KENT COUNTY. 317 



/ 



Daring tlie year 1833 what came to be known as the ^'Indian mill" was built 

 upon a small stream which enters Grand river from the west, in the upper 

 portion of what is now the city. 



Before the close of the year 1833 five colonies had located within the lower 

 Grand river valley, one each at Lyons, Ionia, Grand Rapids, Grandville and 

 Grand Haven. 



A volume entitled " Memorials of Grand River Valley," at page 35, states 

 that there were extensive Indian clearings at what are now Lyons, Ionia, 

 Lowell and Grand Rapids. That at the Rapids was west of the river, 

 extending from Mill creek to within a short distance of the plaster mills, but 

 not reaching far back from the river. 



The settlement of Kent county can hardly be said to have fairly com- 

 menced till 1836, about which time a location was effected at what is now 

 Lowell, where, during this year, Sylvester Hidges planted the first apple 

 trees, one of which was said to be yet living in 1875. 



The government lauds north of Grand river were not offered for sale till 

 August, 1839. Many settlers had gone on and improved tracts of these lands 

 in advance of the sale. Hard times and scarcity of money rendered payment 

 at that time difficult, and in some cases impossible. Fearing the competi- 

 tion of speculators, some of these settlers borrowed the money at exorbitant 

 interest and bought their lands, while others were left no alternative but to 

 leave them subject to entry by others till the money could be earned or other- 

 wise secured for the purpose. 



In 1835 a company was organized by Lucius Lyon and a commencement 

 made at hydraulic improvements on the east side of the rapids of Grand river. 

 This enterprise brought in many laborers and mechanics, most of whom be- 

 came permanent residents. At the close of the year the population of the 

 place had increased to about three hundred persons. 



In "Memorials of the Grand River Valley" John Ball says of settlers in 

 northern Kent in 1843 there were in " Oakfield Mr. Tower and sons, Mr. 

 Davis and Mr. Crinuion; in Courtland, Mr. Bears and four or five other 

 families; four families in Cannon, one in Grattan, but few in Plainfield and 

 none on the road from there to Grand Rapids." 



Here, as in other localities, the planting of fruit trees followed closely 

 upon the occupancy of lands. The earlier plantings were mainly for a home 

 supply. Planting for commercial purposes was not done, if indeed thought 

 of, until the growth of the west, and of western cities, and of Grand 

 Rapids especially, had created a market demand for fruits. 



Mr. Asa W. 81ayton says of eastern Kent, that apple trees planted there 

 prior to 1850 were mostly seedlings ; those planted subsequently were more 

 commonly grafts. 



He adds that for forty years past peach trees have not averaged over ten 

 years of life, cherries not over fifteen years and dwarf pears less than eight 

 years, except when planted deep enough to become standards by rooting from 

 the pear. 



He has hauled peaches ten miles and sold them for 25 cents jjer bushel, 

 and, when scarce, for 82.50 and $3.00 per bushel. 



He once picked eighty j^ears which measured a full bushel from an Onon- 

 daga pear tree four years planted. 



J. D. Alger (grandfather of A. A. Crozier, who supplies this information) 

 planted a quantity of peach pits in 1855, a few miles south of Grand Rapids, 



