Manistee County Historiesfor Colfax, Cleon, and Marilla Townships
Brief History of Colfax, Cleon, and Marilla townships in Manistee County, Michigan. Written in 1892 by Lemira Wilmuth CANNIFF (1846 - 1919). Transcribed from original manuscript in possession of 2nd great grandson Rick MORAN.
When one year and a half ago [1890] I was honored by the Pioneer Society of Colfax, Cleon, and Marilla to the position of Historian at large, my thoughts were. What could I write of interest, not being among the first pioneers. Let us think of the meaning of the word pioneer. In war there are pioneers sent out to clear the way for the on coming of troops. So in settling the frontiers of civilization there are pioneer men and women who go forward to the front.
Forepart of Nov 1865 the first 180 acres of land in section one was entered and owned by S. M. GRENNELL. The second piece joining on the first was homesteaded by C. M. REAMS, Nov 1865. Mr. S. M. GRENNELL did not settle on his farm until May 1, 1866. The last three miles of road he had to chop out so a team could get through. While moving from Traverse City his wife got out to walk and got lost [on] the way, but was found by a neighbor in Wexford. She was the first white woman that settled in Cleon. They built the first house. Many settlers came through the summer and fall of 1866. Four of these settlers took advantage by the way of economy and erected their dwelling so the house stood on the corner of four sections [so] each homesteader sleeping in his own home. The house was erected in August 1866. The house was 18x26 ft. Many were the regrets when it had to be torn down. It being in the highway to give place for a four corners to accommodate the public. In the spring of 1867 the number of settlers with children was 21.
In 1869 the first school district was organized. The word spoken, [the] day [was] named when they would raise the school house with light hearts and willing hands. The building was soon up and ready for use. Is there one of the pioneers that would wish to erase the happy memory, the hearty cheer, the warm greeting, received in that old log school house where praise and prayer have been offered, where tears and leave taken have been made? Is it not a dear spot in our remembrance, may it long remain.
Miss Emma VANHIGHING taught the first term of three months for six dollars a month and boarded around. Cleon was organized as [a] township in the spring of 1869 three years after the first settler came, the whole votes cast were sixteen. The honored officers were Mr. Alonzo CHUBB, T. N. COPLEY clerk, M. P. GRENELL treasury. At this time the settlers numbered forty.
Rev�s BADGER and WRIGHT came to preach and organize a Sunday school. In 1870 Rev WRIGHT preached the first sermon. A Sunday school was organized and every one went from far and near. There being no professing Christian that would take hold, Mr. A. CHUBB was chosen superintendent.
Alexander PRATT of Cleon and T. Jane HANNA of Wexford were married June 4th, 1871. In July the same year Mr. Leo DUFFY and Miss Julana LAKE were united in marriage, they being the first pioneers that were married in Cleon. The first death being Olive COPLEY in 1868, she being the oldest daughter that came north with him.
The first wheat threshed was in the fall of 1870 by Eli CORNEL . The average yield was fifteen bushels to the acre. In 1880 we were glad to have one saw mill and have our lumber sawed by Mr. GRENELL, while now [1892] we have five.
In 1872 the first church was organized and was known as the First Congregation Church of Cleon and Marilla. The meeting was in Marilla on Mr. CRAWFORDS farm. The first couple that Jacob SEARS married in 1870 was Jacob VANPELT to Miss Mary BRIMMER. The first grist mill was built in the fall of 1889, and [the] spring [of] 1890 the first flour ground out on May 29th, 1890.
Three towns have been plated in Cleon which are Harlan by Mr. GILBERT, Pomona, New Chicago, and Copemish. The later the largest with several manufacturing, one plaining mill, two saw mills, one bowl factory, [and] one grist mill. The first store was owned by Sam GRINER at Cleon Center in 1883, while now [1892] we boast of eleven. The first Hotel was owned by W. R. SMITH.
In 1885 the horse power thresher gave way to steam owned by BUNTING and DOBSON. What a change the rail road cars and steam engines have made. It is nothing new to have from ten to fourteen trains a day pass through our once quite town. The Manistee R.R. on the west, while running from east side to west of the township is the Toledo and Ann Arbor R.R.
In the year 1874 the inhabitancy number 200. In 1880 about 300. 1890 not far from 865. While now 1892 we number 1200.
The first children born were Alvin GILBERT and Sage RYRAN. The first Post Office was kept by Joseph SEAMONS since 1871 or 1872, and is held by him yet [in]1892 . In the years past the one post office was sufficient while now it requires four.
Date of arrival of earlier settlers:
S. M. BRENNELL , Nov 1865,
he settled on homestead in May 1, 1866.
C. M. REAMS.
M. P.
GRENNELL, 1866
Amos A. GRENNELL, 1866
Oliver GRENNELL, 1866
George ESTABROOK, 1866
Coridan T. GREGG, Oct 1867
J. S. GREEGG,
April 1867
Byron L. DEEN, May 1866
Susan (DEEN) FULLER, Oct 1866
Jacob SEARS, Sept 1866
Elizabeth A. SEARS, Sept 1866
Alexander
PRATT, Sept 1866
T. N. COPLEY, July 1866
Edwin COPLEY, July 1866
A. J. BENNETT, Oct 1866
J.B. GILBERT, 1866
Hattie GILBERT, 1866
P. C. GILBERT, 1866
Eva OSTRANDER (GILBERT)
Joseph SEAMONS,
April 30, 1867
Diana SEAMONS, July 1870
Added by Faith GROVE in 1958, daughter of author Lermira: �Lermira W. CANNIFF (PERRY) and Chancy B. CANNIFF walked into Cleon through deep snow February 18th 1874, their fifth [wedding] anniversary. They were not homesteaders but bought their quarter section in Cleon [with] no buildings. First stayed at home of J. B. GILBERT. They built a frame house. Were industrious and always community minded and church workers.
In early days Copemish had about every kind of business but a bank. Nearest was Manistee or Traverse City, either about thirty long miles away. Many of [the] early ones did not remain many years. When one big mill burned many moved away.�
They brought their goods from Traverse City by Ox team a distance of twenty five miles, and causing an absents of three days. They were glad when John GRINER stocked the first store. Also he was proprietor of the first hotel.
Were these settlers idle? No. They cut the timber and cleared land [and] raised crops. They threshed wheat in 1867 by horse power owned by Thomas CULTER of Traverse City. These settlers where not satisfied by just being on their homesteads. They wished more notice and activity.
What is now [1892] known as Colfax was organized in October 1868 just three years after the first two settlers came in that part. The first township meeting was held at the house of J. B. HALL. Those that held the first township offices were J. B. HALL, supervisor, T. C. GARNEY, clerk, W. G. BUNTING, treasurer. The first school district was organized in 1869 with Mary E. SPALDING as teacher.
In 1870 the inhabitancy 30. In 1880 one hundred and twenty making an increase of ninety in ten years. While now in 1892 the number swells to nine hundred.
Ambrose DOYLE being the first child born in Colfax. Calvin A. CARPENTER was the first justice that had the honor of uniting the first couple in marriage, who where among the first pioneers W. G. BUNTING to Alice HALL on August 4th, 1871. Amidst joy comes grief. James CRANE lost his life while chopping in the woods by a falling limb in the year of 1868. M. M. LEMONS.
Date of arrival of earlier settlers:
William G. BUNTING, Nov 24,
1865
About the year of 1865 or 1866 the first settler in Marilla was Mr. CHURCHILL and family. He also built the first house which was after torn down and rebuilt further east and north on the same section and is standing now [1892]. In the year 1867, James and Geo. LEVER, S. EVENS, J. D. BOYD, and nigger BOB as he was called were the next setters. After came three more families, Henry WINTERS, J. WILSON and Amasa CLARK which was in the spring of 1866. In the fall John BRIMMER, Wm. H. POPE.
The fist child that gladdened the hearts of these pioneers was Erma CLARK. In Jan 1867 old Mr. BOYD died and with no town nearer than Manistee to purchase a casket, men carried lumber on their backs seven miles from the CHURCHILL place with snow four feet deep to make one within which they buried the dead.
The first sermon was preached by Elder MILLARD of Pleasanton. The first Sunday school was held in the house of Charles TWIST in the year 1868 with Henry WINTERS at the head as superintendent. The next year 1869, BADGER and WRIGHT came on a missionary tour and organized two Sunday schools by the name of Lindon Union and McCoy. At this time there were a goodly number of children that ought to go to school. The parents thoughts turned to the organization of a school district by Browntown about the year 1869. The school being taught by Annie BOYED for the sum of six or seven dollars a month.
The first P.O. was appointed in the year 1869 or 1870. Mr. John BRIMMER as post master he has held the position ever since [1892]. Sylvester CHESSEBRO and Leander HALL owned the first saw mill and sawed the first lumber. Henry WINTERS paid ten cents for the first board that was sawed in the year of 1879.
Robert KNOWLS had the first store in what is now [1892] known as Yates. The township was organized in the spring of 1869. The first caucus and town meeting was held at Mr. John WILSON. The fist three officers were James D. BOYED, supervisor, J. H. WINTERS, clerk, George LEVER as treasurer.
The first church was the First Congregational Church of Cleon and Marilla. The second was the Baptist. Geo. LEVER owned the first threshing machine. The average yield of wheat was fifteen bushels to the acre. The first steam thresher was owned and run by Louie CRAWFORD and Elmer BRIMMER. The yield of potatoes was 400 bushels per acre.
In the year 1868 the inhabitancy number seventy eight. The census of 1891 I was not able to get. The comparison of prices paid for some articles will be of interest. In the year of 1866 to 1869 price including all charges are flour $16.00 to $18.00, now $5.00 to $5.50. Pork $37.00 to $42.00, while now $14.00 to $16.00. Salt $6.50 now $1.00. Lumber suitable for building was here $18.00 to $20.00 per M, while now the same at $7.00 to $8.00 per M. The teachers wages in the same districts differ the wages per month now is $30.00 to $35.00, when it was $6.00 or $7.00 per month.
Date of arrival of earlier settlers:
Orin A. LACKEY, Nov 1866
Eunice D. LACKEY, Nov 1866
Henry WINTERS, May 3, 1867
Elizabeth
WINTERS, Oct 17, 1867
Mrs. A.O. WOOD (LEANER), 1868
G. F.
RINARD, May 1870
Mary RINARD, June 1870
Edwin DOUGHTERY, May
1870
Enunice WILLIAMS (CLARK), 1867
Frank P. WINTERS, Oct 17,
1867
H. A. DANVILLE, 1868
The above was contributed by:
Rick Moran
201 Hillcrest Ave.
Rangely, CO 81648
[email protected] or [email protected]
Many Thanks for the submission.
