occur in family histories due to the oral nature passed down and omissions can occur in some cases. This is normal despite the best of precautions.” [This brief history, in a book about pioneer families, concentrates on the histories of towns and settlements, many of which already no longer exist. Overall, it’s a short overview of material treated at length elsewhere, such as by Stout, Hirzel, and Vogel. It no doubt draws from those and other sources. ] [Early Events] A United States government surveyor by the name of Brink was probably the first white man to set foot in Missaukee County. He surveyed the county in May, 1837, and a resurvey was made by W.R. Coffinberry about 1853 to 1856. The story is the county was named for a chief of the Ottawa Indians who made their winter home in the area. The Governor of Michigan had ceded the northern part of the state as homestead territory. Many of the early pioneers were young farmers and soldiers returning from the Civil War. A soldier could stake out as much as 160 acres for himself. There was less acreage for others. Washington Richardson was the first to make a permanent home in the county in Section 29, Pioneer Township in December, 1867. William J. Morey homesteaded in the same township, same year. Even though John Vogel had filed his homestead claim before Richardson, he did not settle in Clam Union Township until 1868. Arriving in the Vogel party were his wife, Barbara and daughter, Dora; his wife’s brother and sister, Jacob and Eva Herweyer; Hendrick Zagers and wife; Hendrick Westveld and John Abbing. A daughter, Agnes, was born to the John Vogels on June 10, 1869, the first
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