1837, which was opened as a tavern the same year by John W. Fiske. In 1837 he moved to Grand Rapids, after which he engaged in the following named works: The first bridge across the Grand river at Lyons, built for Lucius Lyon in 1837. Rebuilt the same in 1843, and received in part payment 2,000 acres of State improvement land. In 1838 and 1839, in company with Nathaniel Fiske and Jacob Rogers, of Milwaukee, he built six light-houses on Lake Michigan. In 1843, built for Scribner & Turner the first bridge at Grand Rapids. Rebuilt it in 1852; and again, after the burning, in 1858, built the bridge at Ionia, in 1847; the stone Union school-house, in 1849; the first dam in the city the same year; the bridge at Plainfield, in 1850; the dam at Newaygo, in 1853; the dam at Roger's Ferry, on the Muskegon, in 1864, and the bridge at Bridgetown, in 1866; the bridges on 40 miles of the G. R. & I. R. R., in 1868; the bridge at Big Rapids, in 1870; besides other dams and bridges. Five years later, after a life of almost uninterrupted activity, he passed to his reward June 22, 1875.

Loren M. Page, born at Concord, Vt., March 29, 1811, immigrated to Michigan in 1836, and settled at Grand Rapids, Sept. 7, of the same year. The fact that his family was represented in the war for the preservation of the Union by five sons, is of itself sufficient to portray the honors which belong to this old settler.

Harry Eaton arrived at Grand Rapids in 1836, and four years later, in 1840, was elected Sheriff of his adopted county. His death

was recorded in 1859.

George Martin settled in the county in 1836. Educated at the college of Middlebury, Vt., he brought with him from his Eastern travels, a liberal, well-cultivated mind that fitted him for the high positions which he subsequently held. This old resident of Grand Rapids was County Judge, Circuit Judge and ultimately Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan.

George Coggeshall, a native of Rhode Island, emigrated from Wilmington, N. C., with his family to Michigan in 1836, and made a settlement at Grand Rapids the same year.

I. Mortimer Smith, born at New Milford, Conn., came to Michigan in 1836, and settled at Grand Rapids the same year.

Warren P. Mills, born at Ogdensburg, N. Y., March 15, 1812, came to Grand Rapids in 1836, and after a useful career of 32 years in Kent county, passed to his reward July 28, 1868.

Wm. M. Livingstone arrived at Grand Rapids March 1, 1836. He was born at Kingston, Canada West, in 1818, and the year following settled at Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Livingstone settled in Plainfield, March 2, 1836, when he located on section 20. In the fall of 1839, after the sale of the public lands, he sold his interest in the last location and purchased his present lands on section 23. Geo. W. Dickinson, born in Hampshire county, Mass., Sept. 6, 1809, immigrated to Michigan in 1835, and in December of that year located 240 acres on section 21, Grand Rapids township. In 1836 he brought his family westward, and the year following en

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tered on the life of a lumberman. He was the first American set-
tler who made a thorough exploration of Flat river, and also the
owner of the first raft ever brought down that stream.

Robert Hilton, President of the Oid Settlers' Association, came
to this county in 1836, and located lands on the north bank of the
river, a few miles west of the Eagle Plaster Mills, in 1838. He
was born at Mt. Vernon, Kennebec Co., Maine, Dec. 2, 1799.
By special act of the State Legislature, his title to real estate in
this county was confirmed in 1843.

Samuel White, a Canadian, with five sons, four daughters, and two sons-in-law, entered 600 acres of land in Walker township as early as 1836, settled there, and has made it his home since that period.

Zelotes Bemis settled in Walker township in 1836, near the location selected by Robert Hilton. The land was formerly an Indian corn-field, and so productive that the owner was enabled to harvest the first wheat crop grown in the district.

Jesse Smith, another Canadian, with a large family, located two miles west of the Bridge Street viaduct in 1836, near the location selected by the Edison family immediately after.

Toward the close of 1836 a number of Irish families, flying from oppression and evil laws, sought a home in Michigan. Among the number who settled in Kent county at that period were Pat rick O'Brien, James Murray and Stephen O'Brien.

John Harrington, a native of Vermont, John Hogadone and
Joseph Denton arrived in the county in 1836, but did not make a
permanent settlement until 1837, when they entered lands in what
is now known as Walker township.

Sylvester Hodges, the pioneer of Vergennes, came from New
York State in 1836, and settled near the Flat river that year.

James S. Fox arrived at Detroit in 1836, and the same year lo-
cated lands in the township of Vergennes, not far distant from the
home of Sylvester Hodges.

His

Jean B. Nardin, a soldier under Napoleon I., came to Detroit in
1828, and ultimately settled in Walker township in 1836.
home was located near the site of the Eagle Plaster Mills.

Lewis Robinson, with his family, arrived, and entering lands on
the west bank of the Flat river, located in 1836 on the land on
which the southern part of the village of Lowell now stands.

Rodney Robinson located temporarily at Lowell in 1836, and
moved to Vergennes in 1837.

Philander Tracey, a native of New York, settled at Lowell with
Lewis Robinson in 1836, and moved subsequently to Grand
Rapids.

Luther Lincoln, noticed hitherto, settled on the east side of Flat
river, on the University lands, in 1836, after which he moved to
Montcalm county.

Jacob James and Miner Patterson arrived in the county in 1836, and located in Paris township.

Orleans Spaulding and Philanzo Bowen immigrated to Michigan in 1836, and selecting the district now known as Paris, made their home there.

James McCrath, George Young and Simeon Stewart located near the rapids of Grand river in 1836.

Sylvester Granger came with Robert Hilton in April, 1836. He studied law in the office of Julius C. Abel, and was admitted an attorney in May, 1843. He was in partnership with Mr. Hilton in the first building and furniture business done in the county.

Nathan, William and Jerry Boynton located farms on section 9, Byron township, in 1836.

Lewis Cook left New Jersey for New York early in 1833; remained there a short time, when, migrating, he located in Washtenaw county in 1834, and ultimately became the pioneer of Cascade township in 1836.

Edward Lennon, a native of Ireland, immigrating in 1836, settled in Cascade the same year, and continued to make it his home.

Hiram Lanaway, a brother-in-law of Lewis Cook, left New York in 1836, with the intention of becoming a citizen of Grand Rapids; but, being discouraged, returned to his native State. He ventured back in 1839, but was frozen to death in January, 1841, leaving a widow and young family to battle with and conquer the obstacles of early settlement.

Hiram Rhodes, born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1804, came to Michigan in 1831, and settled in Ada township in 1837. His death occurred Oct. 22, 1856.

Canton Smith, born at Scituate, R. I., Oct. 26, 1822, arrived at Grand Rapids in 1837, and became one of the most favorably known hotel men in the State. After the death of Hiram Hinsdill, in 1840, he purchased the National Hotel property.

John T. Holmes, elected Judge of the Superior Court in 1875, was born at Carlisle, Schoharie Co., N. Y., Dec. 11, 1815. In 1837 he came to Michigan, and Feb. 16, that year, he went to Grand Rapids, where he spent one year as a clerk, before starting business for himself. For about three years he was in mercantile business, studying law as he had opportunity. He studied law in the office of Bridge & Calkins, and was admitted to the bar May 17, 1843. He soon secured a respectable practice, which resulted in a very extensive one, and which continued until his elevation to the Bench. Mr. Holmes has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Prosecuting Attorney for Kent county for four years, and, on the organization of the Superior Court, he was elected Judge. John F. Godfroy, nephew of Richard Godfroy, was born at Detroit, July 4, 1824. In 1837 he settled at the village of Grand Rapids, entered mercantile life, and continued one of the leading citizens until Jan. 25, 1876, when he died.

James Scribner, whose enterprise in connection with the salt manufacturing interest of Grand Rapids is noticed in other pages, came in 1837.