Delving into history of our farm and the area.

I have been sidetracked for my art by life, my goal of sketching the wildflowers in the woods to a new study- that of studying the history of our area.  My son Mark found a book in his basement, since his house is about ten years old, the book probably belonged to his deceased father-in-law.  The book has its cover fallen off.  The book The History of Hillsdale County, Michigan published in 1879.  We read through parts of the book, Indian history etc. and paid special attention to the formation of our township.  My son Matt wondered if any of the people mentioned in the book were involved with the settling of our farm.  To answer this we got out our deed that has been searched and documented several times.  In it we did indeed find where our property was given by President Van Buren to officers for service in the US Army.  The dates of the presidential deeds are August 1836 and January 1837.  I went thru the deed and recorded the owners of both properties that in 1900 were combined.  We were delighted to find biographical sketches of some of Reading's prominent men and pioneers.and to find their names and wills, on our deed.

The Buffalo Tannery was begun in 1877 in Reading, becoming one of the largest of its kind in the world.  Once the slaughter of buffalo began in the west, their population quickly disappeared, putting an end to the once thriving industry. 



Reading MI main street 1906.  There was still a drug store with a soda fountain on the corner up until around 1968.  The building now houses an art studio.  All the buildings in this block are still in tack up to and including the building with the tower on it, which was our fire station until 30 or 40 years ago.  Between the fire station and the drug store where the white rounded windows shoot out on second story, was an opera house!



This Brick house located around the corner, was built around 1850 as was our home.  This illustration comes from the book History of Hillsdale County Michigan written in 1879.   I find it remarkable how the pioneers and settlers built distinguished homes, buildings in such a short time.  1836 first pioneers build log cabins, two years later they have a mill and start building more elaborate homes several like this one and ours are still standing.  Ours was built of hand-hewn hardwood local lumber on  a foundation of large stones.