Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-02-22

built and donated hewed log two story
court house. the upper story OF which was
occupied and used by the newly elected
officers, md the lower story utll-,
lied for school house. where the first
school was taught in Ithaca. In the summer
of 1874. by Miss Olive Dean. and the next
winter by VIM. ;. Nelson. This log
structure also stood for church, town hall,
and Nil public gatherings, and was sup
planted IN time by a neat frame building
used until 1870. The contract was let 10
bulld the pr, sent edilice which was erected
bv our old time county clerk and esteem
ed brother pioneer, VIM. c Bcckwiih, IN
ISL. We find As present occupants OF
this court house J otto Treasurer; J
VI Everdcn, Judge of Probate; y. H.
Bradley Register of ID eds and Jas krcss.
Clerk. all sons of pioneer settlers ana al
ing their positions in an acceptable man
nef The shcrifl's residence and jail
were added m 1873 on the site purchased
of John W.. How'd, another prominent
landmark Of the early days The binding
is also presided over by son of one Of
the first board of supervisors.
Early in 1896 seven additional town
ships were organized and with their super
visors are as follows: Newark, Jacob l..
Beechlcr, Washington, Wm W. Com
stock; Sumner, Barlow Worthing; Elba,
Hanson Sinclair. Lafayette, f. w Mead;
seville Carlisle Weeks; Hamilton. Elijah
Curtis The township of Bethany. form
erly part of Pine River township was
organized in 1888 with w J Parlello as
first supervisor, and Wheeler in 1852, SUI
pervlsor, James s. Wheeler The last
township 10 be organized WAS Ithaca In
1881, with A. W. Russell as supervisor,
ard is composed of four sections taken
from the corners of Emerson, Arcadia
Newark and North Star
ST Louis. Alma and Ithaca were the
three original villages.
-. Louis. plated by Joseph Capp in
1850. is noted for being the only city in
the county, for building the first frame
school house In 1858, and for It's mineral
springs and sanitarium. Among prOmi-
nent names in its early growth may be
mentioned Joseph Clapp. the firm of Clark
n Hilyer, who IN 1888 built water grist
mill. DR. John X Cheesman. G. w. Nc
Henry. Elias W. Smith, ). ;. Hastings
A. b. Darragh and others. and later we
remember the familiar name and face Of
our sturdy and esteemed Henry l.. llol
comb
Ithaca, enjoying the privilege of being
the official hub and the reputation OF one
Of The iveliest business towns in the state,
was plated in March, 1886 by John JEFF
FREY and Upper Ithaca in April following,
prOpretors: simon l.. Mott, Hiram Bur
CESS Sidney ; Hastings, Orville VI
Wood, and Frank Miller. The first resi-
dents Of Ithaca were Frank Miller, prose
cutting attorney and O. VI Wood, county
clerk who, in January, 1856, boarded at
John Knights one mile north on what is
now known as the Bette Smith farm.
John Jeffrey soon followed with l.. G
Knapp and W W. Comstock and family
The latter erected the first hotel in the
summer of $50 on the present site OF the
Palmer House. John Jeifery and Bush =,
Miller and Knight were the proprietors.
about the same time of the first two log
stores. and IN l~j> a steam saw and grlst
mill was built and operated 10y John JEFF
frcv. Francis Nelson and Lafayette
Church Prominent business names later
are WILDER Nelson and Nathan Church,
sons Of the latter two members Of this firm,
and John w and c. IL. How'd.
Elyton was plated by Ralph Ely April
y, 1873, and Alma by Horace b Hurlbert
Turck. one of the present owners Of the
Alma bank, all of these gentlemen being
CONSPICUOUS in its early business enter
prscs. This beautiful village enjoys the
distinction of organizing the first literary
society In the county, in 1886. and as the
location of the only college in the county
also has a sanltarium and mineral springs,
due TO the enterprise and assistance of A.
W. Wright We believe the first term Of
the circuit court was also held here. These
three oldest and largest villages have 10
divide their honors now with - others now.
making total at the present time of Is,
as follows: Elm Hall by Jessie Trapp: Is
tella. George Stratton ct al; Rlverdale,
Arthur c. Newton; Breckenridge, Daniel
Breckenridge and G. ii. How'd; Wheeler,
Mary NJ. Allen; Ashley, Phinney and Bull
lock: Bannister. Ashael Bannister; Ola
Alvin Weaver: Bridgeville, Julia a. Stur
gis ct al Pompei, Barton Bradley; Perrin
ton. Ansel III. Phnney; Middleton, VIM.
T. Nadrett ct al; North Star. James Hen
derscn Sickles. VIM Sickles; Forest Hill,
Orrin Gates.
The first pOstofiice was established IN st.
Louis in 1875, \. VI. Crawford postmaster.
followed by one in Ithaca, early in ISIS.
Il lduh 4lIlltl HbSllilhsltls Ht HiSb IOoN-
master in Alma was Ralph Ely. father Of
the late incumbent, Townsend A. Ely.
Previous to this the nearest postoflice was
Maple Rapids, and the citizens of these
villages hired Billy Gruett, French Ind
ian, and son of James Gruett, the inter
prefer at the Indian mission located In
Bethany, TO bring them tidings from the
outside world on a pony and in two
bushel bag until the establishment of a
postal route, when mail matter passengers
and merchandise were jolted and pitched
across country by Peter Mead, on the old
stage line, progressing from weekly TO a
semi-weekly. tri-weekly aud finally daily
mail. and since the era of railroads several
mails day.
Soon after the postoilice came the news
paper Robert Sutton, in 1851, through the
aid Of some Of the first citizens of Ithaca
began the publication of the Gratiot News,
and after about six months transferred the
same To VIM. w. Comstock, when it be
came distinctively republican, and still eX
lists and flourishes under the title of The
Gratiot Journal under the editorship of o.
VI. Everden, a son of the supervisor of
1851. In addition we have the Republican