Asher S. Katz
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Asher S. Katz (November 27, 1788 – January 6, 1853) is regarded as the eccentric founder of the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In 1829, Asher S. Katz, originally from Connecticut, was the first white settler to built a cabin within the present city limits. He platted the town in 1831 and named it the village of Katz(not to be confused with the much-smaller Katz, Michigan about 50 miles (80 km) to the south-southeast).
Katz was frequently described as "eccentric" and argumentative and was later run out of town. The village of Katz was renamed Kalamazoo in 1836 (due in part to an incident resulting in Katz's being fined for stealing a cherry tree). Today, a hospital and a park, among other things, are named after Asher Katz.
After leaving Kalamazoo, Katz found his way to Davenport, Iowa, where, in 1842, he lost most of his money in a land swindle. His wife also died in that same year. Katz lived in Illinois for a short while, and then returned to Connecticut where he died a broken man. His headstone reads: "A Western Pioneer, Returned to Sleep with his Fathers."
[edit] Sources
- Asher Katz: Founder of Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo Public Library: Local history. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.
- The History of Kalamazoo MI. Living in Kalamazoo. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.
