The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-05-07
D From the Grand River Times, Sept. II, SO.
Home Matters--0ur Early History.

thickly dot every portion OF this ponder
Gus globe, had once a beginning, and
among them the village of Grand Haven,
and on this wise:
Rev. VIM. M. FERRY, while travelling
for his health, during the summer of 1884,
having resided for some years PREVIOUSLY
at Mackinaw, as Missionary, had an in
terview with ROBERT STUART, Esq, and
entered into an arrangement with him to
invest in land certain funds, placed at his
disposal, at any point that Mr. FERRY
in his wisdom might select, the pro-
ceeds arising therefrom TO be divided be-
tween the parties in a certain stipulated
manner. Accordingly, in September, Of
that year, this point having been selected
as the basis of future operations, Rev. VIM
NJ. FERRY and N. II. WHITE, ESQ.,, who
purchased an interest in the enterprise,
left Massachusetts and came by way Of
Detroit to Grand Haven. Previous to
this time, Hon. RIx ROBINSON, of Ada,
had pre-empted fractional quarter Sec
ton Of land, a portion of which consti-
tutes the present site of the flourishing
village of Grand Haven, and erected a
trading house nearly in front Of the spot
now occupied by the Ottawa House, on
Water Street, which he visited at stated
periods during the year for the purpose Of
collecting furs of the Indians, making a
general deposit of those obtained at this
point and other points along the river,
during the months of June and July, at
Mackinaw, the head quarters of the
American Fur Company, and returning
with the necessary supplies, parceled them
out to the different trading posts, as the
wants of the trade seemed to demand.
ROBERT STUART, Esq, in connection
with n. II. and L. w. WHITE, Esqrs.,
formed n partnership with Mr.. ROBINSON,
under the name of the Grand Haven
Company, whose primary object was the
purchase and sale of lands. Mr.. ROBIN
SON admitted his partners to share OF
his presumption. Other portions Of land
contiguous to the present village were in
due time purchased by the company, all
being then an unbroken wilderness for
many mile around.
AS soon as Mr.. FERRY, who from the
commencement acted as agent of the COM
pany, had caused a survey of the present
site of the village to be made, preparato-
ry to the erection of buildings, DC, he left
for Mackinaw, and returned in the month
of November, in a small schooner, with
his family, accompanied by Mr. P. c.
DUvERAY and family (at present citizens
and large number of mechanics. Mr.
F. and family took up their abode during
that winter in RoBINsoN's trading house
and Immediately commenced the erection
of his present residence. Mr.. .DUvERNAY
built log house near his present dwell
ing. The timber for these two buildings
was obtained from the Indians and RATED
down from the bayou, above Ottaws
Point.
In the spring of 1885, Mr.. NATHAN
THRooP and family arrived from Canada
making their descent from Grand Rapid.
in an Indian canoe. T. D. GILBERT, T
w. WHITE, Miss MARY A. WHITE anC
forty.t,oo of the Robinson family arrived
in schooner from Macknaw. Most o
these original, pioneer Robinsons, will
their numerous descendants are now citi
xens of the Grand River Valley. Mis-
WHITE Immediately commenced teaching
a school in one portion of Mr.. Ferry
dwelling, and retained the position a
teacher in the village for some fifteel
years--fve Of them with but little remu
neration.
DR.. EASTMAN, shortly after, arrive,
from Maine, and built a log house nea
the present site of the Registers office
and subsequently, frame dwelling, on tn
ground now occupied by the Washingto
House, which was afterwards burned
During the summer of this year, Messr'
HATHAWAY d. BUTrs arrived from Cana
da, and engaged in building the stear
saw mill now in operation in this village
lately owned by Mrs. N. THRoop, but a
present by Messrs, FERRY q Son.
Mr.. THRoop built warehouse belo,
the present village, known as the Lowe