Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-01
SOMETHING OF THE
EARLY INHABITANTS
OF OT|SCO LANDS
Continued from page j.

AAohilld1u ilOhi page
common meeting places for the con
gregation was on the flats near the
river south of the old brick yards This
is just south of Bedding and the Broas
farm. At these meetings a great mum.
Der of Indians attended. In fact
there were almost as many Of them as
there were white people. Every one
for miles around came to the services
and camp meeting time was a big oc-
cason
The white settlers of that time were
frequently visited by the Indians They
would come into the house without
knocking and without warning of any
kind. The braves would sit down and
visit for hours at a time, and they
were always glad to be given something
choice to eat. AT that time no locks
were used on the doors. When a house
was left for the day the owner would
lean small stick up against the door
on the outside. When an Indian came
along and saw a stick inclined against
door thus, he would in no case what
ever, enter the house.
When the hotel was opened up at
smyrna the proprietor gave big
dance and ball. The basement had not
been completed and the horses were
kept down there during the evenings
merry making. Mrs. Fales attended
that first ball. vivid" Howe played
the violin for the dances and kept
things lively during the evening.
Loren c. Fales, who later married
Eliza Russell was a native of Ohio.
During his early manhood he left that
state and took up work in the territory
around Lake Superior. He later
came down the Looking Glass river
to the Grand, down the Grand to the
mouth Of the Flat river and then
found his way up the latter river to
the Otisco settlement. When he and
Miss Russell were later married they
lived in the neighborhood for some
time. Several years later they moved
TO the township of Pine i'm MOntcalm
County where they lived for about
eight years. During that time Mr..
Fales worked in the lumber camps of
that section. They then moved to
their farm in Orleans township and
Mr.. Fales was soon elected to the Of
flee Of Register of Deeds. He held
this office for two terms when ne and
the family returned TO the farm i'm or
leans The road running south from
the Green's church divides the farm.
The place is now worked by Clayton
Kimberly.
The village of Bedding was started
by the erection of a saw mill on the
banks of the Flat river i'm the year
1S4S, by Charles Broas. The dam,
which he erected was only small
affair. h1tt IN
Patterson, purchased the mill proper
ty, erected a substantial dam, enlarg-
ed the mill and made other improve
ments. Patterson was "A lawyer OF
Grand Rapids, and his time and ener-
gy were given to his profession. Thus
the city received no special attention
until William A. Knott purchased the
mill. He built a flour mill that was
equal to the best in the land and car
ried on operations until the interests
were purchased by VIM. A. Luther,
Robert NJ. and David f.. Wilson. They
soon completed and placed in opera
ton "A saw mill that had a capacity
of forty thousand feet of lumber in
twelve hours. Besides this they plac-
ed in operation a machine that would
make from thirty to forty thousand
shingles per day. little later the
same parties erected "A factory for
manufacturing sash, doors and blinds.
After the addition Of the, then modern,
hotel by S. S. Brown the town began
to receive the addition of several res
idence houses and assumed the APP
pearance of thriving little city.
Soon the Belding Brothers aided by
other citizens constructed railroad
from the heart Of the town to connect
with the ID. L. & l.. NJ. railroad that
ran through Kiddville. This gave an
outlet for the products of the mills.
At that time Kiddville Dragged of hav-
ing the best depot that could be found
along the line of the ID. l.. d l.. NJ.
railroad. An enterpr1sing drygoods
and grocery store was run by the
Messrs. Leonard and Divine. This
firm later moved to Bedding and con-
tinued operations.