made in this year, and on the 3d of April an act of incorporation was approved by the Governor. It was defective, and in the following year, 1839, an amendment was made to render it complete, but nothing was done under it until 1843, an account of which will be found farther on.

Among the new-comers of 1839 were Mitchell Hinsdale,* Charles Gibbs, Elkanah Walter, Israel Kellogg, and Frederick Rice. In the spring of this year a heavy business firm also went into operation. The original firm was Arnold & Sheldon; in the following winter Gen. Isaac Moffatt became a partner; in 1845, Prentiss S. Cobb purchased Sheldon's interest, and in 1846 the firm erected the first steam grist- and flouring-mill in the place. It stood on the site of Alcott's warehouse. In 1849 a distillery and saw-mill were put in operation by them on the corner of Burdick and North Streets. The store occupied by the mercantile branch of the business was erected in 1840, on the site of T. S. Cobb's store. The population of the village in 1839 was estimated at about 400 people.

The year 1840 was chiefly noted for the removal of the Pottawattomies beyond the Mississippi River, and for the famous political campaign in which Gen. William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate, was elected President of the United States over Martin Van Buren, the Democratic candidate.

Hard cider, log cabins, and campaign songs were the order of the day, and the political issues were discussed with wonderful and untiring assiduity. The removal of the Indians is written up in another connection. (See Chapter XIII.)

David S. Walbridge, from Buffalo, N. Y., came to Kalamazoo in 1841, and established a successful business, which was of great importance in building up the town and making it a commercial centre. He commenced buying all the wheat grown in this region, paying cash for the same, and in many instances advancing money to the farmers on their growing crops. He established a line of flat-boats on the river, and transferred his grain at the mouth to sail-vessels for Buffalo. In the spring of 1842 he leased the grist-mill of Elkanah Walters, and prepared to do an extensive business in flouring wheat for the Eastern markets. He then went back to Buffalo and soon returned with his family, which he domiciled on Portage Street, in a dwelling erected by Caleb Sherman. His business was extensively carried on for many years. The line of boats upon the river was kept in operation until the opening of the Michigan Central Railway, in 1846, offered a quicker and more certain means of transportation.

Mr. Walbridge subsequently erected a store on the site of the Sweetland block, and engaged in the mercantile business. This store was burned in June, 1857.

VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

The first movement towards effecting a village organization in Kalamazoo was made in 1838. An act of incorporation was approved by the Governor on the 3d of April in that year. The territory so incorporated is described in the act as follows:

* This name is also written on various records, Hinsdill and Hensdill.

"The part of the south half of section 15 that lies on the west side of the river, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 16.” The qualified voters were to elect seven trustees, one of whom was to be chosen president, and the whole were to be called “The President and Trustees of the village of Kalamazoo."

The act of incorporation proved to be defective in some respect, and an amended act was passed and approved Feb. 8, 1839. For some reason no steps were taken to organize under the amended act, and the matter rested until 1843, when it was again brought before the Legislature, which finally passed the following:

"AN ACT to revive the acts incorporating the village of Kalamazoo.

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the act entitled 'an act incorporating the village of Kalamazoo,' approved April 3, 1838, and the act entitled 'an act to amend an act incorporating the village of Kalamazoo,' approved Feb. 8, 1839, be, and the same are hereby revived:

"Provided, however, that the election for trustees shall be held annually on the second Monday in April, instead of the first Monday in March.

"Approved March 6, 1843."

This fixes the date when the place became, in fact, an incorporated village, and the present government is operating under the charter of 1843, though there have been numerous amendments made to the same at various periods.

The boundaries under the original charter included about a half-section of land, or 320 acres.

By an act approved April 7, 1851, the boundaries were extended to include "that part of section 15 south of the north half quarter-line and west of the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek; the east half of section 16 south of the north half quarter-line; the northeast quarter of section 21; and the north half of section 22; lying north and west of Portage Creek, and including the burying-ground on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section

22."

In 1861 the charter was amended, and the boundaries were extended to include the present limits, which inclose all of sections Nos. 15, 16, 21, and 22, the north half of sections 27 and 28, the west half of sections 14 and 23, and the northwest quarter of section 26. The area is two and one-half miles square, covering the equivalent of 61 sections, or exactly 4000 acres. About three-fifths of this area are laid out and built upon, more or less compactly. The various plats and additions which have been made and put upon record since 1831 number over 60. Five-sixths of the present area lie within the Indian reservation,-Matchebenashewish.

Nearly all the business portions of the village are included within the limits of section 15, and much of the heaviest portion is situated on the southwest quarter of the same section. The eastern portions of sections 15 and 22 include the low grounds lying on both sides of Portage Creek and along the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. The western and northwestern margins extend over the bluffs which everywhere in the county border the river valley. The railway stations are all situated near the centre of section 15. The following copy of the proceedings of the first elec tion for village officers is from the records, as also the complete list of village officers from 1843 to 1880:

"At an election of the qualified electors of the village of Kalamazoo, for the purpose of choosing seven trustees, according to the act incorporating said village, held at the court-house in said village on Monday, the 10th day of April, A.D. 1843, the following persons were chosen said trustees: Hosea B. Huston, Hiram Arnold, Abraham Cahill, William H. Welch, Lewis R. Davis, Warren Burrell, Caleb Sherman.*

"HENRY GILBERT, Justice of the Peace,
'RICHARD S. GAGE,

"VOLNEY HASCALL, Township Clerk,

Inspectors of Election."

On Monday, April 17, 1843, the trustees-elect met, took the oath of office, and organized the board. A ballot was taken for president, resulting in the choice of Hosea B. Huston. Francis March, Jr., was appointed village clerk. April 22, 1843, the board met and passed by-laws and ordinances; David Gilman was chosen marshal, and Hosea B. Huston treasurer.

December 20, 1849, it was ordered "that the trustees of the village employ some suitable person to ring the bell in the Presbyterian church at twelve o'clock at noon and nine o'clock in the evening every day in the week except Sunday; and that Alexander Buell and William White be a committee to make a contract with some suitable person for that purpose.

The following is a list of the village officers from 1844 to 1878, inclusive:

PRESIDENTS.

1844, Luther H. Trask; 1845-46, Elkanah Walter; 1847, Abraham Edwards; 1848, David S. Walbridge; 1849-51, Isaac Moffatt; 1852, J. P. Woodbury; 1853, Francis Dennison; 1854, Israel Kellogg; 1855, David S. Walbridge; 1856, Henry Gilbert; 1857-58, H. G. Wells; 1859, Allen Potter; 1860, S. S. Cobb; 1861, Latham Hull; 1862, Israel Kellogg; 1863, Allen Potter; 1864-65, H. G. Wells; 1866, Frederick W. Curtenius; 1867, Hezekiah G. Wells; 1868, John W. Breese; 1869, Nathaniel A. Balch; 1870, Allen Potter; 1871, Foster Pratt; 1872, Allen Potter; 1873–74, Dwight May; 1875, John Dudgeon; 1876, John W. Breese; 1877-78, F. W. Curtenius.

MARSHALS.

1844, H. J. Boardman; 1845, Samuel W. Bryan (resigned, and Ira Burdick appointed Jan. 6, 1846); 1846, Ira Burdick; 1847-48, Nelson Gibbs; 1849–50, A. J. Sheldon; 1851, L. H. Trask; 1852, R. S. Gage; 1853, John C. Hays; 1854, Newton Root; 1855, George P. Kidder; 1856, L. C. Starkey; 1857, H. M. Brown; 1858, G. W. Kinnicutt; 1859, Phineas Phillips; 1860, E. L. Goodrich; 1861, B. F. Orcutt; 1862, Michael O'Brien; 1863–64, Thomas C. Brownell; 1865, W. Stacy; 1866, D. Fisher; 1867, John H. Wells (resigned, and John Parker appointed Dec. 16, 1867); 1868, Joseph S. Davidson; 1869-70, William Green; 1871, Charles Gibbs; 1872, Gustavus M. Gates; 1873, Henry J. Brownell; 1874, Arad C. Balch; 1875-76, William W. Foy; 1877-78, William M. Beeman.

CLERKS.

1844, Ebenezer Hoskins; 1845-47, Francis March, Jr.; 1848, William R. Watson; 1849-50, Ebenezer Hoskins; 1851, Lyman Kendall; 1852, William H. De Yoe; 1853, J. M. Edwards; 1854-55, Amos D. Allen; 1856, Hiram Underwood; 1857-60, Robert F. Judson; 1861, J. F. Alley; 1862, Jay Phetteplace; 1863-67, George W. Kinnicutt; 1868, Mitchell J. Smiley (elected but did not accept, and Henry E. Hoyt was appointed); 1869, Henry E. Hoyt (resigned, and Robert F. Judson chosen); 1870, Frank Little; 1871, Edwin W. De Yoe; 1872-73, George Torrey; 1874-76, Frank Little; 1877-78, Charles E. Smith.

TREASURERS.

1844, Ebenezer Hoskins; 1845-47, Francis March, Jr.; 1848, William R. Watson; 1849, T. P. Sheldon; 1850, Alexander Buell; 1851, William R. Watson; 1852, Horace Starkweather; 1853, Allen

* From village records, 1843.

1844, David Swayzee, Henry Gilbert, Hiram Arnold, George W. Winslow, Theodore P. Sheldon, Abram Cahill; 1845-46, Hosea B. Huston, Benjamin Harrison, Ira Burdick, Anthony Cooley, Gideon Foster, Jr., John Street; 1847, Isaac Moffatt, James P. Clapham, Amos Brownson, David G. Kendall, James Taylor, Edmund Rice; 1848, Horace Mower, Henry Gilbert, Ira Burdick, Caleb Sweetland, Theodore P. Sheldon, M. D. Cobb; 1849-50, T. P. Sheldon, Henry Gilbert, L. H. Trask, N. A. Balch, William E. White, Alex. Buell; 1851, Israel Kellogg, Alex. Buell, William R. Watson, L. H. Trask, A. G. Hopkins, L. L. Clark; 1852, Hiram Arnold, J. P. Clapham, George W. Winslow, Wm. T. Campbell, L. Vandewalker, H. Starkweather; 1853, George W. Winslow, R. S. Gage, L. Whitcomb, Allen Potter, John C. Hays, Thomas C. Brownell; 1854, Epaphro. Ransom, D. S. Walbridge, Horace Mower, D. G. Kendall, J. P. Clapham, R. H. Darling; 1855, E. Ransom, Allen Potter, D. G. Kendall, J. Miller, Jr., John Sleeper, Stephen S. Cobb; 1856,† E. Ransom, S. S. Cobb, J. Miller, Jr., George D. Rice, R. S. Gage, John Dudgeon; 1857, John Dudgeon, R. S. Gage, George D. Rice, J. P. Woodbury, S. W. Walker, Alfred Thomas; 1858, J. P. Woodbury, S. W. Walker, Alfred Thomas, George Dodge, Ira D. Bixby, George Winslow; 1859, George Dodge, Ira D. Bixby, George Winslow, Alfred Thomas, James A. Walter, Caleb Sweetland; 1860, Alfred Thomas, James A. Walter, Caleb Sweetland, B. F. Orcutt, John Potter, John Dudgeon; 1861, B. F. Orcutt, John Potter, John Dudgeon, Theodore P. Sheldon, Thomas S. Cobb, O. N. Giddings; 1862, T. P. Sheldon, T. S. Cobb, O. N. Giddings, J. C. Bassett, J. B. Cornell, James A. Wa'ter; 1863, J. C. Bassett, J. B. Cornell, J. A. Walter, J. Parsons, Frederick Bush, George H. Gale; 1864, J. Parsons, F. Bush, G. H. Gale, J. Turner, S. S. Cobb, P. Ranney; 1865, J. Turner, S. S. Cobb, P. Ranney, Henry Bishop, Frederick Bush, J. Parsons; 1866, H. Bishop, F. Bush, J. Parsons, Dwight May, James A. Walter, G. W. Lewis; 1867, D. May, J. A. Walter, G. W. Lewis, Ira D. Bixby, John Parker, William A. House, Charles R. Bates; 1868, Ira D. Bixby, John Parker, William A. House, Charles R. Bates, Charles L. Cobb, Alexander Buell, Nicholas Bauman, Horace Phelps; 1869, C. L. Cobb, Alexander Buell, Nicholas Bauman, Horace Phelps, John C. Bassett, Abraham T. Metcalf, Henry Bishop, Charles M. Hobbs ; 1870, J. C. Bassett, A. T. Metcalf, Henry Bishop, C. M. Hobbs, James H. Case, William G. Dewing, Newcomb Demary, L. C. Chapin; 1871, J. H. Case, W. G. Dewing, N. Demary, L. C. Chapin, John K. Ward, Aaron M. Waterbury, Wm. R. Coats, John Beggs; 1872, J. K. Ward, A. M. Waterbury, Wm. R. Coats, John Beggs, Charles S. Dayton, Bradley S. Williams, Daniel T. Allen, Frank Henderson; 1873, C. S. Dayton, B. S. Williams, D. T. Allen, F. Henderson, John Dudgeon, Orrin N. Giddings, Aaron M. Waterbury, John Baker; 1874, J. Dudgeon, O. N. Giddings, A. M. Waterbury, John Baker, Charles S. Dayton, Thomas R. Sherwood, Joel J. Perrin, Jacobus J. Wagner; 1875, C. S. Dayton, T. R. Sherwood, J. J. Perrin, J. J. Wagner, Ora B. Crosby, John Beggs, David Burrill, Robert F. Hill; 1876, 0. B. Crosby, John Beggs, D. Burrill, R. F. Hill, Charles L. Cobb, John De Smit, Sr., Frederick Cellem, Thomas R. Bevans; 1877, C. L. Cobb, J. De Smit, Sr., F. Cellem, Thomas R. Bevans, Lorenzo Eggleston, Edward S. Wicks, Christopher Pelgrim, William S. Dewing; 1878, L. Eggleston, E. S. Wicks, C. Pelgrim, W. S. Dewing, George F. Kidder, L. C. Chapin, Thomas R. Bevans, Edwin W. De Yoe.

The officers of the village for the year 1879 were the following, viz.: President, Abraham T. Metcalf; Trustees, George F. Kidder, L. C. Chapin, Thomas R. Bevans, Ed

† Law to elect a president and three trustees went into effect; three trustees holding over.

win W. De Yoe, Edward McCaffrey, Robert F. Hill, John De Smit, Sr., John Pyl; Clerk, Fred. Cellem; Marshal, John Blaney; Treasurer, William Hoyt; Village Attorney, O. W. Powers; Water Commissioner and Collector, Fred. Cellem.

During the period between 1840 and 1844 the village recovered from the lethargy which succeeded the speculative times of 1836, and made a steady and respectable growth, the population increasing to about 1500 in 1844. A notable event of the last-mentioned year was the advent of another newspaper, which was destined to a permanent existence, and to wield a prominent influence in literary and political circles among the enterprising journals of Michigan. It was christened the Michigan Telegraph. Its name was subsequently changed to Kalamazoo Telegraph, and as such is published at the present time.*

The year 1844 was noted for the great political campaign in which the friends of Henry Clay made a last determined effort to elevate him to the first office in the gift of the American people. The campaign was possibly less demonstrative than the famous Tippecanoe campaign of 1840, but it was nevertheless a stirring one, and the Whigs of Kalamazoo were active until the November election destroyed all their high-born hopes, when the current of ordinary life resumed its wonted channels. The following items are taken from an old record in the county clerk's office:

KALAMAZOO CLAY CLUB OF 1844.

This somewhat noted organization was formed by a number of the old-time Whigs of Kalamazoo in the interests of Henry Clay, Whig nominee for President of the United States in 1814. It was organized on the 6th of March in that year, with the following officers: President, Amos. Brownson; Vice-Presidents, Anthony Cooley, Frederick W. Curtenius, Hosea B. Huston, David B. Webster; Secretaries, M. D. Cobb, Wm. G. Austin; Executive Committee, Ira Burdick, James Taylor, Luther H. Trask; Committee to Draft Constitution and By-Laws, M. D. Cobb, D. B. Webster, Amos Brownson.

Francis March presented the club with the "Clay Minstrel," a national Whig song-book, and received their thanks for the gift.

Among the prominent members were F. Ransom, R. Wood, A. Brownson, Frederick Booher, Elisha Belcher, Joseph Hutchins, Lyman Kendall, N. Gibbs, Ira Burdick, Alexander Cameron, F. March, Jr., M. D. Cobb, R. Y. Clapp, Luke W. Whitcomb, Wm. G. Austin, Stephen Butler, A. Cahill, S. Axtell, Jr., Horace Mower, H. B. Huston, James Taylor, F. W. Curtenius, B. F. Orcutt, David S. Walbridge, L. R. Davis, Johnson Patrick, E. Hawley, G. T. Clarke, James Parker, D. Swayzee, and Thomas Lyon.

The club continued until the close of the campaign, which resulted adversely to the hopes of the supporters of the great American orator, when it is presumed to have disbanded, as we find no further record of its proceedings. At a meeting held August 17, 1844, it was arranged to have a Whig mass-meeting at Kalamazoo on the following.

* See sketch of newspapers, farther on.

10th of September, the aniversary of Commodore Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and, upon motion, "it was agreed that Benj. Jones be captain of the Whig Baby- Waker." This baby-waker was probably the gun used to stir up the enthusiasm of the people.

"Oh, for the good old days of old !”

The following racy sketch of the pioneer times we cut from the daily Telegraph of June, 1873. It was evidently written by one who knew whereof he affirmed, and its piquant, original style and spicy flavor make it highly worthy of preservation:

"PIONEER SKETCHES-KALAMAZOO IN '43 AND '44.

"I noticed in the last weekly (June 14th) an editorial headed Kalamazoo in 1844.' It is now within ten days of the time thirty years ago, that I first saw the beautiful vale wherein is nestled the largest and handsomest village, doubtless, in the world. There are many villages larger, but none as handsome. Taking the two qualifications together, I do not believe they can both be possessed by any other place.

"You allude to the genesis of the Telegraph, and, by the way, allow me to suggest that it would be a very desirable matter if you or the Ladies' Library Association should make a thorough inquest the county through, and endeavor to save one or more copies of the entire issue of the old Telegraph, and also after it split and the Whig party endeavored (circus-like) to ride two papers at once, to the detriment of every one concerned with it.

"Miller was a Pennsylvania Dutchman, and, for a wonder, a staunch Whig, and after migrating to Northern Indiana, was concerned in the publication of sundry papers at Laporte, South Bend, etc., and tradition darkly hints at his being in partnership at one time with Colfax, the benignant.

"We had an uprising of the Whigs at Marshall, in July, 1844, and also quite a gathering at the 'Soo' later in the season. Miller was on hand as usual, and proposed starting a Whig paper in the then Second Congressional district. The Whigs of the valley came pretty well up to the scratch, and, for the times, subscribed liberally to start the paper. Miller went to New York and bought a press and types for a common country office, and I think in September the first sheet was struck off in the little old wooden building you refer to on Portage Street, about two hundred feet from Main, and originally used by Dr. Starkey for an office. I was witness to the ushering into existence of the bantling, and carried off the first paper. Walking down to where your worthy horologist, S. K. Selkrig, was at work at some 'crownwheel that was out of order,' I handed it to him and observed that it was all well enough, but the motto did not apply to this country. "Tis not for Cæsar, but for Rome we strike,' was the legend at the top. 'Yes,' quoth Kelsey, in his usual cynical style; 'must have something about Rome and the Romans in everything to make it pass.'

"That paper met with many shocks, and no good love pats, and finally went off in a blaze of glory at the burning of Hooker's store. It doubtless threw more light that night on the unwashed of Kalamazoo than ever before. In fact, the Telegraph, proper, should count its years from twenty-nine years ago.

"Are a few remissences,' as a Kalamazoo jurist used to term them, out of place? I will write them of that year and of forty-three also, premising that I have not a scrap of a note to go by, but only a mind that is yet unscathed by wear of time.

"That year, 1844, was a dull one and no mistake. Wheat was low, and it took all it was worth to team it to Jackson to strike the railroad. If it had not been for the political matters a regular Sleepy Hollow atmosphere would have brooded over the town.

"Walbridge was the main spoke in the wheel. His flat-boats floated on the beautiful river, whose waters here flowed only to minister to the delights and comforts of man. The money he expended for wheat and boats was about all the circulating medium there was. Clapham kept where he held out so long, just east of Portage, and March & Weeks sailed the 'Old Brig,' next east. The post-office was kept there, and it was handy, for there were but few buyers on the raised part of the floor, at the back end of the store, and each person went and helped