of the Senate of that honorable body. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1867. During his two terms in the Senate he was chairman of the committee of roads and bridges, and during his latter term he was a member of the State prison inspecting committee; and while he was in the House of Representatives he was on the committee on Indian affairs. In the fall of 1867 he was appointed Assistant of U. S. Revenue, and served nearly four years. In March, 1881, he removed to Rockford, where he still resides. He was married Nov. 3, 1829, to Miss Susan Joy, by whom he has had five children, four living-Mary, Chas. J., Electa H. and Erwin C.

Hon. E. C. Watkins, son of the preceding, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1839. In his early days he read and practiced law under his father, who was then a Justice of the Peace. He afterward took a regular course of law in Grand Rapids. Mr. Watkins distinguished himself during the war. His first service was a private for three months with the Valley City Guards. He then enlisted in Co. K, Lincoln Cavalry, which was the first cavalry company raised in the State of Michigan. He was promoted 1st Lieut. soon after enlistment, subsequently Captain, and in the spring of 1863 was commissioned Assistant Adjutant-General from the War Department. He served on Generals Neal and Hunter's staffs, as Adjutant-General, and closed on General Seward's staff. He practiced law a few months after the close of the war, and then purchased mill property in Rockford, removing from Grand Rapids to Rockford in the fall of 1865. He practiced law a short time in Rockford, but his other business claiming his entire attention, he was obliged to abandon the law profession. He was elected to the Michigan Legislature in 1871, and re-elected in 1873. During the latter term he was Speaker pro tem. of the House of Representatives. In 1875 Mr. Watkins was appointed General Inspector of Indian Affairs, to fill a vacancy. In 1876 he was reappointed for a full term, but resigned in 1879. In June, 1881, he was appointed Warden of the State House of Correction and Reformatory, at Ionia, Mich., and entered upon the duties of his office July 1 following. He was married in the fall of 1863 to Miss Julia S. Brown, by whom he has two children-Ella and Roy. Geo. A. Watkins, of the firm of Provin & Watkins, druggists, Rockford, was born in Cannon tp., this county April 13, 1858, and is a son of John Watkins, deceased, who came from England to New York in 1842, and to Kent county in 1852. Geo. A. was brought up on a farm, and received his education in Rockford and Grand Rapids. He was married Aug. 17, 1879, to Miss Amelia Myers, daughter of John Myers. They had one child, now deceased. Mr. W. engaged in the drug business on Main street, with Mr. Provin, in the spring of 1881. This store was first estab lished in 1874, by Chas. E. Blakeley, who sold to C. G. Parkhurst in February, 1879. The present firm purchased it in the spring of 1881, and is doing a good business.

John Q. Welch was born in Ireland, Jan. 1, 1848, and is a son of Capt. James A. Welch, a sea captain who visited America several times, and in 1856 brought his family over. They settled first in Plainfield tp., this county. The Captain was also Captain of Co. B, 14th Mich. Vol. Inf., during the late war, and was wounded at the battle of Stone River in 1862, from the effects of which he died. John Q. was married in 1872 to Miss Josephine A., daughter of Willis Covill, of Newaygo Co., Mich.

David Wellbrook, proprietor of meat market, corner of Main and Bridge streets, Rockford, was born in Germany, Feb. 18, 1848. He came to Grand Rapids in 1866, where he learned the butcher's trade, and came to Rockford in 1867. He established a meat market here the same year, and has built up a large trade. His refrigerator is very good, in which he can keep meat fresh and sweet for several days. He was married in 1871 to Miss Elizabeth Shaner, by whom he has five children-Willy, Albert, Martin, Clinton and Clarence. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

Alfred J. Whitworth was born in Walker tp., this county, June 8, 1853, and is a son of George Whitworth, who came from England in 1849 and settled in Montcalm Co., Mich. He came to Kent county in 1851, locating at Grand Rapids, and owned a portion of the plaster beds in that locality, and engaged in the manufacture of land plaster for one year. In 1855 he removed to Algoma. He married Maria Gillett, who bore him nine children; of these four are living, and Alfred J. is the youngest. His two brothers, Wm. G. and Herbert, the doctor, were in the late war; the former died in Andersonville, Sept. 20, 1864. Charles F. is on the farm with Alfred J. They own 80 acres, on sec. 34.

Lewis H. Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff, was born in Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., 13 miles from Rochester, July 19, 1849, and is a son of Garry A. Wilkinson (dec.), a native of New Hampshire, who came to this county in 1850 and settled in Rockford (then Laphamville). He was a lawyer by profession, but engaged in lumbering after he came West. He also dealt in pine lands. In 1870 he engaged in the hotel business in Rockford which he followed until his death, Nov. 8, 1875. The subject of this sketch. and his mother still continue to run the hotel and are doing a good business. Mrs. Wilkinson's maiden name was Samantha S. Hinman. They had nine children, of whom Lewis H. is the second. He was married May 30, 1878, to Miss Roxie A. Dennis.

William Williams was born in Wales, March 14, 1820, and is a son of Robert Williams, also a native of Wales, who emigrated to Ohio in 1830, and settled in Port ge county. The subject of Portage this paragraph came to Algoma in 1846, and settled in the woods. He was married May 18, 1847, to Miss Susan Helsel, by whom he has four children-Oren H., Arthur D., Sarah and Arintha. Mr. Williams owns 40 acres, on sec. 16, and is engaged in general farming. In the early days he followed lumbering the winter seasons and cleared land and farmed in the summer. Like other early settlers, he was obliged to undergo many hardships and privations.

ALPINE TOWNSHIP.

The first settlers of this township were Solomon Wright and family, who came from Wayne Co, N. Y., in the year 1837, and located on the south line near Indian creek. The family consisted of the old gentleman and lady and five sons, Benjamin, Solomon, Noadiah, Andrew and Jeremiah, only one of whom remains in the township, and that is Solomon. The old people are both dead; one son lost his life in the recent war, one is living at Lowell, and two are in Walker. In the year 1840 John Coffee and Richmond Gooding came from Ohio, penetrated the forest nearly five miles beyond the Wright neighborhood, and settled on section 19, near the west line of the township. For years this was considered the "jumping off place," as they called it, there being no settlements north of them, and in fact no house in any direction nearer than three or four miles. About the same time Jacob Snyder-a German-settled on section 35, and another German by the name of John Plattee on section 36, in the southeast corner of the township. A short time before this Turner Hills and family came from Vermont, and located in the east part of the township, on section 13, where, for several years, they were the northernmost settlers. Mr. Hills died many years ago, but the widow and two sons remain in the township. E. Clarke located on section 32 in 1835.

Among other pioneers who settled in various parts of the township were Avery Brown, Noel Hopkins, Baltas Schaffer, Peter Sellick, James Snowden, Sherman Pearsall, John B. Colton, A. B. Toms, Thompson Casson, Joseph Hipler, John Ellis, Edward Wheeler, Hervey Wilder, Joseph Bullen, Moses Ramsdell, John J. Downer, Hiram Stevenson, Artemas Hilton, Henry S. Church, Charles Anderson, Francis Greenley, and the Boyds, Denisons, Meads, Brewers, Davenports, and Cordes, all of whom cane before 1850; and most of them yet remain to enjoy the fruits of their early labors and sufferings.

Among the patentees of the United States lands in the township of Alpine were the following named persons: Turner Hills, sec. 13, Jan. 13, 1842; Richmond Gooding, sec. 19, Aug. 27, 1839; John Coffee, sec. 19, Aug. 27, 1839; Elezei H. Ives, sec. 25, Aug. 3, 1839; Isaac Bucklin, sec. 26, Aug. 13, 1839; Noel A. Hopkins, sec. 32, Aug. 13, 1839; Charles O'Neil, sec. 32, Aug. 14, 1839; William Quivillian, sec. 33, Aug. 14, 1839; Otis Tabor, sec. 34, Aug. 13, 1839; Jacob Snyder, sec. 34, Aug. 14, 1839 ; Lyman W. Patten, sec. 35, Aug. 13, 1839; and Jonas Galusha, sec. 36, Aug. 14, 1839.

The following sketch, abridged from Prof. Everett's paper on (553)

554

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

this township, deals in an easy, neighborly style with the early settlers, as well as with the land which they came to cultivate.

There are some doubts as to who first penetrated into the wilds of Alpine, and is deserving of the honor of being handed down to future generations as "the first settler." This much is rescued from the dim traditions of antiquity: In the fall of 1837, Solomon Wright, a man educated at Williams College, Mass., came with his family from the State of New York, and pre-empted 80 acres of land in the southwest part of Alpine. His eldest son, Benjamin, also pre-empted land. The old gentleman, not rich, had five boys, and, as they have given name to a town near by, and have not been ciphers in the world, we will here give their names: Benjamin, Solomon, Noadiah (better known as "Dutch"), Andrew, and Jeremiah S. The Wrights found no settlers in the west part of the town, or in the north part of Walker. There were in the town three Frenchmen named Peter Labelle, Joseph Genie, and another, name forgotten. These Frenchmen put up a mill on Government land; stayed two or three years, and went away. Further it is not known that there were any residents in town when the Wright family came in the fall of 1837. Two brothers, James and Francis Blood, arrived the same fall, and located themselves near Wright. Of these pioneers of Alpine, Solomon Wright, 2d, is the only one remaining in the town. In his goodly mansion on the south line of the town, he has long enjoyed the respect of the community, where he has had a leading influence. Adverse fortune has come upon him, but if the good wishes of the people could carry him through, his house will again be one where genial hospitality and good companionship will win and perpetuate good will. The old gentleman-Solomon, Sr. was never an active man in the region. He was a scholar rather than a business man. He died at a good old age, August, 1853.

Noadiah C. (Dutch.) Why, everybody knows Dutch Wright. We say "Dutch," for he has so long borne that name, that should you say "Noadiah" he would not mistrust that he was meant. He signs his name "N. C. Wright," but it is questionable whether he would not have to refresh his memory by looking at the family Bible, before confidentially telling what "N C." stands for. He lives in a big house, paid for with money which came of his understanding "horse.” That beast he does understand; and he conceives a most profound respect for a man who can cheat him in a horse trade. As an example: A man in Grand Rapids was in possession of an otherwise good-looking horse that was bind. One day a bright thought came into his head; he would go and put a drive on Dutch Wright. So, fortifying himself, he harnessed his nag into his wagon, and leisurely drove along to the "Wright settlement." At the same time Dutch had a very good-looking horse that he was anxious to get rid of, for reasons not now known. As the city fellow was leisurely and meditatively driving by Wright's farm, Wright was plowing by the side of the road, with his worthless beauty and a plain, valuable beast for a team. Being slightly

acquainted, both stopped, discussed the weather, the last political news, etc. In the meantime, Wright conceived and suggested a horse-trade, to which the city chap seemed entirely indifferent. Wright finally offered him either one of his team, not doubting which he would take. The offer was accepted and the exchange made, to the infinite chagrin of Wright, when he saw him take the plain horse. Mentally, he soliloquized: "That man is not so green as I supposed, he understands horse"." The city man departed, and the farmer soon found that his new acquisition, "though having eyes, saw not." Did he get mad? Not he. He threw up his hat and shouted himself hoarse; then sat down on a stone and laughed until tears came into his eyes. Calming himself by degrees, in measured tones he said: "I have found the genius at last ; I have found my master; I have found the man who can cheat Dutch Wright in a horse-trade. By the Hokefenoke and the living Jingos! I'm his friend forever!!" He sought out the genius, and they consecrated the beginning of the warmest friendship by copious libations at Wright's expense. Speak evil of that man, or intimate that he is not a genius, the king of "horse men," and look out for the "Dutch" of Wright. James Blood died in Walker, and his brother Francis sold out after a time and moved away.

We learn of no accessions until 1840. This year brought John Coffee from Ohio, with Richard Goding, Jacob Snyder, a German, John Plattee, Turner Hills and Noel Hopkins. Turner Hills was a Vermonter. He came with his wife and family to Grand Rapids in 1838. In 1840, he took up forty acres of land, near where now is the hotel in Alpine. That he had slender means is indicated by his taking up so little land. He cut his own road more than two miles. At that time there was no settler in the east part of the town. He died in 1842, after having fairly made a beginning, leaving four sons and a daughter; and one who remained his widow-"Mother Hills"-until her death, in 1873. A word for this noble woman. She united native good sense with great information--was one of the "oracles" of the town; her opinion valued, and her character spoken of as combining in its elements all that is noble and womanly. She was the counselor of the old and young; and she died at a good old age, with the blessings of the community, and the veneration of the family she had reared.

Thompson Casson is to be noticed, who came in 1842, and died in 1848. He was a good-heart d, public-spirited, intelligent and moral Scotchman; a natural leader; a good specimen of a man. He had not secured fortune, but he died with the respect of all.

In 1843 came John Cathcart. In 1850 he was stabbed by a neighbor under the influence of liquor, and died in consequence. The man was sent to prison. About the same time came John Haire, who has since been seen, heard and felt at Georgetown, Ottawa Co. Also Stephen Coon, who died in 1850. Three sons of his are now physicians in Lisbon and Casnovia. Here, too, may be mentioned Henry Church, who still lives in the north of Alpine.