 | | History of Caledonia The first settler in the town is said to have been Mr. Asahel Kent, who settled on the " Gull trail," in section 35, n the year 1838. He opened a public house, which at that early day became known. In 1839 this was the only house on the road for a distance of 17 miles. David Kinsey laid out and platted the village. Kinsey offered two village lots to the man who would build the first house in Caledonia. He donated two lots for the site of the U. B. Church (United Brethren). David Kinsey married Nancy Pletzer in 10-9-1855, both were born in Canada. James Minsey also came to the town in 1838, and among other very early settlers were: Peter McNaughton, John Sinclair, Orsemus Rathbun, Hiram McNeil, Eber Moffitt, Levi Tobey, John Pattison, 0. B. Barber, Henry Jackson, William H. Brown, Warren S. Hale, Lyman Gerrald, Justus G. Beach, Loren B. Tyler, M. P. McNaughton, Norman Foster, Roswell F. Tyler, John Camp-, bell, William G. Wooley, and Frederic B. Thompson. The town was set off from Ada in 1840, and the following were the first officers: Supervisor-John P. MeNaughton. Clerk-Justus G. Beach. Treasurer-Norman Foster. Collector-R. F. Tyler. Justices-Justus G. Beach, Loren B. Tyler, Malcolm P. McNaughton, Asahel Kent. Highway Commissioners-Mr. Tyler,. Kent, and Norman Foster. School Inspectors--Norman Foster, William G. Wooley. Among the present town officers are: Supervisor-Martin Whitney. Clerk--D. S. Havling. Treasurer-Sherman T. Colson. Justices-H. B. McColister, R. G. Culver, Adam Shirk, James McGarry. Superintendent of Schools-Francis Campau. Commissioner of Highways-John Patterson. Adam Sherk influence the post office and it was established 1843 , in 1870 he was appointed Postmaster, OFFICERS IN 1870. Supervisor —Adam B. Sherk. Clerk —Daniel S. Haviland. Treasurer-Sherman T. Colson. Justices —Adam B. Sherk, Levi White, Hugh B. McAlister, Elijah V. E. Pratt. Highway Commissioners-John Patterson, David Kinsey, Isaac Stauffer. School Inspectors-Alfred W. Stowe. Levi White. Constables Fayette McIntyre, Charles E. Emmons, Eliphalet Scott. David Kinsey was the father-in-law to my great aunt. |
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December 1894
Two versions of who they are:
Top Row is: Bert Barber, Rob Kraft, John Spaulding, Henry Shaw, Verne Kinsey, Bert Kester
Middle row is: Owen Kinsey, Abe Kolenstein, Will Barber, Elbert Snow
Bottom row: Denton Pratt, Ed Apsey, Meyer Kolenstein, Charley Foreward. |
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2nd Version of who they are.
Top Row left to right = Bertie Gem Barbour, Noah C. Kraft, John Cook Spaulding, Jenry K. Schall, J.
Middle = Owen Kinsey, Abe Kohlensein, Willie J. Barbour, Elbert Snow
Front Row= D. Dent Pratt, Ed C. Apsey, Meyer Kohlenstein, Charley Forward. |
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Liplia Sherk, Carrie Kinsey and Helen Spaulding
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Otto Zelrces(?), Helen Addie Baily and Claude Seibert
Spelling of Otto is very hard to read.
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Labarge School
Click on link below for identification of students |
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This is a Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera "The Mikado". Thank you to Khandro for enlightening me.
They have Japanese Costumes on with a Japanese Flag in the back ground.
1st Row
Mrs E Hale, Mrs. Hubbaard, Peg Nolan
2nd Row
Audrey Mc Connell, Thea Palmer, Helen Van Amburg, Cecil Oprey, Florence Palmer, ?, Lucile Loring, Elsie Irene Oldt
3rd Row
?la Detwiler, Alice Wilson, Mrs. Godfrey, Mystle Palmer, Ira Henderson, Charlotte Alley, Blanche Brook, Marion Clark, Esther Johnson, Pearl Woodward. Myethe Ceisler, Kathrine Menger, Rugh Williams, Mrs. Purcell, Adah Mode, Leona Vincent, Arlis Remsey, Rhea Kinsey, Peggy Palmer. |
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1st Row
Helen Spaulding, Magie Bergy, Ollie Clemens Eby
2nd Row
Lou Kinsey, Carrie Kinsey, Mina Emmons
3rd Row
Ella Kinsey, Ella Bergy Carey, Jennie Kinsey, Meda Bergy, Verna Meyers
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Green Lake July 4th 1894
John Spaulding, A Kohlenstein, Lb Pratt,
Helen L. Spaulding, Gretie Meech, Daisy Meech, Verna Myers, Marion Swain
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Doris C. Betzner
In 1920 Doris was 15 Years old, Daughter of Allen B. Betzner and Alice M. Betzner
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Caledonia 1918
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Caledonia Snow 1918
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Fire in Caledonia
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Caledonia 1902
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Caledonia Main Steet 1912
Looking East |
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Death of Alice Davis Devine
October 13, 1893 |
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Vivian Land and Joesphine Stein
Harbor Springs June 9 |
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Lucile Nagelkirk
June 5,1927
Donald Kraft and Olive Kraft
Graduation with a class of 21 |
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A quite Day in Caledonia
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First Pioneer Picnic, 1886, Labarge
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| | This is information from the Grand Rapids Public Library Marcie GRHSC It would seem that your photo of the "First Pioneer Picnic" (1886) was taken at the small settlement of LaBarge in Caledonia Township (Kent
County, MI) This village was described in 1881 by C.C. Chapman in "The History of Kent County" as having ..."80 inhabitants, ... (it)
claims a post-office, saw and flouring mill, two blacksmith's shops, one shoemaker, one wagon shop, one general store. The post office is
in charge of Alexander Kilgore." The village was first called Caledonia Center and was indeed located
smack-dab in the center of the township. (about where secs. 15, 16, 21, & 22 come together). Wm H. Brown had built a grist mill and a saw
mill there in 1868, and the settlement seems to have grown up around these businesses. The name had been changed to LaBarge by the time
the post office was opened on Dec. 11, 1876. The post-office operated there until Nov. 30, 1901. The village was identified on
the Caledonia Township plat map of 1894 (tiny print!), then it is easier to see on the plat maps from 1907, 1919, 1939 and 1955.
(interesting that the name was still being used so long after the post office had been closed?) Another interesting note is that LaBarge was not the only local settlement for which Wm. H. Brown was responsible. In 1853 he had built a grist mill in section 3 of the township and then platted a village which he called Brownsville. Later the name was changed to Alaska. Chapman comments, "(Wm. H. Brown) was popular in public life: he was an ardent believer in and advocate of the principles of the Republican party; was many consecutive years the incumbent of town offices, whose duties he discharged to his own credit and the entire satisfaction of his constituents." In the late 1800s it became popular to recognize the sturdy pioneers of the county's early history (the Old Settlers Association was organized in 1871), and it seems likely that early settlers of central Caledonia Township got together in 1886 to remember the "good old days", enjoy a picnic lunch and have their picture taken. (lucky you to have an image of that day!)
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Orignal Caledonia School
Caledonia's Original School Foreground, newer school background
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In 2005 the School was torn down.
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| | Labarge School link | |  |
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