My interest in writing about, Amber Township is the result of marrying into a family descended from Amber pioneers. Though not a native daughter of the township myself, my children are the fifth generation of the family to live in Amber. The Pittard and Conrad families have been blessed with long lives and excellent memories, so the stories of years past have been many and interesting. It is my hope that some of the information gleaned from. The sources available to me will be preserved through this paper
The
people of Amber Township have made a significant contribution to the growth and
welfare of Mason County through the use of the township's natural resources and
its geographic location. In the early days when lumber was of prime importance
Amber’s timber was plentiful and of good quality. The land was covered with
hardwood sugar maple beech, elm, and ash.
As yet there were no roads so the nearby Pere Marquette River was an
Important factor in the growth of the county. The lumbermen who owned mills on
Pere Marquette used the river to float logs down to their mills.
A
high bank on the Pere Marquette River known as the Chinnery –Rollway; [located
near the corner of Gordon and Conrad Road] was used by the lumbermen to roll
their logs into the river. Each mill owner had a watermark that was stamped on
his logs so they could be identified when they arrived at the lake. There the
logs were sorted and pulled by barge to the respective mills.
The
lumbering era continued until about 1910 before the land was cleared and roads
built. By that time farming and small industries necessary to the economy were
flourishing, and the railroad was providing transportation for people and
products.
The
Flint and Pere Marquette Railway Company's line was completed through to
Ludington in 1874. [1] The first passenger on the train was Mrs. Charles
Barclay. She had been visiting in the
southern part of the state and by the time she was to return, expected the
passenger train to be running through to Ludington. On her arrival at Reed City
she learned that it was not yet in operation. An engineer, who knew her from
having boarded at her home in Amber during construction of the line, said she
could ride in the caboose of the work train.
She
rode as far as Jordan, one-half mile west of what is now called Scottville and
walked to her home which was one-half mile south of the railroad. [2] The
village of Amber was located on the railroad line about another mile west of
Jordan. The village was also known as Slaghtburg as It was established and laid
out by Silas Slaght, In December, 1871, Judge Haight wrote of it in the
Ludington Record; "You see no fickle sand heaps here, the heaven of fleas
and the grave of vegetation; but a soil of rich loam . . . whole sections of
undulating -woodland, heavily timbered with sugar maples, beech, elm, and ash
as far as the, eye can range.
"Silas
Slaght, Esq.; of Victory has erected a store here, has it stocked with dry
goods groceries and provisions, and is doing a good trade. Dr. Knox, formerly
from Victory, has built a hotel 'here, and offers substantial inducements for
the hungry public.
"The
village is laid out in blocks of eight lots each. Size of lots five rods by
eight. The price of lots ranged from, $25 dollars to 75 dollars. Terms to suit
purchasers. At this place doubt- less will be the first railroad station east
of Ludington and the best wooding station In Mason County." [3]
The
first railroad station east of Ludington, indeed was at Amber Village; the
depot, post office, and general store being operated together. Among the operators of the depot in early
years were the William Uppers and the Michael Moores. The Moores owned it until
Mrs. Moore's death in 1895. At that time Fay Parmelees, a daughter and
son-in-Law, of the Moores, bought the place and operated the business. in later
years the library and telephone exchange were located here.
Mr.
Parmelee also had a blacksmith shop nearby and business was so brisk that he
lead to hire an extra hand to work with him. Eight passenger and freight trains
came through each day. Two trains carried the postal mail one from each
direction around noon. The railroad agent's official mail was carried on the
train separate from the postal mail and was just thrown off the train at the
station.
Mabel
Parmalee Cooper tells this story about their dog and the agents mail: "We
had a dog named Wise that Retrieved the railroad mail as it was thrown from the
train. One day he got too close, slipped under a wheel and got a leg cut
off. When Wise got well again he went
right back to his job of picking up the Railroad Mail on three legs.
The
Depot at Amber was operated until 1927 after a half- century of service. [4]
With the advent of the railroad and roads cut the Township, many little
industries were begun. Some of them were established to fill the needs of the
local people and a few were quite venturesome projects. One such project was a
spearmint distillery on the Chinnery Farm located at the corner of the present
Gordon and Conrad Roads.
Ernest
Chinnery went to Kentucky and obtained some mint stock root that they planted
and raised, and from which mint oil -was extracted. Another exotic venture was
the growing of ginseng on the Prindle farm in North Amber. Ginseng root was
used in the Orient for medicines and could, perhaps have been profitable but
the plant must be nurtured for six years before the root can be harvested.
Ginseng also grew wild and the Indians gathered these roots to sell or trade
for their necessities.
Business:
important to the welfare of the people of the area flourished. The Chinnery
Brothers owned a mill in Section 26 near the river where lumber was cut and
shingles made. Every fall they made cider at the mill and supplied the
neighbors with fresh cider. Several other small sawmills were operated in the
township.
Grist-
mills were scattered through the township for the grinding of farmers' grain
for feed. Some of these were wind driven with the windmill protruding through
the roof in the center of the barn. Gebotts owned one and the Fred Tetzloff's
had another. These were both located in Section 22. Charles Dahn owned one of
the last wind-driven feed mills operated.[5]
Used
in the building of many homes in the county were brick made at the two
brickyards in Amber. Red brick was made at the Sperry yard in Section 18 near
the railroad. The brick- yard owned by Henry Carl, a little farther south from
the Sperry yard, made white brick. The John Conrad home, which is still used,
was built in 1889 with red brick and trimmed with white brick from these yards.
Some homes still in use in many areas of the county were built with brick from
Amber Township. [6]
A
bowl millenear the railroad between Amber and Stiles Road provided part time
work for farmers who cut wood blocks for bowls. The children found a good use
for these wooden bowls aside from their intended use. They slid downhill in the
wintertime on these wooden butter bowls.
Many
pioneers cleared their own land for farming and sold the timber to the mills.
Sam Pittard, who bought eighty acres near the Pere Marquette River; cleared his
own farmland. The Pittard family boarded river-men on the spring log drive down
the river. This was continued for many years until one time the for-man and one
of the river gang who had returned from town, began to fight; a result of too
much "firewater". This fight put an end to the boarding of river-men
at their home.
The
stairway of the Pittard home, when last seen by the family not many years ago,
still showed signs of the river-men's cleated boots. Their shoes were supposed to be removed before entering the
house, but this rule was often overlooked. [7] At this point it is interesting
to note that the land cleared by Sam Pittard has come about full- circle
because It is now the site of the Amber Mill which is managing its lumber
contribution to the area.
The
coming of electricity to rural areas was a boon to Amber residents in 1938
when, through the Rural Electrification Act of 1935t the Western Michigan
Electric Cooperative was established.
As
well as a convenience for rural residents it provided the power for many small
Industries. Among the early industries were several small dairies. Not many
years ago there were still three dairies. One dairy was operated by the Hubbells, another was owned and operated by
George Felt and Hansen's Evergreen Dairy is still in existence under the
operation of Ideal Dairy of Traverse City. [foot-note dairy has been out of
business for many years 2002]
Through
the years Amber had many good -sized dairy farms. In 1919 the largest dairy
herds were owned by the Hansen Brothers; and John Conrad. Charles and Louis
Hanson, who were in partnership, owned 39 cows and John Conrad had 25 cows in
his herd. [8] From then until recent
times the number of dairy herds has risen, but then dwindled to about a half
dozen. The size of the herds; have increased considerably. Some herds in Amber
at the present time number from, 50 to 60 Cows.[9]
Another
contribution by Amber to the welfare of the county should not be ignored. The
Mason County Farm performed the function of caring for the aged and infirm. The
land for the "Poor Farm", as it was so often called, was purchased in
1879 from Michael Moore who homesteaded the land. [10] In time, the cost to
operate the county farm for a year increased to about 8,000.00 a year and it
was decided to discontinue the operation. In 1942 the land was sold to Charles
Bretschnieder who, with his sons, now operates a dairy farm there. [11]
While
Amber Township was growing economically it did not neglect the education of its
residents. As early as 1870 a library was established at the home of the
township clerk,
C.
D. Clay. The library was later moved to the depot and was still in use in the
early 1930's.
At
one time it contained 2000 volumes and no set rules were issued about taking
out books. Any number could be borrowed at a time for any length of time. Mabel
Parmelee Cooper, in charge of the library at the time it was discontinued,
enlisted the aid of Miss Gertrude Eastman, county school superintendent, to
help in the dispersal of the books. These volumes were distributed amongst the
schools according to their requirements.[12]
Early
in the township's history the pioneers felt the necessity of schools in all
areas of the township. Seven schools were eventually built in Amber, the first
being Jones School that was established before 1867. Jones, located on the
southwest corner of what is now Johnson and Gordon Roads was also one of the
first schools to close and send their pupils to classes in town after roads
were improved and automobiles more common. [13]
Rickey
School District was established In 1870 and the site for the school located
just east of the present Rickey Cemetery was purchased from George Martin for
$12.50. The first teacher was Mr. J. C. Flora and his salary was $30.00 a
month.
In
1895 the school census showed 43 scholars ranging in age from five to nineteen.
[14]
The
other schools in Amber were Amber Station located on Amber Road about one-half
mile south of Highway 10. North Amber on North Stiles Road, Lincoln Valley on
the west end of Hansen Road, Eagle on the highway where Gibb's Country House
is
at present and Moore (Star) which was built on the north-west corner of the
present Brye and Conrad Roads. The land for Moore School was donated by Mable
Cooper's grandfather; Michael Moore.
One
fall in the mid-1880's a fire started in slashings southwest of the Moore
School and spread to several homes and the school. Neighbors were fighting fire
for a week, night and day. After the school burned, pupils went to classes in
George Sinclair's barn that was across the road and east of the school site.
When the weather became too cold the Sinclairs offered their living room for a
classroom and with a little equipment, classes were held there.[15]
As
the days of the one-room school- house came to an end one by one the districts
closed their buildings. The last school buildings to be used were Rickey, Amber
Station, and North Amber that were used as recently as 1956 by the consolidated
district of Mason County Central Schools.
Many
pleasant social times were experienced in Amber; some were spelling bees and
arithmetic contests in the schools, others box socials or Parties among
neighbors, and some were gatherings in the grove south of Amber Town-hall. The
Amber
Fair was held in the grove for many years. This was a county -wide affair
lasting four or five days. The hall was used for exhibits and the livestock was
shown in the horse sheds behind the town-hall. The Amber Fair continued until a
few years before the Western Michigan Fair was begun. [16]
The
need for religion and philanthropy; in the township was recognized by two Amber
ladies. In the fall of 1910 Mrs. Fay
Parelee and D.K. Prettyman called together some women of the community to meet
at Mrs. Parmelee's home for the purpose of forming an organization to fill
these needs. Fifteen women came that afternoon and the Amber Missionary Society
was organized.
Over
the years, which saw many members die and some move away, the Amber Missionary
Society has persevered and proved It’s worth. It has helped support
missionaries in the foreign field and is always ready to assist people in need
locally. Amber Missionary Society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1960.
It is an ecumenical organization whose members are also members of several
church denominations in the county. This organization is still meeting the
third Thursday afternoon of each month at Amber Town-hall. Many of its present members are daughters or
daughters-in-law of charter members of the Society. [17]
Many other organizations helped to produce an atmosphere of amiability and knowledge in the community. This good in turns added to the welfare of the county as a whole. Organizations such as Grange and Farm Bureau served the needs of farmers and home economics extension groups provided the farm wife with homemaking skills. The people of Amber used these organizations in the building and growth of their township.
The
present welfare and status of Amber Township be attributed to its people who
had the foresight to recognize and utilize conscientiously its resources and
possibilities. Natural resources of timber, water, and. rich soil provided a
god economic beginning. As the years went by the educational facilities such as
schools, library, and organizations, gave Amber people, the information
necessary to their well-being and advancement. This knowledge used by an
industrious people, made Amber a contributing factor in the growth of the
county.
FOOT-NOTES:
[1]
Interview with Archie Conrad, Route 2,Ludington, Michigan January 9,1969.
[2]
P. Morse, "Amber Township History Proves Interesting,", Ludington
Daily News, March 11, 1951 P. 7.
3]
History of Manistee Mason and Oceana, Counties, Michigan,
(Chicago:
H. R. Page and Company, 1882, pp 73 and 74
[4]
Interview with Mabel Parmelee Cooper Route 2, Scottville Michigan January 23,
1969.
[5]
Conrad op cit.
[6]
Interview with '.Emery A. Kinney Route
1, Ludington, Michigan, January 27, 1969.
[7]
Interview Alice Pittard, Route 2 Ludington, Michigan January 29, 1969.
[8]
Farm Journal How To Do Things Philadelphia Wilmer Atkinson Co., 1919), p. 4.
[9]
Conrad,on cit.
[10]
Cooper,on.cit.
[11]
Interview with Charles Bretschnieder Route 2, Ludington Michigan, January 29,
1969
[12]
Cooper op. cit.
[13]
Percy Morse, Amber Township History", Ludington Daily News, March 20, 1951
P. 5
[14]
Records of Rickey School District 3, 1870 to 1901.
[15]
Cooper,cit.
[l6]
Pittard op. cit.
[17]
Amber Missionary Society records, 1960.