Section 24 of Walker Township
1850: Bounded by Leonard, Division, Bridge, Alpine
1853 map of the City.
1850 boundaries from Baxter 1891
A comparison of the 1853 map and the 1891 map shows the growth of this area. There are two apparent errors on Baxter's map which shows 10th running as far as Seward. He does not show 12th St.
While boundary lines run straight, streets rarely do.
1st - Began in 1843 at Front St to Broadway in the Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in 1847 in S&T 2nd. Extended in 1854 from Seward (RR tracks) to Stocking in Cuming & Ferry's Add. Extends to Twp line in 1891 in Swientek & Whalen
2nd - Began in 1843 at Front St to Broadway in the Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in 1847 in S&T 2nd. Extended in 1854 from Seward west of Lexington in Cuming & Ferry's Add. It was extended to Stocking in 1870 in the E M Adams Sub. This may have been a private home on a large lot who was a hold-out against expansion. Extended to the township line in 1883 McCordy's Add..
3rd - Began in 1843 at Front St to Broadway in the Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in 1847 in S&T 2nd. Extended in 1854 from Seward (RR tracks) to Stocking in Cuming & Ferry's Add. It extended to the township line by common usage as shown in the 1938 Panfil's assessor's plat #23.
4th - Runs from Front St to Broadway in the 1843 Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in the 1847 S&T 2nd. Extended to Stocking in the 1854 Cuming & Ferry's Add. Extended to Alpine in the1855 VanBuren & Turner Add. In 1856 the little missing blurp was connected to Seward in the Colton Plat, perhaps a single family home on a large lot who held out against expansion.
5th - Runs from Front St to Broadway in the 1843 Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in the 1847 S&T 2nd. Extended in 1854 as Stone St to Stocking in Cuming & Ferry's Add. Extended as Stone in the 1855 VanBuren & Turner Add. 1856 it was connected back to Seward in the Colton Plat as Stone St. Stone was changed to 5th in 1865.
6th - Runs from Front St to Broadway in the 1843 Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in the 1847 S&T 2nd. Extended from Seward (RR) to Alpine in the 1855 VanBuren and Turner Add.
7th - is the 1/4 section line. Runs from Front St to the railroad tracks in the 1846 S & VA Add. It was extended as VanBuren in the 1855 VanBuren & Turner plat running from Seward to Alpine. As there is no official date of name change, the name VanBuren may have never been used.
8th - Runs as Ann St from Front St to Broadway in the 1846 Smith & Van Allen plat Ann changed to 8th in 1873
9th - Runs as Elizabeth St from Front St. to Broadway n the 1846 S & VA plat. This portion of Elizabeth would be vacated. It was extended westward from Seward to Alpine in the 1868 Mason Plat. Elizabeth was changed to 9th at an unknown date.
10th - Runs as Caroline St from Front St to Broadway in the1846 Smith and VanAllen plat. . Caroline became 10th in 1869.
11th - Runs as Jonathon from Front St to Broadway in the 1846 S & VA plat. Passes over the RR tracks by common usage as recorded in Panfil's Assessor's Plat and in 1868 it extended from Seward to Alpine in the Mason Plat. Jonathon changed to Davis in the S & VA plat at an unknown date then changed names again in 1938 to 11th.
12th - began as Franklin in 1868 from Muskegon to Alpine in the Mason Plat. There is no record of when Franklin was changed to 12th.
Alpine - is the section line. Begins at 5th St as Union extending to 7th in the 1855 Turner & Van Buren Plat, Union was extended to Leonard in 1868 in the Mason Plat. Union changed to Cypress in 1873. Cypress changed in 1880 to Alpine.
Alabama - began in 1847 from Bridge to 3rd in S & T 2nd.
Barnett - began as LeGrand from the river to Taylor St in 1857's Tanner Taylor's Add. Part of it would be vacated in 1951. Changed to Barnett in 1920.
Blickle Pl - created by common usage running northerly from 2nd St east of Stocking. Now usurped by I-196. Recorded in 1938 Panfil's Assessor's Plat #24.
Blymier Ct - created by common usage along the northern border of McCurdy's Add. Ran southwesterly from Stocking now cut-off by I-196. It connects to Milwaukee in Section 23. Recorded in 1938 Panfil's Assessor's Plat #23.
Bond - created as Kent in the 1836 Village of Kent running from Bridge to Mason. Renamed Bond in 1912.
Bridge - Began in 1836 running from the river east to the range line (Division) in the Village of Kent which would be renamed Michigan in 1909.. Run westward in 1843 from the river to Broadway in the Scribner & Turner Add. Extended to RR in 1847 in S&T 2nd. Extended to Stocking in 1854 Cuming and Ferry.
Broadway - Began in 1843 at Bridge to 1/4 line in the Scribner & Turner Plat. Extended in 1846 from 7th (the 1/4 line) to 11th as Pleasant St in the S & VA plat. It continued northward as Mary in 1850 as part of the Richmond Plat. Both Pleasant and Mary changed to Broadway in 1866. In 1871 it continued on to Leonard as Broadway in the Chubb Add.
Coldbrook - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to Taylor.
Davis - Begins in 1854 as Maple Ave from 3rd to 4th in Cuming Ferry continuing as Locust Ave from 4th to 5th. Extended as Locust to 7th in 1855 in VanBuren & Turner.. Extended as Davis in 1868 in the Mason plat running from 7th to Leonard. Locust changed to Davis in 1873. Maple changed to Davis in 1912.
Dewey - began as D Street from 3rd St to 5th St in 1847 in S&T's 2nd. D changed to Dewey in 1898.
Division - was not extended north of Michigan until the 20th century.
Elizabeth - would have a short run mid-way starting between neighboring 11th and 12th to Leonard St in 1882 in the Jenison, Robert's and Tyron's Plats.
Fairbanks - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to the township line.
Front - Began in 1843 at Bridge to 1/4 line in the Scribner & Turner Plat. Extended northward to 11th in 1846 as Grand St in the S &VA Add. 1854 ran southward from Leonard in the Chubb Addition. Grand changed to Front in 1870. The missing part was completed by common usage as shown in an assessor's plat.
Hamilton - would have a short run mid-way starting between neighboring 11th and 12th to Leonard St in 1882 in the Jenison, Robert's and Tyron's Plats.
Hastings - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to the township line.
Ionia - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Bridge to Coldbrook. It was extended to Leonard in 1857 in the Tanner Taylor's plat.
Lexington - Runs as Jefferson from Bridge St to 3rd St in 1854 in Cuming and Ferry's Add..
Leonard - the township line ran through a number of small additions including right at the river in Chubb's 1867 plat. then it ran from Seward to Alpine in 1868 as part of the L. G. Mason Plat. It ran eastward from the river to the Township line in 1857 in the Tanner Taylor plat.
McReynolds - began in 1854 as Beech Ave between 3rd and 4th streets and as Butternut Avenue between 4th and 5th in Cuming and Ferry's Add continuing as Butternut between 5th and 7th in 1855 in VanBuren & Turner. Extended as McReynolds in 1868 from 7th to Leonard in the Mason Plat. Butternut changed to McReynolds in 1873. Beech changed to McReynolds in 1912.
Mason - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to the township line.
Michigan - began as Bridge Street near the river heading east in the 1836 Village of Kent. Changed to Michigan east of the river in 1909.
Mill - ran north from Michigan approximately where the canal was. Vacated 1958.
Milwaukee - somewhat comparable to Alpine. Began as Michigan in Pettibone's Add. See Section 23.
Monroe - created as Canal in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat as it ran adjacent to an actual canal which began where Coldbrook creek emptied into the Grand River at the head of Coldbrook Street.
Muskegon -Runs as Fair from 5th to 7th in 1855 in VanBuren & Turner Plat. Continues as Mason St running from 7th to Leonard in the Mason Plat. Mason changed to Muskegon in 1872, Fair changed in 1873
Newberry - created in 1836 in Village of Kent from Monroe to township line.
Ottawa - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Bridge to Coldbrook.
Quarry - began running north from 11th in 1881 in the Case Subdivision of Lots D, E. F of Richmond Plat. This street would continue north but laid slightly westward in 1882 in the Jenison Add. It would continue on this line northward through the Roberts Sub reaching Leonard in Tryon's 2nd Add.
Scribner - Began as Scribner running from Bridge to 1/4 line (7th) in the 1843 Scribner & Turner Plat. Extended northward as Dorr St to 11th in the 1846 Smith &Van Allen Add. It would run further north as Lorraine in the 1850 Richmond Add ending just south of Leonard. Extended to Leonard as Scribner in 1861 Chubb Add Lorraine was changed to Scribner in 1860, Dorr changed to Scribner in 1870, Scribner changed to Court in 1873, Court changed back to Scribner in 1912.
Seward - Runs as West Division in 1854 from Bridge to N/of 3rd St in Cuming & Ferry's Add. Extended past 4th and 5th in 1856 in the Colton Plat. Extended past 6th and 7th in 1855 in VanBuren & Turner Plat. Called Division St running from 7th to Leonard in 1868 in the Mason Plat.
Stocking - common lore said that Mr. Stocking drew a straight and true line from Bridge Street to his home without the help of surveying equipment. Its diagonal route is shown in 1854 on Cuming & Ferry's Add. Extended in 1855 from 3rd to 5th in Vanburen & Turner. It then strays into Section 23.
Swiontek - runs northwesterly from First St towards 2nd, west of Stocking in the 1891 Swiontek & Whalen Add.
Taylor - began as Cemetery running from Walbridge to Coldbrook in the Village of Kent Plat as it ran adjacent to a cemetery which is now defunct and part of Belknap Park. . In 1857 in Tanner Taylor's plat it has been extended to Leonard, the cemetery has disappeared and the street renamed Taylor.
Trowbridge - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to the township line.
Turner - Began in 1843 at Bridge to 1/4 line in the Scribner & Turner Plat. Extended northward to 11th St in 1846 as Grove St in the S &VA Add. It continued northward as Rebecca in 1850 in the Richmond Plat. In 1854 it continued northward as Turner in the Tryon Addition, .Both Grove and Rebecca changed to Turner in 1866. It continued to Leonard as Turner in 1871 in the Chubb Add.
Walbridge - created in 1836 in the Village of Kent Plat running from Monroe to Taylor, now vacated.
Whalen - runs northeasterly from First St to Stocking in the 1891 Swiontek & Whalen Add..
Plat of the Village of Grand Rapids in the West Bank of Grand River made by John Almy in the year 1843 Ruisea (sic) and completed by Knowlton S. Pettibone in the year 1847 for the Proprietors James Scribner and Eliphalet H. Turner.
1850 US Census - James Scribner b. c. 1804 in New York living in the City of Grand Rapids as a land dealer, owns $10,00 RE
E. H. Turner b.c. 1794 in New York living in the City of Grand Rapids, no occupation, owns $15,000 RE
John Almy b.c. 1805 in New York living in the City of Grand Rapids, Civil Engineer, owns $300 RE
K. S. Pettibone b. c. 1812 in VT living in Walker Twp, lawyer, owns $300 RE
Other Plats:
1850 - Canton Smith b. c. 1804 RI living in GR, farmer, owns RE $10,000
1860 - Canton Smith, b.c. 1804 RI, ward 3, retired hotel keeper RE $30,000 1880 - 159 Lafayette
David D. Van Allen, Lyman Mason - not found
1850 - William Richmond b. c. 1808 b. NY farmer Family: Lorain, Jonathon, Rebecca, Mary
1850 - John Tryon, b.c. 1825 NY lvg Walker Twp, farmer, $1000 RE
1850 - Jonathon F. Chubb b. c. 1804 VT lvg Wyoming Tpw, farmer $10,000 RE
1880 - Luman Jenison, b.c. 1823 NY lvg Jenisonville, Ottawa Co, miller
1860 - Francis Cuming, b.c. 1800 CT lvg Ward 2, Episcopal Preacher $30,000 RE
1860 - Ocenus VanBuren b.c. 1820 NY, lvg Ward 4, Land Agent $15,000 RE
1860 - Hannah M. Turner VT, b. c. 1815 lvg Ward 4, wife of Demetrius, Machinist $1800 RE
1860 - Gideon Colton b. c. 1818 Mass lvg Alpine Twp, farmer $3500 RE
1860 - Kearen Whalen b.c. 1821 Ireland lvg 4th Ward, mason $2000 RE neighbor of Knowlton Pettibone
1860 - Lemon Fitch b.c. 1810 NY lvg 4th Ward, painter, $1400 RE neighbor of Knowlton Pettibone
1860 - Laughlin McCurdy b. c. 1838 Ireland lvg 4th Ward, grocer $1300 RE neighbor of Knowlton Pettibone
1870 - Elisha Adams b.c. 1810 New York lvg 2nd Ward, Real Estate Dealer, $13,600 RE
1880 - Wm T Powers b.c. 1821 NH, lvg 152 Pearl, lumber merchant,
1900 - Peter Swiontek b 1846 Germany, .lvg 248 2nd St proprietor meat market, immigrated 1874
1880 - Dorr Skeels b.c. 1833 NY lvg City, Surveyor
1900 - Edward Christ b. 1863 Mich, par b. Germany lvg 101 Fitzhugh, Civil Engineer
1930 - Anthony Panfil b. c 1888 Mich, par b. Poland, lvg 1205 Dayton, glass worker at mirror works
From Heading Geography and the City of Grand Rapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info