the petition to the Secretary of the Treasury, J. C. Spencer, who issued instructions to have the land sold and the proceeds distributed according to the prayer of the petitioners, i. e., in the proportion of $6,000 to the Baptists and $300 to the Catholics. The sale was advertised in a little journal, published at Ionia, in April, 1843, so that few of the people of Kent even heard of the proposed transaction. After the advertisement appeared Rev. Mr. Vizoiski happened to be traveling in the neighborhood of the present town of Ada, when he halted at Smith's tavern to feed his horse and have dinner. While waiting here he took up the little journal and read the advertisement. He realized the state of affairs in a moment. Having fed his horse, he did not wait to feed himself, but mounting in haste proceeded to Battle Creek, where he took the stage for Ypsilanti, and went thence to Detroit by the old-time train of the Central railroad.

Bishop Le Febre, well known among the old settlers of Kent, was at home. Father Vizoiski showed him the advertisement. Without a moment's delay both the bishop and the pastor of Grand Rapids were en route to Ypsilanti, and thence to Valley City via Battle Creek. Arrived here, no time was lost. The bishop had a conference with Lucius Lyon, Geo. Coggeshall, John Almy, and others, which resulted in obtaining from each of them an affidavit setting forth the state of the two missions; that, in fact, there never was a successful Baptist mission here up to that time, and that the Catholics were entitled to an equal share of the proceeds of the land sale.

This done, the bishop waited on Thomas B. Church, then a young lawyer, and asked him to prepare an address to the President of the United States, setting forth truly and impartially all that was already stated in the affidavits. The lawyer drew up a classic appeal for justice, demanded the postponement of the sale until a full inquiry should be made, and further asked that the advertisements in the Ionia Journal should be discontinued. Having completed his work, he showed the address to the bishop, who was so well pleased that he presented him with a $20 gold piece in payment for his professional labors. In answer to Mr. Church's instructions to have the document mailed to Mr. Spencer, then Secretary of the Treasury, the bishop replied that he fully understood the customs of public officials, and, therefore, would not send such an important paper to the Secretary. "On the contrary," said he, "I shall mail the address to Chief Justice Taney, a son of the Church, who will place it in the President's hands, and see that attention is given to it."

This plan the bishop carried out, and within a few months the advertisement was withdrawn, the sale of the lands stayed, and a commission appointed, comprising Chief Justice Taney, of the U. S. Supreme Court, as representative of the Catholic interest, and Judge McLean as representative of the Baptists. The President's order was dated Aug. 24, 1843. Before the commission

acted, a few capitalists of Grand Rapids corresponded with the Board of Baptist Missions, and also with Bishop Le Febre. They offered $20,000 for the property, and asked the parties interested to agree upon a division. This proposition resulted in an agreement between the Catholics and Baptists, whereby the former were content to receive $8,000, and the latter $12,000. With the $8,000, so received, Rev. Mr. Vizoiski purchased the property at the corner of Ottawa and Monroe streets, with other lots in the village. Within a few years the first mentioned property was sold for $56,000, and the other investments proved equally profitable. The $12,000 received by the Board of Baptist Missions was not locally invested. Thus ended the era of Government blacksmiths, teachers, and what may be termed a " Government mission" in the valley of the Grand river. The negotiations were carried over a period of years, beginning in 1838 or '39, and terminating in 1849 with another protest against sale, made by Isaac Turner and Willard Sibley. The settlement of title to these lands was indeed a troublesome matter.

CHAPTER V.

PIONEERS OF KENT.

While yet the blood of tyranny was being drunk by the soil of liberty, before the soldiers and leaders of the Revolution had sought their well-earned repose under the protecting folds of that starry banner which they bequeathed us, a representative of the only people on the face of the earth who cast their fortunes with the cause of American liberty, entered the valley of the Grand river and made a home within the district now known as Kent county. At this period, comparatively remote in American history, the country on the east side of the Grand river formed the territory of the Ottawa Indians, while that on the west bank formed the joint estate of that tribe and the Otchipwes. During the Revolution and for many years after, the number of Indian inhabitants between the Rapids and the mouth of Flat river, having villages on each bank of the river, did not exceed 1,200 souls. They were a noble people, rich in natural wealth, free from impurity, honorable and sincere.

About the period when the names of Paul Revere, Lexington and Washington were echoed throughout the civilized world, and were mentioned in the councils of savage tribes, the American Fur Company, or at least a few men who were subsequently its principals, determined to push their posts farther west, and commissioned Madame La Framboise, a French lady, to locate a post, and establish their trade in the neighborhood of the Great Rapids of the Owoshtenong. The lady came, received permission from the council of the two tribes, and before the first echoes of the Revolution had died away in the colonies, she had succeeded in building the first trading hut and placing within it a full stock of Indian supplies. This hut was located on section 9, in the township of Lowell, about two miles west of the village. Although the American Fur Company constantly kept a supply of goods at this point, the Indians would often go to Detroit to trade, not so much, however, with a view to securing larger prices for their peltries, or to purchasing necessaries at a smaller cost, as to obtain a supply of "fire-water," which could not be had at a nearer point. As the time for the "annual pow-wow" approached, a journey to Detroit was considered necessary, for the purpose of laying in a supply of rum for the occasion. Madame La Framboise remained at this post until superseded by Rix Robinson in 1821. She had been a successful agent for the company, but her advanced age and the growing interests of the fur trade demanded her removal. Remnants of the old store-house in which she trans

acted business with the savages remained up to a short time ago. There was a part of the chimney standing as recently as the Centennial Year and marks of the excavations in which the canoes were hid may be seen near by. These are the oldest relics of pioneer life in Kent county.

It will surprise the reader to learn that a woman was the first pioneer of civilization who ever set foot upon the pleasant valley of Grand river; but such, indeed, is the truth. She was a lady of more than ordinary force of character, a shrewd trader and a bold adventurer. Her life at this outpost is filled with thrilling incidents, many of which are enlivened by a vein of romance.

Pierre Constant was the next pioneer, though his stay within the territory now known as Kent county was very limited. The fact of his coming here and partial settlement on the western line of the county, entitles him to a place among the pioneers. Hon., W. M. Ferry, writing of him, states:

"The first trader who located in what was Ottawa county-then embracing Muskegon county-was Pierre Constant, a Frenchman of the type of that advance guard of pioneers Marquette, LaSalle, Joliet and Tonti, who, 200 years before, invaded and brought to the world the great Northwest. He was of the chevalier order of men -brave, honorable and undaunted, amid all dangers. In 1810 he engaged with the British Fur Company, then having a depot at Mackinaw, as a trader; and with his supply of merchandise coasted along the shore of Lake Michigan, and established a trading post on Grand river, near what is now called Charleston, and another on the banks of Muskegon lake. He married an Indian woman of remarkable beauty and intelligence, by whom six children were born to him. Once a year, he with his family and the results of his venture in furs and peltries, coasted down Lakes Michigan and Huron to Penatauquashin, the Indian depot for Upper Canada.

Rix Robinson, the first American pioneer, arrived in the valley in 1821, as successor to Madame La Framboise, who retired that year from the service of the American Fur Company. Every chronicler of the valley bears testimony to the excellent character of this remarkable man. It is stated that he was the first white man who settled permanently within the boundaries of Kent, and as such must be considered the actual first resident. For a long time he was engaged in the fur trade with the Indians on the Grand river. Alone, he traversed the forests in the interests of the American Fur Company, surrounded with savages by nature, and sometimes by deed, but was unmolested by them. The spirit of the natives had already been somewhat subdued by the influence of Christianity, and devoted missionaries were then laboring among them. A tribe of these Indians remained near the town of Ada until 1860, when they sold their lands and removed to Pentwater. During the latter years of their residence on these lands, they cultivated the soil, and built respectable residences, had well-organ