Belding banner., 1915-02-10
BROAS FAMILY

In sketching the history OF the solid
men who have been, and are, auxiliary
to the growth and prosperity of the
village Of Belding, we can hardly
overlook the Broas family. Especially
is this true of Mr.. Levi Broas and
his father, Mr.. Chas. Broas. Mr..
Chas. Broas migrated to Michigan
from Paultz. Ulster county. New
York, in 1897. He first settled in
Ionia and spent few months in look
ing over the country and selecting
a future home, The country was an
unbroken wilderness from Ionia TO
this place, but by aid of section lines
Mr.. Broas found his way to Otisco and
selected 32e acres of land occupying
the bend in the river where most OF
Belding now stands. He erected a
small log house. 1fx14 feet, into which
he removed his family, consisting OF
wife and three children, in February
1888. While engaged in clearing up
the farm he carried on the business Of
blacksmithing, and his customers were
farmers for many miles around.
When the land came into market
he purchased the half section, and had
160 acres decided to his son, Levi. Mr..
Broas very early had the impression
that on the premises selected was
sometime to grow up a thriving viii
lage. In 1S43, he constructed a race
from the head OF the rapids, near the
present railroad bridge, to near the
present location of the lumber mill.
and built a wing dam TO turn a portion
of the water in the river into the race.
He erected small saw mill which did
considerable business in saving lum-
ber for the pioneer settlers. In 1876
he transferred the water power to Luc-
ius Patterson OF Grand Rapids, togeth-
er with parcel of land now lying west
of Broas and north Of Liberty streets.
Mr.. Patterson's management did not
meet the expectations of Mr.. Broas,
and the anticipated village did not
then grow up. At his death, in 1855,
he willed the mortgage that he held
against this property to his two daugh-
ters, Mrs. Sarah Russell and Mrs. Ra-
chel Coons. which at length passed un-
der the full control OF Mr.. Patterson.
MIR. Broas was a man Of Industrious
and temperate habits, and his family
are reckoned among the most re-
spectacle citizens OF the township. Mr.
Levi Broas, his only son, succeeded to
the ownership of the remaining por-
tion OF the lands named. In fact, he
held a deed of the property anterior to
his fathers death. Mr.. Levi Broas
was born in 1921. and hence was IL
years OF age when his father settled
in the township. In 184S he married
Miss Ruth Ann Just. who has been a
helpmate to him during all his years
OF struggle up to the present time.
In 1856 Levi Broas transferred to Hi
ram Belding. father OF the Belding
Bros, seventy-one acres of land now
located east Of Broas and north OF
Liberty streets. and bounded north by
the river. lie received for this $40
per acre. This was a very high price
for those times, but was paid because
of village in prospect.
In 1871 the village received a new
imputus. Mr.. Broas took hold nobly.
with others. to secure the branch rail
road, paying for this purpose the sum
OF $1,000. He Is emphatically a man
OF public spirit, and has a will to do
his share in every enterprise having
In view the public good In the year
above named he plated a portion OF
his land into 80 village lots, which Is
known os ''Broas' addition"
In 1874 he laid of III lots known