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Source: Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884
NORTH STAR TOWNSHIP
This township is numbered 10 north and 2 west, and is bounded on the north by Emerson, on the east by Hamilton, on the south by Washington, and the west by Newark. North Star was organized in April, 1855, and the first officers elected were:
Supervisor- Benjamin Crawford
Clerk- H. T. Barnaby;
Treasurer-William W. Palmer
Justices- William Hurd, John Franklin, Luther C. Smith, T. H. Rodgers.
Commissioners of Highways- Peter Hoffman, J. W. Chaffin, George Criner.
The first township meeting was held at the residence of Peter Hoffman in April, 1855. Addison Hayden and Mr. Hoffman are accredited the honor of naming this township. Mr. H. was an energetic and excellent man, and exerted a great deal of influence in the community.
The first settler in the township was Rowland Smith, who built a shanty upon section 30 in April, 1854. Rev. H. T. Barnaby and Peter Hoffman, with their families, arrived in May of the same year. Rev. Barnaby was the first preacher in this neighborhood, and the time selected for delivering the first sermon, which was unavoidably postponed, serves as the basis for a brief anecdote. Services were to be held at the house of John Franklin, in August 1854; and the minister had taken his position, as well as those who had assembled to hear a rendition of the divine law, when word came that an old lady, a Mrs. Hawkins, was lost in the woods of Newark Township. Knowing the dangers which might ensue from wild beasts, hunger and fright, the congregation was hurriedly dismissed, and the male portion, headed by Rev. Barnaby (who, to prevent being lost from the party, had a cow-bell suspended from his neck), started for Newark. Search was continued during that and the next day, when word came that she had found the " Old Indian Trail," and safely arrived at a settlement in the neighborhood.
Game was very plentiful that year, and the best hunting record of the season was made by Rev. Barnaby, who amply demonstrated that he could fire a rifle as well as clear a farm or preach a sermon. During the hunting season of that year he killed 45 deer, one bear and a wolf.
The first birth in the township was a daughter to Joel T. and Mrs. Smith, and the first death was that of an infant daughter of H. T. and Mrs. Barnaby.
North Star is an excellent agricultural township, and the numerous farms which are so highly improved; with the large list of taxable property, affords indisputable evidence of its rapid development.
This township is well watered by Bad River and its tributaries, and represents some of the finest agricultural lands in the county, The improvements also are up, and perhaps superior, to those of some of her sister townships. Among the earliest ministers and perhaps the first minister, who settled in the county, was Rev. Elias Sower, who settled in this township in 1854. He was an active and indefatigable worker, and is beloved by everyone who knows' him.
Having previously related the " sporting record " of Rev, H. T, Barnaby, the historian feels like giving another incident in the same line, although accomplished by a woman, with a " woman's weapon." Mrs. Hiram Brady went toward the barn, and was surprised to see a large buck feeding complacently at the corn-crib. She seized a stick of stove-wood, and struck the deer over the head, stunning it completely, after which a few more well directed blows dispatched it. This is well authenticated, and occurred Dec. 2, 1875. It might be proper to add that a number of bears have recently been killed in this township; but as this story would apply to every township in the county, the space may be better used in speaking of matters more important.
Below will be found the name of those who have represented this township as Supervisors from its organization until the present time:
SUPERVISORS
Benjamin Crawford
1855
Addison Hayden
...1856-8
H. T. Barnaby
..1859-60
Wm. M. Barstow
..1861
Franklin Squire
.1862-3
H. T. Barnaby.
..1864
Elias Sower
...1865-6
Wm, M. Barstow
...1867-8
H. T. Barnaby
..1869
W. J. Marshall...
1870
H. T. Barnaby
.
..1871-2
Lorenzo Squire
..1873
W. J. Marshall
.1874-5
Sidney Thompson
..1876-7
W. J. Marsha11
..1878-80
Sidney Thompson
..1881-2
W. J. Marsha11
1883
Source: Willard D. Tucker 1913
VILLAGE OF NORTH STAR
Something of Its Local Institutions
North star Village is located at the exact center of North Star Township. On account of such location it is not an uncommon thing to hear it called North Star Center. It is three miles south and three miles east of Ithaca, and is a live and wide-awake station on the Ann Arbor Railroad. The station was first called Douglas, but was changed to North Star on the removal of North Star postoffice to that location in June 1885. The village is in the midst of an excellent farming section; in fact the township is one of the best, agriculturally, in the county. The village contains its share of the best people of the county; a statement constituting ample praise for any community.
North Star was platted by Surveyor T. H. Harrod for James Anderson, Marshall A. Coss and Marshall Iles, December 13, 1884, the winter following the advent of the Ann Arbor Railroad into the county, and the establishment of a station at that place. The Plat takes in territory on the four sections, 15, 16, 21 and 22.
Postoffice Matters
North Star postoffice was first located toward the northeast corner of North Star Township, James M. Luther being the first postmaster, appointed October 20, 1857. He seems to have held the office for 17 years, for the next appointment was that of Hiram Brady, October 1, 1874. The office was discontinued October 16, 1874, and re-established October 28, 1874, with Charles E. McBride as postmaster. The next incumbent was John Q. Adams, appointed February 6, 1885, and the office was moved to its present location, the center of the township, and at the railroad station established in 1884. Following Mr. Adams came Edward L. Kimes, October 29, 1885; Stephen K. Johnson, Jr., April 26, 1889; William H. Curtis, December 27, 1890; Alvin D. Clark, may 12, 1892; Albert W. Bahlke, November 7, 1893; William Carmel, March 31, 1894; Alvin D. Clark, November 11, 1897; Herbert S. Brown, October 19, 1903; Daniel T. Altenburg, September 22, 1907; Vernon C. Eyer, June 16, 1911.
There are three rural routes running out from North Star. No. 1 is served by W. E. Lehner; No. 2, by R.C. Palmer; No. 3, by C.M. Kleckner.
North Star Schools
A special Act of the Legislature of 1897 gave North Star its graded school system. The school building erected at that time was destroyed by fire, August, 1909. Another was built the same fall at a cost of $1500. The school is divided into two departments, and ten grades are taught. The enrollment is about 90.
The interests of the school are well looked after by a board of education. at the present time composed of Jacob Shupe, D.C. Whitmore, Simon S. Munson, Alfred Brown, Roy Wolf. S.S. Munson is president, Roy Wolf is secretary and Jacob Shupe is treasurer.
Teachers for 1913-14 are as follows: J. Vinton Gibson, Principal; Lola M. Orser, Primary.
MORE HISTORY
North star Churches
The United Brethren Church is one of the strongest religious organizations in North Star, the present membership being about 50. The society was organized as the "Bethel Class" in 1886 by Rev. E. B. Miller. About eight members constituted the original class: W. H. Kleckner and wife, Hiram Barstow and wife, Gerry Peabody and wife, Thornton Shrodes and wife.
Services were first held in the town house, later in the school house. In 1891 the present brick church building erected; a very creditable building for a town of moderate size.
The following is believed to be a complete list of pastors to the present time: E.B. Miller, Dan C. Fleming, Rev. Watson, J.S. Beers, and Chas. Parmenter, Rev. Gebhart, Rev. Schlappi, Rev. Porterfield, Mrs Hinman, Jesse Harwood, J.C. Clark, A. E. Ritter and A.B. Bowman; the latter officiating at the present time.
M. E. Church
The M. E. Church in North Star Village had its start along in 1891, when a Ladies' Aid Society was formed, composed of members of that denomination and others. Those active in the formation of the society were Mrs. A. D. Clark, Mrs. S. L. Litle, Mrs. Geo. Smith, Mrs. Ida Carmel, Mrs. A. W. Bahlke. Previous to this, M. E. services had been held in school houses in different parts of the township, in fact the first class organized in the county was formed in the southern part of the township, by Elder Elias Sower away back in the '50s, and a little later another was formed in the northeast part of the township by the same pioneer preacher.
Rev. Geo. Killeen stationed at Ithaca was instrumental in the organization of the class at North Star Village, with the Ladies' Aid Society mentioned as a nucleus for the Church Society. Mr. Killeen also undertook to engineer the erection of a church building and in November, 1897, the cornerstone was laid for the present edifice of the society. The building was dedicated March 1, 1898.
Church services were conducted by the ministers stationed at Ithaca until 1906, when the charge was connected with that at Ashley, with the latter as head of the circuit, with Rev. Frank E. Chamberlain as pastor. In 1909 the charges were reorganized and North Star became the principal point in a circuit that takes in the Church at Beebe, and one formed in Newark, with services at the Newark Grange Hall. Rev. Carl Seipp is pastor and resides at North Star. He succeeds Rev. F. E. Chamberlain who was pastor three years. All three charges are enjoying a healthy growth. The membership at North Star has more than doubled in three years; that at Beebe shows a good percentage of increase, and that at Newark has doubled within the past two years.
The prosperity of the charges, and the increase in membership is also having a gratifying influence and effect upon the emoluments of the hardworking pastor, the cash salary now reaching the goodly sum of $925 a year, with the use of a fine parsonage thrown in. All of which favorable features of the situation it is a pleasurable task to record.
Other Churches
At one time quite a flourishing Baptist society existed in North Star, but it has gone into retirement, probably owing to the fact that a small town finds it difficult to support so large a number of churches. They had a good little church building, but recently it has been sold and transformed into dwelling apartments.
A Free Methodist Church also was a North Star institution of considerable importance, but in recent years there has been but little doing, and it is only occasionally that services are now held.
BANK OF NORTH STAR
F. N. Selby, banker, embarked in the banking business in North Star in 1907. He had previously conducted banking institutions in both Clio and Montrose, Genesee County. The bank was originally located in the postoffice block, but in the fall of 1911 Mr. Selby erected a fine brick bank building on Main Street, which he has occupied since early spring, 1912. A one-story structure, finely finished, and with a tasty front of modern design.
The inside finish is of oak, beautifully polished. The arrangement of the rooms is such as to secure convenience and adaptability to the business. One of the principal accessories to the banking business-the vault, is of the burglar?proof class, with time-lock safe, and with a chest of safety deposit boxes for rent.
The responsibility of the bank is placed at $25,000. The institution has proved one of great convenience to ' the people of North Star and vicinity, and it has constantly grown in strength and in the favor of the people since it was first established.
It may not be inappropriate to remark in this connection that the addition of Mr. Selby to the permanent citizenship of the town is regarded with inuch satisfaction by the entire community, and he enjoys the confidence and respect of all in an unusual degree.
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
K. 0. T. M. M.
Mahar Tent No. 640 was organized March 17, 1892, the original charter bearing date of April 2, 1892. Following are the names of the first officers of the order: Past Com.-Jesse A. Pettit; Com.-Wm. H. Curtis; Lt. Com.-Wilbur H. McBride; R. K.-Wm. Carmel; F. K.-Anson Shaull; Pral-.Wm. Dillon; Phy.-Benj. H. Gardner; Serg.-Edward Swift; M. of A.Geo. W. Elco; lst M. of G.-Geo. H. Turner; 2nd M. of G.-C. E. Wilkinson; Sent.-Geo. W. Potter; Pick.-Henry Lott.
The order, numbers about 40 members and is in a fairly flourishing condition. Its Commanders to the present time have been-Jesse A. Pettit, Win. H. Curtis, W. F. Clapp, Anson Shaull, Jesse Parling, C. A. Crane.
L. 0. T. M. M.
North Star Hive No. 630, L. 0. T. M. M., was chartered March 31, 1896, and organized with first officers as follows: Past Ccm.-Jennie Bovie; Com.-Rena McBride; Lt. Com.-Elsie Clapp; R. K.-Mae Frise; F. K.-Mary Parling; Chap.-Ida La Rue; Serg.-Sarah Heslin; M. of A.-Jennie Gwinner; Sent.-Mary Zoss; Pick.-Ida Kline.
The list of Lady Commanders since the organization of the Hive is as follows: Rena McBride, four years; Jennie Bovie; Bessie Carter, four years; Mary Parling; Nettie Losey; Mary Dillon, three years.
The Hive has about 20 members.
F. & A. M.
N. Selby; Jun. W.-W. H. McBride; Sen. D.-F. E. Chamberlain; Jun. D.-John Parker; Sec.-D. T. Altenburg; Treas.-L. M. Hicks; Stewards -R. R. Crandell, L. M. Hicks; Tyler-L. C. Clark.
The charter bears date of May 25, 1910, and officers were elected as follows: W. M.-Fred N. Selby; S. W.-W. H. Bovee; J. W.-W. H. McBride; S. D.-F. E. Chamberlain; J. D.-C. Peterson; Sec.-R. C. Palmer; Treas.-L. M. Hicks; Stewards-R. R. Crandell, Geo. Reed; Tyler-L. C. Clark.
Present officers: W. M.-N. H. Bovee; S. W.-C. A. Crane; J. W.-R. C. Palmer; Treas.-R. R. Crandell; Sec.-J. V. Gibson; S. D.-Warren Mellinger; J. D.-V. C. Eyer; Tyler-Henry Kennett; Stewards-Wm. F. Odell, Willis Maxwell; Trustees-R. R. Crandell, R. C. Palmer, L. M. Hicks. Membership, 35.
I. 0. 0. F.
Heath Lodge No. 222 was organized December 17, 1885, with charter members as follows: Win. H. Heath, Henry Mason, Edward L. Kimes, Alex. McDaid, Moses Johnson, Jackson M. Williams.
The order is in a flourishing condition with a membership of 87. It owns a two-story brick block, with two business fronts, one used as a store, the other as an opera house. It is well located on the main street of the village.
The list of N. G.s to the present time is as follows: E. L. Kimes, Henry Mason, Alex. McDaid, Moses Johnson, J. D. Peacemaker, John Swartzmiller, David Hull, S. K. Johnson, F. L. Coss, A. W. Bahlke, Win. Zoss, Abram Signs, E. R. Crandall, N. Azelborn, J. S. Bard, L. C. Clark, V. D. Palmer, Ira Signs, D. C. Stockwell, D. J. Wilkinson, Wm. Hull, H. T. Sage, Jas. Alldaffer, 1. C. Hawley, Geo. Turner, N. Merten, David Hull, E J. Smith, H. Perdue, L. C. Clark, Geo. Goodhall, Maurice Avery, W. E. Robertson, W. H, McBride, Geo. P. Robertson, David Bovie, Jesse Parling, Andrew Azelborn, C. A. Crane,jas. Greenlee, A. D. Clark, Geo. Kesling, S. G. Losey, Ed. Unger, Wm. Carothers, Arlie Azelborn, Chauncey Williams, Thos. Parling, Alex. Cassady, J. R. Allan, S. Sieber, Floyd Turner.
Rebeccas.
Chulah Lodge No. 38 was organized March 7, 1893, with the following list of charter members: Mrs. N. L. Azelborn, Mrs. Sarah Williams, Mrs. L. C. Clark, Minnie Clark; Bros. Nicholas Azelborn, Jackson M. Williams, L. C. Clark.
The membership is over 100.
PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The North Star elevator is owned and operated by the Ithaca Roller Co., and has Henry Kennett as resident manager. They deal in all kinds of grain, also coal, cement, wool, and all kinds of building material.
The interests of the Alma Sugar Factory are looked after by Bert Bangs; Mr. Johnson, of Ithaca, is head man for tle St. Louis factory, and Robert R. Crandell, North Star, is manager for the Owosso factory.
W. F. Clapp, general hardware dealer; also handles agricultural implements, vehicles, etc. Twenty years in the business, successor to A. W. Bahlke. Owns his extensive buildings, west side Center Street.
Horner H. Snider, general merchandise dealer?dry goods, groceries, shoes, crockery. Ten years in the business, successor to Clark & Hawley. In his own two?story brick, east side Center Street.
V. C. Eyer, drugs, medicines, wall paper, sundries. Two years in business here, successor to D. T. Altenburg, in the latter's two?story brick building, east side Center Street. Is also postmaster since July, 1911. Has Union Telephone exchange.
L. M. Hicks, general merchandise, east side Center, in Odd Fellows' brick block. Five years in business here, successor to A. J. Azelborn.
The North Star Hotel, now and for seven years conducted by Frank Waters. Rates, $2.00.
A furniture store, west side Center Street, is operated off and on, now owned by E. C. Crandell, of Alma.
A. M. Doyle operates a meat market in the building owned by Shaull & Peacemaker, east of the town hall.
Otto Adamek, blacksmith and wood?worker, successor to W. E. Cole. Has a planer and other facilities in connection.
S. G. Losey is successor to E. C. Crandell in the harness and horsefurnishing business. He owns his place of business, west side Center Street.
C. E. Austin and G. G. Bowman started a garage and automobile repair shop, March 1, 1913; west side Center Street, north.
S. J. English operates a barber shop in Mrs. Rosalie Adamek's building, west side Center Street, south.
A popular restaurant was opened about the first of the present year by J. B. Aldrich, in Mrs. Adamek's building, Center Street, south.
Dr. C. A. Crane, resident physician for many years, skillfully treats all human, physical ills. Residence and office north side Third Street, east.
Ira D. Sperbeck is station agent for the Ann Arbor R. R., and is also express agent-Wells-Fargo Express.
Dr. Pankhurst, physician and surgeon, has practiced here about a year. Office east side Center Street, south.
The North Star tile works are now owned and operated by Chas. Lee. The works were started by Geo. Smith; afterward operated by Smith & Bryant; later by Hoffman Bros.; still later by Botroff & Snyder, who sold to Mr. Lee.
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